This time of year I often reflect on my journey into the Episcopal Church.  Like many of you at St. Mary’s, I came to the Episcopal Church from another faith tradition.  In fact, studies suggest that around 70% of us started somewhere else before finding ‘home’ here. 
In October of 2002, I celebrated my last Sunday mass as a Roman Catholic priest.  The parish church was full, and parishioners could not have been kinder or more supportive as I began the new journey ahead of me.  I had told them in bulletin articles, a letter I had written to them, and from the pulpit, of my decision.  I stated that my reasons for leaving could be narrowed down to three general areas of concern:  

1. Although I had made a commitment to live my life as a single, celibate person, I was no longer sure, after ten years, if this was indeed the life God had called me to – I felt a call to explore living and experiencing God’s grace in the context of the sacrament of marriage. 

2. In light of the nearly constant news of abuse of minors by clergy and the numerous stories of bishops who covered up this abuse and preserved institutional image over the safety of victims, it seemed clear to me that real reform was needed -in church governance and structure.  I believed then and do now that a church is best governed under the Holy Spirit when lay and ordained alike are vested with real power to effect change.  I did not see an openness to that change or a willingness to share that kind of authority. 

3.  I had always believed in the ordination of women – the idea that God would call only one-half of humankind to ordained ministry did not equate with my experience of many holy women who felt very much that the Holy Spirit was calling them to priestly ministry.  I had a hard time serving in an institution that seemed to be going backward, not forward, on this issue. 

In light of these areas of profound disagreement, and others, I came to the conclusion that if the Roman Catholic Church was not going to change, then I needed to – and so I found myself taking courses at Nashotah House, a nearby Episcopal Seminary.  I also began to inquire about serving as a priest in an Episcopal parish.  Thirteen months later, I was received as a priest in this branch of Christ’s one, holy, Catholic and apostolic Church.  A few weeks late, I began ministry here at St. Mary’s.  Three years later Gina and I were married.  This journey has been a gift and blessing beyond anything I could hope for or dream of - I am so very grateful!

Last week, several parish members and friends shared with me newspaper clippings and comments about recent statements from Pope Benedict and the Vatican about an openness/ recruitment of Anglican priests and seminarians into the Roman Catholic Church.  It has been interesting to read the comments and hear the discussions about this interestingly-timed overture.   When asked about my own reaction to all of this, I respond with a few simple observations.  First, while the invitation may be gracious, I doubt any of the women who are ordained priests or deacons in the Anglican Communion will be interested in such a transition. Their ordination is not recognized as such and so they would not be welcome to exercise their ministry to God’s people.  Second, I wonder who the candidates for such a transition might be – it would seem that those who dislike the messiness of our common life right now.  Issues over human sexuality, the interpretation of Holy Scripture, the jurisdiction of Bishops and other concerns are very much a part of our life in the Church right now.  Those seeking less discussion and more clear-cut pronouncements and definitions may well be drawn to make such a change.  I would argue that going back to the earliest days of Christianity it was the ability of the Body of Christ to dive deeply into debate, discussion and even argument over key issues of the day and the proper response for a Christian to those issues has served us well.  Refusing discussion, punishing dissension and insisting on rigid uniformity has not served the Body of Christ well, at least not over the long haul.   Third, it would seem to me that those offering the invitation to such a transition have forgotten that there was a Reformation.  We in the Anglican Communion and those of us in the Episcopal Church here in these United States, talk about ourselves as a ‘via media’ a ‘middle way’ between the authoritarianism of Roman Catholicism and the overemphasis on personal salvation and lack of sacramental understanding of our Protestant brothers and sisters. 

This ‘via media’ seeks to be a ‘middle way’ between two poles.  This Church: is rooted in ancient Christianity, celebrates the sacraments and liturgical seasons of the universal Church, allows that the Holy Spirit calls who the Spirit wills to ordained ministry, is hierarchical but with checks and balances, is theologically tolerant and also respectful of differences while still coming together in unity to worship and be church, seeks to proclaim the gospel of Christ unapologetically, and invites any and all to be a part of the Body of Christ. 

To leave this Episcopal way of doing and being church is a huge step, and like any change there will be a price to pay.  When I was preparing to leave the priesthood in the Roman Catholic Church, I clearly understood the price that I would pay for such a transition and change.  I embraced the journey and was and am so very blessed.  I pray that those contemplating a similar transition, but from the Episcopal Church to the Roman Catholic Church, may be able to fully understand the beauty, depth and tradition of what they are leaving as they go to something very new and different. 

 May God continue to bless and guide us all as we seek to do the will of Christ and be His body in this world.