Good Stuff

Yesterday I had the opportunity have lunch with my Pastor and our churches District Superintendent.  I basically was able to get the scoop on how the ordination process works in the United Methodist church.  One of my biggest fears prior to yesterday was the Methodist itinerant system..  Essentially, once ordained, you have a job for life, but you also are committed to the Bishop and his placing you in a church.  On the surface this sounds like the Bishop sits in a room rubbing his hands together while moving pastors around the board at any whim.  Picture Zeus in Clash of the Titans.  This is so not the case.  The DS and Pastor Doug shared that it is far from this. Add to their encouragement a rather coincidental casual dinner meeting with my Prof at Asbury, in which another student brought up this very topic.  Dang, more encouragement.  Essentially, instead of me job hunting, you have the Bishop, the DS, and other praying and seeking where God would have you fit the best.  Most Pastor's don't get this kind of support when seeking where God would have them in ministry.  In reality their is less chance of being moved from church to church, then there would be of being moved from job to job in the secular business world.  So anyway, I am beginning the process of becoming a candidate for ordination.  This is not a short or easy process, but it is a good one. 

On a side note, tomorrow night I am preaching at our Maundy Thursday service and I keep coming back to the idea of Jesus calling us to His table.  What does this mean in the now and in our lives?  What do you all think when you consider the sacrament of communion?

Comments

[Anthony]

Tom - As you know, I already shared with you in some detail a response to your question via Facebook. But to give something for your blog, I will say that I think of Jesus, seated at the right hand of the Father, far above all powers and principalities, who now offers us his very life through the sacrament of communion.