The Warden of Ordinands

That was one tough meeting. I found it very difficult to feel at ease there, knowing how important this meeting was. They do try to reassure you that it’s all done with compasion, but I also get the feeling that they see hundreds of hopefuls, and that probably dulls their sense of excitement. It’s probably in their interest, as the process is long and intense, if your not the right sort for the job,then it’s a good way of weeding out those that are simply, as Canon Griffiths put it “Wanting to do something with the Church”.

I tried to be as engaging as possible. It was difficult in this dark study, though Canon Griffiths is a nice man, I guess it’s difficult to try to be friends with everyone, definately draining. I guess my thoughts are in a jumble at the moment, and I’m busy just trying to record, for my own benefit, the important bits of information.

There was a book list, which I have left at home, but I’ll stick it here when I find it again.

There was, as always, the problem of the word “Vocation”, and what I understood by it, and what I thought was meant by it. What is my “Vocation”. To simply say that your vocation is that of a Vicar is unacceptable, they want more than that. I would say that my Vocation, as near as I can gather it, is to “spread the word”, and to “reach out” to my fellow human beans. To try to revive the interest in JC, HG, and the big G. Heck, I’m not even sure if I should be refering to the Lord Jesus Christ, The Holy Ghost, and God like that. It’s probably frowned upon.

However, to my mind that the point. Anglicanism is a wealth of varied and interesting experiences. The entire idea was first formed by brining the local flavor into a global Church. The problem I always had was that it had become insular, disconnected. It has a fantastic message to give out to it’s people, but always tends to try in the usuall “youth group” campaigns, that don’t really speak to young people, but are done by people are remember what they would have liked to have seen when they were young. Even now, at nearly 30, I’m well aware I don’t speak the language of the generation that came after me, however, I can speak to the people who are part of that generation, and perhaps convince them that the church is not as stuffy as all that, and that there is a point to that hour on a Sunday, to see the beauty in the Eucarist, to see the joy in Prayer (hang on… when did I start sounding like a fundy? This better not be a trend! 😉 ). I think that sentance should read ” the joy in talking to JC”, Which is all prayer is essentialy. I think it’s actually those old terms that people have the problem with. They have this pre-concieved idea, given to them through the media, through the old stories, about this regemented way of communicating with God that just doesn’t fit into their lives. They also seem to find that the very use of the words Jesus and God are too strong for them.

The problem, or at least the feeling of the problem, is that the Church would get all upset if you started being so “disrespectful” in it’s eyes. (an interesting note on respecting the church, dontcha think?), the downside is is that they just don’t bother, or carry on the way they always have, and avoid the organised bits of religion. This is fine. Paul says it’s okay in Acts, and JC (in the Gospel of ST Thomas) says it’s okay, too. However, lots of them would probably love to come together the beutiful building to take part in the ritual, if they felt it was for them. That’s the key, that’s the trick. Make it interesting. The Methodists have this one down, though they do still have a bit of a fundy edge. I’m Anglican, I know I am. The more I hear about how it’s meant to be, the more strongly I know my denomination. Now all I have to do is to take that, interperet it, and get it out there in a way that gets people interested in it again.

I don’t think that religion is THE answer. I think it will help, in the same way any large body doing good works is a good thing. The Church community has such power to change things locally that if it can be mobilised, expanded, and get a load of people “being excellent to each other”, then I’m doing my job right.

Hmm… Perhaps I should get down off my high horse. I’m not that crazy, honest.

SK