Homage to Cam - Rector's Rambling for July 11, 2021

     Today we bid farewell to Cam Walker as a member of the staff of St. John’s, and we do with mixed feelings.

On one hand we are saddened to lose his presence among us here in Detroit, and yet we rejoice at his “next step” of studying for the priesthood at my alma mater, Nashotah House Theological Seminary, in Wisconsin.

Cam became acquainted with St. John’s via the Internet while a college student in Illinois, watching our videos on YouTube and interacting with us via social media.  After an internship at the Washington National Cathedral, he moved to Detroit for law school, but God had other plans for him.  After one semester he gave in to the beginning of that calling, and left law school.  By March we developed a position on staff for him at St. John’s to help with programming and various things that needed attention.

COVID-19 put a crimp in many larger plans that were in the preparation stage to be offered, and like all of us, Cam pivoted with the various changes in requirements and prohibitions to do the best that could be done in these odd circumstances.

The Vestry has made a commitment to support Cam to help him as he pays for seminary, and already one parishioner has stepped forward to help that cause.  If you are able to help, please see me, or the parish treasurer, on how you can support this cause.

God willing Cam will be back on school holidays to preach for us, and update us on the progress of his “ordination track”.

Seminary takes three years.  In that time, Cam will be made a postulant by a bishop, then a candidate by that diocese’s Standing Committee.  We then hope that his bishop will lay hands on him to make him a deacon, and then a priest.  The process (the education, spiritual formation, adoption by a bishop and diocese, and, God willing, ordination) is long and at times tedious.  Cam will be in need of your daily prayers as he progresses, grows, and learns the Lord’s will for him throughout.