Boys,
Yesterday was my first day at Grace Covenant. It consisted of meeting the staff, spending time talking with the pastor, Rusty, who's a great individual with a great vision for this congregation, and trying to get myself organized here. I have to admit, it doesn't feel real yet. Perhaps next week I will take a little more time and expound on my thoughts so far, but for now I just wanted to give a quick update.
Later,
Chris B.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Here I Am Lord
What's up all?
Just a few thoughts about transitioning to ministry.
After three years of intense, engaging (for the most part), and enlightening study and field work, I felt prepared to begin doing that which I was called to do - ministry in a congregation. I am ready, I am excited, and I am called. I am also very, very frustrated. After following God's call for Jessica and I to be in Oakland, I have found nothing but dead-ends everywhere I go. Because of the choppy economic conditions here in CA jobs of all kinds are sparse...and "pastor" is no exception. Despite our lengthy education and preparation for ministry, it appears that I am unqualified for many of the positions in the area. Though I know God is absolutely faithful, there certainly are times when my perception of that fact is lost amidst loneliness, boredom, financial worries, etc. This is one of those times.
There is only so much cleaning, preparing, reading, organizing, and unpacking one can do. Eventually everything becomes tidy, prepared, read, organized, and in its proper place, and then there is no more fooling yourself into keeping yourself busy while God leads a needy congregation right to your front door. It doesn't work like that, nor should it. Despite reaching out and announcing my intentions to a number of churches and church ruling bodies, the response has been very intriguing: silence. In a time of such social and economic distress as today, one would think that free, extra ministry help from someone passionate about it would be welcomed. Despite all my frustrations, questions, confusion regarding this issue, however, I always come back to the fact that God is indeed faithful....
As I was writing the above comments, my mind was quieted and I felt God nudging me from the deepest parts of my heart that sometimes receive a lower priority than they should. "If you are called to be a pastor and spend your life serving Me by serving My people, what is more beneficial than being able to truly identify with the stresses of joblessness?" "Perhaps you are not looking in the right places." "Who told you that you must work through pre-existing entities?" And finally, "Patience...."
Goodbye friends, I will blog again soon. Join in the fun.
Just a few thoughts about transitioning to ministry.
After three years of intense, engaging (for the most part), and enlightening study and field work, I felt prepared to begin doing that which I was called to do - ministry in a congregation. I am ready, I am excited, and I am called. I am also very, very frustrated. After following God's call for Jessica and I to be in Oakland, I have found nothing but dead-ends everywhere I go. Because of the choppy economic conditions here in CA jobs of all kinds are sparse...and "pastor" is no exception. Despite our lengthy education and preparation for ministry, it appears that I am unqualified for many of the positions in the area. Though I know God is absolutely faithful, there certainly are times when my perception of that fact is lost amidst loneliness, boredom, financial worries, etc. This is one of those times.
There is only so much cleaning, preparing, reading, organizing, and unpacking one can do. Eventually everything becomes tidy, prepared, read, organized, and in its proper place, and then there is no more fooling yourself into keeping yourself busy while God leads a needy congregation right to your front door. It doesn't work like that, nor should it. Despite reaching out and announcing my intentions to a number of churches and church ruling bodies, the response has been very intriguing: silence. In a time of such social and economic distress as today, one would think that free, extra ministry help from someone passionate about it would be welcomed. Despite all my frustrations, questions, confusion regarding this issue, however, I always come back to the fact that God is indeed faithful....
As I was writing the above comments, my mind was quieted and I felt God nudging me from the deepest parts of my heart that sometimes receive a lower priority than they should. "If you are called to be a pastor and spend your life serving Me by serving My people, what is more beneficial than being able to truly identify with the stresses of joblessness?" "Perhaps you are not looking in the right places." "Who told you that you must work through pre-existing entities?" And finally, "Patience...."
Goodbye friends, I will blog again soon. Join in the fun.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Update on Russell
Hey friends,
Well it appears that only one of us is getting ordained straight out of seminary. Way to go Chris - I expect memorization of the Book of Order and its proposed amendments by Tuesday morning. You're gonna do great - say hi to the lady for me as well.
Since this blog is about ministry, I'll give you an update on my behalf, hopefully kicking off the blog for the second time since (other) Chris started posting in May. I am beginning to scope out a particular calling in Oakland, California. Since we're all trained to be Ministers of Word and Sacrament, I'm obviously looking for the communities in the area looking for someone of that nature. However, my ultimate calling is not to a position but to a life, and so the search for Oakland's needs begins. I must say that the presuppositions of mine towards the city were somewhat misguided, since much of what I knew of Oakland came from early '90s rap albums and recent news reports. It is a beautiful town with rich cultural and ethnic diversity, a pretty decent 20/30-something crowd, and a burgeoning hipster population.
I have sought out a location that fits my passions and calling for ministry in particular: between the hills and the flats. Oakland is generally (unfortunately) separated into these two sections, the former being stereotypically safer and wealthier, and the latter including a higher crime rate and poorer. I live somewhere in between. It was an intentional effort to live somewhere between those who have and those who need in an attempt to connect them at a deeper level than general assumption. An integral part of a vicious crime cycle, it occurred to me today, is revenge, which is exactly the opposite of empathy. If this sounds weird, comment and I'll explain further.
In any case, connecting different areas of society with each other for the purposes of mutual learning, friendship, brotherhood (sisterhood), sacrifice, faith, generosity, etc. is a calling of mine in Oakland (all in obedience to God, of course). Of course, there are many other needs in this time of economic despair, but that's where I feel God calling me particularly. Let's see how this ends up connecting with my other passion of college / young adult ministry. I'll keep you updated. There are some very interesting positions out there. Perhaps I'll make my own. Perhaps there will be no position. In any case, I'm stoked about actually doing ministry here instead of just learning about doing ministry. Always curious how that system came about....
Hope you guys are well. Keep posting sermons, thoughts, ideas, comments, etc. Make something up. Make something happen. Write a curriculum. Have fun with the site and make it your own. See you later friends; each of you is in my prayers.
Russell
Well it appears that only one of us is getting ordained straight out of seminary. Way to go Chris - I expect memorization of the Book of Order and its proposed amendments by Tuesday morning. You're gonna do great - say hi to the lady for me as well.
Since this blog is about ministry, I'll give you an update on my behalf, hopefully kicking off the blog for the second time since (other) Chris started posting in May. I am beginning to scope out a particular calling in Oakland, California. Since we're all trained to be Ministers of Word and Sacrament, I'm obviously looking for the communities in the area looking for someone of that nature. However, my ultimate calling is not to a position but to a life, and so the search for Oakland's needs begins. I must say that the presuppositions of mine towards the city were somewhat misguided, since much of what I knew of Oakland came from early '90s rap albums and recent news reports. It is a beautiful town with rich cultural and ethnic diversity, a pretty decent 20/30-something crowd, and a burgeoning hipster population.
I have sought out a location that fits my passions and calling for ministry in particular: between the hills and the flats. Oakland is generally (unfortunately) separated into these two sections, the former being stereotypically safer and wealthier, and the latter including a higher crime rate and poorer. I live somewhere in between. It was an intentional effort to live somewhere between those who have and those who need in an attempt to connect them at a deeper level than general assumption. An integral part of a vicious crime cycle, it occurred to me today, is revenge, which is exactly the opposite of empathy. If this sounds weird, comment and I'll explain further.
In any case, connecting different areas of society with each other for the purposes of mutual learning, friendship, brotherhood (sisterhood), sacrifice, faith, generosity, etc. is a calling of mine in Oakland (all in obedience to God, of course). Of course, there are many other needs in this time of economic despair, but that's where I feel God calling me particularly. Let's see how this ends up connecting with my other passion of college / young adult ministry. I'll keep you updated. There are some very interesting positions out there. Perhaps I'll make my own. Perhaps there will be no position. In any case, I'm stoked about actually doing ministry here instead of just learning about doing ministry. Always curious how that system came about....
Hope you guys are well. Keep posting sermons, thoughts, ideas, comments, etc. Make something up. Make something happen. Write a curriculum. Have fun with the site and make it your own. See you later friends; each of you is in my prayers.
Russell
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