This Saturday all the clergy in the Anglican Diocese of the Great Lakes (Eastern District) will renew their vows. The service is done every year. Each year the clergy come together to remember those most sacred vows taken at ordination. (You heard some of them re-iterated on February 20 when I was instituted as Rector). For priests there are vows to:
Fr. Sean’s Ordination to the Presbyterate (Priesthood) 2008
Believe Jesus Christ has called you to service in the Church under her canons (law)
Believe Holy Scripture contains all things necessary to salvation and be determined to instruct the people under your charge
Diligently minister the doctrine, sacraments, and discipline of Christ as commanded by Jesus and received by the Church
Banish and drive away erroneous and strange doctrine using public and private admonitions and exhortations
Be diligent in prayer and reading Scripture laying aside distractions
Frame and Fashion one’s life and the life of his family according to the doctrine of Christ as an example
Maintain and set forward quietness, peace, and love among Christians and congregation
Obey the bishop and other chief ministers according to the canons following with glad mind and good will and submitting to his judgements. (2019 BCP, 491)
There is a reason that the responses to the last seven is “I will, the Lord being my helper.”
All four orders of Churchmen (members of the Church) exist in a framework of vows.
The Confirmation of Nathan Hanners, 2022
The Laity take vows at Baptism to their children and godchildren. At Confirmation the laity renew vows to God in the presence of the Church. In the service of Holy Matrimony a man and woman take vows to each other. In almost all of our services witnesses take vows to support each other in their life in Christ. In leadership, the Vestry takes vows to Scripture as the Word of God and “to the doctrines, discipline and worship of the Anglican Church in North America.” Assistant Clergy, Lay Catechists and teachers are admitted to their positions to teach the Faith under the authority of the Rector who represents the bishop to his congregation.
Some of you might recall the daunting words I said at my institution, “I recognize your episcopal authority. I promise to be a faithful shepherd to your flock, the Lord being my helper” (2019 BCP, 516).
The Laity (as members of the parish) and the Clergy (as members of the diocese) are united in a complex web of vows explicit and implicit. The reason is that we - as fallen human beings - are selfish and do not like submission. And we need to be united in covenantal love.
Satan’s and the Adam and Eve’s first sin of Pride and Rebellion. St. Anselm tells us this caused them to lose original Justice. As we look around at a world ruled by pride and rebellion with leaders who are tyrannical and domineering with their authority and unduly rebellious citizens and subjects creating chaos under them.
Our Lord Jesus is clear in his empowering his Apostles (John 20:21-23), but he is also clear how they are to rule. They are to govern in love as servants (Matthew 20:25-28). Bishops (and later priests are to be “spiritual fathers” to their congregations (1 Cor. 4:15) and even younger clergy as we see with the Apostle Paul and St. Timothy (see St. Paul’s First Epistle to Timothy).
I confess that the Renewal of Vows service where I renew my ordination vows and loyalty to the bishop and his successors in all things biblical and lawful is not an easy thing for me. Past hurts, incompetent and (even heretical) bishops in my past give me pause. But the Kingdom of God is more important and my obedience to God and His Church is most important. St. Peter knew it would be difficult. That is why he directly writes to all the Church in his first catholic epistle:
So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you;not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. 5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (I Peter 5:1-5)
I share this with you because at St. Anselm (and the larger church) we are to look different from the world submitting to one another in love and being governed and governing in Christ-like love. Governance and authority are part of God plan to unite us in service to Him and His goals. It is important to understand that I along with each of you are “men under authority.” In the Church and we submit to Christ by the Scripture as interpreted by the bishop (and his ministers’) spiritual authority in accordance with canon law (law created by the bishop, clergy and laity in synod). In this all of us are our brother (and sister’s) keeper. These vows are daunting, but also precious things. As Anglicans we have inherited these great gifts not just of Faith but also of authority and Church discipline. Let us endeavor to keep them, the Lord being our helper. Pray for me as I pray for you.