Bishop Doyle's Apostolic Ministry and Ours

Just minutes before the start of the 9 o’clock service this past Sunday I heard that someone had fallen on the steps in the front of the church. I rushed from my office, where I had been meeting with our new bishop, Andy Doyle, to see who it was and it quickly became apparent that the person who had fallen was Joanne’s (Andy’s wife) mother, Mary. Almost instantly it became clear that Andy needed to be with his family at that moment and not leading us in services.

As I have reflected upon all that transpired so quickly on that morning I want to say how profoundly grateful I am to the people of Palmer who acted with such care and poise and competence and calm. On one level we missed seeing and hearing from our new bishop—he will have many more visits in the years to come—but on another level I hope that he and his family will not forget the love and support that they all received from us. That is good. And that is as it should be.

I have been privileged to know quite well all the bishops that I have served. They have all been pastors and friends. I know from every one of them that their work and ministry can sometimes be lonely and hard—just like with any other person in a leadership position. It is important that all leaders have safe places, welcoming places, refueling places, places where they do not have to prove or defend themselves. As Andy starts this new ministry and as he continues in it, I pray that Palmer will be that kind of place for him and Joanne and their daughters, Caisa and Zoe. (What a blessing it was to see their two daughters with “Uncle” Ed Razim about halfway through the 9 o’clock service all huddled up with the Razim boys, Thomas and Alex. It was a snapshot of the Kingdom and the Church at its best.)

And so, as much as we may have missed hearing from Bp. Doyle about his hopes and visions for our common life together, we did—under difficult circumstances—greet and care for him and his family, which is indeed part of the Apostolic Ministry that we share together in Christ’s name and to His glory.