Get rid of traditional empowerment.

Make priest classes' ability to commune higher level supplications based on their Immortal XP.

I've never had a character who didn't get XP for their initial role, subsequent role entries, and various Immortal-interaction unless I was making a conscious lack of effort.

Without the direct "I'm looking for YOU" aspect of empowerment, it's certainly possible more characters might fall through the cracks when the staff is spread thin, but probably no more than it hurts traditional empowerment. And like I said, I've simply never been in a situation where I thought to myself, "Gee, I added this BAMF role a long time ago, why won't anyone recognize me?!" Perhaps other players have had a different experience.

This would result in people being able to play empowerment characters without having to rely on a single person and expand the dogmas and role choices for priest classes, while still allowing the staff to ensure there aren't a bunch of throwaway, no-RP healers running around in explorer-permas (or rot-spamming shamans, etc.).

Personally, I prefer traditional empowerment, but given the state of the game, I think my solution is the better of two less-than-perfect options.