Incline Our Hearts

Swiss Army Knife

Anniversaries are often good times to reflect on what has been, what might be, and the promises that we made at the beginning. This week marks the 6th anniversary of my consecration as bishop. Every year, I spend some time with the ordination vows I made on May 30, 2020, at that little ceremony in the uncertain early days of the COVID pandemic.

At that ceremony (BCP p. 512), I promised, among other things, to:

• Proclaim Christ’s resurrection and interpret the Gospel

• Guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the Church

• Celebrate and provide for the sacraments, including the ordination of priests and deacons

• Be a faithful pastor and wholesome example

• Share in the leadership of the Church

• Be faithful in prayer and in the study of Scripture

• Be merciful and compassionate

That’s a long and rather daunting list. When I was consecrated, the Rev. Mary Ann Hill, then Rector of St. Dunstan’s and President of the Standing Committee (and a great encouragement to me), gave me a purple Swiss Army knife. When I looked at that little knife this week, I was reminded of a couple of things. First, the ministry of Bishop does involve a lot of different roles and responsibilities. Then I had a second thought: I see a lot of my ministry as simply being useful. A Swiss Army knife doesn’t try to do everything; it just tries to be useful in a few things. 

As Bishop, I work hard, and I deeply love our Diocese of Oklahoma and our people, but I can’t do everything, or solve every problem. But I hope that, by the grace of Jesus Christ, I can be useful, especially in equipping and encouraging others for ministry. May God allow me to be faithful in small things (Matthew 25:21).

Bishop Poulson