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Beth Anne Nelson has been married to her husband, David (also a Priest in our Diocese,) for eleven years; they have two daughters, Grace (8) and Faith (3). She is a Candidate for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Texas. Beth Anne has a Diploma in Anglican Studies from Seminary of the Southwest and a Master of Divinity from Eden Theological Seminary (2009). She will be ordained to the Diaconate on June 26, 2021 and will start her curacy at Saint Dunstan’s Episcopal Church on July 1. She enjoys spending time with family, jogging, cooking, and is an avid reader. |
The name “curate” is a bit confusing because today it means something completely different to what the term meant in the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Derived from the Latin word curatos the word denoted a clergy person in charge of the “cure of souls.” In fact, the French word curé and the Spanish cura both mean Priest in Charge and Rector. The English verb to curate comes from the same root, and it means “To take charge of a museum or to organize an art exhibit.” It also means “To pull together, sift through, and select for presentation, a set of musical pieces, website content, or merchandise.” So, curates were originally meant to be in charge. In today’s understanding of the word, a curate is “A member of the clergy employed to assist a rector or vicar.” In some contexts, it still means, “Any ecclesiastic entrusted with the cure of souls, as a parish priest.” (All definitions from Dictionary.com.)
In our Anglican/Episcopal tradition a curate is traditionally a person right out of seminary, and newly ordained, who is assigned to a more senior priest for mentoring and practical instruction, as they prepare to become Assistant Rectors, Priests-in-charge, or Rectors. This understanding notwithstanding, it is appropriate to see our new curate not as a priest in training, but as a minister of the Gospel in her full right. What she will be doing will not be preparation for the real thing, nor will it be play acting. Rather, she will be a spiritual leader in our midst, entering into new relationships with us and helping us to open our eyes to see the many ways in which God is already present among us. By virtue of her ordination, she will be set-aside by God and the Church to be an extension of our Bishop’s ministry among us. She will preach the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments, participate in pastoral care, and teach at various Bible studies as appropriate and when invited. She will be involved in everything, while being in charge of no particular ministry. In that sense, the curate is a “generalist.” Her job among us is to experience all areas of ministry to identify skills at which she naturally excels, and skills she must develop further to become the type of priest God will call her to be. The following section will help you know a bit more about the role and place of our new curate and what to call her:
Organizational Title: Curate
Organizational Supervisor (Direct Report): The Bishop of the Diocese of Texas
Delegated Supervisor (Secondary Report): The Rector of the assigned church (Saint Dunstan’s)
Schedule: Five-day work week, which includes all Sundays, with flexible hours which might include mornings, evenings, and Saturdays.
Vacation: Four weeks per year, which includes four Sundays.
Continuing Education: Monthly Diocesan retreats at Camp Allen (Mandated for all curates), and one paid week of continuing education per year. It is assumed the curate will attend Diocesan Council and clergy retreats.
Responsibility: Generalist (Presiding at liturgy, celebrating the sacraments, preaching…)
What to call her: Reverend Beth Anne (In some churches they call female priests, “Mother.” Some churches call young associates by their first name, “Beth Anne,” while calling the rector “Father” or “Mother.” In the case of our curate, she prefers, “Reverend Beth Anne.” Please be mindful of this and address her accordingly.)
Duration of the program: Most curates stay at their churches for two years. Because ofth e COVID-19 disruptions, some Dioceses are extending current curacies to three years. Our Diocese has not decided yet, so for now, we need to assume a 2-year stay. If this changes, we will let you know. Some Curates are hired by churches as “Associate Rectors” after they finish their curacy. This might become an option, but it is too early to predict whether this will happen.
Please continue to pray for Beth Anne, soon to be Reverend Beth Anne, and her family. She will graduate from Seminary of the Southwest in the middle of May and will be ordained to the diaconate on June 26th. Most likely, Reverend Beth Anne will be ordained a priest at Saint Dunstan’s sometime in December 2021.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions regarding our curacy program.
May our Lord continue to bless you,
Fr. Roman+
