We are continuing the series of stories celebrating our soon-to-be Reverends as we head towards the ordination weekend on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 June. Today's story comes from Karen Wheatley.
How was Karen called?
Growing up in a non-church family, I first encountered God in my mid-teens one evening. Troubled and alone at home, I picked up my Bible to try to find help and God met me there in the scriptures. Shortly after this, I was surprised to find myself praying and having an irresistible urge to attend church.
In the 40+ years since then, I’ve continued being part of a worshipping community. It was not until 2016 that my husband Rob and I joined the Church of England, where for the first time I experienced female leadership being modelled.
Slowly, seeds that were already present began to germinate. I felt led to contribute to serve at our church. The worldwide church has been a lifelong area of interest, and I eventually led the team managing the outward giving budget and raising the profile of our mission partners.
A few years ago, I felt drawn to consider investing more of my time in the church. This prompted me to start a process of discernment by tentatively speaking first to a friend and then to my vicar. However, conversations at this stage were not about ordination.
It became clear to me that God wanted me to help equip his church, but some months on, as I was reading ‘Called or Collared?’ (Dewar), the phrase ‘As clergy’ seized me with a realisation that this was the way God was calling me.
This seemed to be beyond the realm of possibility but nonetheless resonated much in my heart. As I began to pursue this sense of call, it was soon confirmed by others, including two believers and one non-believer, who ‘randomly’ asked me if I had ever considered ordination.
As I enter this new chapter, I’m looking forward to treading untrodden paths, knowing Christ’s hand leading and supporting Rob and me. Since that day I first encountered God, although the route has been varied, I have been seeking to follow the way of ‘a long obedience in the same direction’ with Christ as my Pole Star.
“A long obedience in the same direction.”
Eugene H Peterson (quoting Nietsche)