[Magdalen] Brother headed for ordination

[Jay Weigel]

One of my friends in E. TN (past 50, though not a lot) was ordained to the
vocational diaconate last year. E. TN is a very pro-vocational diaconate
diocese. I don't know now Chicago is.

On Wed, Nov 22, 2017 at 8:43 PM, Ann Markle <ann.markle at aya.yale.edu> wrote:

> 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
>