Tradd
8-12-11, 11:36pm
I just had to share, since aside from FB, this is one of the few places online I spend much of my time.
Something so incredible happened this week, it just floored me!
The details are unimportant to you, but my bishop emailed me Wednesday and asked me to call him, which turned into...
He asked me to fill out a term (would be for one year) on our church's national governing council, representing our diocese, which would also mean sitting unelected on our diocesan council (diocese is large and covers 10 states). There was some confusion if the alternate would be able to serve - turns out he is able to serve, but they thought originally he wouldn't, which is why I asked. So I won't be doing it, but it was implied I might very well be asked to do something similar in the future.
I was shaking when the phone call ended.
It was a huge honor to be asked, especially given the number of talented, capable people in our diocese. But the bishop and I share mutual friends, and we first talked last fall at the diocesan convention where he was elected. He's based in my city, and we often chat at various events about things of mutual interest and concern or exchange emails. He's heard me speak (during open comment times) multiple times and told me he respects the stands I take, but more importantly the courage behind them. He *likes* my plain-spokeness. So, I've had much more contact with the bishop than the usual lay person, and it all started with me approaching him, and saying "we both know so-and-so" in a friendly way. I never expected anything to come out of having more contact with him. I was blind-sided by the request, even though it turns out I wasn't able to serve. But, boy, did I want to!
There are inside details - not of interest to you - that make being asked even more incredible. I would have been replacing a fellow of rather infamous reputation, quite well known at the national level - so being a relative unknown, outside of my large metro area, would have made serving quite interesting, and IMO, rather fun, and a good learning experience.
But what's been even more fun have been the reaction of people when I tell them. Jaw on the floor, totally rendered speechless is the usual reaction. As a former journalist, this has "shock value" that I didn't anticipate. My priest was speechless on the phone when he learned (and he serves on this national governing council, as well).
I just need to get to the end of the year and be able to finish my 2.5 year theological education program and then I'll have time for more things.
OK, sorry, it's so long. But well, just had to share. :D:0!;)
Something so incredible happened this week, it just floored me!
The details are unimportant to you, but my bishop emailed me Wednesday and asked me to call him, which turned into...
He asked me to fill out a term (would be for one year) on our church's national governing council, representing our diocese, which would also mean sitting unelected on our diocesan council (diocese is large and covers 10 states). There was some confusion if the alternate would be able to serve - turns out he is able to serve, but they thought originally he wouldn't, which is why I asked. So I won't be doing it, but it was implied I might very well be asked to do something similar in the future.
I was shaking when the phone call ended.
It was a huge honor to be asked, especially given the number of talented, capable people in our diocese. But the bishop and I share mutual friends, and we first talked last fall at the diocesan convention where he was elected. He's based in my city, and we often chat at various events about things of mutual interest and concern or exchange emails. He's heard me speak (during open comment times) multiple times and told me he respects the stands I take, but more importantly the courage behind them. He *likes* my plain-spokeness. So, I've had much more contact with the bishop than the usual lay person, and it all started with me approaching him, and saying "we both know so-and-so" in a friendly way. I never expected anything to come out of having more contact with him. I was blind-sided by the request, even though it turns out I wasn't able to serve. But, boy, did I want to!
There are inside details - not of interest to you - that make being asked even more incredible. I would have been replacing a fellow of rather infamous reputation, quite well known at the national level - so being a relative unknown, outside of my large metro area, would have made serving quite interesting, and IMO, rather fun, and a good learning experience.
But what's been even more fun have been the reaction of people when I tell them. Jaw on the floor, totally rendered speechless is the usual reaction. As a former journalist, this has "shock value" that I didn't anticipate. My priest was speechless on the phone when he learned (and he serves on this national governing council, as well).
I just need to get to the end of the year and be able to finish my 2.5 year theological education program and then I'll have time for more things.
OK, sorry, it's so long. But well, just had to share. :D:0!;)