Reverend Ref +

JOIN US IN THIS CELEBRATION

Wow. I can't even begin to describe what I'm feeling right now. The COM approved me for ordination to the priesthood last night during our phone interview. In all honesty, that was to be expected. What wasn't expected was that with all of the negative history of the COM -- beginning with a lack of communication and the cancellation of my first meeting, to pleading for the opportunity to do field ed at my chosen sight, to an almost hung jury in the decision to allow me to be ordained to the diaconate -- this meeting was relatively painless. Actually, it was painless. They laughed . . . several times.

My guess is that they perceived me differently too. Over the last several years it seemed like I was fighting to get through. Multiple hoops to jump through that got smaller and smaller as the process went along. Any COM meeting was an extremely stressful situation for me. But now . .

But now I'm in Montana. I'm home. I'm back out west, released from my three-year banishment to the flat Midwest (and that's not a knock against SWTS by any stretch of the imagination). There are mountains here. And no humidity. The people of Sheridan and VC are happy to have me (that's another story in and of itself), and I am happy to be here.

One question that came up was, "Where are you finding God now?" Answer: "Can I say 'Everywhere'? I'm seeing God in the mountains, in the people, in the excitement of being here." So, yes, I probably came across as both different and 'worthy' to be ordained. And it paid off because the decision was unanimous.

The Standing Committee meeting, also by phone, was pretty much along the lines of, "Your paperwork is in, you've graduated, you've got a job, and the COM said yes. Congratulations."

Thank you all for your prayers. Should you be so inclined, the ordination will be in Helena, MT on December 18, 2004. And, from what I understand, there's going to be a killer preacher (I don't want to give everything away).