The Rev. Darin Metz was ordained into the Sacred Order of the Priesthood on Sept. 22 in a service held at Church of the Incarnation, Oviedo. The Rt. Rev. Dr. Justin S. Holcomb presided, and the Rev. Dr. Rob Lord, retired associate priest, Emmanuel, Orlando, preached.
Metz was one of seven in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida ordained as transitional deacons on Jan. 11 at the Cathedral Church of St. Luke, Orlando.
Over 20 years ago, he felt God’s call to serve in some ministry capacity. “Up until recently, that has looked like working at Wycliffe Bible Translators in various roles for more than a decade,” he said. “A few years ago, however, I felt the Lord’s prompting toward ordained ministry in The Episcopal Church.
“At the encouragement of our then-rector, Father Tom Phillips, my wife and I attended a Commission on Ministry event and decided to begin the ordination process,” he explained. “That was three years ago this past August. Since then, we’ve taken it a step at a time and felt God’s continued guidance along the way. To make it to ordination was humbling and a real testimony of God’s faithfulness.”
Metz attended Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Nashotah House in Nashotah, Wisconsin.
During the examination, charge and consecration, he considered his call to ministry. “I felt a real sense of the gravity of the call, but not in a way that produced anxiety,” he said. “That’s because, along with the gravity, I felt gratitude for the community of leaders in the church who surrounded me and laid hands on me. It was clear to me that this was not a road that I would be walking alone.”
In his charge, Holcomb spoke of his deep respect for Metz: “I admire him for his gentleness, tenderness and his passion for the Word of God.”
Lord presented Metz, who was vested by his wife. The new priest also received a Bible from Holcomb, and his first act as a priest was to offer the peace. “I think I felt relief and joy at that moment,” he said.
He is excited about being a priest. “I’m looking forward to connecting with a congregation while we grow together in the knowledge of Christ and share his love with others.”
Metz feels much gratitude to those who helped him in his journey and made his ordination possible. “I’d like to thank my wife, Ginger,” he said. “She is my wonderful, behind-the-scenes love, support and inspiration. I want to thank the Church of the Incarnation for their encouragement and support throughout this journey.
“Most of all, I want to express my love and gratitude to the Lord Jesus,” he added. “His love and mercy have sustained me in the midst of my many faults and failings. He is faithful, and I’ve often been reminded of this truth through his Word, which tells us that his children can ‘be confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ As I move forward into ordained ministry, I pray that I will communicate effectively in word and deed this great love and faithfulness of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Metz has two daughters, Madalyn and Haleth Iona. He has accepted a call to serve as priest-in-charge of Christ Episcopal Church, Longwood. His first Sunday will be Nov. 3.