I will be ordained to the priesthood later this week! As you can imagine, this is a time filled with preparation and reflection. St. Dunstan’s has a long history of ordaining curates, therefore many of you have been to an ordination of a priest before. Still, you may have additional questions about the service.
First, the service is on Saturday, January 15th at 10 a.m. at St. Dunstan’s. Much of the service will feel similar to a typical 11:00 a.m. worship service. The service will be live streamed so if you are unable to make it in person, I hope you will watch online at some point. This service is not about me; it is about the Church: God’s holy and apostolic church. I am being ordained so that I can better serve you.
One choice I get to make about the service, with the bishop’s approval, is the preacher. I chose Fr. Roman, who is an extraordinary preacher. He has the ability to combine humor and everyday examples with sound theology. His sermons focus on Jesus and always leave me wanting more. I think of his words and discuss them with my children throughout the week. This is the type of preacher I aspire to be someday. Second, was more personal. Fr. Roman is also a gifted mentor for me (and I imagine his past curates); his style will have the greatest impact on my ministry. When I reflect upon the anniversary of my ordination each year, I will remember his words and other lessons he has taught me.
During the examination, I will be presented to the church and commit to faithfully serve Christ as a priest, or presbyter. In the ancient church, there were only Bishops and Deacons. Bishops did all of the baptizing and sacraments. Presbyters were created to stand in the place of the bishops to help with these sacraments. The office of presbyter was created because of Christianity’s growth and the large distance bishops had to travel. This is the ministry that I am called to do; while the Bishop remains our primary pastor as Episcopalians, I feel called to carry out and interpret his vision in the local church. It is a great blessing that I will continue to serve at a local level at St. Dunstan’s for the next eighteen months. I have a great deal to learn as your curate over that time. My hope is to be able to assist in your spiritual growth as well as Fr. Roman’s vision for the St. Dunstan’s.
The participating clergy are likewise close to my heart. Mother Marquita has shown me how to be a graceful leader. She follows well and is a staple at St. Dunstan’s most weeks. Fr. Steve has an excellent sense of humor and is instrumental in approaching the service with joy. Fr. Bill Richter is the rector at my sending parish; he was the first Episcopal priest to be my mentor and did so for ten years! The Reverend Christine Brunson is a sweet friend. She is also another curate, in my curate class, and is in our convocation.1 Her loyalty and authenticity inspires me. The Reverend Jason Meyers is a truly deep spiritual soul. He has an incredible gift for evangelism. He is a kind friend of our family.
For laity, Mike Swartz is my father; he is truly loving and I know you will all enjoy meeting him. Penny Swartz is my stepmom, she is a minister in the United Church of Christ; she was instrumental in my call and ordination from the time I was in college. Jimmy Hemphill and his wife Barbara are like family to us; you will see the way both of my girls light up when they see them. Jimmy was also a mentor to me and taught me to love spreadsheets. Leila Hays, Grant and Morgan Miller are friends of our family with children similar ages to ours. The three of them will be singing in the choir (I think) and are all talented musicians. They journey with David and I along the everyday struggles of ministry and parenthood. Kathy Nelson is my mother-in-law, but a better title would be mother-in-love; she is truly a gift to our family. This is also the case for my mother, Sue Swartz. She will watch the service faithfully from Michigan with family.
Another participant is my husband, David. Many of you have met my husband, David Nelson. He is truly the foundation upon which I constantly see God in the world. His love is an example of consistent grace.
The actual consecration happens when Bishop Fisher lays his hands on my head along with the other presbyters of the church. There will be an ontological change in the way I am ordered in the church.2 That means my spiritual gifts will be specified for this ministry. It is my call to lift up all of your ministries rather than be above the laity. I will continue my ordained ministry at St. Dunstan’s until July 2023, when the diocese ends the curacy. My role here will be to support the ministry you have and the new ministries of the church.
1 Convocation is an area of designated ministry within the Episcopal Church. St. Dunstan’s is in the San Jacinto convocation.
2 Jennings, N. (2021). Liturgy III.
