My next discernment committee is on Tuesday evening and so I have begun to focus more on the readings and the questions that we will be discussing.  This meeting is focussing on Ministry & Call.   My next few blog entries are going to be relating to this.

In the United Church there are 3 streams of Ministry.

Diaconal Ministry: 

Diaconal ministers are commissioned to carry out a ministry of education, service, and pastoral care. They are part of the one Order of Ministry in The United Church of Canada, sharing fully with those who are ordained. The word “diaconal” comes from the Greek word diakonia, which means service among others, and has it roots in the Christian scriptures.
Diaconal ministers seek to educate and enable all people, at various ages and stages of life, to work together toward a vision of justice and wholeness in the world. This ministry includes helping people to maintain relationships that are life-giving and sustain community. It is a ministry that requires the desire and ability to stand with the suffering and to work with them for healing, growth, dignity, and justice. . . Education for diaconal ministry is available through the Centre for Christian Studies (a theological school recognized by The United Church of Canada), which is located in Winnipeg. The centre offers a community-based program consisting of four years of study while serving in a ministry setting. . . Diaconal ministers serve in various capacities, such as in congregational ministry, in community development, as chaplains, in inner-city ministry, as overseas personnel, at lay education centres and theological schools, or in staff positions at presbytery/district, Conference, or General Council. Sometimes these ministries include worship and the sacraments. One significant aspect of this ministry is the cooperative “team” relationship that is central to the diaconal minister’s style and identity.

Ordained Ministry:

Ordained ministers are ordained to a ministry of word, sacrament, and pastoral care as part of the one Order of Ministry in The United Church of Canada. This ministry usually happens in a congregation where the ordained minister empowers the people of God, teaches, leads worship, preaches, and administers the sacraments and rites of the church. She or he also ministers to the community at large through her or his representative function and witness to the faith of Jesus Christ. . . Education for ordained ministry normally consists of an undergraduate program leading to a bachelor’s degree, followed by a three-year program of preparation for ministry leading to a Master of Divinity degree from a theological school recognized by the United Church.

Designated Lay Ministry:

A new program is being implemented that governs and equips lay members of the United Church to serve in paid accountable leadership for worship, pastoral care, education, and service in the church.

 That's the basic gist of the 3 of them.   Immediately, I am drawn to the Diaconal stream.  I am particularly interested in: " to work together toward a vision of justice and wholeness in the world", "It is a ministry that requires the desire and ability to stand with the suffering and to work with them for healing, growth, dignity, and justice", and "serve in various capacities, such as in congregational ministry, in community development, as chaplains, in inner-city ministry, as overseas personnel, at lay education centres and theological schools, or in staff positions at presbytery/district, Conference, or General Council."  This all sounds like the right combination of elements.

But, this is, kind of a backwards way to look at things.  We should begin at the beginning.

The beginning is a Call.  The United Church recognizes that All Christians are called to "participate in and extend the ministry of Jesus Christ by witnessing to the gospel in church and society."  In varying degrees we are all called to some form of Ministry within the Church.  Maybe we teach Sunday School, maybe we are lectionary readers, or greeters, or sing in the choir.  Whatever you do, that is what you have been called by God to do.  Some are called to be Leaders in the Church.

There are 4 elements to a Call as outlined by theologian H. Richard Niebuhr:

1. The Call to Be a Christian
The call to be a Christian is the common calling we all share, the call to discipleship of Jesus Christ—to hearing and doing the Word of God. The letter to the Ephesians (4:1) includes the reminder “to lead a life worthy of the calling [vocation] to which you have been called.” All Christian believers have a vocation to be “co-creators” and stewards of community and all creation, in order to fulfill God’s purposes for humanity. This is the call of all.

 2. The Call from God to a Specific Leadership Role
The call from God to a specific leadership role may come to some in the church. This is the call of some from within the call of all. In The United Church of Canada, people called to the Order of Ministry serving in paid, accountable ministry positions are known as ministry personnel.
One thing inward calls have in common is that each is different. Each of us is unique and special in God’s sight, so God approaches us in unique ways. . . However, many different voices call to us, so it is necessary to listen for and separate out the voice of God from the voice of society or our own self-interest. A personal spiritual experience that is the call to be a Christian may not be a call to the Order of Ministry.

3. The Outward or Providential Call
Hence, the third call that comes to some is the outward or providential call. This call, which comes from the wisdom, care, and guidance provided by God, recognizes God-given gifts and talents necessary to exercise the office of leadership as affirmed by the faith community. The purpose of the outward call is to examine and confirm the preliminary intuition of the call to a specific leadership role. The people of the faith community who nurture and support those who feel called in their struggle to find meaning, and the committees that interview those who feel called, are all part of this outward call.
Note that the call to a specific leadership role or the outward call is not more important than the call to be a Christian. They are different expressions of how God calls all of us to faithful living as we exercise our gifts for the glory of God and the well-being of our world and its inhabitants.

4. The Call of Gifts
The call of gifts is the confirmation and invitation of the church to engage in ministry personnel leadership in the church. In The United Church of Canada, presbyteries/districts and Conferences determine suitability and readiness through processes of discernment, education, formation, accompaniment, and examination.
The role and function of ministry personnel requires a great deal from a person. As the church is discerning the outward call and the call of gifts, it might consider the evidence of or potential for the following gifts:  Deep spiritual life, Integrity of self, Understanding of human behaviour, Scholarship, Commitment to and longing for justice, Capacity for critical reflection, Capacity to be a lifelong learner, and Appreciation of administration.  In addition to the above gifts, the potential to develop certain skills is important. Leadership in ministry requires the ability to develop skills in preaching, counselling, outreach, education, leadership, administration, and group dynamics.
This list is not meant to identify the “perfect” person or to provide a shopping list of qualities and skills. Clearly, no one person will ever embody all of these qualities perfectly. Nevertheless, it is a helpful guide in thinking about responding to a call to ministry.

 So, that's the guts of what I've been reflecting on and thinking about and reading about these past few weeks.

I have a firm grasp of #1 & #2.  I am a Christian and I do have a call to a specific leadership role within the Church.  I enjoying being the Family Ministry Coordinator at my church and participating on the Council. It's #3 & #4 that require more thought and reflection.  They will be the subject of my next post.