Pastors' Break Room

[Macrina]

Good morning, fellow pastors. Coffee's on...

I mentioned this in the female pastor thread, but I'll mention it here, too. Today at lunchtime, I'm going to my first meeting of the local ministers' association. I'm excited to meet my colleagues, but I'm also rather nervous because this is a *very* conservative town and I know that many/most of these men won't be very happy to have me there. I'm not the abrasive feminist type, so I think I won't ruffle too many feathers... I just want to be able to make some nice connections and get to know my colleagues better.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I definately understand how you feel. It's turning out quite hard for me as well. Now that I have found Orthodoxy, I have to get re-ordained, by the church itself this time. I'm sure since we all have the Spirit it should be a fairly simple process, but I have a lot of new theology to learn.

 

[Macrina]

I definately understand how you feel. It's turning out quite hard for me as well. Now that I have found Orthodoxy, I have to get re-ordained, by the church itself this time. I'm sure since we all have the Spirit it should be a fairly simple process, but I have a lot of new theology to learn.

Ordination is just the church's way of recognizing God's call, so it's wonderful that the church will ordain you. My ordination service was such a wonderful celebration!

When you say found "Orthodoxy," do you mean the Orthodox branch of the church or do you mean doctrinal/historical orthodoxy?

At any rate, please fill us in on what the ordination process looks like in your church... I hope it's not too overwhelming!

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Orthodox in both senses, as far as I can tell. I'm meeting with some clergy soon, and we will discuss my case. Not sure what's going to happen yet.

 

[Macrina]

Good afternoon, all! I'm putting on a pot of coffee, setting out some homemade shortbread, and putting my feet up. Come on in and serve yourself.

 

[kingzjewel]

hey macrina wassup .... sorry i havent been on this thread. the last time i was here, the site was down

i wanted to know what the big deal is with theology...isnt it bad to be a theologian? i dunno, im just going from heresay right now. planning to do more research later. just wanted an opinion or 2

 

[Macrina]

hey macrina wassup .... sorry i havent been on this thread. the last time i was here, the site was down

i wanted to know what the big deal is with theology...isnt it bad to be a theologian? i dunno, im just going from heresay right now. planning to do more research later. just wanted an opinion or 2

If I understand your question correctly... I don't think there is anything intrinsically wrong with being a theologian. It can be a wonderful way to love God with your mind. It is possible to get so caught up in abstract doctrine that we neglect the everyday experience of God -- but that's certainly not true for every theologian. In a sense, every pastor needs to be a theologian: someone who contemplates God and shares that understanding with others. As far as theology in the academy goes... some of my closest friends are "academic" theologians, and they consider their studies to be a calling from God and a service to the church. I think it's a wonderful, beautiful thing to use one's mind for the glory of the One who created it.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

Quite so. In fact, I think all Christians are called to be theologians in some degree. Theology is simply the study of God and religion, which is most basic to Christianity. Someone who knows no theology knows nothing about God, for that is the definition of the word. So yes, study theology. The more, the better

 

[Highland Watchman]

I'd agree. In fact, not to start any contention or anything, but can we call a person's faith "true" if they were not interested in finding out more about God: HIS will, HIS ways, HIS personality?

I do agree that we can get so closed in on doctrine, though, that we can forget about the God that we are trying to study... lose the forest for the trees, as the saying goes... So yeah, study theology, as it is the way to know God (hence, theos=god and logy=study, so theology="the study of God")... but do not forget the God whom you are studying.

 

[Macrina]

Good morning, fellow pastors!

I'm talking about Reformation Day tomorrow... any of you going in that direction with your sermons?

 

[Highland Watchman]

Well, my last sermon, which was on Saturday, was on why people are turned off by Christianity, and what should it mean for us to be Christian... I guess that's the best way to explain it for now.

So yeah. Here's my short hello and see you around. Whoa, man, this overnight schedule thing is really making me into more of a night owl than I was before...

 

[Macrina]

Hi folks... I just wanted to ask your prayer for the churches in my denomination. We have received a threat of arson attacks against our church buildings (while people are inside) because of denominational standpoints about the Middle East.

I should make a note that our denomination is very diverse, politically speaking, and any given Presbyterian will hold his/her own views on this matter. With that said, however, it doesn't matter even if we were monolithic in our opinion... threats against the lives of our worshippers are unacceptable.

Please pray for our leadership and members as we try to determine appropriate safety precautions. And please pray for the person(s) making threats, that he or she will come to see that this is no way to resolve conflict, and will decide not to act on the threats.

Thanks.

 

[AngelusSax]

I know I'm not a pastor yet, but I just thought I'd let ya know I'm praying.

God bless, Macrina. I hope the arson threats don't materialize!

 

[herev]

will pray.

 

[Macrina]

Thanks for the prayers.

I should be receiving more information in the next day or two about what precautions they want us to take.

 

[Bizzlebin Imperatoris]

I shall pray for you as well!

 

[Macrina]

Hello all --

not much happening in our break room lately. Thought I'd pop in and say hello.

As for the threats to the PC(USA), we haven't heard anything more. thanks for the prayers. We need all we can get in this crazy world.

In happier news, things are bustling here as we get ready for Christmas. Although I preached last Christmas Eve, this is my first Christmas/Eve as a pastor, and I'm excited about the service, the Advent things we have going on, and the fellowship events we're having this month.

 

[FreeSpiritFaith]

I guess its my turn to tell about my ministry. God called me to the ministry not too long ago, and I immediately accepted the commission. I am now a non denominational minister of my own church, called Free Spirit Faith, which I created. I was ordained on April 22 of 2004 by Universal Life Church. I am pastring for a web church called Family In Christ (If you want to know more about Family In Christ ask angelface007). I am 19 years old and plan on ministry being my life.

 

[clonenomore]

Good morning, everyone! It is a beautiful, albeit cold, day here in Georgia.

Macrina, I'm glad things are going well in the great state of Mississippi. The PC(USA) is a lot like the UMC, in that there are a lot of misconceptions about people that are members of the denominations. If I disagree with the PC(USA)'s stance on the Middle East -- well, we discuss the issue, using scripture as reference. We may have to agree to disagree, but then we pray for each other. We have to remember that these issues have no bearing whatsoever on salvation.

Everyone please pray for me and my family as God is molding my ministry.

 

[Macrina]

Good morning, everyone! It is a beautiful, albeit cold, day here in Georgia.

Macrina, I'm glad things are going well in the great state of Mississippi. The PC(USA) is a lot like the UMC, in that there are a lot of misconceptions about people that are members of the denominations. If I disagree with the PC(USA)'s stance on the Middle East -- well, we discuss the issue, using scripture as reference. We may have to agree to disagree, but then we pray for each other. We have to remember that these issues have no bearing whatsoever on salvation.

Everyone please pray for me and my family as God is molding my ministry.

Nice to know there is another southerner here, although I suppose I don't really count in the first place, being a transplant.

As for my denomination's stand on the Middle East -- well, I have some issues with some of the official policies and many of the "unofficial" attitudes... but that goes for a lot of other issues, too. Like you said, the UMC is similar; both denominations (as is perhaps typical of the mainlines) have conflicting voices within them, making it hard to get a clear sense of where people are.

I feel called to ministry within (and perhaps to) my denomination, though. Not so much for the Middle East policies or the sexuality debate or most of the other "hot topics" -- but for the gospel, to strengthen Presbyterians in the Good News, and recall them to it if necessary.

Prayers for you and your family. How are things taking shape these days?