Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Ministry...of the un-ordained

Today in class I was asked if I was from a tradition that requires a call to participate in ministry. And all I wanted to do was correct the statement.

By being Christian we are called to ministry. The call to ordainment is different than this phrase.

I look at my students and wonder what they are working towards--do they recognize the call to ministry that they each have?

It took me 5 semesters of school, and three years of youth ministry to define my call to ministry, but I heard the call since being a Christian. It is not something separate, but one and the same.

It is the priesthood of all believers. I am a minister of Christ's love and grace, just as the next Christian. I have been called to minister this. I am not ordained, nor will I ever take on that role. But, I am called. And I do have a ministry.

I simply hope that people, especially at the seminary level, recognize that all people are called to ministry...and that ministry does not require ordainment.

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