Several have asked if I ever received a response to the letter that I posted in my last blog. No, I have not. I didn't really expect that I would, honestly, but a bigger part of me than I realized was hoping that I would hear back. I sent it more for my healing and peace than I did for a response, but I hope that something I said may have at least made him think a little bit. I hope.
Last week, I got increasingly nervous for my interview with the church Cabinet for In-Discernment status*. Yesterday morning, I was an absolute nervous wreck. And the fact that I was nervous kept making me more nervous, especially since I don't generally get nervous! It was great to visit with Ben for a few minutes... Helped me relax some. A very sweet text from Michelle (who is the Moderator and was one of the interviewers) and a Facebook conversation with Lorin finally got me calmed down. I spent quite a bit of time praying, drinking hot chocolate and working on school (a productive distraction tactic, I might add) to keep myself from thinking about it non-stop.
It was also my turn for the devotional and prayer at the Cabinet meeting, so I shared the story of Jesus Calling the 12 Disciples that we use with the PreK-K kids. That was pretty calming, as well, actually. Hooray for comfort zones!
Then it was time. Time for my interview.
It was actually pretty easy. Much easier than I had expected. The time I spent worrying and being nervous was so not worth it. (Is it ever really worth it?) We started with describing myself and my background. We moved on to the events in my life that helped lead to me realizing my call to ministry, what kind of ministry I envisioned having, and why I envisioned ministry specifically within the United Church of Christ. The next question was probably the hardest for me. They asked what I though could be the biggest challenges for me on this journey. After that, they asked how I saw the congregation supporting me through this whole process and then ended with the only theological question they asked me: how do you view the Bible?
(Again, clearly tired and distracted... I just posted without writing the end or adding my meme. Here we go: attempt 2.)
That was it. That was the entire interview. Then I left and they got vote on me. Michelle called me a little while later to let me know that the Cabinet had voted unanimously to move me along in the process. Next, Rev. Nate will write a letter to the Association's Committee on Church & Ministry that will accompany the Cabinet's recommendation. They will do both a written and verbal interview before approving (hopefully) or denying me (and crushing my dreams) for In-Discernment status.
*If you have no clue what In-Discernment Status is, it's a covenantal relationship between a student intending to go into ministry, a local church and the UCC association. It's primary purpose is to support the process of "figuring out" your call and help to evaluate your fitness for ministry and can start as soon as a call is known and lasts through ordination. There's more to it, but there's the Cliff's Notes. Now you can pass the test. ;-)
I needed humor like this yesterday...
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