Ordination:
Affirmation of a calling to the Ministry of Word and Sacrament
I keep this page active as a reminder of how full of God's Spirit this day was.
Date and Time - September 5th at 6pm
These are significant because, well, that's when I'm being ordained. Huzzah!
Location - St. Paul's Lutheran Church (ELCA) at 1200 West Cornwallis Road in Durham, NC
I served here in multiple capacities. First, I attended worship here as a student at Duke Divinity School. I then joined the staff as the Lutheran Campus Minister at Duke University. This then morphed into my internship required for ordination in the ELCA. Even more important than the location, though, are the people. I served another congregation in Durham, Grace Lutheran (LCMS), prior to my time at St. Paul's. To be ordained in this city allows me to celebrate with the people of Grace, St. Paul's, and Duke, all of whom played incredible roles in my development as a minister. I cherish the thought of this transition occurring in this place where so many other life transitions occurred, amongst those who celebrated with me and wept with me, who guided and and cheered me, who loved me regardless of my failure or success.
Presiding Ministers - Bishop James Mauney, Virginia Synod, and Pastor Scott Anderson, St. Paul's
Bishop Mauney is my new bishop, and has already give great support and guidance through this call process. He allowed me to interview outside of the synod, knowing the possibility that I could leave. This act of integrity and trust in the work of the Holy Spirit spoke volumes to me, something which led me to an even stronger affinity for the Virginia Synod.
Pastor Anderson was my internship supervisor at St. Paul's. When it looked as though our initial timeline for internship was kibashed, he found a way to make an internship work even as I continued to serve in campus ministry. He suffered me at my worst and supported me at my best, and I'm deeply thankful for his role in my formation.
Preacher - The Rev. Dr. Richard Lischer
Dr. Lischer was my advisor at Duke Divinity School, and became an invaluable mentor in my pastoral and academic formation. He supported me as a preacher, invited me as a minister, welcomed me as a student, and embraced me as a brother in Christ. With these and so many other witnesses from him, I am honored to have him preach at this service. Rick's support as a Lutheran candidate for ordination in the deeply Wesleyan culture of DDS cannot be understated, nor can his witness to how pastors might become theologians with excellence, tact, and grace.
Sponsor - The Rev. Dr. Clayton Schmit
Dr. Schmit was my advisor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Though he serves as Provost of the School of Theology, a position that does not typically allow for directed studies, he accepted me as an advisee as I pursued a Master of Sacred Theology in homiletics. He challenged me and supported me in my academic work, invited me into discussion as a colleague, and took interest in my formation as a pastor, all while giving permission to explore the intersection of preaching, the arts, and postmodernity. It is fitting that he, a pastor who became a professor, sponsors me as I enter ministry in the full knowledge that I too will one day continue in doctoral study to, in Clay's words, "Pass it on."
Call - Christ Lutheran Church in Radford, VA
To be ordained in the ELCA, you must have a call set before you not only by God, but by a particular congregation. This entire event would be impossible without the people of CLC and the call that God has placed on my life through them. I'm beyond excited to enter ministry alongside them, to serve the New River Valley and Radford University in their company and to live all facets of life as part of Christ Lutheran Church. God has brought me together with this congregation, a fact for which I am deeply grateful.
Date and Time - September 5th at 6pm
These are significant because, well, that's when I'm being ordained. Huzzah!
Location - St. Paul's Lutheran Church (ELCA) at 1200 West Cornwallis Road in Durham, NC
I served here in multiple capacities. First, I attended worship here as a student at Duke Divinity School. I then joined the staff as the Lutheran Campus Minister at Duke University. This then morphed into my internship required for ordination in the ELCA. Even more important than the location, though, are the people. I served another congregation in Durham, Grace Lutheran (LCMS), prior to my time at St. Paul's. To be ordained in this city allows me to celebrate with the people of Grace, St. Paul's, and Duke, all of whom played incredible roles in my development as a minister. I cherish the thought of this transition occurring in this place where so many other life transitions occurred, amongst those who celebrated with me and wept with me, who guided and and cheered me, who loved me regardless of my failure or success.
Presiding Ministers - Bishop James Mauney, Virginia Synod, and Pastor Scott Anderson, St. Paul's
Bishop Mauney is my new bishop, and has already give great support and guidance through this call process. He allowed me to interview outside of the synod, knowing the possibility that I could leave. This act of integrity and trust in the work of the Holy Spirit spoke volumes to me, something which led me to an even stronger affinity for the Virginia Synod.
Pastor Anderson was my internship supervisor at St. Paul's. When it looked as though our initial timeline for internship was kibashed, he found a way to make an internship work even as I continued to serve in campus ministry. He suffered me at my worst and supported me at my best, and I'm deeply thankful for his role in my formation.
Preacher - The Rev. Dr. Richard Lischer
Dr. Lischer was my advisor at Duke Divinity School, and became an invaluable mentor in my pastoral and academic formation. He supported me as a preacher, invited me as a minister, welcomed me as a student, and embraced me as a brother in Christ. With these and so many other witnesses from him, I am honored to have him preach at this service. Rick's support as a Lutheran candidate for ordination in the deeply Wesleyan culture of DDS cannot be understated, nor can his witness to how pastors might become theologians with excellence, tact, and grace.
Sponsor - The Rev. Dr. Clayton Schmit
Dr. Schmit was my advisor at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary of Lenoir-Rhyne University. Though he serves as Provost of the School of Theology, a position that does not typically allow for directed studies, he accepted me as an advisee as I pursued a Master of Sacred Theology in homiletics. He challenged me and supported me in my academic work, invited me into discussion as a colleague, and took interest in my formation as a pastor, all while giving permission to explore the intersection of preaching, the arts, and postmodernity. It is fitting that he, a pastor who became a professor, sponsors me as I enter ministry in the full knowledge that I too will one day continue in doctoral study to, in Clay's words, "Pass it on."
Call - Christ Lutheran Church in Radford, VA
To be ordained in the ELCA, you must have a call set before you not only by God, but by a particular congregation. This entire event would be impossible without the people of CLC and the call that God has placed on my life through them. I'm beyond excited to enter ministry alongside them, to serve the New River Valley and Radford University in their company and to live all facets of life as part of Christ Lutheran Church. God has brought me together with this congregation, a fact for which I am deeply grateful.