Ordination

What an awesome God.  Over the centuries he has faithfully provided leadership for his church. I think the fact that there is such continuity is overlooked by many.  Below is a bit of para 14 of the Basis of Union.  It says the Church bears witness to God’s faithfulness and declares the hope by which it lives; however, this is reflected through the participation of the ordained. 

In this act of ordination the Church praises the ascended Christ for conferring gifts upon men and women. It recognises Christ's call of the individual to be his minister; it prays for the enabling power of the Holy Spirit to equip the minister for that service. By the participation in the act of ordination of those already ordained, the Church bears witness to God's faithfulness and declares the hope by which it lives.

The Basis goes on to say 

In company with other Christians the Uniting Church will seek for a renewed understanding of the way in which the congregation participates in ordination and of the significance of ordination in the life of the Church. 

The understanding of ordination to the life of the Church and the congregations  participation, well, it seems at the time of union (1977) was highlighted for more discussion. 

In my discussions with ordained about ordination, I find that they by in large are in awe of God’s faithfulness to the church.  But, in my last discussion, there was a comment along the lines that in ordination the Church recognizes gifts of leadership (and others).  But this bothered me, somehow so later in the conversation, I asked, “The Church recognizes leadership but do congregations?”  My friend commented that he found many congregations that think of the ordained as some sort of “Divine polyfiller” that comes in and fills up all the gaps and needs.

I recognize that a congregation is a place that many arrive at spiritually empty and perhaps, it may be a bit much to expect more from them but I hope that my ordination service will point to God’s faithfulness and bring hope to the congregation as well as all the things identified above.