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