It isn’t my age. In fact, I can barely remember being 46. But it was on this day 46 years ago, in 1978, that I was ordained a priest in the “One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic Church.” At least that’s what the ordination certificate says.
Although Evergreen, Colorado, has a number of excellent coffee shops and some remarkable brew pubs, I’m not expecting any anniversary discounts today. Being an Episcopal priest is not a particularly notable status in our culture – and it never was as important as we thought it was back in more religious times. That is NOT to say that being a priest is insignificant, only that its significance is not in the arena of national cultural life.
A person ordained a priest maintains two statuses. First is in the Holy Order of priesthood. That status is reflected in three functions: presiding at the Eucharist in the gathered Christian community, pronouncing blessings, and declaring absolution from sin. The second status is the ministry in which the ordained person participates. That can be in parish ministry, institutional chaplaincy, education, or any number of ministries that we can exercise over the years.
The arena in which I exercised Holy Orders has been exclusively the local congregation until I retired at the end of 2018. It was only in the last years of parish ministry that I finally stumbled on a connection between Orders and Ministry that changed the way in which I exercised ministry in the parish. (I have no doubt that many Episcopal priests have been aware of and functioning in that connection for most of their ordained life. I’ve always been a bit slow to catch on.)
The connection is the role of the parish priest in modeling the priesthood that the church members possess in Christ. In short, to teach others to bless, to teach others to pronounce forgiveness of sins, and to teach others to make common things holy (as in Holy Communion) by offering them to the God who transforms and transfigures. That is why this blog is called “The Apprentice Priest.” And that’s what I hope to explore in greater detail in the coming months and (maybe) years.
The Apprentice Priest 
I have been so remiss in staying in touch, I am grateful for this opportunity to tell you how important your ministry has been in my life. The concept of apprenticeship is firmly implanted in my heart and I am grateful to learn that you still see yourself as an apprentice. It is a way of life without a goal to be achieved. Blessings on you and Dorie Ann on this day of your ordination. I plan to stay better in touch in the days to come. Verlene
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I remember the day. I was not there in person, as Kathy and I had just gotten married the night before.
Charlie Ellis
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Good morning, the very thought of being 46 is rather frightening. It feels as though the years since have been the busiest and most productive and memorable of my life.
You did allow each of us to discern our individual ministries with very little interference. I sometimes wanted you to interfere but looking back realize I wouldn’t have grown to know where I belonged and who I belonged to, as well.
Thank God for your ordination and your ministry. You have been a blessing to many and especially to me. Keep blogging!
Merry Christmas,
Sally
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