Natural rhythm

Local wisdom: Five things to know about being Episcopalian
By Rochelle Feil
Wenatchee (WA) World
May 23, 2008

The Rev. Patton Boyle of St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Wenatchee says he first considered becoming an Episcopal priest when he was 11 years old. He changed his mind when he reached high school, deciding he would be happy to be active in the church.

A drive with the bishop of Hong Kong, when Boyle was about 17, caused him to question that decision. The bishop wouldn't accept young Boyle's excuse that he could not imagine himself standing up in front of people every Sunday and preaching. "I felt called into it (the ministry). It was something I was, for a while, anxious to avoid, but it continued to pursue me," says Boyle. "I could ignore that calling to the ministry for a while, but I knew it wasn't going to go away."

Now, after being an ordained minister for 38 years and a priest for 37, Boyle says it's part of the natural rhythm of his life. "Ministry makes introverts more extroverted. ... I tended to think too deeply about stuff when I was younger. I think I've mellowed over the years."

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