Finding the Right Priest

This article appeared in the October 2008 edition of the Winged Ox, St. Luke’s parish magazine.  Here the Interim Rector outlines the wide variety of congregations and clergy that may be found in the Anglican church today, and initiates a process of forming a self-portrait of the parish

 

A Diversity of Clergy and Churches

When I was young I was taught that the worldwide common bond of Anglicans was the Book of Common Prayer.  Specifically it was said that you could go anywhere in the world and you would know you were in an Anglican church by the text and phrasing of the worship, originating with that book.

This is no longer the case.  Anglican churches are vastly different from one another, even in the same city and neighbourhood.  In some, the services vary from week to week, and are completely printed out in the pew leaflet; in others, the order of service is projected on a screen.  In both such cases there is no book.  In some, members of the congregation will raise their hands and shout “hallelujah” at any point in the proceedings; in others, elements of the service are marked by the sounding of a mellow gong.  Singing may be accompanied by guitar, Caribbean steel drums, jazz/rock combo, or by a number of folk instruments.  The high altar is seldom used, or is pushed out as far as possible into the middle of the congregation.  I could go on.

This change – from global uniformity to extreme diversity – happened during my time as a priest, and in fact I contributed to it, in part, by presiding at “rock masses” for the emerging throng of baby-boom teenagers in the 1960s.  It was, by and large, we clergy who initiated such diversity.  Congregations adapted – to the degree that they were able.  People who liked the new ways made the adjustment; those who disliked them went elsewhere, or stopped attending church altogether.  We became used to saying that the church of Saint “X” is “charismatic;” that Saint “Y” is “Anglo-Catholic,” that Saint “Z” is “conservative,” or “liberal,” etc.

An unexpected consequence of this however, is only now being realized.  The next generation of clergy is as diverse as the churches that nurtured them.  Someone whom God calls to ordained ministry in one kind of Anglican church, is naturally going to think of that church's style or approach to faith as being helpful and spiritually enriching.  Hence, when they become Rector somewhere else, they try to make their new congregation resemble the one in which they were nurtured.  The result is that Saint “X,” which became a liberal-modern church under one rector, is urged to become a charismatic church by their next Rector, and the Rector after that may seek to introduce Aboriginal sweet grass into the worship, or enrich the music by the accompaniment of a Caribbean calypso band!

In many ways – in appearance, and in its style of worship – St. Luke's resembles certain Anglican churches of one hundred years ago.  Today there are few other churches like it, anywhere in Canada, and virtually none in the Winnipeg region.  Given what I said above, this means that there are few clergy out there whose spiritual formation has been in a church like this one, and thus very few who might instinctively know what St. Luke's is all about, if they were to become our next Rector.

Then again, do we ourselves know what St. Luke's is all about? Each of us may have an idea of it, but is our view similar to the next person's? I know why I chose to attend St. Luke's.  Are my reasons the same as – or vastly different from – the reasons you have chosen to be a member of this parish?

What can we, as a parish, say about ourselves as a parish?

November 2, 2008 — beginning to describe ourselves

We must find a way to formulate a description of this congregation that we can all endorse, and then – this is the point and purpose of the exercise – we must tell the world who we are, so that the right kind of priest can hear about us, and consider becoming our next Rector.

On Sunday, November 2, 2008, after our main service and a light lunch, I want to gather with as many parishioners as possible to talk about these things.  I will outline the steps that must be taken in the process of getting our next Rector, and seek your input on the best way to develop an accurate and believable parish portrait – one which we can use to introduce ourselves to the wider church; one which will encourage the right sort of priest to seek to come and work among us.

Will you take part in the development of our self-portrait? I hope you will.  Please spend some time on this with me, November 2nd after church.

In Christ,

The Rev'd Canon Tony Harwood-Jones, Interim Incumbent