Lighbulb moment?

 

A Lincoln Cathedral variation on the question about how many people it takes to change a lighbulb.

Meanwhile my surprising news is that, after an initial eighteen months of retirement, I am about to step back into stipendiary ministry, albeit only half-time and albeit for a very limited period.

The parish neighbouring the one of which I was Rector 1999-2017, and the one which contains Grimsby Minster, is about to go into vacancy for the second time in less than four years.  Among other things, a newly ordained Curate had already been left without the direct support and supervision she deserves when the now retiring Vicar went off sick a little while ago.

I happened to take the Christmas morning service there (finding, as far as I could see, good people doing a fruitful job) totally unaware that the call would come a few weeks later.

So an ordinary day last month took an unexpected turn with that early morning call from the Archdeacon asking me to consider a supportive role until a new Vicar can be appointed.  ‘Consultant priest and training supervisor’ has turned out to be the ungainly but accurate way of saying publically ‘not Interim Priest-in-Charge’.

I’m actually going to be licensed as a half-time Assistant Curate, although most people won’t realise that.  Having been so licensed for the first time in 1984, I am enjoying the serendipity of being so licensed again in 2024. 

I start at the beginning of next month (although quite a bit of this morning was already taken up with preparatory work and contacts) and anticipate going over by train as often as driving (the journey time being no different).

What does ‘half-time’ mean?  There is the (potential) rub.  In 2021/2 I was no longer coping with post-lockdown full-time work while living on my own in a large Rectory set in large grounds.  That is why I retired early, and that is why I shall have to be very careful now.

The undertaking is to be there on a variable two days in the week, plus most Sundays in the month, plus some work from my desk at home during the four full days plus one Sunday a month I am in Lincoln.  My present realisation is that I’ll need to police that balance with care.

A little bed and butter work.  But mainly helping people plan which light bulbs need changing and how best to marshall the right combination of people do so, all the while aware that there are sensitive situations including an unknown quantity of crossed and even faulty wires.