Am I a clergy influencer now?
On March 5th, I was ordained a deacon in the Episcopal Church. For those who don’t speak Episcopal hierarchy, I am now a member of the transitional diaconate.
Basically, I will be a deacon for about six months and then, God-willing, be ordained a priest. My vocation as a deacon will not disappear at that point, but will be integrated into my call as a priest.
Even though I can’t do certain things that are reserved for priests, I am a member of the clergy. You can call me Reverend Deacon or Mother Deacon if you’d like. It also means that now I wear a collar while performing my ordained duties.
I would have written this post much sooner, but I was (vainly) waiting for a moment to do a little photo shoot in my clergy shirt!
Speaking of which, I have found myself suddenly immersed in the world of clergy wear. I have a couple of post ideas stewing, including a roundup on sustainable women’s clergy attire and a discussion of the ethics of church material culture.
I haven’t quite figured out how to pivot/stay with StyleWise through this, frankly radical, identity shift. But I think I just need to go with my gut and not worry too much about it.
In other news, Daniel got a job! He’s working for a friend’s business, doing research and social media engagement. I’m also on the job market. If you’re the praying type, please pray for opportunities and discernment to know where to go.
I’m also less than two months away from graduating from divinity school. I’m ready and not ready at the same time.
On the fashion front, I’ve been thinking about spring quite a lot. But I know that I really need to think about my professional wardrobe and not stock up on casual clothes. This month, I bought two pairs of chinos, black pumps, and knit flats.
What I’ve Been Enjoying:
- The great conundrum of the sustainability influencer
- That Organic Cotton T-Shirt May Not Be as Organic as You Think
- Europe has designs on making the ‘fast fashion’ industry more sustainable
- The Rise of the ‘Umms’
- Still working on Kurt Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle
- Hulu’s Life & Beth
ICYMI: Sustainable Patterned Clothing for Spring
Leah Wise is the founder of StyleWise Blog. She has been writing, speaking, and consulting on sustainable fashion, the fair trade and secondhand supply chain, and digital marketing for over ten years. An Episcopal priest, Leah holds a B.A. in Religion from Florida State University and an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School. When not working, you can find her looking for treasures at the thrift store.
Alicia
Wednesday 27th of April 2022
Congratulations! What an achievement. I’m finishing a graduate program this summer and cannot.wait.
I’m glad to see that article about organic cotton included—I’m so surprised it didn’t make more of a wave!
Leah Wise
Wednesday 27th of April 2022
Congratulations to you and best wishes on your next steps! I was surprised, too. Tbh, I feel like fewer influencers talk about heavy-hitting industry stuff these days.
Alyssa | waywardblog.com
Saturday 2nd of April 2022
Congratulations, Reverend Deacon! I'm excited to follow you wherever your journey takes you!
Leah Wise
Saturday 2nd of April 2022
Thank you!
Annmarie
Friday 1st of April 2022
Congratulations! What a wonderful achievement! Will certainly be praying for discernment.
Camille in Brooklyn
Friday 1st of April 2022
Congrats! It always cracks me up when my pastors (both female) nerd out about clergy wear. I bet a LOT of people would appreciate your take on the matter and learning about more sustainable options.
Did you ever see the episode Fleabag Season 2 where she goes robe shopping with the priest? It was so fun. The whole season was great but how stoked the guy was about the uniform was so sweet.
Leah Wise
Friday 1st of April 2022
I hope so! Yes, I watched Fleabag and loved it, but I don't remember that episode! I'll have to rewatch! I have mixed feelings about some of the more ornate vestments, but it's been interesting to suddenly be thrust into a new aesthetic world, lol.
Katers
Thursday 31st of March 2022
Congratulations!!!!!! Praying for you! I love your blog for your honesty and nuance. I’m planning to keep reading wherever your journey goes.
Leah Wise
Friday 1st of April 2022
Thank you!