Parish Ministry
Happy times for newly ordained Allin at summer camp Vade Mecum in North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, c.1946.
“Take the people you serve very seriously. Take your job reasonably seriously. Don’t take yourself too seriously.” 9
Allin began his career in the South as a parish minister, serving several congregations in Arkansas and Louisiana. Varied experiences as a parish priest taught him generosity and how to learn from each pastoral encounter. He came to trust in the reciprocity of community relationships, knowing that as he cared for his congregation, they would in turn create a home for him and his family. It was in parish life that Allin learned the health and vigor of the Church depended on relationships more than the signs and symbols of buildings, liturgies and position.