2004

Pastoral Letter on Vocations

Those of us who are traditional Anglicans are convinced that the received Tradition on Faith and Order is the Truth.  If that remains our conviction, each one of us needs to do our part in handing on the faith that we have received from the past.  It is particularly important at this time that we secure a steady stream of faithful and orthodox priests to serve the Faithful and promote the Gospel.  I would like to appeal to different groups in the Church. 

Firstly, each and every Christian layman needs to consider the question whether God is calling him to priesthood.  This appeal is to men of all ages and it could be a call for stipendiary or non-stipendiary ministry.  Since being your Bishop, I have consistently made myself available to potential ordinands and would happily speak with any member of the congregation who wishes to explore the possibility of a call.

Secondly, the whole Christian community needs to constantly hold the need for new priests in the forefront of its life and prayers.  It is not insignificant that the beginning of Jesus' ministry was the call to certain individuals.  As the Church of Jesus Christ, we collectively have a duty to pursue that call and find the right leaders for the future.

 Though this specific letter is addressed primarily to the men in the Church, each one of us male, female, young and old has a part to play in the life and the ministry of the Church of Jesus Christ and it will only be when all of us treat our lives as a vocation that the Church will turn the tide of secularism.  I am much encouraged at the improvement in congregational life in many of our churches and the numbers of those potential ordinands who have already come forward.

My Blessing upon you all in 2004.

+John Fulham