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O bennaeth ysgol i offeiriad: Taith alwedigaethol

Ar ôl mwynhau gyrfa lwyddiannus a phrysur fel pennaeth yn Esgobaeth Manceinion, roedd Karen Morris yn disgwyl ymddeoliad tawel. Roedd gan Dduw, fodd bynnag, gynlluniau eraill.

Ar ddydd Sadwrn 28 Mehefin, bydd Karen yn cael ei hordeinio’n ddiacon yng Nghadeirlan Deiniol Sant. Yna bydd Karen yn gwasanaethu yn Ardal Weinidogaeth Bro Dwylan gyda’r Parchedig Tom Saunders a’r Parchedig Andy Broadbent.

Gofynnom ni i Karen ddweud mwy wrthym ni am ei thaith alwedigaethol.


1, Sut wnaethoch chi adnabod hyn fel galwad gan Dduw?

Daeth galwad Duw i offeiriadaeth yn araf bach i mi. Mae’n rhaid i mi gyfaddef fy mod wedi anwybyddu galwad Duw i ddechrau, er gwaethaf llawer o awgrymiadau a phromptio, gan nad oeddwn i’n gallu credu y byddai Duw yn gofyn i rywun fel fi. Roeddwn i’n hapus i wasanaethu drwy addoli neu drwy addysgu, felly, i ddechrau, cefais fy nerbyn ar Hyfforddiant Darllenwyr Lleyg yn Athrofa Padarn Sant. 


Roeddwn i’n gwybod bod angen amser arnaf i weddïo a cheisio cyfarwyddyd Duw.

Fe wnaeth yr Esgob David, yn ei rôl flaenorol fel Cyfarwyddwr Gweinidogaeth, fy ysgogi i ystyried, yn weddïol, i cael fy ordeinio a phan es i ysgol haf Padarn Sant, fe wnaeth rhai pobl eraill yr un peth. Gan deimlo fy mod wedi fy llethu rhywfaint, roeddwn i’n gwybod bod angen amser arnaf i weddïo a cheisio cyfarwyddyd Duw. Penderfynais archwilio galwad Duw trwy’r broses ddirnadiaeth.

2, Pa ran oedd gan eich teulu a/neu eglwys yn eich proses ddirnadiaeth?

Ar ôl dechrau hyfforddi ar gyfer bod yn Ddarllenwr Lleyg, cefais yr argraff amlwg bod Duw yn ‘fy machu,’ a’i fod wedi cynllunio i mi gymryd y llwybr tuag at gael fy ordeinio. Mae fy nheulu a fy ffrindiau agos bob amser wedi bod yn dda am wrando ac mae llawer ohonyn nhw mewn gweinidogaeth o un fath neu’r llall: roedden nhw’n rhoi cyngor doeth pan fo’i angen arnaf. Maent i gyd wedi bod yn gefnogol ac yn galonogol drwyddi draw gan fy annog i geisio’r Arglwydd drosof i fy hun yn ogystal â chymryd cyngor. 

Roedd y Parchedig Tom Saunders, fy ngoruchwyliwr ar y fy lleoliad, yn barod iawn i helpu ar fy nhaith dirnadaeth, gan roi cyfleoedd i mi ddysgu, ac yn yr un modd y bobl a roddodd eu hamser i fy helpu i archwilio gwahanol agweddau ar weinidogaeth mewn gwahanol gyd-destunau. Yn ddiau, pe bai unrhyw un ohonynt wedi dweud nad oeddent yn gallu fy ngweld yn y rôl hon, byddwn wedi gwrando arnynt.

3, Sut mae eich perthynas â Duw wedi datblygu trwy gydol eich taith alwedigaethol?

Mae hwn, i mi, wedi bod yn gyfnod o ddysgu ac archwilio, o glywed Duw a’i holi. Rwyf wedi gorfod treulio llawer o amser yn sgwrsio â Duw wrth ofyn yn bennaf, "Arglwydd, a ydych chi’n siŵr am hyn?" Mae Ef wedi fy arwain trwy heriau sylweddol a myfyrio am fy mherthynas fy hun ag Ef ac mae fy mherthynas Ef wedi dwysau ac aeddfedu.

4, Beth yw rhai o’r heriau mwyaf yr ydych chi wedi’u hwynebu wrth ddirnad eich galwedigaeth i’r offeiriadaeth? 

Ar ôl cael gyrfa lwyddiannus a phrysur ym maes addysg, roeddwn i’n credu fy mod yn haeddu ymddeoliad tawel. Yn amlwg nid oedd Duw yn cytuno. Fe wnaeth gadael fy nghynlluniau fy hun ac ailddarganfod y llawenydd o wneud yr hyn y mae Duw ei eisiau achosi trafferth i mi. Cefais fy nghofrestru ar gwrs o astudiaethau ôl-raddedig a oedd yn anodd ar adegau: roedd wedi bod yn flynyddoedd lawer ers fy nyddiau ysgrifennu traethodau. Roedd yn rhaid i mi ddysgu disgyblaethau newydd ym maes diwinyddiaeth - roedd rhai safbwyntiau yn groes i rai fy hun felly roedd angen i mi fyfyrio ar y gwahaniaethau hynny a dod i ddygymod â nhw. 

Ar adegau, teimlais fy mod i’n cael fy ngwasgu i fowld nad oedd yn gweddu i mi ond mae Duw wedi bod yn amyneddgar ac wedi caniatáu amser i mi weithio drwyddo.

Karen Morris

5, Ym mha ffyrdd ydy’ch ffydd wedi cael ei chryfhau neu’i phrofi yn ystod y daith hon?

Roedd llawer o brofi, gan gynnwys cyfarfod â’r sawl sy’n mynegi’r ffydd Gristnogol yn wahanol. Fe wnes i ymdrin â’r gwahaniaethau hynny a dechreuais weld eto’r berthynas a oedd gan eraill â’r Arglwydd byw, gan weld y tu hwnt i’n dewisiadau litwrgaidd i blant Duw yr ydym ni i gyd. Siaradodd Duw â mi am ddod o hyd i’r trysor ymhlith pobl Dduw ac mae hynny wedi bod yn gyffrous.


Rwy’n gwybod bod Duw wedi bod gyda mi ym mhob sefyllfa.

Beth bynnag sydd wedi bod yn heriol i mi, rwy’n gwybod bod Duw wedi bod gyda mi ym mhob sefyllfa ac wedi rhoi ei heddwch i mi pan fo’i angen arnaf i: rhywsut, ar yr adeg iawn, mae Duw wedi anfon rhywun gyda’r gair o anogaeth cywir neu mae fy sylw wedi cael ei dynnu at yr ysgrythur.

6, Pa bobl sydd wedi bod yn fwyaf dylanwadol ar eich taith ysbrydol, a pha effaith maen nhw wedi’i chael arnoch chi? A oes unrhyw ddarn o gyngor neu ddoethineb ganddynt sy’n amlygu ei hun?

Mae nifer o bobl wedi bod yn ddylanwadol yn ystod fy nhaith ysbrydol, yn enwedig y cyd-fyfyrwyr hynny yn Athrofa Padarn Sant sydd wedi llefaru gwirionedd Duwiol i fy mywyd. Mae fy nhiwtoriaid personol wedi bod yn gefnogol iawn ac wedi fy hyfforddi trwy bob math o brofiadau. Mae fy ngoruchwylwyr lleoliad, y Parchedig Tom Saunders a’r Parchedig Martin Batchelor, wedi fy nghroesawu i’w gweinidogaethau ac wedi caniatáu i mi ddysgu oddi wrthynt yn eu cyd-destunau, gan rannu’n onest ac mewn ffordd weddïol.

Gwnaf ddweud bod eu hanogaeth i ‘fod yn chi’ch hun’ wedi helpu pan fyddaf wedi cael cyfnodau simsan o bryd i’w gilydd a phan fyddaf wedi cwestiynu i beth roedd Duw yn fy ngalw i.

7, Sut ydych chi’n dychmygu’ch rôl fel offeiriad yn yr Eglwys?

Rwy’n awyddus iawn i dreulio amser yn sgwrsio â’r bobl yn ardal ein Gweinidogaeth, felly rwy’n gobeithio bod allan yn aml yn rhannu’r Iesu rwy’n ei adnabod gyda nhw. Rwy’n gobeithio gallu cefnogi eraill i ddwysau eu ffydd hefyd yn ogystal ag archwilio ffyrdd newydd o addoli.

Rwy’n mwynhau paratoi’r eglwys drwy wasanaethu ein gilydd, cydnabod doniau pobl a helpu i ddatblygu eu gweinidogaethau gan sicrhau bod ein pwyslais yn ymestyn y tu hwnt i waliau’r eglwys i’r bobl nad ydynt eto yn adnabod Iesu.

8, Pa gyngor fyddech chi’n ei roi i rywun sy’n dechrau archwilio galwedigaeth i’r offeiriadaeth?

Yng Nghrist mae gennym y fraint o fyw bywyd llawn diben - nid oes unrhyw beth i’w gymharu â hynny nac yn gyfwerth iddo. Mae Duw yn rhoi galwad nefol i ni i gyd, p’un ai yw hynny’n cael ei fynegi mewn gweinidogaeth leyg neu wedi’i hordeinio. Y cyngor y byddwn i’n ei roi yw i dreulio amser o gwmpas y rhai sydd mewn gweinidogaeth lawn amser a/neu wedi’u hordeinio a gweddïo am yr hyn yr ydych chi’n ei weld a’i glywed gan y bydd Duw yn eich tynnu at yr hyn y mae wedi’i neilltuo i chi ei wneud.

9, Pa ddarn o gyngor sydd gennych chi i rywun sy’n ystyried galwad?

Byddwn i’n dweud gweddïwch, yna gweddïwch fwy. Os oes gennych chi amser yna gweddïwch eto. Ceisiwch gyngor duwiol nifer fach o bobl yr ydych yn eu gwerthfawrogi ac yn ymddiried ynddynt, gan gynnwys y rhai sy’n gweinidogaethu yn eich eglwys eich hun. 


Nid oes llawer o bwynt gweddïo am ateb os nad ydych chi’n gwrando arno.

Darllenwch enghreifftiau yn y Beibl o’r rhai a gafodd eu galw gan Dduw a sut y gwnaethon nhw glywed ganddo cyn neilltuo amser i wrando ar Dduw. Nid oes llawer o bwynt gweddïo am ateb os nad ydych chi’n gwrando arno.

Byddwch yn barod i dderbyn doethineb eraill hyd yn oed os yw’n anghyfforddus a gadewch i Dduw eich llunio i’r person y mae wedi’i gynllunio i chi fod, beth bynnag yw hwnnw.

Cymraeg

From headteacher to priest: A vocation journey

Having enjoyed a successful and busy career as headteacher in the Diocese of Manchester, Karen Morris was anticipating a restful retirement. God, however, had other plans.

On Saturday 28 June, Karen will be ordained deacon at Saint Deiniol’s Cathedral. Karen will then serve in Bro Dwylan Ministry Area with Revd Tom Saunders and Revd Andy Broadbent.

We asked Karen to tell us more about her vocation journey.


1, Can you describe the moment or series of events when you first felt called to the priesthood?

God's call to priesthood crept up on me. I will admit to ignoring God's call to start with despite many hints and prompts as I couldn't quite believe that God would ask someone like me. I was happy to serve in worship or in teaching so, initially, was accepted onto Lay Reader Training at St Padarn's. 


I knew I needed time to pray and seek God's direction.

Bishop David, in his previous role as Director of Ministry, prompted me to prayerfully consider ordination and when I went to St Padarn's Summer school a few others did the same. Feeling a little overwhelmed I knew I needed time to pray and seek God's direction. I decided to explore God's call through the discernment process.

2, What role did your family and/or church play in your discernment process?

Having started training for Lay Readership I got the distinct impression that God was 'reeling me in,' and that He had planned for me to take the path towards ordination. My family and close friends have always been a good sounding board and many of them are in ministry of one kind or another: they gave wise counsel when needed. They have all been supportive and encouraging throughout while urging me to seek the Lord for myself as well as taking advice. 

Rev. Tom Saunders, my placement supervisor, was very helpful during my discernment journey, giving me opportunities to learn as were those who gave up their time to help me explore various facets of ministry in different contexts. Doubtless, if any one of them had said that in all honesty they couldn't see me in this role, I would have taken note.

3, How has your relationship with God evolved throughout your vocation journey?

This, for me, has been a time of learning and exploration, of hearing God and questioning Him. I have needed to spend a great deal of time in conversation with God while mostly asking, "Lord, are you sure about this?" He has led me through considerable challenge and reflection about my own relationship with Him and my relationship Him has deepened and matured.

4, What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced while discerning your vocation to the priesthood?

Having had a successful and busy career in education I thought I was due a restful retirement. Clearly God didn't agree. I struggled to let go of my own plans and rediscovered the joy in doing what God wants. I was enrolled on a course of postgraduate study that was tough going at times: it had been many years since the days of writing essays. I had to learn new disciplines in theology - some views were contrary to my own so I needed to reflect on those differences and come to terms with them. 

There have been times when I felt like I was being squeezed into a mould that didn't fit me but God has been patient and allowed me time to work through it.

Karen Morris

5, In what ways has your faith been strengthened or tested during this journey?

There have been many tests, including encounters with those who express the Christian faith differently. I worked through those differences and began to see again the relationships that others had with the living Lord, seeing beyond our liturgical preferences to the children of God we all are. God spoke to me about finding the treasure among God's people and that has been exciting.


I know that God has been with me in every situation.

Whatever I have found challenging, I know that God has been with me in each and every situation and has given me His peace when I have needed it: somehow, just at the right time, God has sent someone with just the right word of encouragement or my attention has been drawn to scripture.

6, Who have been the most influential figures in your spiritual journey, and what impact have they had on you?

There have been quite a few influential figures in my spiritual journey, not least those fellow students at St Padarn's who have spoken Godly truth into my life. My personal tutors have been super supportive and coached me through all sorts of experiences. My placement supervisors, Rev Tom Saunders and Rev Martin Batchelor, have welcomed me into their ministries and allowed me to learn from them in their contexts, sharing honestly and prayerfully.

I will say that their encouragement to 'be yourself' has helped when I have had little wobbles from time to time and when I have questioned what God was calling me into.

7, Are there specific areas of ministry or service you feel especially called to?

I am very keen to spend time in conversation with the people in our Ministry Area, so I hope to be out and about often sharing the Jesus I know with them. I hope to be able to support others in deepening their faith, too as well as exploring new ways to worship. I enjoy equipping the church to serve one another, recognising people's gifts and helping to develop their ministries, and ensuring our focus extends beyond church walls to reach people who don't yet know Jesus.

8, What advice would you give to someone who is beginning to explore a vocation to the priesthood?

In Christ we have the privilege of living a purpose driven life- there is nothing to compare or equal it. God issues to us all a heavenly call, regardless of whether that finds its expression in lay or ordained ministry. The advice I would give is to spend time around those in full time and/or ordained ministry and pray about what you see and hear as God will draw you to what he has set aside for you to do.

9, What piece of advice do you have for someone who is considering a calling?

I would say pray, then pray some more. If you have time then pray again. Seek the godly advice of a small number whose opinion you value and trust, including those who minister in your own church. 


There's little point in praying for an answer if you don't listen to it.

Read instances in the bible of those who God called and how they heard from Him before setting aside time to listen to God. There's little point in praying for an answer if you don't listen to it.

Be prepared to take on the wisdom of others even if it is uncomfortable and allow God to form you into the person he has planned for you to be, whatever that is.