Time for this already??

Mine took place on November 4, 2006. . . a little over nine months ago. Is that enough time to have lived into these reverend shoes to have something meaningful to say about ordained ministry? Have I reached a place where I can speak confidently about exactly what it means to be a pastor?

Probably not.

Every day, I continue to learn so much. I'll be thankful to reach the point in a couple of months of saying I've been doing this journey for a year (in my head it will seem to mean something... I hope).

But, on Sunday afternoon at our congregation, I was slated to share a charge to an ordination candidate in a special service at 4 pm. My job was to charge the candidate. For those of you who aren't familiar with the Baptist tradition of ordination, this part of the program is basically a "go get 'em" or "remember who you are as a called person" speech.

These were the words I planned to say:

Though we have only known each other for a short time, I have come to know of and be blessed by the power of God that is at work in your life. It is known when you speak. It is known when you pray. It is known as you lovingly attend to those around you.

And it because of this calling on your life, I invite you to:

Live into the voice of God that is within your very being. Do not let anyone look down on you because who you are or what you stand for. Just as Moses told Joshua before he knew it was time for him to lead, I invite you too to hold on to these words: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

For Christ has called you to be a prophetic pastor, working for justice, resisting violence and challenging the abuse of power.

For Christ has called you to be an inclusive pastor, pulling down the walls of prejudge and welcoming the stranger.

For Christ has called you to be a loving pastor, risking uncertainty, becoming vulnerable, and reflecting the generosity of God.

For Christ has called you to be worshipping pastor, seeking and celebrating the God who journeys with us, and open to the Spirit who calls us to wholeness both in and out of ministry settings.

So, this afternoon, may God give you grace never to sell yourself short, grace to risk something big for something good, and grace to remember that the world is now too dangerous for anything but truth, and too small for anything but love. Now is your time to begin this unique journey, sometimes scary and always full of adventure. [This part was totally adapted from the wonderful closing benediction I heard at the conference last week].

May God richly bless you. Go forth in peace.

But, then as I sat in the pew right before the service began, I looked over the program once more to make sure I knew when it was my time to speak. A look of panic, I know came over my face, as I learned I was slated to do the charge to the church and not the candidate.

I quickly cut and pasted throughout the piece of writing and came up with what I like to call my "Oprah" (on my feet version) of the charge. It turned out better than I thought because some of what I had planned was easily adaptable. A lot of what we call the ordained minister to do is what we as the church do all together.

Furthermore, I share this final point to say that ministry is often like this.

You prepare, you prepare and prepare some more. Then, often times when you get into the moment, you find yourself doing something very different all together. Sometimes this will be because of personal error or miscommunication, or sometimes it will just be because of some unknown reason. But, you speak anyway, doing the best you can to share the presence of God in the moment.

So, I can now add another first to the list: my first ordination council and participation in my first ordination service as a Rev.