A new-old priest at St. Andrew’s
Dear Friends,
I have great news to share today, but it needs a little background.
Over 40 years ago, Fr. Mike Klickman was the Rector of the Church of the Epiphany in Richardson. St. Andrew’s very first member, Tracey Glenn, was a member of the youth group.
For the last 15 years, Fr. Mike — or just Mike as most people around here know him — has been a member at St. Andrew’s. Tracey — and a handful of others — knew who he was, but chances are if you asked what Mike did for a living, you’d find out he was a CPA and ran a small accounting firm.
Mike Klickman never actually ceased being Fr. Mike Klickman; that’s not how ordination works. Though his professional life took a secular turn and he largely ceased functioning as a priest in the church, his holy orders were neither renounced or revoked. He has been a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas for these last 37 years, but even the diocesan staff lost track of him. This afforded me the strange opportunity to introduce Bishop Sumner to one of his own diocesan priests earlier this year!
The story of what happened between then and now is not uncomplicated. The short-short version is that Mike was married to his current wife, Jody, in 1986 without the Bishop’s permission. How that led to 37-year hiatus from active ministry is a longer tale, but I’m grateful that the final chapters have not yet been written and we at St. Andrew’s are going to help author them.
I met with Fr. Mike last year and heard his heart aching over the prospect of spending his final years in an awkward limbo, informally estranged from his priestly call. In response, we embarked with Bishop Sumner on a process of restoring him to active sacramental ministry in the Church, and recently Bishop Sumner formally approved Fr. Mike to resume active ministry.
This means that going forward, you will occasionally see Fr. Mike Klickman vested and serving as a priest. His title will be ‘Assisting Priest (Retired)’ and his ministry will be most visible as he helps fill out our clergy coverage. He will first assist at both services this coming Sunday, July 9th.
I’m glad for Fr. Mike to join the clergy team, and for the ministry he will be able to do. I am also glad that Fr. Mike is resuming his active ministry specifically at St. Andrew’s. This place — or better you people — have a special gift of the Spirit for healing and grace. Thank you.
In Christ,
Fr. Andrew
