The Diocese of Dallas has announced a vocations conference that will feature the Archbishop of Canterbury as a plenary speaker. “Ancient Order, Radical Vocation: The Anglican Priesthood as 21st Century Calling,” or “RadVo,” is scheduled for Sept. 20-22 at Church of the Incarnation.
Other speakers include:
- Archbishop Josiah Idowu-Fearon, general secretary of the Anglican Communion
- Stanley Hauerwas, professor emeritus of divinity and law at Duke Divinity School
- Oliver O’Donovan, professor emeritus of Christian ethics and practical theology at the University of Edinburgh
- Ephraim Radner, professor of historical theology at Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
- Bishop N.T. Wright, professor of New Testament and early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews
“Part of the challenge we face is recruiting quality candidates for the priesthood. We’ve found some good ones, but we need far more,” wrote the Rev. Jeremy Bergstrom, the diocese’s canon for vocations.
“Another hurdle confronting us has to do with having a vision for what exactly the riches of the Anglican tradition are, and how they’re best employed in compelling, successful gospel ministry in the 21st century. Our church is in significant need of a sustained discussion along these lines. Our future depends on it.”
Matthew Townsend is a Halifax-based freelance journalist and volunteer advocate for survivors of sexual misconduct in Anglican settings. He served as editor of the Anglican Journal from 2019 to 2021 and communications missioner for the Anglican Diocese of Quebec from 2019 to 2022. He and his wife recently entered catechism class in the Orthodox Church in America.
