Dear friends,
I’m so happy to share with you some updates on my life and on the journey I have been on for the past few years. For quite a while now I have been actively involved in the life of the ACF: from leading services to children’s church, from organising events to making the ACF calendar, from webdesign to being a warden, and so on. During this time I was blessed by this wonderful church community, who has encouraged me in my gifts, bore with me when emotions and enthusiasm were running wild, and let me try out many different things.
As of yesterday it is official that I will pursue all things ‘church-y‘ in a more serious way, by starting training for becoming an Anglican priest. My course of study will start this September and be long-distance, meaning that most of it is going to be conducted online. During the three years of initial training I will have to go to England ever so often for residential weekends and summer school, after which I would first be ordained a deacon, and then eventually as a priest.
The journey to this point has been quite drawn-out due to interregnums, the pandemic and family responsibilities. About 10 years ago I was asked me to become part of the All Age worship team, which I enjoyed immensely. One thing led to another, until in 2017 I was pointed into the direction of exploring my vocation further.
Soon after I travelled to London to an ‘enquirer’s weekend’ that was organised by the Diocese in Europe, for people like me worshipping in Church of England churches on the continent. This wonderful experience was followed by many months of paperwork: questionnaires, essay-writing, safeguarding training, background checks and so on.
In 2020, just a couple of weeks before the first lockdown, I went to London again for my official interviews with our bishops. Following this, my official discernment process came to a bit of an halt, during which I was able to be more involved here at the ACF and to grow and learn some more. I also continued to be ecumenically active here in the village I live at.
This past September I officially re-entered the process, and after some more paperwork (yet again!) I attended the first part of a two-stage selection process, which is not done by the diocese, but centrally for the whole Church of England. These first interviews were conducted on zoom and resulted in me being put forward to the second stage. In between those two stages I started getting things organised with the college, to be prepared, should I be accepted, having meetings with my vocations adviser and having a psychological assessment.
The stage 2 panel involved me going to London and taking part in a two-day stay with other candidates from all over England, and the advisers that took the interviews, observed the group exercise and wrote the reports.
After a long 10 -day-wait I finally was told yesterday that the advisers had recommended me to start training, and I received the official letter from the bishop.
I’m so thrilled that this long process has led to me being able to start studying. It has been such a rollercoaster ride over the past few years, during which the Holy Spirit’s still small voice kept on insisting that I’m on the path God wants me to be on. But also you, my wonderful ACF friends, have been such a blessing to me: your willingness to let me explore and try things out and your patience, humour, kindness, prayers, practical help and encouragement have meant the world to me! I, and my family, thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
I’m very much looking forward to begin training and am aware that this time of studying, too, will come with it’s joys and challenges. So: thank you for continuing to pray and cheer for me!
With blessings,
Christine
19th July 2023
Freiburg Anglican Church 