The 'Free Range' and the 'Priest'
Why accountability is important as we reimagine ministry in the 21st century
When I started my own ministry in 2016, I already knew what I wanted to call it: Free Range Priest.
To me, it spoke of breaking out of what I felt were stifling institutional models of church - and how to serve it - and getting back to the essence and excitement of the disciples in the early church.
There was a vibrance to the name that just spoke to me, and eventually led to my tag line: ‘cage free ministry’ (thanks to my awesomely clever husband…).
But in those early days, not everyone was so enamored of my name.
A colleague surprised me one day, when out of the blue she said: ‘Free Range’ is disrespectful of the authority of the church. It makes it sound like you’ll do whatever you want; that you’re not accountable to anyone’.
I was fascinated that this was her response - and a little put out, too, if I’m being honest!
And I realized she had a point about accountability.
Christianity is risky business. All of us in ministry know that being followers of Jesus - and inviting others along the way - means we’ll be called to wade into the ultimate power of love, and how that changes the world.
And that we will not be in charge.
There will be a myriad of settings and situations that test us, and our weaknesses will be exposed. Sometimes these weaknesses will cause harm to others.
The beauty and strength of serving the institutional church is that accountability is baked right in. We are obedient to our bishops (or other ecclesiastical authority). There are processes and procedures to becoming ordained - and being licensed as a lay minister. There are expected trainings, certifications, conferences and conventions.
There are spiritual directors and confessors.
We do not serve our ministry alone.
When we become ‘Free Range’ - when we seek to serve our ministries in new ways - it’s critical not to lose this accountability.
It’s also tricky to test the boundaries of what it means to be in ministry in new ways and places while also remaining accountable.
That’s why, to me, the ‘Free Range’ part of my title is important, but just as important is the ‘Priest’ part.
In other words, my ministry is steeped in the tradition - and the accountability - of the institutional church. And I push the boundaries on where and how I serve, and with whom.
When I’m teaching tech classes, I’m still a priest.
When I’m celebrating the Eucharist, I’m still Free Range.
In both places, I’m following Jesus, and inviting others to do the same. In both places, I have a community to which I am responsible, a bishop to whom I am obedient, and a God before whom I kneel.
And in both places, I’m stepping a bit outside the box in terms of who I serve, and how.
But I’m never doing it alone, and I’m always accountable to the church, its members and authorities.