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Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome – Part 7

This is the final post of a multipart series on Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.
Click here for last week’s post.

Recovering from Ecclesiastical Autoimmunity Syndrome
By Ken Howard

For the last several weeks we have reviewed the causes and symptoms of Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome. Now we turn toward how to treat it. What follows are a collection of ideas about attitudes and practices that might help stop the downward spiral of E.A.S. and start the upward journey toward congregational and organizational health and vitality.

  1. Admit That We Have the Disease. Think of it as joining Autoimmunes Anonymous and beginning something like a 12-Step process of recovery (step one: admitting A.E.S. has taken control of your corporate life). Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome is not only an allergy to change, but also an addiction “to the way things are.” But it is worse than most other addictions, because we are born with it. Our addiction to homeostasis is part of our (sinful) human nature. Like any other addiction, the first step is admitting we have the disease. It’s also perhaps the hardest step, because since we have never not been infected, we don’t really know what “healthy” is, often mistaking the behavioral symptoms of E.A.S. as an heroic defense of “tradition.” Faith-based communities and organizations often have to get very close to death before the reality of the disease breaks through our denial, and sometimes not even then. So start by recognizing that your congregation or organization has E.A.S. and realize that you will always be in recovery. 

    [Read more…]

Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome – Part 6

Today’s post is part of a multipart series on Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.
Click here for last week’s post.

Bishops Who Wannabe (Bishops)
By Ken Howard

Back when I was a Master of Divinity student at Virginia Theological Seminary, all ordination-bound seminarians were required to do two years of field work in one of the many and varied Episcopal congregations in the Washington, DC area. I did mine at St. Mark’s Church on Capitol Hill. This assignment was a blessing to me in so many ways. Among the greater of those blessings was my discovery that it was the home parish of an author and teacher I greatly respected, Verna Dozier, and perhaps the greatest blessing of all was when she consented to serve on my lay advisory committee, and eventually became a trusted mentor and a great source of hard earned wisdom.

The Sunday before I was scheduled to be ordained to the diaconate, Verna took me aside and proceeded to exact from me a solemn promise.

“Ken,” she said, “I know that you do not have a burning desire to dress in purple and wear the funny hat. But I want you to promise me that if you are ever invited to nominated to be a bishop, you will take part in the selection process.”

Of course, I asked her, “Why?”

Her answer startled me with its frankness: “Because one of the biggest problems with the Church is too many of its bishops want to be bishop.” [Read more…]

Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome – Part 5

Today’s post is part of a multipart series on Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.
Click here for last week’s post.

The DMin-ization of the Clergy
By Ken Howard

Have you noticed that more and more clergy are getting DMins these days: going back to seminary for a part-time advanced degree program that culminates in an additional honorific before their name on the church bulletin?

While some might think this positive development, I’m not so sure that this DMin-ization of clergy is entirely a good thing. In fact, I think this proliferation of Reverend Doctors may well be another symptom of Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.

By DMin-ization I mean the increasing numbers of ordained, working clergy pursuing DMin degrees. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t have any problem at all with clergy seeking DMins, IF that’s what God is calling them to do. And while I do not doubt that the vast majority of DMin-seeking clergy believe that’s the reason they are in the programm, my guess is that many (if not most) have merely convinced themselves that is what God wants them to do. [Read more…]

Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome – Part 4

By Ken Howard

Today’s post is the fourth of a multipart series on Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.
Click here for last week’s post.

In this series of blog posts, we are reviewing the signs and symptoms of Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome so that we can learn to spot it before it becomes terminal. So far, we’ve explored how E.A.S. often works in ministry discernment and in seminary. However, Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome is not limited to pre-ordination church systems and processes, but remains just as prevalent after ordination.

Post-Seminary Ministry

In the Episcopal Church, clergy ordination vows include a pledge to be loyal to one’s bishop. Unfortunately, a symptom of E.A.S. in Episcopal bishops is that many seem to almost subconsciously think of that a vow of loyalty is a promise never to express unwanted, yet truthful criticism.

[Read more…]

Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome – Part 3

By Ken Howard

Today’s post is the third of a multipart series on Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome.
Click here for last week’s post.

In this series of blog posts, we are reviewing the signs and symptoms of Ecclesiastical Autoimmune Syndrome so that we can learn to spot it before it becomes terminal. After Commissions on Ministry, the next opportunity for E.A.S. to set in is in seminary.

Seminary

Near the end of my seminary experience, as I sat in front of the Commission on Ministry for my final interview before approval for ordination to the transitional diaconate, my bishop (God bless him) asked me if I could share a metaphor that would honestly capture my seminary experience. My response was that “It felt like a cross between kindergarten and boot camp. They assume you enter without relevant opinions about ordained ministry, and if they find out that you do, the quickly and thoroughly disabuse you of them.”

[Read more…]

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