A northern perspective on vocations
THE ORDAINED MINISTRY is both attractive and scary. Attractive because it is both privileged and deeply rewarding; and scary because of the responsibilities incumbent on the priest in today’s world. But it also becoming less attractive in a world of dwindling attendances, parochial amalgamations and stretched resources, all of which put huge pressure on serving clergy. The idea of being the rector of a 7-church benefice (to use the English term), rushing from service to service on a Sunday, and driving significant miles around a scattered parish, is hardly appealing.
Yet some are stilled called; some still feel the gentle (or not so gentle) nudge of God and tentatively put themselves forward into the selection process. That is good, divinely gracious.
I know that the world into which I was ordained (in 1978) is no longer here. Would I have put myself forward if today’s conditions had prevailed then? I hope so, but I don’t know for sure. As a young man, I was filled with (over)confidence, ready to be a breath of fresh air and change both Church and world. That is the privilege of youth, soon mellowed by reality. But that fresh air needs to be encouraged, the windows kept open – if not, the young will turn their backs and resist the divine nudge. Desperately sad.
The first, and most obvious, pre-requisite is to have parishes, and university chaplaincies, in which faith is thoughtfully nurtured. Out of such faith vocations can emerge. It would be interesting to know how many ordinands received the first inklings of a call in the university context. It does not matter whether that nurturing environment is Evangelical, Charismatic, Traditional or Catholic; the Church, if it is to be truly Anglican, needs priests and congregations of all traditions working together in mutual respect.
* Full article available in printed copies.
Timothy Kinahan
Was until recently rector of Helen’s Bay in the diocese of Down and Dromore. He is a canon of St. Anne’s Cathedral and a noted theological writer.