This week I came across an article entitled “My Time as an 'Internet' Priest” by Thom Nickels. The article can be found here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/my-time-as-an-internet-pr_b_7534528
The article illustrates the good intentions, but the pitfalls commonly found in the Independent Sacramental Movement. Fr. Thom was ordained but the question remains to what end was he ordained for. The frustration he experienced was the result of ordaining someone with no real clear purpose or community.
The article looks at dysfunction within his jurisdiction as well as the dysfunction between “competing” jurisdictions. It is frustrating because many people drawn to the Independent Sacramental Movement seek to bring jurisdictions together, but this has been unsuccessful. Why??? I believe there are several reasons for this. First, too many jurisdictions have no laity. The ecumenical movement only works when the faithful have opportunities to gather, pray, converse, and socialize. Moreover, bishops in charge of jurisdictions want to bring other bishops under their power and control, rather than developing a model of communion. A model of communion only works if there are bishops in different geographical areas, but independent bishops have overlapping boundaries. We are far from the ideal of the one bishop per geographical area.
What surprised me was my reaction to Thom’s walking away from ministry. I mourned the loss of clergy who walked away from active ministry. Why? I knew them, the good work that God was using them for, and how they were making a difference. When a person walks away from ISM ministry, is there the same reaction? Often not because there are few if any people affected. Would the religious landscape change in the United States if half of the ISM jurisdictions disappeared overnight? Probably not because many only have an online presence removed from the people who really need the Gospel.
Mainline clergy have left active ministry due to burnout, increased demands, smaller support systems, increasing secularism, denominational infighting, and the lack of support from bishops. I wonder how these issues impact ISM clergy who also face added obstacles of derision, bi-vocational responsibilities, and the lack of community. How can the ISM movement foster but also maintain vocations? I fear that there is so much focus on ordaining people for ministry but not really providing any support after ordination.
I would be curious to know how jurisdictions are providing this kind of needed support especially as members of jurisdictions are spread out. I am curious how ISM clergy find support from one another especially as ISM clergy tend to be fiercely independent. I pray for my brother priests in ministry both in mainline and ISM communities. We are all different but each of us have been called by God. Many are hurting and I hope each person finds love, acceptance and support.
Peace,
Ben