Book: The Shock of Night, by Patrick. W. Carr. Christian fantasy.
Personality: Humble, good listener, non-judgmental.
What he brings to the table: Ealdor is a key player in the protagonist's life. He helps him to work through his PTSD-like symptoms following a war in which he was involved. He's always available for confession and is quick to help the poor, even refusing donations for his dilapidated church and telling Willet (the protagonist) to spend his money elsewhere to help others.
Pastorly/Worship Notes: We don't see Ealdor perform any sort of public service, but he frequently performs the rites of confession for Willet, as well as haeling (which seems to be somewhat similar to communion). He belongs to the Merum order of the church, which is the oldest in existence.
Ninja Status: Blue belt. I probably would give him a yellow belt, but at the end of the second book, a substantial secret is revealed about Ealdor that earns him some bonus points for secrecy.
Further Discussion:
I love Ealdor as a character, though he plays a rather minor role in the first two books of the series. His mysterious nature opens many questions but also reveals some secrets regarding Willet Dura's own puzzling condition. He fulfills a role that I haven't seen in very many books for a pastor, Christian or otherwise. While he often is a friend and confidant for Willet, we also see him using that role in an "official" manner by performing private confession and absolution. As someone who prefers a more liturgical/traditional style of worship, it's encouraging to see that same style of worship positively portrayed in a book (without having it shoved down your throat).
I think Ealdor's role also opens up an interesting discussion on the role of pastors in people who have been traumatized. No matter how often Willet comes, he's open to the idea of providing comfort and absolution on a spiritual--and personal--level. Perhaps my reading has not been terribly broad in scope, but I can't say that the spiritual care of people suffering from a terrible past has been discussed in many books.
Ealdor isn't the only interesting religious character in this series, either. Mr. Carr does an excellent job of portraying all sorts of different shades of devotion in the church--from those who stress forgiveness, to those who employ nearly militant tactics. For each expression, there are also varying degrees of trueness of heart, from those who are after only personal gain to those who are truly selfless, and everyone in between. It's a refreshing take on the portrayal of the church.
