Whom Shall I send and who will go for us?

Some Questions and Answers about Responding the Call to Ministry in the UCC

The Situation:

• The United Church of Christ faces new challenges in telling the old, old Gospel story in new ways that are both faithful and understandable.
• More than ever the United Church of Christ needs to lift up a new generation of leaders to serve our congregations and inspire a renewed vision and commitment for ministry and mission.
• Increasingly the United Church of Christ faces a smaller pool of seminary trained ordained ministers to serve a larger number of congregations unable to afford to support full time pastoral positions.
• The gap between seminary student indebtedness and the usual compensation package offered in first pastorates puts a high degree of stress on both pastors and congregations.
  
• Many settings across the United Church of Christ have recognized the need to address these challenges by developing lay ministry programs and looking for alternate, less costly ways to provide qualified pastors to lead our congregations.
• General Synod 25 overwhelmingly passed the Ministry Issues Pronouncement in 2005 to begin developing a systematic denomination-wide process of recognizing multiple tracks to ordination.
  

But what does this Pronouncement mean? And, how does someone who feels God's call to ministry within the United Church of Christ proceed? To answer these and other questions please look into the following interview between Chris, an inquirer and Eccles, a member of your Association's Committee on Ministry.

Question 1 -- How do I figure out if God is calling me to ministry?

Chris: Thank you for seeing me today, Eccles, and for listening to my story and answering my questions. You see, I have a lot on my mind. You see, I've been an inquirer for a long time, and I've been a part of many different faith communities. I've always felt close to God and at various times have sensed that God might be calling me to ordained ministry.

I'm rather new to the UCC, but have felt very drawn to the freedom that we have to think about and act on our faith according to our own conscience...according to where we are on our own faith journey. No one tries to force anything on us. Besides, I like that we care about working with other churches and other religious, that we are open to the community, and that we work for what's good and right in society. So, I guess I'm asking, "Does this sound like a call to you...and, if so what do I do now?"

Eccles: No, Chris, I thank you for your thoughtfulness in coming to see me and for your courage in sharing your heartfelt questions about the directions into which God may be leading you.

Discernment is a key part of this process. That's the process that you've begun to employ even before your decision to speak with me. Figuring out where God is leading us, who God is calling us to be and how we are to fulfill this call are all a part of discernment.

In the United Church of Christ we are called upon to discern these things individually, within our own hearts, and also in the context of our community of faith. That is, in the UCC everything we do in matters of faith and practice effects the community of faith of which we are a part -- the local congregation where we worship, to be sure, but also every congregation with which we fellowship across the denomination.

So, to answer the first part of your question, I would say that what you've told me so far is enough for me to encourage your further study, meditation and prayer as to the nature and direction of God's call. As it happens, the UCC has some resources to help in this process. If you have internet access, you can go to www.askthequestion.org. This is a website of the UCC especially for inquirers like you. If you do not have have internet access, call 866.822.8224, ext. 3850 for your free "Ask the Question" booklet.

For the second part of your question it's important for you to talk with your pastor and/or some other spiritual leader in your congregation about these things, too. The Deacons may want to meet with you when you are ready to ask for their support. Of course, the Association Committee on Ministry will be interested in meeting with you, too, as soon as you are ready to begin the process of seeking authorization for ministry on behalf of the United Church of Christ. But, first you need the support of your pastor and the congregation.

Question 2 -- Whose Call is it, anyway?

Chris: Yes, I've talked to my pastor about some of these things. In fact she's the one who gave me your name. But, she encouraged me to find out what you would say and what you think I should now do.

So, I understand that I need to keep in prayer about this sense of my calling to ministry and to be in constant communication with others in the church about it. But, I wonder, it is my calling. God has called me to ministry. Why does the church have anything to say about it?

Eccles: You raise some very good questions here, questions that many have about the Spirit of God relates to individuals and the church. Does the Spirit come to individuals who then decide to gather together with other like minded individuals to form a congregation? Or, does the Spirit speak to individuals only in the context of the Church's calling to ministry? Or, does it all happen somewhere in between these polls? More specifically, how does the Holy Spirit work to call individuals to the ministry of the Church?

Certainly, the Holy Spirit works as it will (like the blowing of the wind as referenced in John 3:8) and we need to be open to how it comes to us and where it leads us. The Holy Spirit inspires individuals outside the context of the church. Prophets of all sorts in many secular and sacred disciplines outside the mission of the Church have been the voices of one crying in the wilderness (Isaiah 40:3), calling the world and the Church to reformation, renaissance, justice and peace.

The United Church of Christ acknowledges and celebrates all of this. And, the UCC understands and believes that those who seek authorization for ministry within and by the UCC on behalf of the whole Church are covenanting, agreeing and promising to be a part of the Church's ministry of reconciliation. So, simply put the call to ordained ministry (or licensed or commissioned ministry) by the Church is the Church's call. That's why the Church becomes a part of the discussion of your sense that God is calling you to ministry. All those that the UCC authorizes for ministry on behalf of the whole Church of Jesus Christ become part of God's call to the Church.

Part of your discernment with members of your congregation and of the Association Committee on Ministry is to decide whether your call is to minister within the context of the Church's mission or in some other context. This process takes time, and much prayer and discussion.

My intention is to carry on this discussion further in future blog postings. Perhaps, this will be enough to start things off. Of course, your questions and comments are also welcomed.

Blessings,

Rick Cowles