Vanakkam! (Tamil for hello)
Yesterday was quite the day. We started out with two lectures by TTS faculty. The first was on ecological issues in India. The second was on pastoral care and counseling in India. I must admit, the later lecture captured my attention and imagination. In traditional Indian family systems, all generations live together and all generations raise the children. Within the family is where most counseling took place, and it was a very directive style. The grandmother told from her experience what the grandchildren should do in a situation. Today, people move out of that type of family system, causing a loss of support and a growth in the need for counseling. Counseling is a relatively new discipline in India, and most counselors are under trained, so they counsel in the way their grandparents did instead of in the way we would learn in school. For this reason, TTS has a new and strong counseling diploma.
In the afternoon, we went in to the market in Madurai. Most of us bought outfits there. The main thing I bought was a tunic/pants/scarf outfit. I am wearing it today, and I can’t wait to show it off at home. It is so comfortable that I plan to go buy another one.
After buying clothes, we did some wandering through the market around the temple in Madurai. It reminded me of the market in Turkey, except less crowded with less pushy salespeople. That is not to say that the sales people weren’t pushy, though! It was nice to walk with men, because usually the salespeople approached the male. A little girl who was about six and a baby approached the women on the group to ask for money. We were warned not to give to beggars because people will actually mutilate babies to get pity from Westerners. To give is to support the baby mutilation industry. It was still hard to say no.
In the evening, we went to an Interreligious Christmas service. We heard some speeches about the meaning of Christmas to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus. There were presentations, and then celebrations. As our part of the celebration, we stood and sang Silent Night, Joy to the World, and Oh Holy Night, while Nick played on the guitar. Some Indians even started to clap to Joy to the World. After the presentations, we went outside for fireworks. Then we were all handed small birthday cake candles. We passed the light around and sang “We Shall Overcome” in English and in Tamil. They do that every Friday, but they did it Thursday this week for the Christmas celebration. The candles were all collected for the Friday service on peace, but we still have one among our group. A woman went to get one and handed it to Laura saying that it is a candle of peace for us to take back. Laura was quite touched.
It was quite the long day, and we woke very early this morning to head to Thomas’s village for the day. Tune in tomorrow to hear about it!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Saturday, January 14, 2012
December 29: Eat and draw with your fingers
Last night at dinner, Thomas, our guide, taught us how to eat. Even though the food is often wet, rice, sauces, and breads, Indian people eat with their fingers, not silverware. So a few of us decided, when in India, eat as the Indians do! I have to say, it is rather strange to eat with your fingers when you spend so many years as a child learning to NOT eat with your fingers. In this part of India, the proper way to eat is to scoop with your four fingers and push the food in with your thumb. You are a neat eater if your palm stays clean. In other parts of India, they will pick up food with the palm.
After 2 meals eaten by hand, I am getting over my hesitancy, though we still have several people who cannot eat without their silverware.
Food is not the only place where Indians use their fingers. Some Indian women welcomed us with patterns drawn on the ground with colored ground rock. This dyed powder is dropped through their fingers on the ground in intricate colorful patterns. We were able to watch as 3 women made us this blessing (it is a blessing) in front of the door of our building. The pattern she drew for us had at least ten colors, a cross, flowers, candles, and Indian lamps. It was absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing to watch her create.
Isn’t it amazing what Indians can do with their fingers!
Today, we will go shopping and leave the comfort of the seminary. We will also go to an interreligious Christmas celebration.
After 2 meals eaten by hand, I am getting over my hesitancy, though we still have several people who cannot eat without their silverware.
Food is not the only place where Indians use their fingers. Some Indian women welcomed us with patterns drawn on the ground with colored ground rock. This dyed powder is dropped through their fingers on the ground in intricate colorful patterns. We were able to watch as 3 women made us this blessing (it is a blessing) in front of the door of our building. The pattern she drew for us had at least ten colors, a cross, flowers, candles, and Indian lamps. It was absolutely beautiful and mesmerizing to watch her create.
Isn’t it amazing what Indians can do with their fingers!
Today, we will go shopping and leave the comfort of the seminary. We will also go to an interreligious Christmas celebration.
Friday, January 13, 2012
December 28: LOOOONG Day
I will be posting my journal that I wrote each day in India. Since I did not have reliable internet access over there, this is the best way I can blog for you all. We went to India as a cross-cultural excursion to learn about the culture, not on a mission trip. Cross-cultural is a required course at Methodist Theological School in Ohio and a great learning experience for us! I hope you enjoy!
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I write this from my bed in the guest house at the Talmilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India. It is a balmy 24 degrees Celsius (according to the last pilot we had). And it has been a looong day.
We left Columbus at noon on December 26 and arrived at Madurai at 11 AM December 28, about 36 hours later. After 4 bad flights, we finally made it. Between some very scary turbulence, a cramped plane for one of the long flights, and an unplanned landing for 3 hours to wait for visibility, we were very glad to be done with planes.
I still can’t believe we are actually in India, though the food is fairly convincing. They dulled down the spices for us, but so far the food has been very good. Our first meal here we had a lentil/rice patty with a yellow curry, toast (for the American in us), and fried egg. It helps you try new things, though, when you have only had airplane food, and that irregularly, for the last two days!
When we got off the last plane and into our vans to head to the seminary, we saw our first impressions of India. As we rode, I was stunned by how much it looks like a smaller version of Slumdog Millionaire. From shanty towns, to little street venders, the buildings look run down in our eyes. The best buildings, the ones made of stone, are worse than I can imagine living in. As we drove past the buildings, Dr. Van Meter explained that people set up wherever they can to protect their families.
The roads were teaming with people walking and on motorcycles. There were very few vehicles bigger than a rickshaw. A motorcycle could have as many as five people on it: a man, wife, and 3 kids under 7 in one case. Most people were dressed traditionally, except for some men.
We as westerners draw a lot of attention. Because our plane stopped for three hours, we only spent a couple minutes at the wedding reception. People kept taking our pictures. People wanted to shake our hands. When we greeted the new couple, we had our picture taken with them, just as everybody else did. It was when we stood in line to greet them that our pictures were taken in a way that was unusual.
For the wedding, the colors seemed to be primarily red and gold. The couple and several others were wearing this, though the bride was the most ornate. Behind the couple was a red and gold couch, though I am not sure what it was for. It was a Christian wedding.
Well, I’m exhausted, so I’ll catch you up again soon!
--------------
I write this from my bed in the guest house at the Talmilnadu Theological Seminary in Madurai, India. It is a balmy 24 degrees Celsius (according to the last pilot we had). And it has been a looong day.
We left Columbus at noon on December 26 and arrived at Madurai at 11 AM December 28, about 36 hours later. After 4 bad flights, we finally made it. Between some very scary turbulence, a cramped plane for one of the long flights, and an unplanned landing for 3 hours to wait for visibility, we were very glad to be done with planes.
I still can’t believe we are actually in India, though the food is fairly convincing. They dulled down the spices for us, but so far the food has been very good. Our first meal here we had a lentil/rice patty with a yellow curry, toast (for the American in us), and fried egg. It helps you try new things, though, when you have only had airplane food, and that irregularly, for the last two days!
When we got off the last plane and into our vans to head to the seminary, we saw our first impressions of India. As we rode, I was stunned by how much it looks like a smaller version of Slumdog Millionaire. From shanty towns, to little street venders, the buildings look run down in our eyes. The best buildings, the ones made of stone, are worse than I can imagine living in. As we drove past the buildings, Dr. Van Meter explained that people set up wherever they can to protect their families.
The roads were teaming with people walking and on motorcycles. There were very few vehicles bigger than a rickshaw. A motorcycle could have as many as five people on it: a man, wife, and 3 kids under 7 in one case. Most people were dressed traditionally, except for some men.
We as westerners draw a lot of attention. Because our plane stopped for three hours, we only spent a couple minutes at the wedding reception. People kept taking our pictures. People wanted to shake our hands. When we greeted the new couple, we had our picture taken with them, just as everybody else did. It was when we stood in line to greet them that our pictures were taken in a way that was unusual.
For the wedding, the colors seemed to be primarily red and gold. The couple and several others were wearing this, though the bride was the most ornate. Behind the couple was a red and gold couch, though I am not sure what it was for. It was a Christian wedding.
Well, I’m exhausted, so I’ll catch you up again soon!
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Prison Care
Today was a rather overwhelming and eye-opening day. For my Pastoral Care class, we were required to visit a pastoral care site that is out of our comfort zones and then write a paper about it. Sam and I decided to visit the Marion Correctional Institution, and that visit was today.
When we drove to the prison, we pulled up to a small modern building with some barbed wire, but it looked pretty modern. We went inside and the woman at the desk told us that the prison was the next building over. When we went back out to the car, we looked over to see a huge building with two layers of barbed wire around it. The weather was cold and dank, which made the prison look rather scary. We drove up, parked, and walked in wondering what on earth we had just gotten ourselves into. We certainly succeeded in finding an environment where we were uncomfortable.
After we went through security, the chaplain met us and took us on a bit of a tour. We went through the doors, which are in a system of two doors that only one can be open at a time. The first place we visited was the visitors room. Here, we met the guards and listened to the interactions between the chaplain and guards. They joked around a bit, and the guards pointed out a man who was Muslim and was doing his daily prayers, which is against the rules in the visiting room. The guards and chaplain decided to not interrupt his prayers but just to say something to him as he left.
After the visiting room, we saw rooms for haircuts and many offices. We went through another set of doors and for the first time were in the presence of several inmates. They were walking up and down the halls, just as we were. When we went into the infirmary, the inmates who sat in the waiting room stared at us, which was a bit uncomfortable.
After this part of the tour, we went and sat with the chaplain in his office as he explained some of the ins and outs of prison ministry. We discussed ministry in general also. The chaplain we spoke to was the head chaplain of the prison, and several people come in for the many religious groups. They have services for Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, Amish, Wiccans, Buddhists, and more. This chaplain, as head chaplain, interacts with all groups. He studied world religions at one time and knows enough about each group to speak to them from their world views. I was very impressed that through his inter-faith work, he NEVER compromised what he believes as a Christian. He can minister effectively to all groups. He can speak to them from their traditions and often knew more about the traditions than the practitioners, but he would never compromise his belief that Jesus Christ is the only way. He has always been drawn to the broken, and somehow God just gave him the gifts and led him to this type of ministry.
We also discussed some of the issues that come up in pastoral care in a prison setting. He explained that these people have done many things. They have murdered, stolen, raped, done drugs, and many other things. He ministers to people who have done things that he knows as abhorrent. He also said to us, "Everybody else has judged these people already. My job is for compassion, caring, loving, and healing." He explained that his job is often to be a peacemaker. He connects the offenders to their families through the phone and will do counseling to make peace. He helps them when they miss funerals of loved ones. He talks with them when they are once again denied parole. He has organized weddings and done funerals. He is responsible at least every other day to tell loved ones that a inmate has died or is dying. He even has done funerals where nobody from outside even felt the need to come. He deals with the hopelessness of everyday life, where parole is denied over and over, where they see the same walls day after day and become empty shells. He tries to give hope that is in Jesus to these people.
We also saw the chapel which has a curtain that is opened or closed over the crucifix for each type of service. It looked like and chapel that you might visit except that the pews were old. There is a garden which was beautiful even in February where the prisoners can work and pray. Some can even have vegetable gardens that they raise from seeds. This is part of the ministry.
One of the unique programs that they have is a 10 month program of inter-faith community living. It is a particular dorm where everybody is in this program. They have 8 cubicles in the room with 6 beds each. People from all religions can enter this program, and they have a community. They meet daily, often eat together, and live together. The rate of return to prison once somebody who went through that living space is released is only about 12 percent. When we visited this room, we spoke with two inmates who told us about the system and how it works. One of them positively glowed as he told us about it. He showed us the poster they designed for their group with all their names on a pillar above the name of Jesus as the foundation of the building.
As we walked up the halls to take the rest of our tour, people constantly greeted the chaplain as he greeted them. They would say "Hi Pastor" or "Hello Reverend Kola." He would greet people back, often by name. He explained to us that Jesus walked the streets; he did not sit in his office and wait for people to come to him. Because Jesus went to the people, to the broken, the chaplain is following his example. We visited the library, the computer classes, the television station, and many more places as we toured.
The last part of our time in prison was with a group in the chaplain's office area. The Catholic seminary down the street sends some of their students for several months to the prison to learn about that kind of ministry. A group of up to fifteen inmates meet with these three young men each week. These future priests learn about the people in the prison and learn about the ministries needed. How can you help somebody if you do not know them? Sam and I got to sit in on some of that session.
We sat with these men, some of whom have been there for longer than I have been alive. One of them just got told by his parole board that he has at least another ten years, even though he has done everything that they asked of him. As we listened, we heard about the many ministries that they have been involved in. We heard about the Christmas and Easter plays, the Bible studies, the worships, and the celebrity visitors. We sat and listened to men who seemed no different from a man I might talk to in the fellowship hall at church. This man, who got told he has another ten years, could very easily be my doctor or the usher. Ye, whatever he did was so bad that he has been there for a long time and will be for a long time yet. These are real people who can change, who have done something wrong, but can change and do. They are living proof of rehabilitation and forgiveness and hope.
We listened as the chaplain spoke about post-prison ministry. Many people, like these men, get released and go to the churches and the pastors, but they don't have the support that they need to stay out of the prison. They are broken and they need help, but the ministries don't really exist often. Why are we not helping those people in our churches? Why are we not giving them he resources they need to learn to be different? It does not good to put a bank robber in prison and let him out still a bank robber. This is what prison ministry is for. Someday, the five of us, three Catholics, on Baptist, and one Methodist, will be in a church where somebody is released from prison. How will we minister to them? How will we minister to the families who lose a child or father or mother to prison? We need to be thinking about these things, because it is very important.
I definitely learned a lot from this experience. I was a little uncomfortable with being constantly stared at by the inmates, but I learned a lot. I think this will be one of those days that I can look back at and know that it will have changed me. It will affect my future ministry. I will always remember the idea that they have already been judged by society and we are here for compassion, love and healing. They are the broken, and we are here to help with the healing and point to the hope that is Jesus.
When we drove to the prison, we pulled up to a small modern building with some barbed wire, but it looked pretty modern. We went inside and the woman at the desk told us that the prison was the next building over. When we went back out to the car, we looked over to see a huge building with two layers of barbed wire around it. The weather was cold and dank, which made the prison look rather scary. We drove up, parked, and walked in wondering what on earth we had just gotten ourselves into. We certainly succeeded in finding an environment where we were uncomfortable.
After we went through security, the chaplain met us and took us on a bit of a tour. We went through the doors, which are in a system of two doors that only one can be open at a time. The first place we visited was the visitors room. Here, we met the guards and listened to the interactions between the chaplain and guards. They joked around a bit, and the guards pointed out a man who was Muslim and was doing his daily prayers, which is against the rules in the visiting room. The guards and chaplain decided to not interrupt his prayers but just to say something to him as he left.
After the visiting room, we saw rooms for haircuts and many offices. We went through another set of doors and for the first time were in the presence of several inmates. They were walking up and down the halls, just as we were. When we went into the infirmary, the inmates who sat in the waiting room stared at us, which was a bit uncomfortable.
After this part of the tour, we went and sat with the chaplain in his office as he explained some of the ins and outs of prison ministry. We discussed ministry in general also. The chaplain we spoke to was the head chaplain of the prison, and several people come in for the many religious groups. They have services for Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, Jews, Native Americans, Amish, Wiccans, Buddhists, and more. This chaplain, as head chaplain, interacts with all groups. He studied world religions at one time and knows enough about each group to speak to them from their world views. I was very impressed that through his inter-faith work, he NEVER compromised what he believes as a Christian. He can minister effectively to all groups. He can speak to them from their traditions and often knew more about the traditions than the practitioners, but he would never compromise his belief that Jesus Christ is the only way. He has always been drawn to the broken, and somehow God just gave him the gifts and led him to this type of ministry.
We also discussed some of the issues that come up in pastoral care in a prison setting. He explained that these people have done many things. They have murdered, stolen, raped, done drugs, and many other things. He ministers to people who have done things that he knows as abhorrent. He also said to us, "Everybody else has judged these people already. My job is for compassion, caring, loving, and healing." He explained that his job is often to be a peacemaker. He connects the offenders to their families through the phone and will do counseling to make peace. He helps them when they miss funerals of loved ones. He talks with them when they are once again denied parole. He has organized weddings and done funerals. He is responsible at least every other day to tell loved ones that a inmate has died or is dying. He even has done funerals where nobody from outside even felt the need to come. He deals with the hopelessness of everyday life, where parole is denied over and over, where they see the same walls day after day and become empty shells. He tries to give hope that is in Jesus to these people.
We also saw the chapel which has a curtain that is opened or closed over the crucifix for each type of service. It looked like and chapel that you might visit except that the pews were old. There is a garden which was beautiful even in February where the prisoners can work and pray. Some can even have vegetable gardens that they raise from seeds. This is part of the ministry.
One of the unique programs that they have is a 10 month program of inter-faith community living. It is a particular dorm where everybody is in this program. They have 8 cubicles in the room with 6 beds each. People from all religions can enter this program, and they have a community. They meet daily, often eat together, and live together. The rate of return to prison once somebody who went through that living space is released is only about 12 percent. When we visited this room, we spoke with two inmates who told us about the system and how it works. One of them positively glowed as he told us about it. He showed us the poster they designed for their group with all their names on a pillar above the name of Jesus as the foundation of the building.
As we walked up the halls to take the rest of our tour, people constantly greeted the chaplain as he greeted them. They would say "Hi Pastor" or "Hello Reverend Kola." He would greet people back, often by name. He explained to us that Jesus walked the streets; he did not sit in his office and wait for people to come to him. Because Jesus went to the people, to the broken, the chaplain is following his example. We visited the library, the computer classes, the television station, and many more places as we toured.
The last part of our time in prison was with a group in the chaplain's office area. The Catholic seminary down the street sends some of their students for several months to the prison to learn about that kind of ministry. A group of up to fifteen inmates meet with these three young men each week. These future priests learn about the people in the prison and learn about the ministries needed. How can you help somebody if you do not know them? Sam and I got to sit in on some of that session.
We sat with these men, some of whom have been there for longer than I have been alive. One of them just got told by his parole board that he has at least another ten years, even though he has done everything that they asked of him. As we listened, we heard about the many ministries that they have been involved in. We heard about the Christmas and Easter plays, the Bible studies, the worships, and the celebrity visitors. We sat and listened to men who seemed no different from a man I might talk to in the fellowship hall at church. This man, who got told he has another ten years, could very easily be my doctor or the usher. Ye, whatever he did was so bad that he has been there for a long time and will be for a long time yet. These are real people who can change, who have done something wrong, but can change and do. They are living proof of rehabilitation and forgiveness and hope.
We listened as the chaplain spoke about post-prison ministry. Many people, like these men, get released and go to the churches and the pastors, but they don't have the support that they need to stay out of the prison. They are broken and they need help, but the ministries don't really exist often. Why are we not helping those people in our churches? Why are we not giving them he resources they need to learn to be different? It does not good to put a bank robber in prison and let him out still a bank robber. This is what prison ministry is for. Someday, the five of us, three Catholics, on Baptist, and one Methodist, will be in a church where somebody is released from prison. How will we minister to them? How will we minister to the families who lose a child or father or mother to prison? We need to be thinking about these things, because it is very important.
I definitely learned a lot from this experience. I was a little uncomfortable with being constantly stared at by the inmates, but I learned a lot. I think this will be one of those days that I can look back at and know that it will have changed me. It will affect my future ministry. I will always remember the idea that they have already been judged by society and we are here for compassion, love and healing. They are the broken, and we are here to help with the healing and point to the hope that is Jesus.
Monday, January 24, 2011
So you're called...
I decided to write this post today for several reasons. 1) I badly needed a break from reading encyclopedia articles about sacraments, 2) I haven't written since September, 3) I realized that a lot of teenagers or young adults with calls have no idea what to do next, and 4) I did a quick google search and discovered that I found very little to help outside the excerpts from the Book of Discipline. So let me make it clear what I want to write about today. I am talking to Christians who have had a call to full time ministry. I am specifically speaking from my experience as a 23 year old United Methodist who was called when she was 12. I don't know how many people currently read my blog, but I have found information by reading random people's blogs before, so I decided to write a bit about my experiences.
So, are you called into ministry? Are you United Methodist? Are you young and have no clue what to do next? Here is the advice that I have gathered over the years, both from personal experience and from the many many people who love to give advice.
First thing to do is talk to your pastor. Now this seems self-evident, but a lot of people don't start here. Your pastor has done this before, has connections, and hopefully has some idea of how to get started on this long and complicated process. When you talk to your pastor, tell them about your call. Discuss it, and they can help you into the next step.
Second, call your district superintendent. Here is where the fun begins. District Superintendents are very busy people with a lot on their plate. You may have the best DS in the world, but they cannot devote all their time to helping you through the process. Help them by knowing what to do. You should tell them that you wish to start the discernment process. You want a mentor, and you was to discuss with that mentor the book "Christian as Minister." This will get you started.
Now, before we proceed, you must know two very important things. First, keep a copy of every single piece of paper that has anything to do with the process. People have had to start over because paperwork is lost. It is your responsibility to keep a back-up copy. Keep it until after you get a stole placed around your neck at Annual Conference. Second, keep on your district and conference. As I said before, they are busy, and so sometimes things fall through the cracks. If you are called, they want you. If you are called and young, they want you even more. However, you still have to fight to move forward in the process, every step of the way. Sometimes, this may mean a weekly e-mail, and sometimes it may mean driving to the office and standing there until you have the paperwork you need. If you are a teenager, lucky you! Your parents can help in this. If you are an adult, take the initiative. It takes time, and it takes many e-mails and phone calls. Remember, one day that could be you who is an overwhelmed pastor. Also remember, if you are called, they really do want you. Sometimes you just have to remind them you are there among the many ministry things that they are working on.
After you have a mentor and have read "Christian as Minister," the discernment process moves forward. Now, this has changed since I did it, so I cannot give you details. I can tell you, DO NOT skimp on the discernment step. It is not worth it to rush through and discover ten years later that your call is different. I have seen it happen, and it is not fun. You may be positive of your call, but remember, you still need to learn how to articulate it to a bunch of pastors and laity who will determine your fate. If you cannot articulate your call, how can they believe that you truly have one? Tell your story often, and write it down a few times too. You will need it, and you will need to be comfortable with it. The discernment process can help with all these things.
If you are still in high school or middle school, watch for events that your conference sets up specifically for teens and discernment. I went to several of these. Sometimes I learned, sometimes I networked, and sometimes I met other people like me. You will discover that it is very unusual to be 12, 15, or even 17 and know that you are going to be a pastor. Remember, others are out there, you just have to find them. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
When you look at colleges, be sure to find the one where you feel comfortable. When choosing a major, be sure of 2 things. 1) Learn to write well. 2) Do what you love. You do not need a Religious Studies, Religion, or Theology major, though I won't lie, having Bible classes from Undergrad. has helped me in seminary.
If you are in college, remember the same things. Look for campus ministries aimed at people who are looking into ministry. Talk to your chaplain about starting one. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
When you look at seminary, look at the denomination, the theological statements, and all the same things that you looked for in a college. Do you want a seminary connected to other graduate schools or one that is small and off by itself? Where are you happy? Where can you fit?
Seminary for me has been amazing. For the first time, I am surrounded by people who are like me. We all have calls. Many of us plan to be pastors. Some of us even have the calls from early in life. For the first time, I am constantly reminded that I am not alone. I had some reminders early in life, but today, I am with them all the time. I AM NOT ALONE.
One semester in and 2 1/2 years to go. Expect more updates in the ins and outs of the process. Remember, if you are called young, you do get there eventually. It takes a long time, but all along the way there are others going through the same things that you are doing. They are having the same struggles, same fights. They might be with God, with family, with friends, or with the church. Remember your call, stick with God, and you will get there.
So, are you called into ministry? Are you United Methodist? Are you young and have no clue what to do next? Here is the advice that I have gathered over the years, both from personal experience and from the many many people who love to give advice.
First thing to do is talk to your pastor. Now this seems self-evident, but a lot of people don't start here. Your pastor has done this before, has connections, and hopefully has some idea of how to get started on this long and complicated process. When you talk to your pastor, tell them about your call. Discuss it, and they can help you into the next step.
Second, call your district superintendent. Here is where the fun begins. District Superintendents are very busy people with a lot on their plate. You may have the best DS in the world, but they cannot devote all their time to helping you through the process. Help them by knowing what to do. You should tell them that you wish to start the discernment process. You want a mentor, and you was to discuss with that mentor the book "Christian as Minister." This will get you started.
Now, before we proceed, you must know two very important things. First, keep a copy of every single piece of paper that has anything to do with the process. People have had to start over because paperwork is lost. It is your responsibility to keep a back-up copy. Keep it until after you get a stole placed around your neck at Annual Conference. Second, keep on your district and conference. As I said before, they are busy, and so sometimes things fall through the cracks. If you are called, they want you. If you are called and young, they want you even more. However, you still have to fight to move forward in the process, every step of the way. Sometimes, this may mean a weekly e-mail, and sometimes it may mean driving to the office and standing there until you have the paperwork you need. If you are a teenager, lucky you! Your parents can help in this. If you are an adult, take the initiative. It takes time, and it takes many e-mails and phone calls. Remember, one day that could be you who is an overwhelmed pastor. Also remember, if you are called, they really do want you. Sometimes you just have to remind them you are there among the many ministry things that they are working on.
After you have a mentor and have read "Christian as Minister," the discernment process moves forward. Now, this has changed since I did it, so I cannot give you details. I can tell you, DO NOT skimp on the discernment step. It is not worth it to rush through and discover ten years later that your call is different. I have seen it happen, and it is not fun. You may be positive of your call, but remember, you still need to learn how to articulate it to a bunch of pastors and laity who will determine your fate. If you cannot articulate your call, how can they believe that you truly have one? Tell your story often, and write it down a few times too. You will need it, and you will need to be comfortable with it. The discernment process can help with all these things.
If you are still in high school or middle school, watch for events that your conference sets up specifically for teens and discernment. I went to several of these. Sometimes I learned, sometimes I networked, and sometimes I met other people like me. You will discover that it is very unusual to be 12, 15, or even 17 and know that you are going to be a pastor. Remember, others are out there, you just have to find them. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
When you look at colleges, be sure to find the one where you feel comfortable. When choosing a major, be sure of 2 things. 1) Learn to write well. 2) Do what you love. You do not need a Religious Studies, Religion, or Theology major, though I won't lie, having Bible classes from Undergrad. has helped me in seminary.
If you are in college, remember the same things. Look for campus ministries aimed at people who are looking into ministry. Talk to your chaplain about starting one. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
When you look at seminary, look at the denomination, the theological statements, and all the same things that you looked for in a college. Do you want a seminary connected to other graduate schools or one that is small and off by itself? Where are you happy? Where can you fit?
Seminary for me has been amazing. For the first time, I am surrounded by people who are like me. We all have calls. Many of us plan to be pastors. Some of us even have the calls from early in life. For the first time, I am constantly reminded that I am not alone. I had some reminders early in life, but today, I am with them all the time. I AM NOT ALONE.
One semester in and 2 1/2 years to go. Expect more updates in the ins and outs of the process. Remember, if you are called young, you do get there eventually. It takes a long time, but all along the way there are others going through the same things that you are doing. They are having the same struggles, same fights. They might be with God, with family, with friends, or with the church. Remember your call, stick with God, and you will get there.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
My Serving Experience
Yesterday was the 50th Anniversary of the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and I worked in the dining hall. Starting at 8:30 in the morning and ending at 2:30 I helped set tables, prepare food and place settings, served during the lunch, and cleaned up after everybody left. I loved the people that I worked with, and the environment was very comfortable. It was nice to be doing work for a change. One part of the day, however, was quite a learning experience. Understand while I write this, that I am not complaining, I am just observing.
The lunch that we served was an alumni luncheon with several awards being given. In attendance were alumni from the last fifty years of MTSO's history, several faculty, and a few students. In normal circumstances, if I had been in attendance, I would have sat at a table with several alumni. They might have asked me what the school was like now, told me about their experiences here and since they graduated, and offered advice. In short, the simple fact that I was a student would make me a point of interest to many people.
Instead, the instant I put on the apron, I became invisible. A piece of furniture. Second class. People's eyes just slid over me and over the other servers. We were the staff, the help. With the exception of the people asking me for coffee or what the meat was, only four people talked to me like a human being. First, our Dean of Academic affairs, Randy Litchfield, stopped while walking over to greet alumni and asked me how I was doing. Second, our President, Jay Rundell, stopped and said "Hi Melissa! How are you doing? I am so glad you are doing this!" (and he was completely sincere). Third, an older black woman (my guess is she graduated 30 or 40 years ago) looked up at me from her table and made eye contact. She then asked me how I was. Finally, an older black man asked me if I was a student and wanted to know about the professors who are still here. I mention their race and age since given the combination of older and black, they have probably dealt with people looking down on them for no good reason, so I found it interesting that they were the ones to notice me. I also had one of my current professors look at me with a look that made me feel inferior. When people asked me for something, some made eye contact, but most looked at my chin or forehead.
I understand that people may not have wanted to interrupt me while working, but at the same time, the simple eye contact and treating me like a human being were nice. Later in the day, I ate at the celebration dinner, and alumni did exactly what I supposed they would. They wanted to hear about me and my experiences here. They wanted to tell me their experiences and offer advice.
I plan to work at the dining hall again for special events for several reasons. First, I loved the work environment. Lola, the woman in charge, is absolutely wonderful. Second, the pay was very good. Third, and probably one of the most important, it was a learning experience. It is a humbling experience, serving others when they do not appreciate me as a person. It is a view into reality. I think every pastor should have this experience as a reminder of what it means to serve, even when people don't understand.
The lunch that we served was an alumni luncheon with several awards being given. In attendance were alumni from the last fifty years of MTSO's history, several faculty, and a few students. In normal circumstances, if I had been in attendance, I would have sat at a table with several alumni. They might have asked me what the school was like now, told me about their experiences here and since they graduated, and offered advice. In short, the simple fact that I was a student would make me a point of interest to many people.
Instead, the instant I put on the apron, I became invisible. A piece of furniture. Second class. People's eyes just slid over me and over the other servers. We were the staff, the help. With the exception of the people asking me for coffee or what the meat was, only four people talked to me like a human being. First, our Dean of Academic affairs, Randy Litchfield, stopped while walking over to greet alumni and asked me how I was doing. Second, our President, Jay Rundell, stopped and said "Hi Melissa! How are you doing? I am so glad you are doing this!" (and he was completely sincere). Third, an older black woman (my guess is she graduated 30 or 40 years ago) looked up at me from her table and made eye contact. She then asked me how I was. Finally, an older black man asked me if I was a student and wanted to know about the professors who are still here. I mention their race and age since given the combination of older and black, they have probably dealt with people looking down on them for no good reason, so I found it interesting that they were the ones to notice me. I also had one of my current professors look at me with a look that made me feel inferior. When people asked me for something, some made eye contact, but most looked at my chin or forehead.
I understand that people may not have wanted to interrupt me while working, but at the same time, the simple eye contact and treating me like a human being were nice. Later in the day, I ate at the celebration dinner, and alumni did exactly what I supposed they would. They wanted to hear about me and my experiences here. They wanted to tell me their experiences and offer advice.
I plan to work at the dining hall again for special events for several reasons. First, I loved the work environment. Lola, the woman in charge, is absolutely wonderful. Second, the pay was very good. Third, and probably one of the most important, it was a learning experience. It is a humbling experience, serving others when they do not appreciate me as a person. It is a view into reality. I think every pastor should have this experience as a reminder of what it means to serve, even when people don't understand.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Concentration Camp and Wall
Guten Abend,
Well, this was our last full day in Berlin. Katie went with some others and I went to Sachsenhausen, a concentration camp just a little bit outside Berlin.
I won't go into detail about everything I saw in the concentration camp or heard. If you want to see that, you will have to look at the pictures on facebook when I post them.
My tour group was fairly small, with only 14 of us plus our guide. The youngest person in the group was an 11 year old boy on his school holiday from England. They are close enough that he and his father actually flew down just for this and fly back tonight. He had been learning about the Holocaust in school and asked to come. By the end of our 3 1/2 hour tour, he was pretty tired. Most of the rest of us were between about 16 and 25. The were a few older adults also, with their teens. My guide just finished his Masters Degree in History. He has been a tour guide to pay for his schooling. He is just a few years older than me (probably no more than 5 if that), and he did an excellent job.
This is the first concentration camp that I have been too, but I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Few original buildings are left, but many that were re-built were re-built with the original materials. The first thing to strike me as we were walking along, was that we walked from the train station and through the village, just as the prisoners did. It was a little eery to do, knowing what happened on those streets not so long ago. The thing that struck me that hardest in the tour, and made me a little nauseous, was seeing the iron gate that said "Arbeit Mach Frei." I knew that there was a good chance that it would be there, but didn't think about it until it was in front of me. After walking through that gate, we entered the area where roll was called before they were marched out to work and after they returned.
The other thing was the death chambers in Z Block. The people taken there from the camp were taken out of the camp and on a march so they didn't know where they were going, even though it was directly beside some of the barracks. The original foundations for the second set of death chambers, built in 1942, are still there. I was struck by a few things. 1) How many rooms they used to process people through their death and cremation, and 2) how small the rooms were. I think of death chambers as large rooms, but these were small, and the people who were killed were shot or gassed in rooms that are about the size of a room where a doctor might see you, a single dorm room, or the largest might be like a normal bedroom.
It was mostly a pretty, sunny day, and you have to assume that many of the summer days were like that when people were in the camps, but at the same time, we were walking through empty areas where buildings used to be, and they were walking between long, close, over-crowded buildings never knowing if they would see the next day. It is scary to think about.
In the places where there used to be buildings are some stone blocks about 7 feet long, 2.5 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. Each of these are numbered. On top of these, and in many other places throughout the camp, you will see piles of rocks and some flowers. It is interesting, because I had never seen anybody put rocks on graves or memorials before I went to Israel. Because I had that experience in Israel, when I came to Sachsenhausen, I recognized why the rocks were there. In Jewish tradition you put rocks on graves, much like Christians put flowers. Knowing that meaning and seeing huge piles of these rocks everywhere, it was a powerful reminder of how many people died. This is real.
One of the things that we were told to do was pack a lunch. I did so, but couldn't bring myself to eat it until almost 2, because it seemed disrespectful in a place where so many people starved to death, before and after the war. I did end up eating, simply because I was getting dizzy, but it did upset me a little.
After the War, the Soviet Union used Sachsenhausen for a prison camp, and many people starved, though death was not the goal. After the Soviet Union stopped using the camp, East Germany made it in to a memorial. The statues, artwork, and entrances were set up to highlight that Communism had defeated Facism, so everybody should be happy. It was pro-communism propaganda. They are not the only country to use historical sites for propaganda, by the way. My guide told us that he has a friend who was initiated into the Boy Scouts in Sachsenhausen, in front of a memorial to the communist prisoners and a statue highlighting the Soviet liberation of the camp.
It was quite an experience, though in some ways less sickening than a Holocaust museum, because you aren't looking at pictures. In some ways it is more sickening, because you walked the way that so many people actually walked to their deaths, less than 80 years ago. You walked where they were shot, hung, beaten, starved, and gassed (well, we didn't walk in the gas chamber, but all the rest of these things happened out in the camp as well as in the death chamber). I am not yet sure how to respond. I almost feel numb, and I do feel exhausted.
After the tour, I went down to the East Side Gallery and looked at the wall. Most likely, no one reading this blog has seen it as it looks now. Last year, they let artists paint new paintings on it in honor of 20 years of the wall being down. I had seen it from the bus a few days ago, but today I walked slowly along its length and saw the many paintings: some that I understood and some that I did not. Many had to do with peace, and many were powerful, and many, were confusing. I am glad that I went back before I left Berlin.
Well, I am going to head out to get dinner, so, this is the end of my last post from Berlin.
Auf Weidershen one last time.
Well, this was our last full day in Berlin. Katie went with some others and I went to Sachsenhausen, a concentration camp just a little bit outside Berlin.
I won't go into detail about everything I saw in the concentration camp or heard. If you want to see that, you will have to look at the pictures on facebook when I post them.
My tour group was fairly small, with only 14 of us plus our guide. The youngest person in the group was an 11 year old boy on his school holiday from England. They are close enough that he and his father actually flew down just for this and fly back tonight. He had been learning about the Holocaust in school and asked to come. By the end of our 3 1/2 hour tour, he was pretty tired. Most of the rest of us were between about 16 and 25. The were a few older adults also, with their teens. My guide just finished his Masters Degree in History. He has been a tour guide to pay for his schooling. He is just a few years older than me (probably no more than 5 if that), and he did an excellent job.
This is the first concentration camp that I have been too, but I had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Few original buildings are left, but many that were re-built were re-built with the original materials. The first thing to strike me as we were walking along, was that we walked from the train station and through the village, just as the prisoners did. It was a little eery to do, knowing what happened on those streets not so long ago. The thing that struck me that hardest in the tour, and made me a little nauseous, was seeing the iron gate that said "Arbeit Mach Frei." I knew that there was a good chance that it would be there, but didn't think about it until it was in front of me. After walking through that gate, we entered the area where roll was called before they were marched out to work and after they returned.
The other thing was the death chambers in Z Block. The people taken there from the camp were taken out of the camp and on a march so they didn't know where they were going, even though it was directly beside some of the barracks. The original foundations for the second set of death chambers, built in 1942, are still there. I was struck by a few things. 1) How many rooms they used to process people through their death and cremation, and 2) how small the rooms were. I think of death chambers as large rooms, but these were small, and the people who were killed were shot or gassed in rooms that are about the size of a room where a doctor might see you, a single dorm room, or the largest might be like a normal bedroom.
It was mostly a pretty, sunny day, and you have to assume that many of the summer days were like that when people were in the camps, but at the same time, we were walking through empty areas where buildings used to be, and they were walking between long, close, over-crowded buildings never knowing if they would see the next day. It is scary to think about.
In the places where there used to be buildings are some stone blocks about 7 feet long, 2.5 feet wide, and 2 feet tall. Each of these are numbered. On top of these, and in many other places throughout the camp, you will see piles of rocks and some flowers. It is interesting, because I had never seen anybody put rocks on graves or memorials before I went to Israel. Because I had that experience in Israel, when I came to Sachsenhausen, I recognized why the rocks were there. In Jewish tradition you put rocks on graves, much like Christians put flowers. Knowing that meaning and seeing huge piles of these rocks everywhere, it was a powerful reminder of how many people died. This is real.
One of the things that we were told to do was pack a lunch. I did so, but couldn't bring myself to eat it until almost 2, because it seemed disrespectful in a place where so many people starved to death, before and after the war. I did end up eating, simply because I was getting dizzy, but it did upset me a little.
After the War, the Soviet Union used Sachsenhausen for a prison camp, and many people starved, though death was not the goal. After the Soviet Union stopped using the camp, East Germany made it in to a memorial. The statues, artwork, and entrances were set up to highlight that Communism had defeated Facism, so everybody should be happy. It was pro-communism propaganda. They are not the only country to use historical sites for propaganda, by the way. My guide told us that he has a friend who was initiated into the Boy Scouts in Sachsenhausen, in front of a memorial to the communist prisoners and a statue highlighting the Soviet liberation of the camp.
It was quite an experience, though in some ways less sickening than a Holocaust museum, because you aren't looking at pictures. In some ways it is more sickening, because you walked the way that so many people actually walked to their deaths, less than 80 years ago. You walked where they were shot, hung, beaten, starved, and gassed (well, we didn't walk in the gas chamber, but all the rest of these things happened out in the camp as well as in the death chamber). I am not yet sure how to respond. I almost feel numb, and I do feel exhausted.
After the tour, I went down to the East Side Gallery and looked at the wall. Most likely, no one reading this blog has seen it as it looks now. Last year, they let artists paint new paintings on it in honor of 20 years of the wall being down. I had seen it from the bus a few days ago, but today I walked slowly along its length and saw the many paintings: some that I understood and some that I did not. Many had to do with peace, and many were powerful, and many, were confusing. I am glad that I went back before I left Berlin.
Well, I am going to head out to get dinner, so, this is the end of my last post from Berlin.
Auf Weidershen one last time.
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