Ministry Journey Blog

Thoughts on Ministry

23 Feb

Women in ministry

Posted in Uncategorized on 23.02.11 by Merlyn

One of the many reasons I am glad to identify myself as a Lutheran, one being that we are supportive of women in ministry in the LCMC. I have thought carefully about this issue over the years and examined the various arguments about Scripture. I have always known that women are gifted and called to all aspects of ministry and I always want to be someone that encourages all people (regardless of gender) to pursue their dreams and the things that they are called to. In our class today, we talked a lot about this as there are a lot of different views represented in the class. While it is not devotional in nature and is a bit more humorous, I want to share with you something someone in the class shared with the rest of us. It hits at some key issues and things that we really need to think about when it comes to this topic.

Dr. David Scholer’s Top Ten Reasons That Men Should Not Be Ordained:

10. A man’s place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibility of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are most suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman, obviously as a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowing achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. Their conduct at football games shows this.

5. Some men are handsome; thus they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be ordained as a pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more fervently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes otherwise than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to the traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

Dr. David Scholer presented this list in 1998 at Fuller Follies. It was taken, with small modifications, from a November 24, 1997 e-mail communication from W. Ward and Laurel Gasque. It is not known whether they are the authors.

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18 Feb

Pastor?

Posted in Uncategorized on 18.02.11 by Merlyn

This past Sunday I was ordained. It was a culmination of an interesting journey, a journey that was well worth it. The service was very powerful and I am still reflecting on it in many ways. I felt so honored by the service as we all truly gathered and worshiped, 300 plus people. Ordination for me has been about the full use of my gifts and call and not much else. Certainly my own love for the sacraments has been a great motivator in taking this step.

Its interesting because while nothing has changed, everything has changed. I feel confidence, acceptance and a sense of the realization of another dream. 2010 was an amazing year for me, 2011 has started off even better. At the same time, things are different. I am not sure I will ever get used to people calling me Pastor Marcus, nor will I ever get used to calling myself that. I have let people know that I am ok with whatever they are comfortable with. Things are also different because I feel the weight of ordination. I guess I try to be a spiritual person and seek to understand what the Spirit is doing in all things. I feel the weight of this ordination and my new ordination ring from my family (which is big and heavy) serves as a regular reminder of this weight. A milestone has been reached, another moment in the journey that shall press me forward.

Amen.

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10 Feb

Ordination

Posted in Uncategorized on 10.02.11 by Merlyn

This Sunday I will be ordained! Finally. I say finally because my journey in ministry towards this point has been a long and windy one. Most of the twists and turns have been my own creation and own indecision about ordination, but not all of them. In fact, 2008-2010 were three very difficult years of ministry. As I am three days away from ordination, I can say that all of these difficult times and all of the twists and turns have been worth it.
In some ways, nothing changes. SInce being called by God I have always been and functioned like a Pastor, it is who I am. My job only changed some, but that probably would have happened without the ordination. Of course my title and standing change some, but that really has nothing to do with the meat of ministry. I am a bit nervous as it approaches, not for any other reason than the power and significance of this moment. I have little to do in the service and even if I cry or fumble over my words, it would not be the end of the world. There is still much to do before the service, but I am excited for what could be a pretty amazing weekend.

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