If you sat on your Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry and could ask candidates for the ordained ministry one question, what would it be?
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Question of the Day
If you sat on your Conference's Board of Ordained Ministry and could ask candidates for the ordained ministry one question, what would it be?
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15 comments:
I would like to ask two! I think a question about Wesley's statement, "In essentials unity..." is important. What are those essentials for you?
I would then ask them about their passion. What is it that makes you get out of bed in the morning?
How do you define your calling beyond 'preacher/teacher/pastor'?
what is the average wingspan of a european swallow?
African? European? oh nooooooooooo......
1) what are you praying for?
2) what practices are causing holiness of heart and life for you?
3) what do you do to maintain your mental and spiritual health?
What are you doing here?
I like the mix of serious and silly questions. So, I'll offer both. (You decide which is which.)
1) Who put the bop in the bop she bop she bop?
2) Isn't there something more useful you could be doing than this?
Should you accept this call, what will you do for money? grins
What are you passionate about?
Which is more important, preaching the Gospel or building unity within your church? Assume you are in a position where the two are mutually exclusive in at least the short term.
Supposing you could not fail, what would you want to endeavor for the sake of the church?
Jeff,
The answer is "Yes." True proclaimation of the Gospel is the only way to get true (and real) unity in the Body of Christ.
The Gospel message is not comfortable and to compromise might cause a type of agreement, but it will NOT be unity.
Rev Mommy, at a theological level, you're right. But at a level of practical ministry, Jeff's question is legitimate. As one professor of mine puts it, "Don't die on the first cross that you find."
Much of ministry consists of holding onto the tiger's tail and trying to get the tiger to move vaguely in the direction of the Kingdom of God. Insisting on perfection from the beginning may often mean that you get no progress instead of some progress. I'd rather have the latter.
1) do you see yourself as a)traditionalist or b) non (anti) traditionalist?
if a): How do you intend to remain open God's "doing a new thing"?
if b) : How do you stay connected with the movement of God's work that has gone before you?
I'd ask, "Is Jesus God incarnate in human flesh, also fully human, having actually died on the Cross and physically rose on Easter?"
I'd follow up with, "Will you support all of the positions of the Church as outlined in our Book of Discipline, even if you disagree with them and are working for change?"
I actually do ask these as part of my service on our District committee. They seem pretty darn conservative, but, the truth is that no one else seems to ask these important questions. I'd much rather ask about prevenient grace and mission.
I'd also like to ask what they think of the music of the Beatles. But there's just never enough time.
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