Family

We are family

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We are family

With my wife away last week I had little time for my theology books.  The children needed to be fed, clothes and dishes needed to be washed, bedtime stories needed to be read.  It all took my mind off the fact that the DDO was coming to my house at the weekend.

She was coming to see my wife more than me, her involvement and support being crucial to my potential ordination.  It was to be an opportunity for my wife to ask her questions, though in our minds we had built it into being an opportunity for the DDO to ‘discern’ our potential ordination as a couple and a family. Continue reading →

The Theology of Quiche

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The truth is out there, even in a quiche!

My wife and I met with some friends at the weekend.  They, like us, are looking at ordination so as our children played together so it was no surprise that our conversation often switched between that and our experience as parents.  Nor was it surprising that the weight and impact on our families of deciding to answer God’s call into ordination was at the forefront of it all. Continue reading →

The life and work of an exploring pilgrim

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The Life and Work of a Priest by John Pritchard

The Life and Work of a Priest by John Pritchard

Later today (7th October 2013) I am meeting with the DDO for the second time.  At my previous meeting she asked me to read John Pritchard’s book ‘The Life and Work of a Priest’. It is a classic from the ordination exploration reading list by the Bishop of Oxford and is a throughly interesting end enjoyable read.  The secondary task was to write a piece to start a discussion on the helpful and challenging images that came to mind as I read it.

I hope that my reflections on the challenges and thrills, and the burdens and privileges of being a priest may prove interesting.  I even dare hope and pray that it may even provoke you to think of the life and responsibilities of leaders in the Christian faith, and maybe even your own.

Please do let me know what thoughts you have, you have much to teach me!

Continue reading →

A baptism in social media

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As I have said in the past exploring God’s call has got me looking to see Him in each experience I have.  Writing this blog is certainly helping me in that regard as well, not least because I need something worthwhile to write about!

I knew from the start of exploring ordination that the church’s authorised discerners (I’m sure there is a better term for them!) like people to keep a journal.  I enjoy doing that but it is quite different from the blog.  The journal is often simply a stream of consciousness, or a collection of random thoughts and helpful or challenging quotes that I come across.  As it has no audience but myself it never has to be coherent; a consequence being that thoughts are sometimes left hanging, never developed and remain unsubstantiated. Continue reading →

State of love and trust

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IMG_5445The flaming torch I held lit up the night as the rain, driven by the wind, lashed at our faces. We were climbing a hill to stand at the foot of 3 crosses perched on the edge of a cliff. It was the beginning of a men’s ministry weekend at Lee Abbey on the North Devon coast.

Our speaker began to talk. Slowly the worries and anxieties leading up to the weekend faded as God came into focus. The raw power of nature amplified the retelling of Jesus’s crucifixion. Continue reading →

Ordination at any cost?

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Ordination would mean my son having to change his primary school 3 times and my daughter twice. Is this a price worth paying? (Photo: Marilyn Barbone/Shutterstock Images)

Ordination would mean my son having to change his primary school 3 times and my daughter twice. Is this a price worth paying? (Photo: Marilyn Barbone / Shutterstock Images)

Last week I met with the DDO for the first time. For those not familiar with Church of England jargon that’s the Diocesan Director of Ordinands, a person that the local bishop has chosen to oversee the selection and training of people called to ordination. It was a meeting that would initially bring peace but not for long. Continue reading →

Get your priorities right

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An icon illustrating a parent and child

An icon illustrating a parent and child (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In my current period of life, more than ever before, I am walking through life wondering what God is trying to tell or teach me.  This past week was a particularly unexpected and painful experience.  Instead of starting the next stage of my ordination exploration I was watching my son struggle for breath in my local hospital. Continue reading →