The End...And Yet, The Beginning

I received some exciting news today. I have been unanimously approved for ordination by the South Dakota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America! This is the end of one journey, and yet, the beginning of another new and exciting journey.

You may wonder, what does that mean? It means that upon successful completion of my final four classes at seminary this spring and my graduation with a Master of Divinity of degree I will have fulfilled all of the steps towards being called by a congregation to be a pastor.

Where might that congregation be? That it yet to be determined. On Ash Wednesday, February 22nd, I will find out where I have been assigned to. First I will find out which region I am assigned to and then within a few days or a couple of weeks I will find out which synod. This language is pretty confusing to people inside the church, let alone people outside of the church. For a little help in understanding it you can check out this map. To put it simply: a region is larger geographical area and a synod, is a smaller portion of that region. I did have the opportunity to preference where I want to be, but it is only a preference, not a guarantee. I preferenced regions 3, 4, and 5. If you look on the map you will see where those regions are at.

How will I find a job? Now I won't actually be a pastor, until I have a job, or a call, as people in the church call it. And I won't go about finding this call, like most people typically go about finding a job. Instead, whichever synod I am assigned to will evaluate the open calls they have and pair me with a congregation that seems to be a good fit. I will exchange paperwork with that congregation and they will decide if they would like to interview me. If they want to interview me the process will move forward with that congregation. If not, then the synod will look for another congregation for me to exchange paperwork with. This process will continue until I have a call.

What happens after I have a call? Once a congregation decides to call me to be their pastor and I accept that call I will be ordained. I will be ordained within the context of a worship service and my friends and family will be invited to celebrate this milestone with me. Ordination recognizes that I have been called by God to the ministry of word and sacrament, that I have been theologically trained, and that I have been given authority to enter into this office of ministry. Ideally, this will happen sooner, rather than later, but I really have no idea at this point when or where my ordination will happen. Don't worry, when I know, you will know too!

I thank you for your prayers that have helped me come this far by faith and trust that you will continue to hold me in your prayers as this process continues.

12 Days of 2011

I have been inspired by several friends who have used the "12 Days of Christmas" to review their year. Here on this 12th day of Christmas I would like to share my review of 2011.

12 plus sermons
One of the best gifts of internship was getting in the habit of writing sermons...and I know I wrote more than 12!

11 papers written
Once I was back to school the paper writing began again...I would much rather write a sermon!

10 cupcakes eaten
My greatest discovery in DC was cupcakes and I made sure to share my new found love with plenty of visiting friends!


9 hour bus ride
At the end of Internship I took the Megabus for 9 hour to Boston, MA and then took the train to Gloucester, MA where I spent a week vacationing by myself!


8 days of mission
In July I led a group from DC to the Lake Traverse Reservation in SD for a mission trip...It was a wonderful time!


7 months in DC
I successfully completed my Internship in DC during July...and am thankful for the wonderful memories I created and people I met!


6 grad school classes
In December I added 6 more completed courses to my seminary transcript...only 4 more to go!

5 K complete
In May I completed the Susan G. Komen 5K walk...and even jogged across the finish line. Take that cancer!


4 airplane tickets
Throughout the year I flew to Birmingham, AL to visit a friend who was doing her internship there, South Dakota for our mission trip, Denver, CO to visit a friend from college, and back to South Dakota for Christmas!


3 regions preferenced
In December I submitted my paperwork for Assignment in the ELCA...which allowed me to preference 3 regions of the country. In February I will find out where I am headed!

2 friends engaged
This fall two of my greatest friends at seminary got engaged -- to each other! I am so excited for their wedding this coming summer.


1 Starbucks gold card
In July I managed to achieve GOLD status at Starbucks...which really just means I drink too much coffee and get some perks!

Wishing you the greatest 12th day of Christmas and a blessed 2012!