Public Property
Well, today begins my placement in Chipping Campden. Two weeks now and two further weeks in September will satisfy the Ministry Division training requirements. Partly chosen because this is the town where my parent-in-laws live, thus providing the necessary family accommodation. Partly chosen because of the incumbent, David Cook, and the wide spectrum of regular ministry that goes on here.
Many questions and concerns will no doubt receive a dose of wisdom along the way, but the main question, one that may be the make or break of me is this; “What difference does being ordained make?”
This morning, after arriving, was the 9:30 at St.Eadburghas with dedication and 11:00 at St. James with baptism, all fairly standard stuff. In the journey between services came the thinking point for today: being public property.
We have some experience of this of course: when moving into a new job and thus area, community, and house. We have done this three times now and each time it is strange when everyone knows your name and you hardly know anyone; when people know when you have redecorated the lounge and when you go to the doctors. More positively, my experience of doing assemblies in the local infant/junior school means that I often heard my name called as I walked around the estate and supermarkets: “that’s Graham over there”, says the little kid to his parent. Of course this often resulted in little chats in the shop aisle with non-church families.
But it strikes me that being the vicar, the one with the collar, can only add to the public property effect. Michael Ramsey says that being a Priest is about “reflecting the priesthood of Christ and serving the priesthood of all believers.” [The Christian Priest Today, p-111] How does being public property resonate with this understanding. You could say that Jesus is public property and so being public is just part of that reflection. Public property sounds quite functional and degrading though. Does being a vicar mean submitting to the control and inspection of the parish? Or is is it reflecting both the inclusive and welcoming nature of Jesus?
Is being public property part of serving the priesthood of believers because in serving there is a huge element of being available? Servants, in days of old, lived in the house of service and were totally available day and night to their Gents and Ladies. I recently heard a house-for-duty incumbent say it like this; “If someone wants to talk with me as the vicar then these are my hours, if someone needs a priest, then I am available day and night.” Sounds like public property to me!
