Reflections for Discernment Committee
Seminary:
Seminary has been an interesting
resolution of expectations and reality. I had this monastic vision of
formation and discernment with lots of really practical, hands on
sorts of work. I got regular old graduate school. After I got my
philosophy degree, I chose not to continue with graduate work in that
field because I didn’t feel that academic papers on abstract topics
were going to be useful in “real life.” While I am pleased to
find that I still know how to do academic research, it is still a
soul sucking endeavor with little to recommend.
There has been an expectation of
visiting many different churches for the first year. I have found
this extremely difficult. I very much have a vision of church that
involves doing the work in front of you in your local parish, as
neighborhood, and then doing other work, in my case at the diocesan
level, but it could be other things, that expand that circle of
mission and ministry. I am not much for church shopping-I don’t
have a list. Even in the process that led us to the Episcopal Church,
there wasn’t an overt list; such as I want a good children’s
program, Eucharistic liturgy, or fulfilling mission. I wanted
something that was near where I live. I wanted something that felt
authentic, such an overused word, and something that is very
important to me- I wanted to feel like I could actually go to the
church with my problems. (When I am being silly, a perfect church is
reflected in the Cheers theme song. Look up the whole lyrics, they
are actually hilarious.)
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