|
Protestant seminaries are not the places
they used to be several decades ago. Historically, seminaries
have understood their mission to be the training and
forming the next generation of pastoral leadership in
the local parish - period. This is not necessarily the
case today. I have roughly 100 friends on Facebook that
I made while I was in Princeton. Of the folks that have
graduated, about half, I can name you no more than six
that are in ordained ministry at this moment
and it isnt for a lack of ordained opportunities.
Many of my friends are engaging in ministry in different
ways. Some are working in churches and cannot or do
not want to be ordained. Some are working on becoming
fully qualified chaplains in hospitals and care centers.
Some are furthering their education by pursuing more
graduate study. Some work at Christian camps or retreat
centers. Some have gone abroad to do ministry in other
countries. Some work with non-profits. Some have gone
into public school or community college teaching. A
few work at the mall.
No matter where they are or what their particular means
of garnering income may be, they are furthering the
mission of Christ in some way, shape, or form. They
have answered Gods call for their lives and are
doing what they feel led to do. For ministry is not
the province of the titled or the educated. The work
of Christ is not to be confined in a particular building
or location. Our call to be stewards of the Kingdom
of God is not contained in our occupation.
When we call out to Christ, Christ calls out to us to
help carry out his mission to the ends of the earth.
Wherever we are at in life at this moment, Christ calls
us into community and stewardship of his Kingdom because
each of us has something for the Kingdom.
As our new program year kicks off this month, I will
be inviting each one of us to discern how Christ is
calling us into ministry. I have no doubt that some
of us have been let down by others in the past when
we sought to be in ministry. To be in the Church is
to be let down on occasion I have done significant
ministry in four other churches and have felt let down
at one time or another. Yet, we must press on. I humbly
ask that you give it another try.
Your Elders and I are committed to making Linden Presbyterian
a place where each person is encouraged to share the
gifts that the Holy Spirit has given them and cultivate
each members identity as a minister.
If you have an idea, question, or concern about our
Kingdom work please feel free to contact me.
May the Triune God richly bless you this month,

810.735.5755
pastorseth@lindenpres.com
|