Discerning God's Call: The Rector's Sacred Duty (

Within the leadership of each Parish, the Rector stands as a shepherding figure, weaving together the spiritual and administrative threads that define any one congregation's journey. As outlined in the Episcopal Church Canons, particularly Canon III.9, the Rector is entrusted with profound responsibilities that extend from leading worship and pastoral care to overseeing varied facets of church administration. Their presence is both pastoral and pragmatic, embodying a leadership style that is visionary and grounded in tradition.

Discerning God's Call: The Vestry's Sacred Duty

n my first post of this series “On the Church” I dove into the mission of the church through the lens of the 5 Marks of Mission. Today, we will look specifically at a body within an Episcopal Church that has a very important, and yet, misunderstood role. The most common misunderstanding stems from whether vestry members are representatives or agents.

A Spiritual Compass

In this succinct yet profound declaration, Maximus the Confessor encapsulates the essence of the spiritual quest: "The person who loves God values knowledge of God more than anything created by God, and pursues such knowledge ardently and ceaselessly." This statement delves into the nature of divine love and the innate human desire for understanding and communion.

The Bridge of Hope

Maximus the Confessor's observation that "Love is a holy state of the soul, disposing it to value knowledge of God above all created things" is a profound meditation on the intrinsic nature of divine love and its role in our spiritual journey. At the core of this statement lies an understanding of love not merely as an emotion or sentiment but as an orientation and disposition of one’s entire being.

Fear of God

When I was starting out as a priest in the denomination, I grew up in I had rose colored glasses about the church and the people who participate in the church. I knew that God was alive in my denomination, and I also knew that the church was struggling to share the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. Many people were battening down the hatches and holding onto “tradition” which ended up wrecking many churches because there was something missing in their midst: Fear of God. I have watched my denomination and, ostensibly, the larger Christian movement limit the role of the awesome existence of God. We have almost forgotten our place in the creation and, in a way, turned ourselves into modern day pharisees and forgotten our own spiritual work.

Love at the Core

Maximus the Confessor's observation that "Love is a holy state of the soul, disposing it to value knowledge of God above all created things" is a profound meditation on the intrinsic nature of divine love and its role in our spiritual journey. At the core of this statement lies an understanding of love not merely as an emotion or sentiment but as an orientation and disposition of one’s entire being.

© st. francis in-the-Field

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