Peter, Paul, and the Call to Serve

On June 29, we remembered two of the greatest Saints of the Church, Saints Peter and Paul. Each one has his own day in January, but when I was ordained deacon 44 years ago, June 29 was Saint Peter's Day. Regardless of what we might call it, the 29th of June is very special to me, and I recall the occasion vividly.

I was ordained in Auburn, my family home, at the little church where I had been confirmed and where I had served, during my college years, as a member of the choir and as a licensed Lay Reader.

The Church's practice is to ordain first to the diaconate and then, six months to a year later, to the priesthood. Some clergy today see this as unnecessary, believing that one should be ordained directly to the office to which he or she is called. Thus one called to the diaconate, as is Tina Campbell, would be ordained deacon; another would be ordained directly to the priesthood. There would be no transition between holy orders. I can understand how this makes sense, and how the diaconate should be elevated rather than being considered an apprenticeship.

However, I rejoice that, even for six months, I served as a deacon. And I also believe that once a deacon, always a deacon--that I am both deacon and priest, just as Jerry Lamb is deacon, priest, and bishop. According to traditional thinking, Holy Orders are indelible, just as Baptism is--the Holy Order all of us share.

Peter and Paul were ordained Apostles by Christ. They were sent out into the world--certainly rejoicing in the Spirit. But although they were commissioned by our Lord as his chief representatives, they were no less his servants (which is what deacon implies)--servants of the Lord and his flock--shepherds and servants. And through them and the other Apostles, persons were selected to carry out the Divine Commission: deacons to minister especially to those in need, priests to carry on the sacramental ministry, and bishops to oversee the apostolic work. As Anglican Episcopalians, we believe that our bishops follow a line of apostolic succession that can be traced back to the Apostles themselves.

Of the Apostles Peter and Paul, much can be said, but let it suffice that they were both saints and sinners, both strong and weak, both completely human . . . and they were empowered by God to do the work to which he had called them. And we rejoice that through their ministry, and hopefully through ours as well, Christ's ministry of hope and reconciliation will continue to be manifest in the world.

--Canon Carey