Reflection
Fr. Chris Eade
On May 12, 1979 at Pohick Church in Lorton, Virginia in the Diocese of Virginia, I was ordained priest by the Rt. Rev Robert Bruce Hall. I am writing this the day after the 30th anniversary of that day. It was a remarkable church, designed by George Washington in the style of a Georgian Manor (built in 1769, some 210 years beforehand). My father has been an Episcopal priest since 1951, so my tenure is rather middling.
I do not usually mark such occasions. I almost didn’t notice it, which is partly the reason I didn’t write this a month ago. I’m not sure why I am writing this now other than to take note. I will say even from my days in seminary I always considered the main thrust of my ministry to be teaching and worship.
When I began, I had no notion of where ministry would take me. Big changes were afoot. General Convention during that summer would ratify for the second and final time the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, and reaffirmed the decision to admit women to the Order of Priests and Bishops. I was called as the Assistant Rector of Pohick Church before I graduated from seminary. I stayed a few years then went to a mission church in Georgia (I recently received word that they finally achieved parish status after a more than 100 year history). There I occasionally lectured at a nearby Junior College in Philosophy and Religion.
It was there that I got the school bug: I went to serve as chaplain and teacher at a boarding school back in Virginia. That led to appointment to the faculty at Harvard School in Studio City (before the merger with Westlake Academy). That was why I was the natural choice to go to St. Matthew’s in Pacific Palisades to work with the parish and day school. St. Martin’s is the 3rd such church and school I have had the joy of serving.
The Rev. Albert Jones was my first boss. He loved to say that if you are truly called to it, there is nothing more fun than be an Anglican priest. He also warned of the opposite. He was not much of a preacher and liturgy meant little to him. But he was a loving man and an exceptional counselor. He pushed people to develop their own gifts. He taught me a great deal. And he was right.
My dad, Fr. Father is naturally my greatest mentor. We are very different (he is 5’8 and I am 6’4). I am glad many of you have met him. He just turned 88 so I don’t know how much longer it will be before he goes to God. But so much of what I know and believe is because of him. I wish I were a 10th the priest he is.
Do I have a point? A conclusion? I am glad I became a priest.
