In the picture to the right I am graduating from Andover Newton Theological School. I had completed all the work needed for a Masters in Divinity. Part of my studies were completed part time because I had children in college and needed to keep teaching to help support us all. I learned a lot in seminary but I was sure glad I was a mature Christian entering the process. I watched young men and women enter seminary with some faith and a sense of calling but watched as the education stripped away their faith and confused their calling. By the time they were done many did not know what they were called to do. The church requires as much education as you would get to become a doctor or a lawyer in order to be set apart for a specific piece of the ministry of the church. Notice I said set apart not above. Our ministry as ordained individuals is meant only to equip and compliment the ministry of all believers, not to replace that ministry. The only ministry I had not done frequently before I was ordained was consecration of the elements for communion, and baptism (although I could have baptized). I had been in a situation where I not only was encouraged and equipped for ministry, I was challenged to be a minster. My education for ministry was for ordained ministry not for ministry. My education for ministry was in church communities like my present parish in Surfside. I know the world has become more complicated since the days of the Apostles, but can you imagine St. Peter being told he needs 90 credits of college work before he could be a minister. He learned to minister in a community that encouraged and challenged him to be a minister even against his apparent human weaknesses. He was then equipped by the Holy Spirit which has been given to all of us who believe. Are you willing to be mentored to find the ministry to which you are called? Remember, because you are baptized you are a minister. The only question is how well you are doing your ministry. Today, September 3, 2009 you have twenty four hours like everybody else. What you do with those hours is your ministry. At the end of the day you will either have done it well or poorly or somewhere in between, but you will have completed your ministry for the day. Don't let it happen by accident, invite the Holy Spirit to use your day. He has all the education you need.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Education for Ministry
In the picture to the right I am graduating from Andover Newton Theological School. I had completed all the work needed for a Masters in Divinity. Part of my studies were completed part time because I had children in college and needed to keep teaching to help support us all. I learned a lot in seminary but I was sure glad I was a mature Christian entering the process. I watched young men and women enter seminary with some faith and a sense of calling but watched as the education stripped away their faith and confused their calling. By the time they were done many did not know what they were called to do. The church requires as much education as you would get to become a doctor or a lawyer in order to be set apart for a specific piece of the ministry of the church. Notice I said set apart not above. Our ministry as ordained individuals is meant only to equip and compliment the ministry of all believers, not to replace that ministry. The only ministry I had not done frequently before I was ordained was consecration of the elements for communion, and baptism (although I could have baptized). I had been in a situation where I not only was encouraged and equipped for ministry, I was challenged to be a minster. My education for ministry was for ordained ministry not for ministry. My education for ministry was in church communities like my present parish in Surfside. I know the world has become more complicated since the days of the Apostles, but can you imagine St. Peter being told he needs 90 credits of college work before he could be a minister. He learned to minister in a community that encouraged and challenged him to be a minister even against his apparent human weaknesses. He was then equipped by the Holy Spirit which has been given to all of us who believe. Are you willing to be mentored to find the ministry to which you are called? Remember, because you are baptized you are a minister. The only question is how well you are doing your ministry. Today, September 3, 2009 you have twenty four hours like everybody else. What you do with those hours is your ministry. At the end of the day you will either have done it well or poorly or somewhere in between, but you will have completed your ministry for the day. Don't let it happen by accident, invite the Holy Spirit to use your day. He has all the education you need.
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I love you very much Uncle Dana, and I am so glad I found your blog. I need something like this to start my day off right.
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