I'm a young woman training to be a priest - AMA

[humanwinginglife]

As the title says. Any questions I'd be happy to answer!

Are you in the UK? If so, there are plenty of jobs advertised in the Church Times. I don't have any tips other than be honest and be yourself! Personality goes a long way

I would advise you to speak to safeguarding if you feel as uncomfortable as you do. It could well have been a misuse of power and status. Either way, it's wrong and if it's making you feel like this that is what I would recommend.

Nope, I don't believe that at all. I believe all those things can be achieved without a dog collar also! I just felt called to be a priest.

It really does change week by week and depends on your area but outside of usual Sunday services my week can look like: sermon writing, worship planning, academics (if you choose to continue further), occasional offices, admin, meetings (PCC, MAC etc), baptism/confirmation prep, funeral visits, hospital visits, home communion, community work, care home communion etc etc.

Thanks for your question! Unfortunately it can very very easily become the latter at times but I always try and see/do good even within those situations. I try and see it as what Jesus did, consistently having to reign people in or tell people off or calm people down etc! We are in a human world therefore it's part and parcel. I always enjoy a Sunday service as it all seems to melt away in that moment!

So for me I always use theology, history and context with passages such as these. If I'm not mistaken, that particular passage was in response to a church who had, often pagan women (no disrespect, just history), ranting, raving, questioning everything in what would now be deemed a disrespectful manner. Also, the biblical example of Priscilla and Aquila - it was not ever a done thing for a woman's name to come before that or her husbands. Yet in the scriptures she taught and ministered and it is thought was held to a higher degree than her husband. Also archeological discoveries and painting from similar times to that of the books of the Bible showing women as leaders etc... so in answer to your question, I absolutely do believe women can be in positions of leadership.

I'm definitely not charismatic. I just feel called to that role and have also had unfortunate experiences which make me believe these forces absolutely exist (in my eyes).

Hope that helps!

The first one was okay as it only consisted of a day. The second was hard, 8 interviews and being away from home and 'watched' for 2 days was exhausting. Also, waiting for the phone call from the Bishop to see whether I'd been accepted was torture! But that's because I wanted it so so so much and knew my calling was real! Looking back now, it wasn't as scary as I thought at the time!

Interesting thread. There's a lot of bullying in the clergy field and many young priests are leaving curacy early or changing churches to complete their curacy. I think Bishops are being drawn into more and more bullying accusations as curates struggle with their open minded equality and inclusion views (yay!) but their overseeing Reverends do not agree and do not approve. Its causing tensions all over the place (you only need to read Clergy Twitter to see it!).

As a divorced woman with good moral inclusive opinions you are the next generation of clergy that can change the church forever (for the better!) but does your Bishop support you, is your Diocese traditionally non diverse and Conservative or are they inclusive and ready for the imminent change?

Good luck OP you'll need it. Church of England is chaotic at the moment and PM me if you're on Clergy Twitter. I'll follow you :) I'm not clergy but I am a holy trouble maker fighting for change.

Not a question so much as a plea for when you get your first church. Please could you state clearly on the website the church's position (so clergy, congregation etc) on members of the lgbtq+ community? honestchurch.org.uk/ I think has some useful resources, sure there are others. This is coming from someone desperate to find a church community in my new town but getting very disenheartened with having to email all the different churches to check if I'd be welcome there!

There is indeed unfortunately :( such a shame!

Thank you so much for your support. My bishop is very good to be fair and is currently advocating for same-sex marriage etc! My diocese is very good albeit a couple with very traditional views but I suppose in any workplace there will always be one or two!

Also I've never heard of clergy Twitter?! Please do enlighten me!!

I have screenshot this (brain like a sieve!) and will absolutely make it a priority.

I'm so sorry your struggling, it should NEVER be the case!

Thanks so much! That means a lot

Lots of clergy, curates and Bishops on Twitter. It's a great resource and a fab way to talk to like minded people. It's also very very funny at times. My fave one was C of E bingo, which was shared by mainly C of E priests. Very dark humoured 🤣

It's a great support network, brings up challenging topics for discussion and we learn a lot this way.

In my experience the higher up you go, the more welcome you are - so High Anglicans are fine with LGBTQ but low church modern happy clappy types aren't. Counter-intuitive but that's what I've found.

Maybe OP could explain why.

Interesting thanks. I'm in Wales so I guess that would be OP's church, CiW? I'm English though and never really got on with CofE, or Catholic churches, and I definitely don't do well with High Church bells and smells. No offence to those who do find their faith there, obviously. I'm a member of the URC but the only one within an hour of me isn't registered for same-sex marriage, which suggests not overly welcoming as it's not a difficult process to do in the URC (in that it's allowed, I imagine the endless debates and church meetings about it are hard work!). Or rather, they might be happy to have me but just never thought about it I suppose. I've also been looking at congregational churches as that's often more my vibe and there's a lot round here, but so far no joy. I guess I'm looking for low church, but in a stripped back protestant kind of way, rather than an electric guitar charismatic kind of way

Bicycles, have you tried the Methodist church? They now celebrate same sex marriage (though as it's quite new not all churches will have registered yet) and the whole ethos is very much one of equality and that all are welcome

Fascinating thread. Thank you for doing it.

My question is, if you believe in the devil and demons and possession, how are you not just terrified all the time? I don't mean that to sound trite, if I ever spend just a few minutes imaging what believing in them feels like it come over in a cold sweat.

Not yet but will have a look at my local one, thanks

I'm invested already!! Ha!

Goldfinchonthelawn and Bicycle - I can't explain why I'm sorry as I don't understand it myself, but you are correct, 'low' church seems to be less accepting. It's really upsetting and something we are wrestling with all the time. I have many friends both training for the priesthood and not who are LGBTQ+. I myself am bisexual. It's really tough and so hard but Jesus is about love. Let's always remember that!

I used to be!! And spiritual forces had me like that for a long, long time but now whenever I feel it (unfortunate that something has always followed me around and it would seem all the females in my family) I simply tell them to F off! Mainly because I realise there's actually nothing to fear.

@humanwinginglife
Fascinating thread, thank you. My question is regarding the demons you've experienced - you mentioned earlier on about these experiences, and more recently about something following you and the females in your family. How did they present themselves? Can you physically see them or just feel them? How do you know it's demonic? Sorry for all the questions, this has always fascinated me.

Thank you for your question.

I've never seen them but can sense them - like when your cooking something and someone sneaks up behind you or your in a dark room but you just 'know' someone has entered the room etc. I can often walk in a place and instantly know if something is, what I call, 'off'.

However I have heard their voices and experienced what I guess would be deemed paranormal occurrences - often with no possible rational explanation... like once I and my ex-h at the time (who was an atheist) saw our ceiling literally bounce and draw downwards like it was nothing more than playdoh.

My mum however has seen things with her eyes but only maybe twice.