So, yez might recall that our own Major Padre Harvey was to have his ordination last night at the Gateway Community Church in Escondido. ‘Twas a bit of a shame that he couldn’t tarry until the 11th of June, for I could have stopped in on my way to Portland, it’s that far north. Or seemed it anyway.
Your humble was cordially invited and RSVP’d in the affirmative. Catching early intelligence in these here pages that Curtis hisself was on his way draped in his Service Dress Blues, I came home from the salt mines in a desperate tizzy to collect mine own and try them on for shrinkage. For as I have expressed before, uniforms that are laid by for a year or two tend to shrink a bit, just hanging there in the closet. Thanks to the Almighty, and episodic Cross Fit workouts, my latest properly striped sets fit my frame admirably even as two sets of lieutenant commander striped uniforms bore mute testimony to the ravages of time and the false economy of striping up uniforms into which one can no longer plausibly squeeze.
I very nearly committed the unpardonable naval sin of being late, for dear departed Lady, the auncient bird dog, left behind not merely a hole in our hearts but a vast quantity of dog hair which would have to be eliminated before I could appear publicly. The two-thirds members of the All Girl Spending Team remaining in residence clucked at me and shook their heads before assaulting my person with sundry and divers methods of torture designed to make me marginally presentable out of doors. Thus chafed and torn, I toodled up the highway to impossibly far Escondido, arriving just at the toll of the church bell which I actually only heard in my mind, for as far as I could tell the Gateway Community Church has no proper sort of bell at all nor incense neither.
Although my sainted pa was hisself a Baptist, his own son was raised a High Episcopalian and attended high school with the Romans, in consequence of which he has certain expectations of what it means to be at church. What he found was not flowing robes nor Elizabethan language, but earnest folks of all ages dressed up and down and filled with the Holy Spirit, celebrating the Padre’s ordination with him. The local pastor spoke meaningfully about the history and process of ordination, and kindly about the Padre’s own examination before a board of church leaders. We were invited to read with him a few passages from the bible – Timothy, chiefly – and then he then stepped through a series of recommendations that he hoped Dave would take to heart as he takes on his ministry. There was an awful lot of love in there: Love for God, love for family, love for people.
For reasons which I am not quite prepared to dwell on, I have not been in attendance at my home church here in Del Mar for quite some time, for the Episcopal Church of the USA has taken some strange doctrinal stances quite at variance with the faith as handed down to us by the saints and broken not merely the spirit but also the sense of the Anglican Communion. For a long time I ignored these things at the national level, but then they were thrust upon us close at home and what had once seemed sanctuary now seemed some sort of trial. Nor have I found a spiritual harbor near by, for the next most likely candidate outside ECUSA has issues of its own which I cannot quite get my head around. So anyway, I have been over the last several months, if not apostate then certainly unchurched. What I was reminded of while watching Dave’s ordination, is that there are many pathways to the Truth but that the Truth itself remains constant, revealing itself to each of us in the way that best fits our understanding.
I’m getting a bit lost on the margins here, but this is the thrust of it: You cannot judge Christ by his Christians, for there are too many bad ones. But I continue to believe that an authentically good Christian is definitionally a good person, full of love, caring for the least of us and dedicated towards the good. That room was full of such, some in suits, some in cargo shorts all filled with the Spirit, all of them there to celebrate this moment with Padre Dave and his lovely and loving bride of nine years that very day, Tamara.
Anyway. Dave stood up to join the pastor on the stage – there is no other name for it – and chatted briefly back and forth with him about his own road to Damascus, and where it would take him next. Dave then had a few words to share with us about how he had come to be there, working his way back to fitness after a serious motorcycle accident and his plans to join the Navy’s chaplain corps and minister to the fleet. Hands were then laid on, prayers were said and the deed was done.
I congratulated Dave – as I hope you will too – and left uplifted.
Congratulations, Major Dave. On all of it.
Well done, Padre!
Congratulations, Pastor. God bless you and yours.
Prayin’ for ya.
Good man.
Congratulations, Padre — if you’re ever in need of some additional Guardian Angels, holler…
I’m glad I’m on Dave’s side! Always nice to ride with winners.
Congrats to Major Harvey.
I assume you’re referring to the Roman Catholic Church, Lex, in terms of that alternative. My e-mail and blog are always available to discuss the various problems in the Church, and how I feel the Church far transcends them, from the perspective of a very traditional lay catechist/apologist. If you have questions, I may well have answers.
Don’t mean to hijack thread. Carry on.
God bless and keep you, Padre. Glad to see you’re staying with your salt and with the Fleet. I’m sure the Marines and sailors will be well-ministered by yours truly.
Lex, understand your feelings. I too came to believe that He is within us if only we accept Him. Rejecting his so-called messengers is not the same as rejecting him. We’ve already received guidance, the rest is up to us. And last, there are as many roads to God as there are people who believe in Him.
Congratulations, Padre, and God Bless you.
This is heart-warming news, much anticipated.
Congratulations and Best Wishes to Major Harvey.
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Congrations Padre! I perhaps erred in referring to you as Major in my first, though my heart most assuredly meant well. Cannot imagine a former Marine taking umbrage in any event.
Very Best,
Err, meant Congratulations.
Congratulations Major Harvey! An excellent calling if ever there was one.
-JC
Congratulations, Reverend.
Semper Fi!
Yay Pastor Harvy!
HIP HIP HUZZAH!
HIP HIP HUZZAH!
HIP HIP HUZZAH!
Amen! Even Dachshunds can celebrate with Badgers on the right occasion.
Congrats Dave!
Agreed! But the Bratwurst on the grill, and beer on ice for the Dachshund, and Cheerwine on ice for the teetotalling Badger!
Again, HUZZAH!
I’ll join you with the Cheerwine. I’m teetoal as well. The Brats? I hope you got lots. I started those while in Germany!
Johnsonville, the tastiest that there is!
Congratulations to Padre Dave!
Might one presume photos are in the offing? More than one would be pleased to view such, given our inability to attend.
Ah, Escondido. All growed up and no longer the quiet little burg where, once, some of us cavorted.
Congratulations, Padre Dave. One hopes it will be Chaplain (Major) Dave in short order.
Hurray and congratulations, Dave!
Congratulations, Pastor Dave.
Paul’s letter to Timothy is a great place to start.
1 Timothy 4:12b but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.
Still, it seems odd to know that there is a Reverend Harvey out there. What’s the point of a clergyman that only Jimmy Stewart can see?
LOL!
A prosperous and peaceful life, health, salvation, and success in all good things, grant o Lord, to Thy servant Maj. Harvey, and preserve and protect him for many years!
Congratulations to you Padre! Now get to reading Eric Voegelin and his comments on the Gnostics!! (I’d say “that’s an order!” but I’m the wrong service and they took away my union card.
)
I went and took a look at Voeglin at Wikipedia. WOW! Now there is a deep thinker! He seems to be on the right track, with the Marxists, Socialists, Progressives, et al wanting to creat a heaven on Earth, as long it is one of thier own creaton, rather than one derived from the desires of God.
Congratulations, David. I wish you the greatest of success, both professionally, and personally, through all your life. God can always use another Sky Pilot. They’re a very special breed.
Well done David. May you continue to grow in grace and truth. Col 1:9-14
Well done, Padre!
You will be a real blessing to those in need in the fleet, and their families. Hope they recognize the time spent with Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children, and start you off as LCDR.
Hope you continue to hang out with us mere mortals and chronic sinners here.
Congrats Major Harvey, or will it be LCDR now?
Congratulations Pastor Dave!
Congratulations Major/Pastor Harvey! May God continue to shine a light on your path, showing you the way so that you may show others.
Lex – I am in roughly the same place as you. I have been “unchurched” for some 15 years now. Something The Oracle and I are starting to rectify. The faith we were part of way in the wayback is no longer available to us (long story) so we are partaking of the veritable buffet of choices in our small town. Catholic, Episcopalian and Lutheran. We have just started this journey and so far we have been warmly welcomed in all three places – quite personally so in the Lutheran church, Episcopals and Catholics being so much larger in number.
For us it’s not about the religion, it’s about the fellowship, about being part of something greater than ourselves. That spiritual connection. You never know how much you’ve missed it until you get it again.
I’m sure that our very own Pastor Harvey will be such a spiritual leader to those in need. A fine thing he does.
Congratulations Dave!
God knows we need more spiritual guidance these days.
Congratulations, Padre!
I too am ‘unchurched’, this going on more years than I care to admit too. Funnily enough, I spend more time volunteering for the Church and it’s school than probably 9/10 of those who attend, but services are just not going to happen. Maybe ever. I figure when it’s time, I’ll be led. For now I’m content praying on my own and doing the work and being thankful. I would hope He understands.
To attend a service such as you attended for the Padre is a blessing in itself. God truly speaks through what you witnessed.
Thanks to all for the kind comments – as soon as I can get the photos & video downloaded they will be posted over at my site.
Like Lex said, there are many ways to get to Christ, and no one denomination can say that they have a monopoly on the right track. One does not necessarily have to go to church to be in communion with God. That said, however, there were several people whom I invited – Lex among them – not only because I valued their friendship and wanted them to share in my joy, but because something told me that they hadn’t darkened the doorway of a church for some time. I’m glad that it was a positive experience – it certainly meant a lot to me to have y’all there.
As for the chaplaincy, I have two more weeks before I graduate from seminary, then will be putting in the Navy packet. If all goes well, I’ll find myself at Officer Development School (‘cuz apparently 12 weeks of Marine OCS, 6 months of TBS and 14 years in the Fleet did nothing for my officerly skills…) then on to the Navy Chaplain Basic Course at Ft. Jackson, SC. No idea of the timeline as of yet, but I do know that I’ll be starting off as a LT, for they don’t commission chaplains as LCDRs right off the bat. Which is not so bad – I’ve been an 0-3 for the past 10 years already (6 in the Corps, 4 in the Army/Nat’l Guard), so I oughta know by now what’s expected of that particular rank.
Besides, at this point it’s not about the uniform or rank anymore.
Well, it’s not as much about the uniform… I still opted not to go Air Force, since I wanted to actually be a military chaplain…
Check with your recruiter. Last year I worked with a Marine Captain at Quantico who was in your exact situation. Officer Development School was waived for him. The only problem was that Ft Jackson has no Navy uniform shop so we went to Bethesda and got him outfitted in Navy gear. The Chaplain School can provide you with a required uniform list. Don’t toss your utilities, just have tape changed to U.S. Navy. BTW, the Captain turned Chaplain won the leadership award in his Chaplain Basic class.
You wouldn’t happen to have the name of that particular Captain turned Chaplain, would you? Would like to get ahold of him and possibly his recruiter.
My email: ttharvey3@yahoo.com
Ahh, Padre, that hurt.
Hey now! We USAF types have feelings too–even if bus-driver uniforms.
(Now if they’d just put back the numbered Air Force patch on the left shoulder of the blue Class-A maybe people could tell us from the Greyhound guys at a distance)
Congratulations on your ordination Dave.
I am looking forward to you at Officer Indoc school with the doctor’s and nurses and chaplains, all standing out front of the building with caps cocked at jaunty ‘nautical’ looking angles wearing their mismatched socks and smoking cigs and failing to salute or return salutes. I remember them of old.
Also, they had a bad habit of never checking the traps in the dryers and I think we encountered at least one dryer fire every week I was there attending NSI and shared the same building. 
I would pay money to watch you mingle with them for the first couple of days. Our Gunny was very insistent that we learn to understand that your OC’s did not walk on the grass, buy pitchers of beer at the bowling alley (conveniently located within easy walking distance if one cut across the parade field) and most specifically never order pizza from off-base pizzerias. Of course all this happened back in 1981, things may have changed.
It was a privilege to be asked and to meet your friends, relatives, fellow church members.
Congratulations Padre!!!
Congratulations on your ordination, good sir!
Here’s to a successful completion of the Chaplain course and a satisfying career ministering on behalf of God to our fine fighting men and women.
Salut! from this Navy Submarine Vet…
Congratulations, Padre Harvey.
Go forth and do great things.
Congratulations!
When you say,
” then on to the Navy Chaplain Basic Course at Ft. Jackson, SC.”, it makes my spine tingle. Don’t let them take God away from you in the quest for political correctness.
All the best in a new career,
A different (now retired) pastor Dave, in Santa Cruz.
Congratulations, Padre! All the best to you as you begin this new phase of your life!
One of the interesting things about my ordination council was that nearly all of the questions put to me had to do with the practical application of my faith, and not with the doctrinal minutiae. For instance, I was asked questions about DADT, praying in Jesus’ name, and even one on illegal immigration.
For me, my faith is foundational to my ministry as a chaplain – without it, I’m just doing a job. I don’t believe I’ll ever sacrifice one iota of my faith on the PC altar; I would sooner resign my commission than water down what I believe is the truth. I am called to serve God, not man – and I think that Sky-6 outranks anyone I may end up working for.
Congrats again, Padre!
Looks like the Padre moniker has stuck, at least around here…again a heartfelt congradulations. Best
Congratulations Padre.
Congrats…Our thoughts and prayers are with you..as you embark on a new path..
Congratulations Padre Harvey and good luck!
Congrats Padre, best luck in your ministry.
Lex: I, too, was raised Episcopalian, and was a member of the Vestry in the most conservative church in the most liberal diocese. We happily existed with our heads in the sand until the greater silliness infiltrated our enclave. After long and painful prayer and struggle, I joined with most of the leadership in the parish and left ECUSA. I could no longer deny the fact that ECUSA is, theologically, no longer a Christian denomination. Recommended reading, “Never Silent,” by Thaddeus Barnum.
Along with my wife and most of my fellow refugees, I joined an Anglican Church near my home. I strongly urge you to try one in your area. Here are a few I found in a quick search:
Emeritus Carlsbad Ministry
3140 El Camino Real
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Grace Anglican Church
Harding Street at Pine Avenue in Carlsbad Village
Church of St. Timothy and St. Titus
Highland Ranch Elementary School
4840 Waverly Downs Way
San Diego, CA 92128
Holy Spirit Anglican Church
Bethel Seminary
6116 Arosa Street
San Diego, CA 92115
Holy Trinity Parish
2083 Sunset Cliffs Boulevard
San Diego, CA 92107-2535
You can search by zip code at the link:
http://www.anglicanchurch.net/?/main/locator/us
Congratulations Padre Dave. Fantastic accomplishment.