Dear Friends:
I can't believe that I am more than 1/2 way through my Fall Semester (2011) of Seminary! This fall I am taking the following Courses:
*Early & Medieval Church History
*Foundational Theology
*Pentateuch
*Pastoral Counseling
*Supervised Ministry I
Course work seems to be going well. According to my official transcript, so far I am making Straight A's! That in itself is a miracle (smirk). I pray that I do well this semester and keep my A's streak.
I finally received confirmation back from the Registrar of St John XXIII Theological Seminary. Years ago I been called to ministry and at that time it was in the United Methodist Church. Yes it is quite a bit different to be a Catholic! That in itself is another story and I will save it for a future blog update.
Anyway, as a result back then I was serving as a Licensed Student Local Pastor and had taken some seminary courses as well as extra course during my B.A. degree at IU. Long story short, I was able to receive 22 hours credit for previous courses after official transcripts were reviewed by the Registrar. That cuts nearly 1/3 of my 3 year degree program (Master of Divinity). Bottom line, if I continue to do well, take full loads through next year, then I pray that January of 2013 I will be eligible for Holy Orders. At this end of this semester I will be eligible for Deacon's Orders. Whether I am called or not to Deacon's Orders is at the discretion of my Bishop and the Archbishop.
As far as the new parish here in Indianapolis, St John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center, I have been extremely busy getting ready to launch four (4) new HIV Support Groups for the HIV Community here in Indianapolis. St John XXIII POC's outreach ministry is to the HIV/AIDS Community in Indianapolis. Prior to my calling, I served this community for the past several years as a volunteer. IN 2009 I served as Co-Chair for the Ryan White Part B Program Advisory Council. This is a group of about 80 professional, para-professional and volunteers as well as clients who all focus on serving the HIV Community either as Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Case Managers, and volunteers. This group, by law, is responsible for drafting recommendations to the Ryan White Act Program Funding Officer each year, stating how federal funds from the Ryan White Care Act, will be used in Indiana.
Currently I am searching out volunteers to join our HIV Support Group Facilitator Teams. This group will be volunteers which will be trained as Support Group Facilitators and then manage and run the support groups launching in January 2012. I have one confirmed volunteer and several applicants. Right now we will have four (4) different support groups, which though there are support groups for HIV/AIDS clients in Indianapolis, none are faith-based nor are they targeted for specific segments of this community. St John XXIII POC will offer the following support groups starting in January 2012:
*New Diagnosed
*Long Term Survivors
*Family Members & Care Givers
*Women & HIV
To learn more about the programs we are currently offering, go to our parish website at http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact me, Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe by calling the parish office at 317-238-9393 or sending me an email at rev_jwolfe@stjohnxxiiipoc.org. Volunteer Facilitators will receive personalized training before joining one of the Facilitation Teams. All Training is paid for by St John XXIII POC and all training materials for volunteers are free.
The other portion of the HIV/AIDS ministry that St John XXIII POC will be launching sometime in 2012 or 2013 will be a Not for Profit Care Coordination Program which will be faith-based. Care Coordination Programs are the programs through which individuals with HIV and/or AIDS receive free access to all medicines, financial assistance, etc, in order to learn how to live with this now "chronically manageable disease".
As a result, the first step was filing St John XXIII POC as a DBA of ACCUS. The next step in which I am currently involved, is pitching the program to power Business persons (CEOs and CFOs) of major companies based in Indianapolis. The purpose is to reach out the business community for support. Right now I am meeting with CEOs and CFOs of various businesses which I worked with when I was a Project Manager for IBM and Xerox for the last 18 years. These individuals will hopefully volunteer to form the first Board of Directors for a NEW Not for Profit Charity Corporation which will oversee the operation and grant funding of the faith-based Care Coordination Program which St John XXIII POC will eventually launch in 2012-2013 time frame.
If you are interested in this program and volunteering, please again contact me at the contact information I provided above or the contact information below.
I am so excited as I continue to move through seminary, learning all I can as I prepare myself to soon be ordained a Catholic Priest and officially be able offer Masses as an Independent Catholic parish in Indianapolis. We will be one of the only Independent Catholic parishes in Indianapolis and there is a great need for such a parish.
That is all for now. Please continue to pray for the ministry, pray for me and pray for the HIV Community of Indianapolis and also I ask a special prayer that the leaders of this great country will guide us out of this terrible double dip recession and move our country back on track so that the many out of work persons may soon have jobs to feed and support their families
Peace,
Br Jeff
Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, M.Div. (Candidate)
Director & Administrator
St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
(952) 556-9171 (fax)
http://www.accus.us
Sunday, November 20, 2011
2011/08/22 Hip Surgery - Update
Dear Friends:
I am schedule for complete hip replacement surgery on my right hip with a new titanium hip for August 30, 2011 at 8:30am EST. I would ask for your prayers during this time. Both my primary care physician, and my orthopedic surgeon both anticipate a routine procedure with no complications based on my recent blood test results.
According the place I will have surgery at 8:30am on the 30th. The surgery can take from 3 to 5 hours. Once completed, I will return to my room (after waking in recovery) and will be in the hospital for 3 days. Hopefully on Friday, September 2, 2011 I will be discharged and allowed to go home. The next month will consist of physical therapy 3 times a week (plus home exercises). My orthopedic surgeon said I should be up on my feet later in the day after surgery and I should be able to resume normal daily living activities after the second week.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.
Peace,
Br Jeff
Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, M.Div. (Candidate)
Director
St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
(952) 556-9171 (fax)
http://www.accus.us
I am schedule for complete hip replacement surgery on my right hip with a new titanium hip for August 30, 2011 at 8:30am EST. I would ask for your prayers during this time. Both my primary care physician, and my orthopedic surgeon both anticipate a routine procedure with no complications based on my recent blood test results.
According the place I will have surgery at 8:30am on the 30th. The surgery can take from 3 to 5 hours. Once completed, I will return to my room (after waking in recovery) and will be in the hospital for 3 days. Hopefully on Friday, September 2, 2011 I will be discharged and allowed to go home. The next month will consist of physical therapy 3 times a week (plus home exercises). My orthopedic surgeon said I should be up on my feet later in the day after surgery and I should be able to resume normal daily living activities after the second week.
Thank you in advance for your prayers and support.
Peace,
Br Jeff
Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, M.Div. (Candidate)
Director
St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
(952) 556-9171 (fax)
http://www.accus.us
2011/08/16 Mini-Mester (Summer Session)
Dear Friends:
I am now in class recess until the Fall Semester starts on August 30th. It has been an exciting adventure for me through the Spring Semester and Summer "Mini-Mester". I started out with three classes in the Spring of this year:
* Eucharist and the Mass
* RCIA
During my course of the Eucharist of the Mass I learned about the History of the Mass from the time of Christ through Vatican II and beyond. It was a fast-paced and exciting course with Bishop William Johnson, D.D. as my instructor.
My final project for the class was to provide a video-tape of myself performing a "dry mass" (a mass that in essence goes through all the motions of celebrating mass so that once I am ordained I will be able to perform a real mass like the back of my hand. In my case, in June I made a visit to our Diocesan Office (Diocese of St Luke) and met with my Bishop for three days. It was a very intense but productive meeting. We covered everything from my goals and objectives with the Pastoral & Outreach Center here in Indianapolis, to business administration such as registering as with the Corporations Divisions of the Indianan Secretary of State as a Foreign Not-for-Profit Religious Organization to establish state tax exempt status, to discussing Diocese and Church Administration matter and how with my expertise in the IT world, I might provide support.
In addition, on Sunday, after attending Mass at St. Joseph the Worker, the Pastoral & Outreach Center established by Bishop William Johnson, D.D., I performed my final project for Bishop Bill (with Bishop Bill videotaping my "dry mass"). The good news is that I passed the course and my final project. More about my current grades in a moment.
My other course in the Spring was entitled "RCIA". This is with the Catholic Community the catechism process whereby an non-catholic learns about the Catholic Faith and then makes an informed decision as to whether to become a member of the Catholic Community. RCIA stands for Rites for Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a standard course that is taught in most Catholic communities including our Roman brothers and sisters.
I attended RCIA and converted to Roman Catholicism officially in March 11, 1982. Under the direction of Associate Chaplain at the St. Paul's Cardinal Newman Center in Bloomington, IN, Fr. Jeremiah Cullinane Baptized me within the Catholic Faith, Confirmed Me, and provided my First Holy Communion and became a member in full communion with the Roman Catholic church on that date. The date that I was accepted to ACCUS and St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center as member of the Independent Catholic community an a seminarian was March 28, 2011.
Within our RCIA course I learned to do what Fr. Cullinane provided for me - to lead a class on RCIA in accordance with the liturgy schedule. Our final project was to establish a syllabus which we could use once ordained in preparing RCIA classes in the future. I passed my final and the course as well.
With about a week break, I began what St. John XXIII Theological Institute (seminary) calls the summer "Mini-Mester". It literally takes a full semester of content and compacts it into five (5) weeks.
Msgr Art Spring was my instructor for both of my courses for the Mini-Mester: 1) Intro to Sacred Scripture; and 2) Intro to Theological Reflection. The first provided a high level overview of the history of sacred scripture from the time of its inception to the present. Much time was spent in the details of the sociological, cultural, spiritual and emotional details which shaped the creation of what we know today as the Old Testament and the New Testament. I passed the course successfully.
The other course which Msgr Art taught was "Intro to Theological Reflection". In this course much thought and consideration was given to the different models which have been developed over the years regarding Theological Reflection as well as exploring one of those Theological Reflection models in details. Our final assignment was to prepare a "Critical Incident Report". This is an analysis of our personal interaction with another within a recent time frame and it is a look back at what actually took place in the interaction between myself and the other person, how I could have handled the situation better and reflected on the things which I did not do so well with the interaction. The final result was to then bring God into the interaction and reflect on what could have been done as a Christian and a future Priest from my perspective to have a better out come of the situation. Overall I learned a tremendous amount about where I succeed, where are my pitfalls, and what I can do in the future in interactions with others to avoid those same pitfalls. I passed with flying colors.
OK. Now to the final grades:
* RCIA (Sacraments of Initiation) A-
* Eucharist and the Mass A-
* Theological Reflection A
* Intro to Sacred Scripture A
One grade yet to be determined in my first Supervised Ministry with Bishop Bill.
My fall courses are scheduled to start August 30th. I have a full schedule for the semester as you can see below:
* Early & Medieval Church History: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Foundational Theology: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Pentateuch: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Pastoral Counseling: Instructor: Fr. James Calderone
* Supervised Ministry: Instructor: Fr. James Calderone
I am looking forward to the fall schedule and I wanted to provide to each of you, my supporters, what your support is reaping so far in the training of a seminarian to one day receive Holy Orders, God willing.
A quick update on St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center established here in Indianapolis. You can learn more about St John XXIII POC by going to http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org. I am in the process of recruiting volunteer facilitators whom I will train in September so that in October, four new support groups for the HIV Community will be launched: 1) Newly Diagnosed; 2) Long Term Survivors; 3) Family Members and Caregivers; and 4) Women. For details go to St John XXIII POC's website and download a brochure on the support groups. You can also check out and download a brochure on ACCUS as well as find links to our Facebook websites for St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center, the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), and St. John XXIII Theological Institute.
One last update: St John XXIII Theological Institute has been approved by the Arizona Board of Higher Education as an accredited Theological school. Fr. Bisett, our Registrar for the school, is just waiting on receiving the final paper work! The school offers the following advanced degrees: Master of Divinity (M.Div.); Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.); Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.); and finally a Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.). Special thanks to Fr Bisett, who is also our legal counsel, and Archbishop Harms, our Metropolitan, for making this possible.
Thank you for you continued support and look for an update sometime this fall.
One note - I will be having surgery sometime in the next month to place a titanium hip in my right hip. Years of long distant running has taken it toll. I will let each of you know when exactly I will be hospitalized. The process of hip replacement has become so routine that it usually involves a 3-day in hospital stay, with me being up and walking the same day as surgery. I am told I will be able to resume normal activities with restrictions within a week. I ask your prayers during this time and pray for a speedy recovery as it will occur right at the beginning of the Fall Semester so I'll play catch up on the first week or so.
Peace and Grace to each of you,
Br Jeff
--
Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, M.Div. (Candidate)
Director
St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
(952) 556-9171 (fax)
http://www.accus.us
I am now in class recess until the Fall Semester starts on August 30th. It has been an exciting adventure for me through the Spring Semester and Summer "Mini-Mester". I started out with three classes in the Spring of this year:
* Eucharist and the Mass
* RCIA
During my course of the Eucharist of the Mass I learned about the History of the Mass from the time of Christ through Vatican II and beyond. It was a fast-paced and exciting course with Bishop William Johnson, D.D. as my instructor.
My final project for the class was to provide a video-tape of myself performing a "dry mass" (a mass that in essence goes through all the motions of celebrating mass so that once I am ordained I will be able to perform a real mass like the back of my hand. In my case, in June I made a visit to our Diocesan Office (Diocese of St Luke) and met with my Bishop for three days. It was a very intense but productive meeting. We covered everything from my goals and objectives with the Pastoral & Outreach Center here in Indianapolis, to business administration such as registering as with the Corporations Divisions of the Indianan Secretary of State as a Foreign Not-for-Profit Religious Organization to establish state tax exempt status, to discussing Diocese and Church Administration matter and how with my expertise in the IT world, I might provide support.
In addition, on Sunday, after attending Mass at St. Joseph the Worker, the Pastoral & Outreach Center established by Bishop William Johnson, D.D., I performed my final project for Bishop Bill (with Bishop Bill videotaping my "dry mass"). The good news is that I passed the course and my final project. More about my current grades in a moment.
My other course in the Spring was entitled "RCIA". This is with the Catholic Community the catechism process whereby an non-catholic learns about the Catholic Faith and then makes an informed decision as to whether to become a member of the Catholic Community. RCIA stands for Rites for Christian Initiation for Adults. It is a standard course that is taught in most Catholic communities including our Roman brothers and sisters.
I attended RCIA and converted to Roman Catholicism officially in March 11, 1982. Under the direction of Associate Chaplain at the St. Paul's Cardinal Newman Center in Bloomington, IN, Fr. Jeremiah Cullinane Baptized me within the Catholic Faith, Confirmed Me, and provided my First Holy Communion and became a member in full communion with the Roman Catholic church on that date. The date that I was accepted to ACCUS and St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center as member of the Independent Catholic community an a seminarian was March 28, 2011.
Within our RCIA course I learned to do what Fr. Cullinane provided for me - to lead a class on RCIA in accordance with the liturgy schedule. Our final project was to establish a syllabus which we could use once ordained in preparing RCIA classes in the future. I passed my final and the course as well.
With about a week break, I began what St. John XXIII Theological Institute (seminary) calls the summer "Mini-Mester". It literally takes a full semester of content and compacts it into five (5) weeks.
Msgr Art Spring was my instructor for both of my courses for the Mini-Mester: 1) Intro to Sacred Scripture; and 2) Intro to Theological Reflection. The first provided a high level overview of the history of sacred scripture from the time of its inception to the present. Much time was spent in the details of the sociological, cultural, spiritual and emotional details which shaped the creation of what we know today as the Old Testament and the New Testament. I passed the course successfully.
The other course which Msgr Art taught was "Intro to Theological Reflection". In this course much thought and consideration was given to the different models which have been developed over the years regarding Theological Reflection as well as exploring one of those Theological Reflection models in details. Our final assignment was to prepare a "Critical Incident Report". This is an analysis of our personal interaction with another within a recent time frame and it is a look back at what actually took place in the interaction between myself and the other person, how I could have handled the situation better and reflected on the things which I did not do so well with the interaction. The final result was to then bring God into the interaction and reflect on what could have been done as a Christian and a future Priest from my perspective to have a better out come of the situation. Overall I learned a tremendous amount about where I succeed, where are my pitfalls, and what I can do in the future in interactions with others to avoid those same pitfalls. I passed with flying colors.
OK. Now to the final grades:
* RCIA (Sacraments of Initiation) A-
* Eucharist and the Mass A-
* Theological Reflection A
* Intro to Sacred Scripture A
One grade yet to be determined in my first Supervised Ministry with Bishop Bill.
My fall courses are scheduled to start August 30th. I have a full schedule for the semester as you can see below:
* Early & Medieval Church History: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Foundational Theology: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Pentateuch: Instructor, Fr. Chris Bisett
* Pastoral Counseling: Instructor: Fr. James Calderone
* Supervised Ministry: Instructor: Fr. James Calderone
I am looking forward to the fall schedule and I wanted to provide to each of you, my supporters, what your support is reaping so far in the training of a seminarian to one day receive Holy Orders, God willing.
A quick update on St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center established here in Indianapolis. You can learn more about St John XXIII POC by going to http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org. I am in the process of recruiting volunteer facilitators whom I will train in September so that in October, four new support groups for the HIV Community will be launched: 1) Newly Diagnosed; 2) Long Term Survivors; 3) Family Members and Caregivers; and 4) Women. For details go to St John XXIII POC's website and download a brochure on the support groups. You can also check out and download a brochure on ACCUS as well as find links to our Facebook websites for St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center, the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), and St. John XXIII Theological Institute.
One last update: St John XXIII Theological Institute has been approved by the Arizona Board of Higher Education as an accredited Theological school. Fr. Bisett, our Registrar for the school, is just waiting on receiving the final paper work! The school offers the following advanced degrees: Master of Divinity (M.Div.); Licentiate in Sacred Theology (S.T.L.); Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.T.D.); and finally a Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D.). Special thanks to Fr Bisett, who is also our legal counsel, and Archbishop Harms, our Metropolitan, for making this possible.
Thank you for you continued support and look for an update sometime this fall.
One note - I will be having surgery sometime in the next month to place a titanium hip in my right hip. Years of long distant running has taken it toll. I will let each of you know when exactly I will be hospitalized. The process of hip replacement has become so routine that it usually involves a 3-day in hospital stay, with me being up and walking the same day as surgery. I am told I will be able to resume normal activities with restrictions within a week. I ask your prayers during this time and pray for a speedy recovery as it will occur right at the beginning of the Fall Semester so I'll play catch up on the first week or so.
Peace and Grace to each of you,
Br Jeff
--
Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, M.Div. (Candidate)
Director
St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
(952) 556-9171 (fax)
http://www.accus.us
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
2011/04/12: Acceptance As Candidate for Holy Orders
The process of searching my heart and discernment for my Vocation. It was in my 5th grade Sunday School with my Sunday School Teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Stevenson. The Stevensons had been active in the church since s long as I can remember. They were truly a heaven-sent young couple who had just given birth to a beautiful son, Kevin.
From those discussions several years ago with the Stevensons in my Fifth Grade Sunday School class on Sunday mornings at Lawrence United Methodist Church, I knew even back then I wanted to go into ministry. I just didn't know who, when or how it would take place.
After my experience working as the Youth Director at Plano United Methodist, and realizing my biggest hurdle to ministry was a standing brick wall almost what seemed like 100 ft, I decided to go into secular work as I discovered and finally accepted that I was gay. I was born a gay man who wanted to serve in ministry with my special gift as a youth director/minister/pastor. Well, as mentioned in previous entries, that was never going to happen. In the late 80's early and into the early 90's no church, no matter how progressive would go for a gay Youth Director nor you minister.
____ Now to Present Day.....
Shortly after the midday the week of March 28, 2011, on Wednesday I should mentioned that that on the night before on Tuesday ( March 29th, 2011is), Bishop Williams sent to me a manila envelope. I should note that on class on Tuesday note, at the end of class, Bishop Bill mentioned to me that I should receive the manila envelope some this that week.
I thought, great, I've been in school a little under two months, haven't received any assignments back from the instructor with grades, and now I'm being sent a mysterious manila envelope. I could just imagine it was going to be a "dear john" letter.
As I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! I was accepted as a Candidate for Holy Orders. Remember at this point I had already been accepted to seminary and had started work toward my Master of Divinity Degree, but this was no guarantee that I would be ordained. Now I had confirmation that pending successful completion with my Master of Divinity degree, I would eligible to be ordained first a Deacon and then Holy Orders as a priest. Here is an excerpt of Bishop's Letter to me dated March 28,2011:
Rev. Bro. Jeffrey [sic] Wolfe
XXX N XXXXX Avenue
Indianapolis, IN XXXXX
28 MAR 11 - Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Greetings in Christ Rev. Bro. Wolfe,
Allow me to be the first to officially congratulate you on your Admission into Candidacy for Holy Orders in the Diocese of St. Luke under the Jurisdiction of the American Catholic Church in the United States [ACCUS].
I received word from the Admissions Committee late on Sunday the 27t to proceed with drafting your documents. Included with this letter is your Certificate of Candidacy as well as your Certificate of Eucharistic Minister in ACCUS. The Certificate of Eucharistic Minister allows you to distribute the Holy Eucharist, which will be consecrated by Me and mailed to you as your need arises, to those whom you minister to. The Certificate of Candidacy for Holy Orders allows your to wear the clerical collar while on Official Business within the Diocese of St. Luke or as the Presiding Archbishop of the ACCUS directs. It also allow you to begin work on the projects assigned to you by your Ordinary, who is me - Most Rev. William A. Johnson, D.D., or the Presiding Archbishop of the ACCUS.
With your acceptance into the ACCUS, there comes additional discernment, responsibility and accountability. I would advise fervent prayer, continued Spiritual Direction and communication with me and your Institute Professors as you move along on your journey to Holy Orders. The responsibility is for you to continue and complete your education as set forth by me and those within the John the [SIC] XXIII Theological Institute. The accountability will be to send in monthly reports to the Office of Clergy on all that you do as it pertains to your ministry and your work for the ACCUS.
As you make your report it will allow me to make the decision as to when the Pastoral need is sufficient and your education sufficient so We can make the Call to Orders to Deacon, and eventually Priest. Between your studies and work within the community, your call will be affirmed and the decision to move forward can be easily made with confidence.
Enclosed with this letter are three (3) copies of your Admissions Certificate, one in a buff color and the other two on plain white paper. There are also three (3) copies of your Eucharistic Minister Certificate, one in a Buff color and two on plain white paper. The buff serves as your Official Certificate that you may frame, if you desire. The plain white copies can be he used for making additional copies as you see fit and one for your safe or filing cabinet. Copies will always be on file in the Disocesan Offices and at the National and International Offices of the ACCUS.
Enclosed is a copy of the ACCUS Pastoral Report to the Vicar of Clergy. The form is mainly for Deacons and Priests, but I would like you to use it and send it en each month and account for Following My Callingyour ACCUS activities. There are boxes for the Theological Institute, and for items you can do within the community, as well as your total hours given to ACCUS. These reports are extremely important for me, but they are also important for the ACCUS to account for its activities that the IRS wants information on to justify our tax exempt status as a Religious Organization.
In the coming days I will be sending you Consecrated Hosts for use in your Eucharistic Ministry through the Community. With the Hosts I will be sending a glass Ciborium which you need to use to store the Blessed Sacrament. You do not need to purchase a tabernacle, but I would suggest that you set up a special place for the Ciborium and place it on a Corporal. As to a Vigil lamp, most of us use either a battery powered candle or one which you can plug it into an electrical outlet. Flame candles can be to dangerous and cause unwanted fires.
You will need to purchase a Pyx so you can transport the Blessed Sacrament on your clerical shirt for your ACCUS Ministry. The preferred color is black, but blue or white is also acceptible.
Again, congratulations and welcome to the ACCUS family. If you have any questions or concerns please fee free to let me know and I will do my best to get back with you as soon as I can. I am looking forward to watching you grow and move on the in your journey towards Holy Orders in the Diocese of St. Luke.
May Gods Peace be With You,
/s/ Most Rev. William Johnson, D.D.
Most Rev. William A. Johnson, D.D.
Ordinary - Diocese of St. Luke
I couldn't believe it? It finally was here. I am finally a Candidate for Holy Orders. After first talking with Archbishop Harms almost five (5) years earlier, until now, I am finally in seminary on my way to ordination.
Since I included my acceptance letter in this entry, I thought I would end with this: Within ACCUS, once accepted to seminary and Certified as a Candidate for Holy Orders, the first year the seminarian is installed as a Religious Brother (or Sister). As seminary progresses and the my Bishop feels the time is right, I will be ordained with Deacon's Orders. Typically known as "transitional Deacon's Orders" as it is in the process of eventually becoming a Priest. Finally after completion of my third (e) year, I pray ordination into Holy Orders will start officially my ordained ministry work.
For the time being there is so much work to be done as a Lay minister, Religious Brother and Eucharistic Minister in ACCUS. As a Religious Brother, I am given the title "Rev. Bro." for "Reverend Brother". The work that I had begun almost 5 years ago here in Indianapolis was volunteering and working in the HIV community for Indianapolis. Now as a Religious brother, I can establish a Pastoral and Outreach Center here in Indianapolis. Known officially now as "St. john XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center (POC). Our website address is http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org. As a Lay Religious Brother, I have already begun to identify a need within the HIV community. There are four to five different Care Coordination Centers where HIV+ individuals go to receive FREE services.
Thought support groups exist in Indianapolis, none are specifically targeting certain groups of Individuals in the HIV Community. Through my work over the past five (5) years, I have come to understand the community and it appears that no Support Groups exists for the following targeted audiences: 1) newly diagnosed; 2) long term survivors; 3) Family Members & Care Givers; and, 4) Women & HIV.
You can go to our website and learn more about these support groups. You can read about the different groups, download a brochure, and check out the calendar for current support groups in the Indianapolis area (which are really for anyone with HIV, rather than targeted audiences (which include non-HIV+ persons like Family Members and Caregivers.
Please continue to pray for me as I continue my discernment toward ministry with ACCUS and watch St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach center (http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org) move from POC to POC and parish!
Peace,
Br Jeff
Rev. Bro. Jeff Wolfe
Religious Brother & Eucharistic MInister
Director, St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
http://www.accus.us
From those discussions several years ago with the Stevensons in my Fifth Grade Sunday School class on Sunday mornings at Lawrence United Methodist Church, I knew even back then I wanted to go into ministry. I just didn't know who, when or how it would take place.
After my experience working as the Youth Director at Plano United Methodist, and realizing my biggest hurdle to ministry was a standing brick wall almost what seemed like 100 ft, I decided to go into secular work as I discovered and finally accepted that I was gay. I was born a gay man who wanted to serve in ministry with my special gift as a youth director/minister/pastor. Well, as mentioned in previous entries, that was never going to happen. In the late 80's early and into the early 90's no church, no matter how progressive would go for a gay Youth Director nor you minister.
____ Now to Present Day.....
Shortly after the midday the week of March 28, 2011, on Wednesday I should mentioned that that on the night before on Tuesday ( March 29th, 2011is), Bishop Williams sent to me a manila envelope. I should note that on class on Tuesday note, at the end of class, Bishop Bill mentioned to me that I should receive the manila envelope some this that week.
I thought, great, I've been in school a little under two months, haven't received any assignments back from the instructor with grades, and now I'm being sent a mysterious manila envelope. I could just imagine it was going to be a "dear john" letter.
As I opened it up, I couldn't believe it! I was accepted as a Candidate for Holy Orders. Remember at this point I had already been accepted to seminary and had started work toward my Master of Divinity Degree, but this was no guarantee that I would be ordained. Now I had confirmation that pending successful completion with my Master of Divinity degree, I would eligible to be ordained first a Deacon and then Holy Orders as a priest. Here is an excerpt of Bishop's Letter to me dated March 28,2011:
Rev. Bro. Jeffrey [sic] Wolfe
XXX N XXXXX Avenue
Indianapolis, IN XXXXX
28 MAR 11 - Monday of the Third Week of Lent
Greetings in Christ Rev. Bro. Wolfe,
Allow me to be the first to officially congratulate you on your Admission into Candidacy for Holy Orders in the Diocese of St. Luke under the Jurisdiction of the American Catholic Church in the United States [ACCUS].
I received word from the Admissions Committee late on Sunday the 27t to proceed with drafting your documents. Included with this letter is your Certificate of Candidacy as well as your Certificate of Eucharistic Minister in ACCUS. The Certificate of Eucharistic Minister allows you to distribute the Holy Eucharist, which will be consecrated by Me and mailed to you as your need arises, to those whom you minister to. The Certificate of Candidacy for Holy Orders allows your to wear the clerical collar while on Official Business within the Diocese of St. Luke or as the Presiding Archbishop of the ACCUS directs. It also allow you to begin work on the projects assigned to you by your Ordinary, who is me - Most Rev. William A. Johnson, D.D., or the Presiding Archbishop of the ACCUS.
With your acceptance into the ACCUS, there comes additional discernment, responsibility and accountability. I would advise fervent prayer, continued Spiritual Direction and communication with me and your Institute Professors as you move along on your journey to Holy Orders. The responsibility is for you to continue and complete your education as set forth by me and those within the John the [SIC] XXIII Theological Institute. The accountability will be to send in monthly reports to the Office of Clergy on all that you do as it pertains to your ministry and your work for the ACCUS.
As you make your report it will allow me to make the decision as to when the Pastoral need is sufficient and your education sufficient so We can make the Call to Orders to Deacon, and eventually Priest. Between your studies and work within the community, your call will be affirmed and the decision to move forward can be easily made with confidence.
Enclosed with this letter are three (3) copies of your Admissions Certificate, one in a buff color and the other two on plain white paper. There are also three (3) copies of your Eucharistic Minister Certificate, one in a Buff color and two on plain white paper. The buff serves as your Official Certificate that you may frame, if you desire. The plain white copies can be he used for making additional copies as you see fit and one for your safe or filing cabinet. Copies will always be on file in the Disocesan Offices and at the National and International Offices of the ACCUS.
Enclosed is a copy of the ACCUS Pastoral Report to the Vicar of Clergy. The form is mainly for Deacons and Priests, but I would like you to use it and send it en each month and account for Following My Callingyour ACCUS activities. There are boxes for the Theological Institute, and for items you can do within the community, as well as your total hours given to ACCUS. These reports are extremely important for me, but they are also important for the ACCUS to account for its activities that the IRS wants information on to justify our tax exempt status as a Religious Organization.
In the coming days I will be sending you Consecrated Hosts for use in your Eucharistic Ministry through the Community. With the Hosts I will be sending a glass Ciborium which you need to use to store the Blessed Sacrament. You do not need to purchase a tabernacle, but I would suggest that you set up a special place for the Ciborium and place it on a Corporal. As to a Vigil lamp, most of us use either a battery powered candle or one which you can plug it into an electrical outlet. Flame candles can be to dangerous and cause unwanted fires.
You will need to purchase a Pyx so you can transport the Blessed Sacrament on your clerical shirt for your ACCUS Ministry. The preferred color is black, but blue or white is also acceptible.
Again, congratulations and welcome to the ACCUS family. If you have any questions or concerns please fee free to let me know and I will do my best to get back with you as soon as I can. I am looking forward to watching you grow and move on the in your journey towards Holy Orders in the Diocese of St. Luke.
May Gods Peace be With You,
/s/ Most Rev. William Johnson, D.D.
Most Rev. William A. Johnson, D.D.
Ordinary - Diocese of St. Luke
I couldn't believe it? It finally was here. I am finally a Candidate for Holy Orders. After first talking with Archbishop Harms almost five (5) years earlier, until now, I am finally in seminary on my way to ordination.
Since I included my acceptance letter in this entry, I thought I would end with this: Within ACCUS, once accepted to seminary and Certified as a Candidate for Holy Orders, the first year the seminarian is installed as a Religious Brother (or Sister). As seminary progresses and the my Bishop feels the time is right, I will be ordained with Deacon's Orders. Typically known as "transitional Deacon's Orders" as it is in the process of eventually becoming a Priest. Finally after completion of my third (e) year, I pray ordination into Holy Orders will start officially my ordained ministry work.
For the time being there is so much work to be done as a Lay minister, Religious Brother and Eucharistic Minister in ACCUS. As a Religious Brother, I am given the title "Rev. Bro." for "Reverend Brother". The work that I had begun almost 5 years ago here in Indianapolis was volunteering and working in the HIV community for Indianapolis. Now as a Religious brother, I can establish a Pastoral and Outreach Center here in Indianapolis. Known officially now as "St. john XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center (POC). Our website address is http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org. As a Lay Religious Brother, I have already begun to identify a need within the HIV community. There are four to five different Care Coordination Centers where HIV+ individuals go to receive FREE services.
Thought support groups exist in Indianapolis, none are specifically targeting certain groups of Individuals in the HIV Community. Through my work over the past five (5) years, I have come to understand the community and it appears that no Support Groups exists for the following targeted audiences: 1) newly diagnosed; 2) long term survivors; 3) Family Members & Care Givers; and, 4) Women & HIV.
You can go to our website and learn more about these support groups. You can read about the different groups, download a brochure, and check out the calendar for current support groups in the Indianapolis area (which are really for anyone with HIV, rather than targeted audiences (which include non-HIV+ persons like Family Members and Caregivers.
Please continue to pray for me as I continue my discernment toward ministry with ACCUS and watch St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach center (http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org) move from POC to POC and parish!
Peace,
Br Jeff
Rev. Bro. Jeff Wolfe
Religious Brother & Eucharistic MInister
Director, St. John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center
rev_jwolfe@accus.us
(317) 238-9393 (office)
http://www.stjohnxxiiipoc.org
http://www.accus.us
Saturday, February 19, 2011
How can a gay man be a priest?
Recently I received a question from a friend. The question was essentially "How can a gay man be a priest?".
This person asked a very valid question which required me to carefully think through answering the question with dignity and respect. I share this person's question with you here along with my response. It is a question that often comes up whenever the topic of "gay" and "christian" meet. I do not intend to know all the ways to answer this question. I can only say that my response came from years of myself wrestling with Theology. The opinion here is my own and reflects no opinion for anyone or organization. It is strictly my opinion.
Question:
This person asked a very valid question which required me to carefully think through answering the question with dignity and respect. I share this person's question with you here along with my response. It is a question that often comes up whenever the topic of "gay" and "christian" meet. I do not intend to know all the ways to answer this question. I can only say that my response came from years of myself wrestling with Theology. The opinion here is my own and reflects no opinion for anyone or organization. It is strictly my opinion.
Question:
Jeff,
"Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?" (see Matt 7:3).
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Friday, February 11, 2011
A Brief History of my discernment - VI
I began, finally, to see how my UMC experience from Sunday School, to serving as the Youth Pastor, to becoming Roman Catholic and learning about my personal faith development all came together. It all started to make sense. God wanted my attention and he got it by landing me in a hospital literally on my death bed so he could show me what he can do even with me, a gay man, perform a miracle – saving me! A simple unknown soul to 99.99999% of the world. I couldn't believe it. It was all in a plan. God began to help me differentiate the nuances I saw and felt between UMC and the Roman Catholic Church.
United Methodists are taught that when they have communion, it is a symbol of Christ's body and blood, but in no way represents the actual body and blood of Christ. I supposed this goes back to the broken line of succession when John and Charles Wesley appointed unordained ministers. As a Roman Catholic, I believe in the actual body and blood Christ resides in the host and wine once consecrated by the priest during mass. The unbroken line of succession allowed this to happen. That was the difference I had felt. That was the spiritual connection.
As a United Methodist minister, I would only celebrate communion on Maundy (Holy) Thursday and special occasions. And when I would celebrate communion, it will be only a symbol of the body and blood of Christ. As a Catholic, mass is celebrated every Sunday. Through the power of ordination of the priest (and the subsequent unbroken lines of succession), the same power Christ gave to the Apostles, which is conferred upon the priest so that as priest he may ask God through transubstantiation to have the wafer and wine become the actual body and blood of Christ.
That was the difference I felt between Catholic and Protestant denominations. The unbroken lineage (through the laying on of hands) conveying the same power Christ conveyed to the Apostles. I now I had my answer. I knew where I needed to become a part of Christ's church. With the Catholic faith I believe in transubstantiation. That made all the difference in the world to me and my personal faith. After God literally pulled me back from the grave in 2003 when I was in the hospital, and after the doctor could not explain medically, logically or scientifically why I was still alive, I knew I had my answer. A miracle of faith had occurred. And with that miracle that science cannot explain, how can I not believe in transubstantiation? Much like St. Elizabeth Ann Seton when she converted to Catholicism, three things made a difference in my decision to serve the ministry as a Catholic – the Real Presence of Christ in the consecrated host and wine, Devotion to the Blessed Mother, and the unbroken lineage back to the Apostles. So now I knew within which church I would reside. It would be with the Catholic faith.
But not with the Roman Catholic faith, but an independent Catholic church called the American Catholic Church in the United States which stands to embrace all of Vatican II and as John XXIII understood, realizing that the church is open to all who come, regardless of their station in life. Even today, the Roman Catholic church will not allow professed gay men be accepted into seminary. What if the potential seminarian they turn away because of a disease, becomes the next Thomas Aquinas or John XXIII or John Paul the Great? Most of the great saints have not been without their own cross to bear at sometime in their lives.
I have seen how God can use even me, a gay man, with a chronic, manageable illness, to serve the needs of others. John XXIII said that when he looked at the crucifix and saw Christ's arms wide open, it was an invitation to all – ALL – people no matter what their station in life to come to Him and his Father.
This his how God has brought me to the point of applying to ACCUS. I realize that this was probably way too long, but for me it truly has been cathartic and given me the ability to allow the episcopate and Admissions committee to truly get to know me a little, even before meeting me in person.
Stay Tuned....
Peace,
jeff
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
A Brief History of my discernment - PART V
Working went well and Brian and I began to look for a new home. We had lived for several years in Eagledale (on the west side of Indy near his parents) and then when his parents moved to Brownsburg (an outlying suburb of Indianapolis), we followed and moved in two doors down from them. Brian's family is extremely close. Being an only child, I began to see how a family with siblings operated – supporting one another – loving one another, etc. After about 1 year, Brian and I decided to move out-of-town and found a new home in West Lafayette, IN (the home of Purdue University).
So in May of 2003, we moved to West Lafayette. I was by then working at Eli Lilly as a Senior Project Manager (managing all documentation necessary for FDA approval for new drug trials). So I commuted every day from West Lafayette to Indy. August 2003 I started feeling really bad. Within 24 hours of really starting to feel horrible, I was in ICU at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in West Lafayette, IN and the doctors were desperately trying to find out what was wrong with me.
After 72 hours I was diagnosed with five (5) different deadly diseases, all of which were in my spinal fluid. The physician told Brian on the third night to prepare for a funeral just in case. The doctor who was assigned to me was an Infectious Disease physician named Dr. Barbara Bielska. After almost 6 months in and out of the hospital, one year of level 2 antibiotic treatment (of which for this particular drug I was the only patient in the country that was on it as long as I was) my recovery began – so did a renewal in my faith.
The next several years, I started my recovery. I began looking at my faith again. I realized several years later after my doctor told me that she had no idea how I survived and that I was a one in million on the survival list. I knew. She knew. Brian knew. Brian and my mother's intercession from heaven to God, I am convinced God allowed me to survive and return to my normal state of health. After several years being successful in the secular world, God, once again, was not just tugging at me, he was yanking me back to the church.
None of this could have been possible without the devotion, love, and servant attitude of my best friend and spouse, Brian. His patience even through my anger with God, my short temper tantrums during my recovery and my pitiful attitude, Brian always made me be grateful for what God provided to me and what I have - not what I had lost. He was, in a sense, Christ serving and carrying me during my recuperation. Though God made my recovery possible, if it were not for Brian's love, patience and kindness, I might have lost the gift that God and Christ gave me. For that I will be always and forever grateful for Brian.
I started working on my personal faith development and Brian and I started searching for a church. Low and behold, Brian comes across the ACCUS website. As he read about the Church, he encouraged me to read as well. Brian saw the call in me (don't ask me how he knows, but I truly believe he is empath). He encouraged me to finish my college degree and submit an application to ACCUS. So in 2009 I started back to school and finished my degree with graduation in May of 2009 with my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Medical Sociology. Brian said me we should move back to Indy and I should start a congregation of ACCUS in Indianapolis. I then initiated contact with his Eminence, Bishop Harms and hence began a discussion that lasted for the last few years intermittently. I began the vocation discernment process with ACCUS.
So in May of 2003, we moved to West Lafayette. I was by then working at Eli Lilly as a Senior Project Manager (managing all documentation necessary for FDA approval for new drug trials). So I commuted every day from West Lafayette to Indy. August 2003 I started feeling really bad. Within 24 hours of really starting to feel horrible, I was in ICU at St. Elizabeth Medical Center in West Lafayette, IN and the doctors were desperately trying to find out what was wrong with me.
After 72 hours I was diagnosed with five (5) different deadly diseases, all of which were in my spinal fluid. The physician told Brian on the third night to prepare for a funeral just in case. The doctor who was assigned to me was an Infectious Disease physician named Dr. Barbara Bielska. After almost 6 months in and out of the hospital, one year of level 2 antibiotic treatment (of which for this particular drug I was the only patient in the country that was on it as long as I was) my recovery began – so did a renewal in my faith.
The next several years, I started my recovery. I began looking at my faith again. I realized several years later after my doctor told me that she had no idea how I survived and that I was a one in million on the survival list. I knew. She knew. Brian knew. Brian and my mother's intercession from heaven to God, I am convinced God allowed me to survive and return to my normal state of health. After several years being successful in the secular world, God, once again, was not just tugging at me, he was yanking me back to the church.
None of this could have been possible without the devotion, love, and servant attitude of my best friend and spouse, Brian. His patience even through my anger with God, my short temper tantrums during my recovery and my pitiful attitude, Brian always made me be grateful for what God provided to me and what I have - not what I had lost. He was, in a sense, Christ serving and carrying me during my recuperation. Though God made my recovery possible, if it were not for Brian's love, patience and kindness, I might have lost the gift that God and Christ gave me. For that I will be always and forever grateful for Brian.
I started working on my personal faith development and Brian and I started searching for a church. Low and behold, Brian comes across the ACCUS website. As he read about the Church, he encouraged me to read as well. Brian saw the call in me (don't ask me how he knows, but I truly believe he is empath). He encouraged me to finish my college degree and submit an application to ACCUS. So in 2009 I started back to school and finished my degree with graduation in May of 2009 with my Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Medical Sociology. Brian said me we should move back to Indy and I should start a congregation of ACCUS in Indianapolis. I then initiated contact with his Eminence, Bishop Harms and hence began a discussion that lasted for the last few years intermittently. I began the vocation discernment process with ACCUS.
Stay tuned for Part VI coming soon....
Peace,
jeff
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A Brief History of my discernment - PART IV
Even though I was Licensed as Local Pastor in the United Methodist church and was serving as the Youth Pastor, I still attended mass to feed my spirit so that I could continue my quest to become ordained and serve in the ministry. During the year I served as Youth Pastor at Lawrence United Methodist Church, I performed my mother's funeral, held two other funerals for two different youth members of the church (one committed suicide and one died tragically in a motorcycle accident). God seemed to have me at the right place at the right time. I also during that time had the pleasure of performing a wedding of one of my high school classmates. So here I was, a Roman Catholic, serving as Licensed Local Pastor in the UMC, learning by doing on how to perform the functions of a minister (sermons, funerals, weddings). I also realized whether I was ordained in the UMC or the Roman Catholic Church, all of these functions I would still perform. I was still learning and growing. Trying to discern my calling – and my ministry. But the weight of my mother's death, the subsequent difficulties my father found himself in, I needed to get away and sort things out. And yet, there was one other thing that was confounding my faith. That would come next.
The next thing I knew I was on a plane to Dallas for an interview for the Youth Director position at Custer Road UMC. After a world-wind tour of Dallas and Plano by Rev. Donna Whitehead, the Associate Pastor at Plano UMC, I met with the Senior Pastor, the Parish/Parish Staff Relations Committee and some of the Youth. Then Sunday morning I was on a plane back home. Three days after returning to Indy, I received a call from Rev. Whitehead. I was offered the Youth Director position at Custer Road UMC. In my discernment of my ministry, I thought there was never such a thing as too much experience, and I needed to get away. I needed to serve in a church in which I didn't grow up or know everyone since I was a kid. I needed to serve where I was truly looked at as a n adult and full staff member of the Church. And I needed time away from home to sort out my mom's death.
So the following weekend, I packed up, turned in my resignation, and lock, stock and barrel, headed to my new job as Youth Director of Custer Road UMC. My college degree was one class from being complete (I had taken an incomplete so I would not have to pay for the class again because of my mother's death).
I started serving as the Youth Director and things were going well from a job standpoint. But now I had another item to add to the bailiwick of discerning my ministry – realizing my sexual orientation. This was very difficult for me. I literally went to the church sanctuary (since I had a key as the Youth Director) one Saturday night after drinking a bit too much around 2am, went to the altar, and cried for what seemed like an hour. How could God do this too me? I felt like Job. God dangles the carrot of youth ministry in front of me, then, scoops up my support system out from under me (my mother), then shows me there is more that one way to worship him (Roman Catholic vs. Protestant), and finally, makes me gay! How could He do this? What did I ever do to deserve being gay? What church would ever employee a gay youth minister?
After several weeks of this struggle, my performance at work was affected. The Senior Pastor noticed I was distracted and had a complaint about me not sending off a recommendation for one of the youth members for college. That was the straw that broke the camel's back.
I was let go from my position, packed up all my stuff in the middle of the night and by the next day was back home in Indy. I decided that secular work maybe was better for me than ministry. Let's face it – God gave me gifts and talents working with youth and growing a church, but the Roman Catholic Church would not even consider me for the ministry as a priest if I came out and said I was gay. The Methodist Church was more open, but not serving as a youth minister clearly. I decided that secular work was for me. My career as an Information Technology Business Consultant began.
I arrived back I didn't attend any church for a while. I focused on getting settled, finding a job and building a new career in a different direction. I didn't have time to finish school. I had to support myself as my father after my mother died, came out that he had an affair with an 18 year old starting my junior year in high school and she had now moved in with him. Living with my dad just wasn't it for me. So I built a career as best I could. I also realized that for the first time, I was on my own – alone.
In August of 1991, I met the love of my life. Brian came into my life and my whole world seemed to change overnight. His family welcomed me with open arms like one of their own. I met Brian August 10, 1991. My father died November 22, 1991, while I was waiting for him at a restaurant (he said he would buy me dinner for my birthday). So, another funeral, but this time I had support – I had Brian. And he was wonderful. I don't think he will ever realize how much he meant to me during that time. But even though I still felt like Job, at least God gave me a support system again. And over the next several years, Brian and I built a life together. It wasn't perfect. I was still new to being gay, and during my realization of being gay in Texas, didn't do some very “ministerial” things. I had a lot to learn about life, love and sharing my life with someone.
Brian was a member of All Saints Episcopal Church. That was a wonderful experience. Much like when I arrived at St. Paul's for the first time, All Saints, even though protestant, had much of the catholic liturgy. In fact, All Saints performed high mass since the Cathedra (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathedra) was situated in the sanctuary. At All Saints I began to see how I could still be called to ministry and be gay. In fact two of the priests at All Saints were gay and about ½ of the congregation (avg 200 in attendance any given Sunday) was gay or lesbian. So I began attending at All Saints.
I continued my secular career which seemed to continue to succeed very well. Though I still had not finished my degree, I received lots of training. Technical, Managerial and Project Management. I ended up working, after about 12 years with Brian, at IBM as a Project Manager.
Look for the next Part... Part V of A Brief History of my discernment sometime next week....
Peace,
jeff
SPECIAL NOTICE... Accepted to Seminary!
When considering ordained ministry, most mainline denominations have two processes which usually must be performed by potential candidates.
The first and foremost is deciding where to attend seminary and obtain acceptance to a Master of Divinity Program (3 Year Graduate Program). Most Master of Divinity Programs are designed to help prepare ministers, pastors, and priests for full-time ministry in a local church, congregation or parish.
However, just being accepted to a Master of Divinity Program does not necessarily that the student will be ordained with his church (or denomination) once graduating from the Master of Divinity Program.
Most mainline processes have a second process which typically is administered by the church or denomination to help with a candidates discernment and determine if the potential candidate is truly received God's calling to full-time ordained ministry (as opposed to simply lay ministry as a member of a local church, congregation or parish).
If you have been following my blog, you already have an idea of the process for the United Methodist Church. First potential candidate must declare his candidacy to apply for ordination within the United Methodist Church. This declaration is normally to the local staff/parish relations committee. If the committee accepts the candidates declaration based on requirements from the Book of Discipline (church law for the United Methodist Church), then the declared candidates next step is to be certified as a candidate for ordained ministry. This is normally after a number of examinations are performed usually by the district superintendent (much like a local diocesan bishop for a particular territory who has charge over several local churches). This the candidate succeeds, then he is certified by the Board of Ordained Ministry as a candidate for ordained ministry. Once this process is completed, either before (while the student is still completing college degree) or between college and seminary (or during the first year of seminary) the certified candidate for ordained ministry is assigned as a student local pastor to a local church so that he may begin the mentoring process by local pastors to learn the ropes of local church ministry.
Within the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), after being accepted to seminary as a First Year Theology student, the student if desiring to receive Holy Orders (be ordained priest) he or she must apply to be considered a Candidate for Holy Orders through the church (in this case to the Archbishop, Vocations Director, and Admissions Committee of ACCUS). Only the church can grant candidacy for Holy Orders.
I have completed the first step (applying for seminary) and I am pleased to announced that I have been accepted as a First Year Theology student at St. John XXIII Theological Institute (an ACCUS sponsored seminary) in the Master of Divinity Program. My matriculation will begin with the summer mini-semester (the beginning of the school year for St. John XXIII TI) on July 5, 2011.
Within the next week or so I will submit my Application to be accepted as a Candidate for Holy Orders within the American Catholic Church in the United States (http://www.accus.us).
I wanted to make this announcement as I am extremely excited to be admitted to the Master of Divinity Program and I am so looking forward to starting my First Year as a seminarian on July 5, 2011 at St. John XXIII Theological Institute.
Now Look for Part VI of my Discernment Process as I continue sharing my story with you...
Peace,
jeff
The first and foremost is deciding where to attend seminary and obtain acceptance to a Master of Divinity Program (3 Year Graduate Program). Most Master of Divinity Programs are designed to help prepare ministers, pastors, and priests for full-time ministry in a local church, congregation or parish.
However, just being accepted to a Master of Divinity Program does not necessarily that the student will be ordained with his church (or denomination) once graduating from the Master of Divinity Program.
Most mainline processes have a second process which typically is administered by the church or denomination to help with a candidates discernment and determine if the potential candidate is truly received God's calling to full-time ordained ministry (as opposed to simply lay ministry as a member of a local church, congregation or parish).
If you have been following my blog, you already have an idea of the process for the United Methodist Church. First potential candidate must declare his candidacy to apply for ordination within the United Methodist Church. This declaration is normally to the local staff/parish relations committee. If the committee accepts the candidates declaration based on requirements from the Book of Discipline (church law for the United Methodist Church), then the declared candidates next step is to be certified as a candidate for ordained ministry. This is normally after a number of examinations are performed usually by the district superintendent (much like a local diocesan bishop for a particular territory who has charge over several local churches). This the candidate succeeds, then he is certified by the Board of Ordained Ministry as a candidate for ordained ministry. Once this process is completed, either before (while the student is still completing college degree) or between college and seminary (or during the first year of seminary) the certified candidate for ordained ministry is assigned as a student local pastor to a local church so that he may begin the mentoring process by local pastors to learn the ropes of local church ministry.
Within the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), after being accepted to seminary as a First Year Theology student, the student if desiring to receive Holy Orders (be ordained priest) he or she must apply to be considered a Candidate for Holy Orders through the church (in this case to the Archbishop, Vocations Director, and Admissions Committee of ACCUS). Only the church can grant candidacy for Holy Orders.
I have completed the first step (applying for seminary) and I am pleased to announced that I have been accepted as a First Year Theology student at St. John XXIII Theological Institute (an ACCUS sponsored seminary) in the Master of Divinity Program. My matriculation will begin with the summer mini-semester (the beginning of the school year for St. John XXIII TI) on July 5, 2011.
Within the next week or so I will submit my Application to be accepted as a Candidate for Holy Orders within the American Catholic Church in the United States (http://www.accus.us).
I wanted to make this announcement as I am extremely excited to be admitted to the Master of Divinity Program and I am so looking forward to starting my First Year as a seminarian on July 5, 2011 at St. John XXIII Theological Institute.
Now Look for Part VI of my Discernment Process as I continue sharing my story with you...
Peace,
jeff
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Brief History of my discernment - PART III
Before I continue with Part III of a Brief History of my discernment, I want to provide a clarification for those who may be considering a vocation in the priesthood. As I have found out, there are actually two applications which need to be completed and submitted. The first one is a fairly short one and determines whether or not you will be accepted by the seminary to become a first year student. Just because you have submitted your application for seminary and you have been accepted, this does not mean nor guarantee that you will be ordained a priest.
A second and longer application is required if you choose to pursue becoming a priest. This application is called "Application for Holy Orders". This particular application is submitted directly to the Archbishop who has sole determination as to whether you have a calling to be ordained or not.
For me this past Saturday, I have submitted my application to attend seminary at John XXIII Theological Institute to pursue a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. This degree program is typically designed to prepare the ordination candidate for full-time ministry. This degree for the most part is the same whether you are applying to a Catholic seminary or a Protestant seminary - at least in the mainline churches. However, the actual courses differ based on whether you are to be ordained in the Catholic church or the Protestant church. For instance, the Catholic curriculum is a bit more heavy on liturgy (Mass Practicum , etc.). The Protestant may focus on areas other than liturgy, such as Pastoral Counseling.
I am waiting to find out if I am accepted to attend seminary at John XXII Theological Institute this year. The Application for Holy Orders is much more detailed in the questions and requires almost an essay like format to respond to the detailed questions. This is the portion of the application which is critical for the Archbishop to determine if one is truly called of God for ordained ministry or not. In addition to the Application for Holy Orders, a detailed background check is performed along with a drug test (if determined necessary by the church). As an ordained priest, you will be one who will have the faith and trust of the public. Within the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), the church in which I am pursuing my Master of Divinity degree and, God willing, ordination, it has a Zero-Tolerance policy for sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse. This is even more important since the Roman Catholic Sex Abuse scandal broke onto the scene in 2002.
I am pleased to announce, as is the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), that since its inception back in 1993, there has NEVER been charges of sexual abuse or harassment, NO even rumors of such behavior in the history of the church. This is extremely important to ensure the public's trust in the church and in particular the priest(s) who serve the congregation.
I submitting my application for Holy Orders the end of this month (January 31, 2011). I ask for your prayers that God's will be done and that the tug I have been feeling all my life truly is God calling me to serve his church.
Finally I had begun the process to enter the ministry. Shortly after Declaring my candidacy, I went before Parish/Staff Parish Relations Committee to answer the questions specified in P310 of the Book of Discipline for United Methodist Church. I successfully completed my interview and shortly after was Certified as a Candidate for Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church. That process as well is specified in the Book of Discipline as follows:
A second and longer application is required if you choose to pursue becoming a priest. This application is called "Application for Holy Orders". This particular application is submitted directly to the Archbishop who has sole determination as to whether you have a calling to be ordained or not.
For me this past Saturday, I have submitted my application to attend seminary at John XXIII Theological Institute to pursue a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree. This degree program is typically designed to prepare the ordination candidate for full-time ministry. This degree for the most part is the same whether you are applying to a Catholic seminary or a Protestant seminary - at least in the mainline churches. However, the actual courses differ based on whether you are to be ordained in the Catholic church or the Protestant church. For instance, the Catholic curriculum is a bit more heavy on liturgy (Mass Practicum , etc.). The Protestant may focus on areas other than liturgy, such as Pastoral Counseling.
I am waiting to find out if I am accepted to attend seminary at John XXII Theological Institute this year. The Application for Holy Orders is much more detailed in the questions and requires almost an essay like format to respond to the detailed questions. This is the portion of the application which is critical for the Archbishop to determine if one is truly called of God for ordained ministry or not. In addition to the Application for Holy Orders, a detailed background check is performed along with a drug test (if determined necessary by the church). As an ordained priest, you will be one who will have the faith and trust of the public. Within the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), the church in which I am pursuing my Master of Divinity degree and, God willing, ordination, it has a Zero-Tolerance policy for sexual harassment and/or sexual abuse. This is even more important since the Roman Catholic Sex Abuse scandal broke onto the scene in 2002.
I am pleased to announce, as is the American Catholic Church in the United States (ACCUS), that since its inception back in 1993, there has NEVER been charges of sexual abuse or harassment, NO even rumors of such behavior in the history of the church. This is extremely important to ensure the public's trust in the church and in particular the priest(s) who serve the congregation.
I submitting my application for Holy Orders the end of this month (January 31, 2011). I ask for your prayers that God's will be done and that the tug I have been feeling all my life truly is God calling me to serve his church.
Now to Part III....
So during my first three years of college, I began to see the nuances and differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the different denominations of the Protestant Church. John felt Christians had to act on their faith, and so the Methodist church became a huge supporter of social justice, which even today can be seen by the direction, sermons, and monetary support the United Methodist Church exerts toward social justice.
So during my first three years of college, I began to see the nuances and differences between the Roman Catholic Church and the different denominations of the Protestant Church. John felt Christians had to act on their faith, and so the Methodist church became a huge supporter of social justice, which even today can be seen by the direction, sermons, and monetary support the United Methodist Church exerts toward social justice.
The Roman Catholic Church, however, seemed much different. It seemed to “feed” my faith when I attended mass so that I could go into the secular world during the week with a renewed spirit of Christian faith. The Roman Catholic Church, through its liturgy, spoke to my faith, my spiritual life and as a result affected my personal behavior. This church was where I felt God speaking to me personally, directly – I wasn't just “acting” like a Christian, but I wanted to BE a Christian in every sense of the word. However, as far as my vocation went, I felt I needed more time and so I continued to attended Lawrence UMC during the summer years of my college days.
The spring of my freshman year in college, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. This was a blow that affected me for the next four years. As a result, my grades suffered. During my junior year in college I received a phone call from my father late one night. My mother was in the hospital – her breast cancer had metastasized to her brain. Her prognosis was grim. So my senior year, I moved back home, attended IUPUI and took care of my mother. Being away from St. Paul's was difficult, but I thought this an opportunity to explore being a minister in the UMC. If God was going to call me to serve, I wanted to get it right. I wanted to be exactly where he wanted me to be. So I began the process my senior year in college of Declaring my Candidacy for Ministry in the United Methodist Church. This was a process that according to the UMC's Book of Discipline (it's their church law), the steps I took were as follows:
- Contact your pastor, district superintendent (DS), or another deacon or elder
- Read The Christian as Minister (recommended, not required)
- Participate in Ministry Inquiry Process (recommended, not required)
- Member of The United Methodist Church or baptized participant of a recognized United Methodist campus ministry or other United Methodist ministry setting for one (1) year
- Apply to DS [District Superintendent] in writing, including statement of call; ask for admission to candidacy program and assignment of a candidacy mentor
- Complete candidacy online enrollment and $75 payment
- Complete beginning stages of candidacy with candidacy mentor
- High school degree or equivalent is required
- Request interview by Pastor/Staff Parish Relations Committee or equivalent in your ministry setting; provide statement of call; and responses to disciplinary questions in ¶310
- Request recommendation by charge conference or equivalent as specified by district committee
- Continue candidacy program with candidacy mentor and academic requirements
Finally I had begun the process to enter the ministry. Shortly after Declaring my candidacy, I went before Parish/Staff Parish Relations Committee to answer the questions specified in P310 of the Book of Discipline for United Methodist Church. I successfully completed my interview and shortly after was Certified as a Candidate for Ordained Ministry in the United Methodist Church. That process as well is specified in the Book of Discipline as follows:
Completion of the following:
- Written response to ministry questions in ¶311.2a as well as ¶310
- Psychological assessment, criminal background, and credit check
- Notarized statement certifying have neither been accused in writing nor convicted of a felony, misdemeanor, or any incident of sexual misconduct or child abuse
- Provide other information upon request
- Agree to make a complete dedication to the highest ideals of the Christian life
- Examination and approval by district committee on ordained ministry
- Annual recommendation by charge conference
- Annual interview and approval by district committee
- Annual report of satisfactory progress of studies and copy of transcripts from university or school of theology
It was during this time, my mother continued to deteriorate in her health and my father was becoming affected by my mother's illness. I became the primary household manager for our home taking care of my mother, attending a class now and then to work toward my degree, and attempted to take care of the house while dad struggled with mom's illness. It was, at the least, my first test on my faith and how I would handle it when bad things happen to good people – especially in my family.
I wanted my mother to know I was OK. I didn't want her to worry and she was so proud that I would be going into the ministry. I couldn't wait to complete my college degree and start seminary because my mother would be long gone before my ordination. So, as the Book of Discipline allows, once a Candidate for Ordained Ministry is Certified and continuing their education (which I was, but clearly not a full schedule), I applied to become a Licensed Local Pastor within the UMC. My mother would be able to see serving as a licensed (not ordained) minister in our church serving as the Youth Pastor. The process to be a Licensed Local Pastor according to the Book of Discipline is as follows:
Local Pastor - Completed candidacy certification, licensed, and assigned a clergy mentor ¶314
- Certified candidate for minimum of one (1) year, maximum twelve (12) years
- One (1) year in service ministry
- Completion of one-half the basic graduate theological studies to be eligible for commissioning
- Health certificate completed by medical doctor
- Written and oral doctrinal exam and written autobiographical statement
- Interview and recommendation by three-fourths vote of district committee
- Interview and recommendation by the board or ordained ministry
- Election to provisional membership by clergy session
Commissioned to ministry of elder or deacon as provisional member
The day I was Licensed by my Bishop, Bishop Hodapp, my Senior Pastor (Rev Dale Miller) and Associate Pastor (Rev. Dr. Robert H Bennett) laid hands on my head during a special service at the church. Shortly after I was Licensed as a Local Pastor, my mother died. I was licensed as a Local Pastor in May of 1986. My mother passed on October 22, 1986. At least my mother, in her eyes, saw that her son would be ok without her and was “in her eyes” a minister (even though I was only licensed and not ordained). My License was for one (1) year per the Book of Discipline and each year would have to be renewed until I completed my theology studies (M.Div.) and became ordained.
Look for Part IV later this week....
Peace,
jeff
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