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For Youth to Consider: Opportunities Beyond Expectations |
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For over thirty years I have lived an opportunity beyond expectations. The church names it "ordained ministry". For me personally it has been expressed as a pastor in three quite different congregations, as a Bible camp director, and now as bishop. What do I mean, "opportunities beyond expectations"? I mean several things. First, ordained ministry has opened entries into people's lives in ways unlike any other calling. I have been invited to share the joy of the birth or adoption of a baby, to sit with a couple whose eight-year-old son was accidentally killed, to play with kids during vacation church school, to sit around a campfire with teens and listen to the wind and talk quietly about the wonder of creation, to help a couple think about what it means to be married and to plan a wedding, to meet a homeless person in need of a meal, to help a young person sort through some tough choices for life direction, to hear the joy of "I'm pregnant" an dthe pain of "I've had a miscarriage", to hold the hand of an old person who knew death was near, to listen to a woman who wants a divorce, to officiate at the renewal of marriage vows after one of the spouses had an affair and reconciliation became a reality, to receive a phone call late at night because death has come. I could go on. God opens doors into people's lives in both weird and wondrous ways so by my presence I can affirm, "God sticks with you." Second, ordained ministry allows for use of gifts for a wide range of activities. I have taught people of all ages (some eager to learn, others not!) with special focus on the Bible and life issues, prepared and preached sermons, helped plan dramas and creative worship services, led worship indoors and outdoors (informally and formally), helped start a new congregation, helped other develop leadership, shared ideas to build consensus for building plans, encouraged people to share gifts for ministry (skills, ideas, money), helped train youth for outdoor ministry, offered ideas as a board member for an outdoor ministry and a nursing home, sought to inspire people to give in ways they did not think possible. I could go on. God allows all my gifts to be nutured, stretched, and utilized in a great variety of ways. Third and most importantly, ordained ministry zeroes in on word and sacrament. I have a hunger like everyone else. I need to know I am valued, that I count for something, that my blunders and brokenness do not have the final word, that my life has purpose and meaning. I need to hear and taste that God dwells with me, counts me as precious, forgives me, mends me, guides me, gives me direction, opens me to see the needs of others, calls me to serve others. Ordained ministry designates me to present and proclaim all that good news in the midst of and for the sake of the community we call the church. I do that through sharing the living Word through my spoken words and through the visible, earthy words of baptism and holy communion. Being a pastor has brought opportunities beyond expectations for me. God has used me as an instrument, a servant, to bring good news to people in ways I never envisioned. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America needs ordained ministers. How do you know if you have the gifts and the passion to serve the church in this way? I believe God calls us to serve. We may have a vague feeling, and interested inclination, a strong sense that God calls us. I encourage us to pay attention whenever we have a pull in that direction. In addition, I want us to pay attention to the voices of God's people. For me, my mom, an aunt, a pastor, some adults in my home congregation, counselors at Bible camp, college friends in dorm discussions all influenced me. If someone says, "I can see you as a pastor someday," or, "Have you thought about being a pastor?", I invite you to put that in the inbox for further thought and consideration. Someday you may serve as a pastor. In our Lutheran tradition, you will serve a special role but not a more important role than all other members of the church. In our baptisms, God claims us as precious children and calls us all to serve as Christ served others. Your gifts can bring good living their lives as faithful followers of Jesus in every walk of life. That may be your call as well. But if your call leads you to ordained ministry, I believe you will have opportunities beyond expectations. Pastor George Carlson, Bishop |
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