It's an interesting perspective, as I sit across the pond and watch everything in the US slowly digress..and I have family on both sides of everything, politics, religion, you name it.
I too have been part of the 'system', technically as a missionary since 2002, and have experienced greater and lower levels of financial and prayer support from the US and around the world. To a great degree, the former has diminished, and even more so drastically post pandemic, due to a number of factors, I believe inflation being the biggest one.
But one of the main reasons is that there is a great divide over what missionaries should or should not be doing, and the most common insult I have experienced, even very recently is, "you aren't preaching the gospel".
I will do my own blog post on such things as I digress, but all that to say, I've been part of the elite and very slowly over the last dozen years, I've had enough mud slung at me, I don't consider myself part of that any more. I envision us being loosely associated with different organizations in the future, but formally, our time is coming to a close.
I believe something that you should consider in this discussion, and it looks like you are, is where is your role in this royal shakedown. Your formal priesthood is vital, and important, but as you walk in it, I believe I can say as a slightly more experienced woman in the faith, remember you calling is just as valid as anyone else's, and this will keep you humble and acknowledge all those called to a "royal priesthood".
One of my most humbling and sacred moments in the last year has been to particípate in sacred moments, specifically marrying a couple, in a space and place where God was not completely understood by both. My husband has done the same this year, speaking in a Unitarian church for a funeral of a man he had watched slowly die. We are both ordained, but 20 years ago, we would have never envisioned weddings and funerals in this way, but we speak when called upon.
Keep this attitude of openness and questions, but rest in the peace that you don't have to have the answers today and the Love always wins. Love you lady and so glad to see you grow in grace and peace.
Jamie- thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective. Living in Spain I remember being struck by the cultural hold Christianity (specifically Roman Catholicism) still has, even as spirituality (at least as practiced in a community of faith) is increasingly less important to a growing segment of the population. I think we’re seeing a version of that here, especially in the last few years, as more folks grow disaffected with how Christianity has been used to further troubling political ends. I can appreciate why many are choosing to jump ship. Staying is complicated and messy. I don’t believe Jesus set out to start a new religion, and I see many people living in the Way of Jesus who don’t identify with the Christian institution. I am wondering what it means to “stay defiantly,” as Brian McLaren has aptly put it.
It’s beautiful to hear you describe how you’re encountering and sharing the Holy in unsuspecting places. That’s been one of the greatest joys for me since leaving traditional parish ministry a few months ago— meeting God in my neighborhood in contexts and conversations that have not occurred because of my formal priesthood, as you call it, but because of the trust that we are building together as people who value our community and want it to be a place where all can flourish. The spiritual hunger is profound, even as the distrust of institutional religion is well-founded. I feel increasingly hopeful, as the Church is formed in humility and faith through lament and suffering (now I’m talking theologically!), about an emergent priesthood of all believers making an altar in the world where all can be fed.
It's an interesting perspective, as I sit across the pond and watch everything in the US slowly digress..and I have family on both sides of everything, politics, religion, you name it.
I too have been part of the 'system', technically as a missionary since 2002, and have experienced greater and lower levels of financial and prayer support from the US and around the world. To a great degree, the former has diminished, and even more so drastically post pandemic, due to a number of factors, I believe inflation being the biggest one.
But one of the main reasons is that there is a great divide over what missionaries should or should not be doing, and the most common insult I have experienced, even very recently is, "you aren't preaching the gospel".
I will do my own blog post on such things as I digress, but all that to say, I've been part of the elite and very slowly over the last dozen years, I've had enough mud slung at me, I don't consider myself part of that any more. I envision us being loosely associated with different organizations in the future, but formally, our time is coming to a close.
I believe something that you should consider in this discussion, and it looks like you are, is where is your role in this royal shakedown. Your formal priesthood is vital, and important, but as you walk in it, I believe I can say as a slightly more experienced woman in the faith, remember you calling is just as valid as anyone else's, and this will keep you humble and acknowledge all those called to a "royal priesthood".
One of my most humbling and sacred moments in the last year has been to particípate in sacred moments, specifically marrying a couple, in a space and place where God was not completely understood by both. My husband has done the same this year, speaking in a Unitarian church for a funeral of a man he had watched slowly die. We are both ordained, but 20 years ago, we would have never envisioned weddings and funerals in this way, but we speak when called upon.
Keep this attitude of openness and questions, but rest in the peace that you don't have to have the answers today and the Love always wins. Love you lady and so glad to see you grow in grace and peace.
Jamie- thank you so much for sharing your experience and perspective. Living in Spain I remember being struck by the cultural hold Christianity (specifically Roman Catholicism) still has, even as spirituality (at least as practiced in a community of faith) is increasingly less important to a growing segment of the population. I think we’re seeing a version of that here, especially in the last few years, as more folks grow disaffected with how Christianity has been used to further troubling political ends. I can appreciate why many are choosing to jump ship. Staying is complicated and messy. I don’t believe Jesus set out to start a new religion, and I see many people living in the Way of Jesus who don’t identify with the Christian institution. I am wondering what it means to “stay defiantly,” as Brian McLaren has aptly put it.
It’s beautiful to hear you describe how you’re encountering and sharing the Holy in unsuspecting places. That’s been one of the greatest joys for me since leaving traditional parish ministry a few months ago— meeting God in my neighborhood in contexts and conversations that have not occurred because of my formal priesthood, as you call it, but because of the trust that we are building together as people who value our community and want it to be a place where all can flourish. The spiritual hunger is profound, even as the distrust of institutional religion is well-founded. I feel increasingly hopeful, as the Church is formed in humility and faith through lament and suffering (now I’m talking theologically!), about an emergent priesthood of all believers making an altar in the world where all can be fed.
Love and appreciate you too!