I’m pleased to share that I’ll be ordained to ministry in the United Church of Christ at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 5, 2023! If you are in or near the Dallas area, you are invited to attend the service, which will be held at Cathedral of Hope United Church of Christ.
Please help spread the word.
About the Process
If you are familiar with my story at all you likely know that I started in ministry in a very traditional manner by completing academic preparation (an undergraduate degree in ministry followed by a Master of Divinity degree) and by accepting my first call to serve as an Associate Pastor of a congregation in Dallas. Over the last 23 years I’ve served 9 congregations and also served in a number of other ministry settings. After moving freely between multiple Mainline Protestant denominations, I found my home in the United Church of Christ.
I officially started the process of seeking ordination about a year ago. I’ve shared my journey here on So What Faith with a number of prior posts:
- Preaching and Ordination Update #13 (September 2023)
- My Ministry in the United Church of Christ – Ordination Update #12 (July 2023)
- Learning from 9 Congregations & 10 Denominations – Update #11 (July 2023)
- Ordination Paper Submitted – Update #10 (July 2023)
- Midlife & MiD Life: A 9th Update (June 2023)
- Seeking Ordination – Update #8 (May 2023)
- Seeking Ordination – Update #7 (April 2023)
- Officially a Member in Discernment (March 2023)
- Week by Week, Step by Step (March 2023)
- Back in the Pulpit Again! (March 2023)
- Pilgrimage: Sharing my Story (March 2023)
- Update: My United Church of Christ Ministry Discernment Journey (February 2023)
- A Story of Stoles: Discerning What Next (January 2023)
Penultimate Step
A few weeks ago while my wife and I were on our 25th anniversary celebration trip, I had my final meeting with the North Texas Area of the South Central Conference of the United Church of Christ’s Committee on Ministry. During that meeting they reviewed all that I had done and all that I had submitted (this included writing a paper to start the process and another toward the end as well as providing a number of materials and documents such as transcripts, sermons, and recommendations). After asking me some questions and excusing me to deliberate they welcomed me back and shared that the Committee unanimously recommended me for an Ecclesiastical Council at the Fall NTA Meeting.
Final Step
Earlier today the NTA Fall meeting was held at Celebration on the Lake Church. The gathering started with worship, including a number of business items, lunch, and then my Ecclesiastical Council. That began with the chair of the Committee providing those gathered with the Committee’s recommendation and a summary of my discernment. I then provided a short speech exploring more about my call, my background, and my commitment to the United Church of Christ before answering questions. Finally, I was excused will the body deliberated. It was an overwhelming and incredibly affirming experience to re-enter that sacred space to applause and to the news I was unanimously approved for ordination.
So What?
I am thankful for all of the ministry opportunities I’ve experienced over the last few decades and excited about those that are yet ahead. I will be ordained to my role leading the White Rock Center of Hope and look forward to continuing the important work of cultivating hope through basic needs and personalized empowerment. It’s a shared ministry that is made possible thanks to partnerships with many East Dallas churches that share a commitment to creating a community in which everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
