Ethan believed that priesthood in the RC church was his vocation for many years, until God placed him on a different path.  Nonetheless, his priestly vocation never left him and he discussed this with RC priests who were accepting of his conscience-driven choice, but this did not lead to suggestions or steps towards a further exploration of his vocation. Later he discussed vocation with Scottish Episcopal priests, but to no avail. Rather than a very public, formal ministry, Ethan feels drawn to a much more grass-roots, individual based ministry, specifically in the queer community.

Ethan says 'The central aspect of my ministry would be private celebration of the Eucharist. This could often be by myself, but ideally at least sometimes with small numbers of queer people who have been hurt or cast out by other Catholic Churches, to bring them back to the Sacrament and the Sacrament to them in a comfortable setting. This would give them an opportunity to develop their relationship with Christ through the liturgy, without a larger, more formal church space to remind them of faith communities from which they may have been rejected. Guided by this, I would hope to engage in conversations with queer people interested in faith and spirituality, helping them in their own journey and providing an example of a person living as authentically as possible their own faith and vocation. I would particularly seek to make myself visible at queer events as a person of faith, living my values by supporting the community in whichever ways I am able, from pride marches to befriending newly “out” members of the community'.

Attending St Anne’s RC primary school in Gateshead, Ethan was baptised in the RC faith at a young age. Voluntarily engaging with the confirmation program at Cardinal Hume RC Secondary School, he was confirmed at 14, by then Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle, Bishop Seamus Cunningham.

Ethan says 'I taught myself to play the organ from an early age and was involved in music ministry from then, playing the viola accompanying the organ and choir. As I grew into music ministry, I engaged with the Sunday Mass readings and reflected on them to find the most appropriate music choices, for congregational and solo contexts. By the age of 17, I had played in several RC churches across Gateshead and Newcastle,  I later moved to Glasgow and helped in the music ministry in St Peter’s RC church in Partick, where I helped found a choir for larger liturgical celebrations and led the music side of weekly Sunday liturgies every week. This included planning hymns appropriate both for the message of the week’s readings but also for the comfort and ability of the usual congregations for each Mass. This work at St Peter’s helped develop my music ministry skills greatly, and I was asked to play the organ at several churches across the city'.