I am a product of two countries: the U.S. (first 35 years) and Canada (the best and last 42 years)!
U.S. Part
I was born in Long Beach, California but grew up in the northern part of the state. An only child, my parents and I were Episcopalians, and it was in church, at age 14, that I first knew God wanted me to be a priest. There were no female priests even on the distant horizon, so I told no one. Bursting with questions about life, death, God, etc., my little church offered few “Big Answers” but the local Roman Catholics down the street had plenty to offer! Despite certain theological misgivings, my sacrament-loving-soul was satisfied, and I became a card-carrying “RC” at age 17.
In 1965 I moved to attend the University of San Francisco – a private, Jesuit institution – and received a B.A. (cum laude) in philosophy in 1970. God’s gentle tapping on my soul continued, but with priesthood still only a dream I entered my first two careers:
- First female Deputy Sheriff (comparable to an RCMP officer) in the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Dept., and
- Supervisor of Probation Officers and Court Officer in the El Dorado County Probation Dept.
Canadian Part
Finally tiring of facile theological “answers” and directives, I stopped attending church. Missing a faith community, I returned to the Anglican fold where I learned (a bit like the Japanese soldier on a remote south seas island who’s missed the news the war is over) that women priests were finally a reality! I left my solid professional career in 1982 to cross the 49th Parallel and attend the Vancouver School of Theology. In 1987, I graduated with a Master of Divinity and was ordained priest by The Most Rev. Douglas Hambidge at Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver, and began parish work:
- From 1987-1990, I served at St. Philip’s, Point Grey, Vancouver.
- From 1990-2012 as Rector of St. George’s, Fort Langley, with active deanery and diocesan involvement.
It was at St. George’s that I met my later-to-be wife, Marilynn Mincey. In 1994 her daughter, Karen, and her fiancé came to St. George’s to be married, after which Marilynn joined the parish and became a very active member of the congregation.
I retired in 2012 after 22 years as rector of St. George’s and a total of 25 years serving God in the Diocese of New Westminster (lower mainland). Marilynn and I moved to Kelowna – Diocese of Kootenay – where we were married in 2018 and where I served as honourary assistant at the Cathedral Church of St. Michael & All Angels for nearly three years. In 2021, wanting to be near Marilynn’s children, grandchildren, great-grandchild and assorted kith and kin, we moved to Vancouver Island. For approximately two years I served as honourary assistant at St. Peter and St. Paul’s in Esquimalt, within whose parish boundary we live, until God made it very clear that She wanted and wants us at St. John the Divine! And God is never wrong! St. John’s is the most faith-filled, loving, vibrant, supporting and theologically nourishing community. We are grateful beyond words for the loving acceptance!
Pam