[Magdalen] Brother headed for ordination

[Ann Markle]

I agree with Joe (we’ve long been a mutual admiration society), except that
in our diocese, vocational diaconate is very social-ministry and
pastorally-oriented. My perception is that your call is much more
liturgically/ecclesiastically oriented. Dioceses differ on this, and
perhaps your diocese's view is broader/better evolved, and perhaps a
combination of your passions and maybe IT/communication (most dioceses need
a good webmaster, and social media and e-newsletter person, as well as IT
resource) would be a perfect fit for permanent diaconate (and it might also
be a paid position for IT, with liturgical being your unpaid ministry,
though far less than I'm sure you make now, so STY would of course be a
factor).

Can you tell I’m investing a certain amount of energy in this? I guess I
think you might have a vocational call, though I can’t imagine exactly what
it is  - that takes so much input (from God, from you, from the diocese)
that I’m not privy to!

This post is another prayer!

On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 2:10 PM Joseph Cirou <romanos at mindspring.com> wrote:

>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> >From: Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu>
> >Sent: Nov 22, 2017 1:37 PM
> >To: magdalen at herberthouse.org
> >Subject: Re: [Magdalen] Brother headed for ordination
> >
> >Scott, I don’t know how old you are; younger than me, I know. In the
> >Episcopal Church, for the priesthood, at least, age is sometimes a factor
> >(though I know those who were ordained well into their 50s). Remember,
> part
> >of the call is individual, and part is the Church's determination. Good or
> >bad, part of their determination is how many working years a priest will
> >have to pay into the pension system (based on retirement at age 72),
> before
> >the pension system starts paying out to them. It sounds crass, but it’s
> >realistic. It’s also not the only, or even primary consideration, but it
> >might factor in, and might be worth asking the bishop or Diocesan ministry
> >commission about. I think you should try a formal discernment process, or
> >at least discuss it with your rector (always the first step). And I’m
> >certainly not trying to throw cold water on your discernment. Eventually
> >you’ll need to discover if you’ve been running away from God, or not! I’m
> >putting you on my prayer list, because this is a welcome development, IMO.
> >
> >On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 12:22 PM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com>
> >wrote:
> >
> >> I'll ask my abbot about it; he may support this.
> >>
> >> On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 9:52 AM, James Handsfield <jhandsfield at att.net>
> >> wrote:
> >>
> >> So, why not offer yourself for discernment?  Do it to find out, not to
> >> > convince.  Whatever the result, you will learn about yourself.
> >> >
> >>
> >> --
> >> Scott R. Knitter
> >> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
> >>
> >--
> >Ann
> >
> >The Rev. Ann Markle
> >Buffalo, NY
> >www.onewildandpreciouslife.typepad.com
>
> I agree with all of Ann's caveats, but I am inwardly glad that these
> thoughts have crossed your mind. I believe you would be a credit to the
> ministry and perhaps the permanent diaconate would be a possibility  while
> maintaining  your secular job  I know of several persons in your position
> who were called to the diaconate. The best example is our first deacon at
> St. Mary's who decided on the diaconate after reaching the rank of full
> bird colonel in the reserves and not being considered for 1 star general
> was obligated to retire from the military in his early to mid 50's. He and
> his spouse considered that a sign that his vocation lay elsewhere. I don't
> remember but he worked for Allstate for years and I don't remember when  he
> retired from Allstate.
>
> Joe Cirou
>
-- 
Ann

The Rev. Ann Markle
Buffalo, NY
www.onewildandpreciouslife.typepad.com