Priesthood: What It Takes To Thrive

From The Diocese of Washington-

A luminary bishop of the 1970s and 80s, John Coburn of Massachusetts, was once asked if he had a motto in life. He hadn't thought about it before, he said, but upon reflection he realized that he did: You never can tell.

He used two illustrations to make his point. "I've presided over dozens of marriage ceremonies," he said. "I know that a percentage of those marriages ended in divorce. But if I were to have guessed which marriages would make it and which ones wouldn't, at least 50% of the time I would have guessed wrong. Some of the couples that seemed ideally suited for each other didn't make it past 5 years; others whose relationship seemed rocky at best have gone on to have long and healthy marriages. You never can tell."

"I've presided at many ordination services," he continued. "Some priests whom I assumed would be mediocre at best have gone on to serve with faithful and fruitful distinction. A few of our brightest stars are now in jail. You never can tell."

The Diocese of Washington has identified seven qualities and attributes that we believe the Episcopal Church needs now in its ordained leaders. These seven qualities have one thing in common: they are indicators of resilience.

More here-

https://www.edow.org/about/bishop-mariann/writings/2017/06/22/priesthood-what-it-takes-thrive