Even though I’ve been attending worship, mostly online, throughout my Sabbatical the progression of Sundays has largely passed me by since Easter Day and so it was a pleasant surprise to discover that today is Vocations Sunday in the Methodist Church; which in turn has set off a whole train of thought.
I must admit to having had some trepidation about starting Sabbatical having known Presbyter colleagues who were profoundly affected by it in terms of their feeling of vocation and call to ordained ministry.
In the case of some of them it was quite mild in the sense that they decided to go into Stationing and move to a new Circuit when they’d previously been thinking of applying for an extension; something I knew wouldn’t now apply to me since I’m moving in August anyway.
For some it has been more traumatic and life changing because whilst spending the time contemplating and reflecting, they have realised that either the call to ordained ministry has gone, or that they maybe feel the time has come to move out of Circuit ministry and take up something like hospital chaplaincy. Sometimes the result of slowing down is that we hear God more clearly and sense that God has something new planned for us. Sadly, for a few, Sabbatical brings a realisation of complete exhaustion and nothing more to give and can result in early retirement.
Conversations have suggested that these thigs can happen to the ordained across various denominations who take Sabbatical.
I was concerned by how Sabbatical might affect me, especially as I have agreed to move in August and, subject to confirmation by the Methodist Conference, become the new Superintendent of Burnley and Pendle Circuit.
So far, as I approach the mid-point of Sabbatical my concerns have proved to be groundless. If anything I am more certain than ever of my call to Presbyteral Ministry in the Methodist Church: that call is at least as strong as it was in 2011 when around this time the Connexion confirm that I could enter training as a Student Presbyter in the September of that year. It is as strong as it was when I started as a Probationer Presbyter in Wharfedale & Aireborough Circuit. It is as strong as it was when I was ordained in Coventry Central Hall on 29th June 2014.
I’m sure of this because whilst I’m enjoying the different pace of life that Sabbatical brings, I am also missing undertaking those core things that are essential in the call of a Presbyter and that we promise to faithfully do at our Ordination Service.
In the Ordination Service we are charged, in God’s name:
- To preach by word and deed the Gospel of God’s grace.
- To declare God’s forgiveness of sins to all who are penitent
- To baptise, to confirm.
- To preside at the celebration of the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood.
- To lead God’s people on worship, prayer and service.
- To minister Christ’s love and compassion
- To serve others, in whom you serve the Lord himself.
Most of these things I cannot do whilst on Sabbatical, certainly not those that involve Sunday or mid-week worship, though I hope that even whilst distanced from my usual church responsibilities I am, none the less, preaching the Gospel by deed, in the way I live my life and treat and serve others day to day showing Christ’s love and compassion.
I can genuinely say that the longer I am on Sabbatical the more I am missing presiding at the Lord’s Supper, preaching by word (though perhaps these reflections in some way achieve that) and leading you all in worship prayer and service. This confirms to me very much that my call to serve the Lord as a Circuit Presbyter in the Methodist Church is not only undiminished but has grown stronger.
That call has changed, though, or rather the practical outcome because it has genuinely become a call to Circuit Superintendency. This specific calling to Superintendency is something I’ve been discreetly discussing with a number of trusted people for some months, indeed it was a trusted friend and District colleague who suggested that certain feelings and promptings I was having might be such a call. It is quite correctly said that a call to ministry isn’t a certain call until confirmed by the church, and the request to move to Burnley and Pendle Circuit to become their new Superintendent was my confirmation of this calling.
As a Presbyter I know how incredibly fortunate I am to have this gift of three months Sabbatical to take the time to withdraw from the busyness of regular Circuit Ministry to think and contemplate and listen to God. I pray that you too will be able to find some space in your life to contemplate what vocation God may be calling you to, both within the church (Local Preacher? Church Steward? Circuit Steward? Youth Leader? Etc) and perhaps outside the church (a multitude of careers and professions) so that you can spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to those you encounter in the way you live and the way you interact with others.
No comments:
Post a Comment