My sacred vows
 When I was ordained into the priesthood, I was required to make certain vows. I had to declare that “I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God,” and I vowed that I would “solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship” of my denomination.
I also was asked if I would “obey your bishop and other ministers who may have authority over you and your work,” and I responded that I was “willing and ready to do so.”
I also had to vow that I would be a faithful pastor, would try to be a wholesome example, would be diligent in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures, would “persevere in prayer,” and, once again, had to promise that I would “be guided by the pastoral direction and leadership of (my) bishop.”
During the solemn service I even had to sign a document containing these promises in the presence of all. The document, a large parchment 11 by 17 inches, was titled “Sacred Vows.” It hangs framed in my office next to my Certificate of Ordination.
Sometimes, I walk to the wall to re-read my Sacred Vows. Usually, I do this when I am tired of the 24-hour demands of ministry, don’t want to pray, am weary of studying the Scriptures, am approaching “burn-out,” or am burdened with trying to serve as an example.
But of all the vows, the most difficult is the vow of obedience to the bishop. It’s not that he leads me astray or gives me wrong advice. He certainly isn’t asking me to forsake orthodoxy and would never think of leading me into any kind of immorality.
Mostly, what the bishop does is call me to be a man of prayer, a man of the Word of God, and a man who is a faithful pastor. In short, he calls me to obey the vows I freely took.
So, why is the vow of obedience so difficult? Because I am a rebel at heart. Because I have selfish ambition that shows its ugly head at inopportune moments. Because there is still something in me that balks at obeying anyone or submitting to anything. My background is American, Protestant, and Southern, so I am three times a rebel and it often shows.
It’s an old problem, as old as Adam and Eve. We’d like to think that such things have passed away, especially in the Church, but Jesus’ own disciples nursed ambitions of being greater than they were.
And history shows that most church or denominational splits occur over the issue of “who shall rule in this place.” With some 30,000 denominations in the United States, that’s a lot of rebellion.
So, periodically, I re-read the vows I made before God and witnesses. And, every year or so, all of the ordained clergy gather together to come before the bishop and renew their vows.
It is a time that tests the heart and reveals smoldering rebellion lurking just underneath beautiful vestments.
And, periodically, the bishops gather together before the Patriarch to renew the same vows.
An additional vow that a bishop makes at his consecration is that he will “guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church.”
For a bishop to promote disunity — for a bishop to be a rebel — is unthinkable! Yet, as history shows, bishops can be rebels, too.
Vows are important. They call us to remember what we promised when the “call” was hot and manifest upon our lives. They call us to return to the narrow road when we are tempted to stray.
And vows — the keeping of them or the breaking of them — reveal our true inner character.
In our church, deacons, priests, and bishops get to dress up in robes, stoles, crosses, and other accouterments of our profession and calling. We wear clerical uniforms during the week and are called “father,” or “deacon,” or “bishop” by our flocks.
Bishops may be addressed by some as “Your Grace,” but the true measure of a man and a legitimate indicator of his spirituality is not what he wears or what he is called by others but whether or not he keeps the vows he has made.
Sadly, some deacons, priests, and even bishops will betray their vows, especially when they feel slighted or when ambition is present. It’s an ongoing struggle which is why it is a good thing to re-read the vows and, periodically, renew them publicly.
This past year, in our jurisdiction, all deacons and priests publicly renewed their vows before the bishop. Similarly, just a few weeks ago, our bishops from across the country came before the Patriarch and publicly renewed their own vows, including the most difficult vow, the vow of obedience to those placed over them.
But, before the year is out, if this year is like other years, there will be those men of God who will forsake their Sacred Vows and do damage to the Church of Christ.
As pastors and priests, we often decry the broken vows of marriage all around us, lament that some politicians have betrayed the public trust, and are horrified that some law enforcement officers are found to be corrupt.
But, before we preach too loudly, perhaps those of us who are “of the cloth” should re-read our own vows, examine our own hearts and motives, and take a long, long look in the mirror.
[Father David Epps is the rector at Christ the King Charismatic Episcopal Church on Ga. Highway 34 between Peachtree City and Newnan. The church holds Sunday services at 8 and 10 a.m. Fr. Epps may be contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org. The church has a Web site at www.ctkcec.org.]
login to post comments | Father David Epps's blog
|
