Clergy

"Obedience is better than sacrifice" says scripture.  I struggle to obey.  Trusting God is not easy, but trusting myself to hear God correctly and obey appropriately is much, much less easy for me.  That is my greatest struggle.  I struggle with obedience more than I do with workaholism, being a perfectionist, fully grieving loss, bitterness, and expressing anger appropriately.  Obeying God often leads to interpersonal conflict.

For much of my life, people told me that I should be in "full-time ministry."  That offended me, because when I released control of my life and invited Jesus to be the boss, I meant that full time.  No, I did not enter a "ministry vocation."  But everything I did was intended to honor God--on the job, with my family, and in all my relationships.  I studied the Bible diligently.  I taught Bible classes.  I shared the good news frequently.  I prayed.  I gave (more than one tenth of my gross income).  I counseled folks.  For the most part, I lived what I taught.  I was in full-time ministry.  To be certain, I regularly sinned too.  I struggled with addictive behavior.  I imposed my perfectionist behavior onto unsuspecting people, notably my family.  I worked too much and played too little.  I judged others.  I was a typical "minister", huh?

This lifestyle changed when Zoe, my wife, and I headed for Kentucky to go to seminary in 1996.  I had been a full-time disciple of Jesus for more than twenty years.  I assumed that since God was sending us to seminary He also intended that I become ordained clergy.  That was a major concession for me.  I had long preached the priesthood of all believers.  I strongly believed (still do) in the priesthood of all believers.  (1 Peter 2:9,  Revelation 1:4-6, Colossians 3:17, and other scriptures).   But, in obedience, although I had a strong affinity for Missiology, I entered the Master of Divinity program (intended to teach us how to master the Divine?).  However, no church sponsored us, so getting on an ordination track was impossible at that time.  Where would this lead?

I completed three-and-one-half years of seminary, simultaneously working as an administrator full-time at the seminary, then applied for and was admitted to the Doctor of Ministry program. I later transferred to another Seminary, when Zoe was recruited to be an Assistant Dean there.  I completed the D.Min. degree and never got ordained.  Now I had a Ph.D., an M.Div. equivalent (awarded when I was admitted to the D.Min. program), and a D.Min.  But I was not ordained.

Where was this leading?  Should I get ordained?

More later....