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| Title: | Discussions from a Christian Perspective |
| Notice: | Prostitutes and tax collectors welcome! |
| Moderator: | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE |
|
| Created: | Mon Sep 17 1990 |
| Last Modified: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Last Successful Update: | Fri Jun 06 1997 |
| Number of topics: | 1362 |
| Total number of notes: | 61362 |
447.0. "spouse's ordination paper" by OLDTMR::FRANCEY (M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18) Mon May 04 1992 14:29
Enclosed is my spouse's draft of her ordination paper. She goes before
the Church & Ministry Committee on June 10th for attaining the standing
of "approved for ordination subject to a call". Your generosity of
comments on my ordination paper helped me really get my thoughts and
beliefs in a structured and presentable order. Perhaps you might like
to do the same for my spouse.
She would be most pleased to continue a dialog via this notes file or
through email which I will send her.
Thanks in advance and Peace!
Ron
--------
Ordination Paper
Dorothy C. Francey
April 30, 1992
We have a story to tell! We, the people of God, are part of
God's narration. We all are on a journey and part of my path in
that journey will be shared with you here.
Theological Reflection
Our story begins before recorded time. "God calls the worlds
into being ...." God, being so full of love that creation must
flow from God, creates us in God's image. God creates the worlds
and humankind out of a desire to have a creation to love and to
lead. We are created in the image of God, but are unable to
fully grasp what that means. We have the opportunity to know God
and to know the way God wants us to live by opening ourselves to
God's presence. My understanding, my insight into who God is and
what God does, my theology is an evolving one. I believe my
faith journey to be an ever-growing understanding of God, God's
plan for the world, and God's will for me. My hope is for this
growth to continue for the rest of my life.
I believe in God, the Eternal Spirit, Creator of all that is, and
in Jesus Christ, God's Son and our Savior. I believe in the
trinity of God, traditionally expressed as Father, Son and Holy
Spirit. God, as triune, helps us understand that ultimate
reality is a dynamic life together where the three are one. God
is love! This inner reality of God is expressed through the
mission of God as Creator, Reconciler, and Redeemer. This vision
of God helps us understand God's inclusive character.
God is all powerful, yet has given us free will. We are made as
free yet responsible human beings. That freedom allows us to
come nearer to the divine will and nature of God, and we thus are
able to enjoy an ever-growing communion with God. This, I
believe, is God's purpose for us. Upon death, we will have an
eternal, spiritual life in God. Sin is our separation from God
and God suffers with us in that separation.
We learn through the Old Testament of the covenants that God made
with the people of Israel. God has been reaching out to God's
people since the beginning of creation. Declared through the
prophets, our understanding of God's judgment of us has developed
throughout history and continues to grow as we discern God's will
in our lives.
Jesus was that individual that connected with God in a unique
way. Jesus came to us, lived among us, and took on the sins of
the world so that we might be free to love God and others in a
1
new way. Jesus, the Christ, further demonstrates God's purpose
for us as God unites with humankind. Because of Jesus, our
understanding of God is more comprehensible and our vision is
clearer than ever before. As Christians, we take our
understanding of God from the acts of God with their center point
in Jesus Christ.
God's Holy Spirit is alive among and with us and calls us to
unite in the church, to be a faithful people of God, and to be
the body of Christ in the world. God calls us to affirm the cost
and to discover the joy of discipleship, to covenant with each
other, to search to learn God's will and way for us as disciples,
to witness to the Good News of God's love throughout all of
creation, and to welcome all in inclusiveness to be part of the
body of Christ. We are empowered to be partners in making God's
love, justice, and peace visible and real in the world.
We have a covenantal relationship with God. God's grace, peace,
and love are given to us as gifts which are not earned, but
freely given. We need to trust in those gifts so that we can
respond to the covenant that has been made. God is with us and
provides support, guidance, and presence throughout all of our
lives.
What we do and are as a church grows out of what God does and who
God is. In the worship of church, two acts are acknowledged as
sacraments, Baptism and Holy Communion. These are the "outward
and visible signs of an inward and spiritual grace."
Throughout the New Testament we encounter the sacrament of
baptism. Baptism is an ancient rite of the Christian church,
practiced by Christians in every land. Baptism is a promise from
God to love and accept us. Baptism is an act of worship and an
act of faith. When adults come to be baptized or bring their
child to be baptized they come in hope that through God's grace
they might seek to be an instrument of peace in the world.
Baptism signifies a new relationship with our triune God and with
a community of believers. In the sacrament of baptism all our
hopes, joys, and fears are entrusted to God.
Celebrating The Last Supper or Holy Communion is to share
intimately in a meal which brings us closer to the spirit of
Jesus and to one another. Holy Communion is a meal of great joy
and thanksgiving. It is joyful because we know that God loves us
so much that Jesus was sent from God to share our lives. Jesus
said that every human being ever born or yet to be born was
important to God. We are thankful that Jesus came to teach us
how to live and love.
Ordinary things like bread and wine are signs of the presence of
God. They are signs that all life is sacred. There is a mystery
in bread. The grain has died in the earth, and has borne fruit
after its death. The death yields hundreds of new grains. Jesus
2
used the image of bread for himself. In like manner, Jesus said
that when we drink the cup it is in remembrance of him.
Scripture provides the platform on which we, as learners in God's
world, search for the meaning of being a Christian in today's
world. Active discipleship is an important goal which, when
based on extensive Biblical study, produces a Biblical foundation
for what we do. Our Christian tradition comes from the Bible,
the synagogue and the teachings of Jesus. Our other resources
include the history of the church, the traditions of the
Christian community, and our personal experiences with God as
they are accountable to the Scriptures. The consistency in this
revelation is how we know what is true for us.
One of the things we learn from Jesus is that the church is a
serving community. Because of Jesus' examples and teachings, the
church is involved in service and ministers to persons within and
beyond the worshiping community. We become a church - a truly
nurturing community - first by believing in Jesus and his
teachings as the essence of the church, then by sharing and
supporting each other within the community and finally by serving
or sharing outside of the church or community.
Each church has a personal ministry. What is going on in the
lives of the members of the congregation needs to be addressed as
are problems and issues going on in the community and the world.
We are called to be learners and teachers as we share our faith
story in exciting ways. The church needs to have a vision, to
know itself and its gifts, to see itself as a part of the whole,
to be empowered by God for ministry, to rejoice in its diversity,
to be open to God's will and to be an open community to others.
The church needs to accept people where they are, help them meet
their needs and then equip them to go out and witness and serve
in the wider community. Whether a church is successful or not
can be evaluated by the varying degrees that the wider community
exhibits love, peace, justice, righteousness, and freedom. The
local church helps people relate to God and then prepares them to
enable others to relate to God in the wider community. The
church lives in community and to be an effective and viable
entity must relate to the culture in which it finds itself.
The world we live in is the family of God. We often talk of the
small church as being a family, yet the larger church should try
to be a family too. The church, as a family of God, should
represent that wide context of the community of faith. We are a
diverse family; intergenerational, and including all races and
ethnic groups. This diverse family of humankind, as created by
God, should be accepted and celebrated in the church as community
and lifted up in the presence of God in love and esteem. Each
person should be able to celebrate his or her unique self as an
aspect of humanness and as part of the discipleship of God's
family. We are members of the one body of Christ. We recognize
3
our common need for God and for one another. In God's family we
experience different gifts from different people.
Since we are all different we experience God's call in a variety
of ways. Calls of ministry are not the only kinds of call that
Christians receive from God. A decision to join a church, or
accept a task, or setting aside time for prayer can be a response
to God. People hear God's call in different ways and respond in
different ways. Each of us needs the help and guidance of other
Christians in order to follow Christ. Each person needs to
discover their gifts and to use them to glorify God and to serve
others.
4
The United Church Of Christ
The United Church of Christ was formally united at the Uniting
General Synod of 1957. This union of The Evangelical and
Reformed Churches and The Congregational Christian Churches
represents a journey of shared understandings. The vision of The
United Church of Christ attempts to be a more inclusive church,
celebrating the diversity of its people, and acknowledging Jesus
Christ as its sole Head. Our unity is in Christ, who is the head
of the church as we attempt to be the body of Christ in the
world.
While the church government of the United Church of Christ is
generally acknowledged to be "congregational" which insists on
the scriptural authority and autonomy of individually gathered
churches, our understanding must be broader to reveal the
fullness of the life and polity which marks the uniqueness of our
church. The freedom of autonomy of each local church involves
rights as well as responsibilities and accountabilities. What
evolved from the dreams of the founders of The United Church of
Christ was a covenantal model which is ever growing, ever
changing, ever approaching the true body of Christ in the world
as each new generation struggles with the cost and discovers the
joy of discipleship.
Understanding our past history is important as well as confusing.
It is important because it helps us understand that as a new
church we have roots in the stream of Christian history. It is
confusing because, we are not the sum of our parts, but a new
beginning committed to one another as members of the body of
Christ.
Books and articles from our history reflect the way in which
Christianity informed our culture. American women are today
engaged in the exciting task of rediscovering their own history.
Antoinette Brown Blackwell, an important historical woman from
our Congregational heritage, is an outstanding example for me of
a woman who fought against racism and sexism in a world where
women had no vote and little voice. Today non-whites and women
still have to fight for equality in a world that is dominated by
white males. Women and minorities continue to live by rules made
not by God's hand, but by a patriarchal society. On September
15, 1853, overcoming many obstacles, Antoinette Brown Blackwell
was the first woman to be ordained in America. Women today still
face many obstacles in answering their call to ordained ministry.
How many churches find it difficult to call a minister who varies
from the white male model? How is our worship affected by this
lack of pluralism in our pulpits? What can we do to further
enhance our openness to others?
We live in a world that is a global community. We live in a
pluralistic community that seeks to accept the reality of the
various strains in our culture. We, The United Church of Christ,
seek in our unity to affirm the positive value of the fact that
5
there are different strains. And we strive to celebrate that
diversity by respecting the integrity of each group.
The mission of the church is to work for justice for all and to
establish God's rule in the world. We must share our faith with
each other as we gather together in worship. We must support each
other and help each other as we respond in faith and gratitude to
God and to Jesus, the Christ. To be a Christian is to be a
disciple. Active participation in the life of the church and the
ministry of Jesus, the Christ is an underlying principle of my
belief and my understanding of the belief of The United Church of
Christ.
The mission of the church is to serve God by declaring God's love
for all people and demonstrating that love by acts - acts of
love, kindness, and helping. This is the story we have to tell.
The Good News - the telling of the Gospel - is that God loves all
human beings and because God's love is so great, we are compelled
to tell that story - to share that story with all people
everywhere.
6
Personal Faith Journey
I grew up in a nuclear family consisting of a nurturing and
caring mother who did not work outside of the home, a father who
was loving and supportive, an older sister, and a younger
brother. Since neither of my parents had any siblings and we had
many great aunts and uncles with no children, my sister, brother,
and I grew up with many adults to care for our emotional needs.
I always felt loved and special, and grew up thinking that I
could do or be whatever I wished with the full support of my
family. I believe I am a caring and giving person because of the
care and love given to me as a child. God's love was first made
evident to me by the love that was shown among my family members.
Economically our family was middle class and did not suffer from
having our basic needs met. My parents were not extravagant or
materialistic and I can remember feeling that we were somehow
blessed and fortunate in having the family that we had.
When I think back on my childhood years, I can only remember that
God was at the very center of my life. I loved nature and would
often take long solitary walks through the fields and woods which
surrounded my home. I felt God "with me" and even though I
wasn't living the way God wanted me to, I "knew" somewhere inside
what God wanted for me and our world. I didn't understand why
our world couldn't be the way God wanted it to be - full of
peace, love, with justice for all - when the message seemed so
clear. Many times my brother, friends or dolls would be gathered
together to sit and listen while I read from the Bible and then
interpreted it to them, most often with fist held high
admonishing them for their "evil ways" and preaching to them the
ways of goodness and righteousness.
The church has always been an important part of my life. I
attended church school regularly as a child and joined the junior
choir and fellowship. Our family was involved in all aspects of
the life of the church. It became the place where I could act on
my beliefs, express my joy of community, and be enabled by others
to share my faith. My family of origin was active and involved
in our church and has continued to be throughout our collective
lives. I have been nurtured and cared for by my family, friends,
and my local church.
As an adult, I became a member of the Missions Committee, was an
active Deacon, and taught in the Church School. It was while I
was the Church School Director that that position was elevated to
a part-time paid position and my gifts were nurtured and lifted
up as an important aspect of ministry. I was also challenged to
grow through my association with other educators and ministers in
the Association of United Church Educators (AUCE). I became the
Rhode Island representative to New England AUCE which further
broadened my experience. This experience was influential in the
discovery of my gifts and in clarifying my call to ordained
ministry.
7
In two of my previous part time jobs, my need to be helpful and
of service to others was fulfilled. Working in a library at a
hospital was a growing and rewarding experience. I learned a
great deal and enjoyed being part of the professional health
team.
I was also part of a team in my other part-time job of Church
School Director. I met weekly with the other church staff to
help coordinate the program of the church. I was directly
responsible for volunteers, and coordinated the educational
program for the children and youth of our church of over 650
members. We had close to 200 children and youth from birth to
high school age in our church school. I especially found that
being a part of the children's growth and faith development was
most stimulating and satisfying.
My years of study at Andover Newton Theological School have been
interesting, rewarding and stretching. The people I have met
have been friendly and supportive, and I have felt part of a real
caring community. My Clinical Pastoral Education experience was
illuminating to me. Although I was attending seminary, was
feeling spiritually renewed, and was feeling called by God to
ordained ministry, I had serious doubts as to my abilities and so
was questioning my call. This was my first opportunity to
function as a pastor and to minister to patients. It was grand!
My congregation for the summer was a floor of one of the state
mental hospitals, housing over fifty men and women, many who were
there against their will. Many were fearful of their illness,
afraid that they might loose their children, and confused by the
lack of control in their life. I was able to be with them, to
hold them, and to bring God's presence to them. My Clinical
Pastoral Education experience makes it clear to me that I am
called to a ministry where there is a need for an intersection of
God's love with God's people. My ministry includes preparing the
people of God to reclaim that love.
Within the church as the body of Christ, I seek to be a servant-
leader of those called to be about God's task in a world of
brokenness, alienation, and suffering. As an ordained minister
in the local church, I would see my role as that of the enabler.
Since we are all called to be the body of Christ, it is fitting
that we should recognize, understand, affirm, encourage and
provide guidance in loving support to each other. We are on a
faith journey together and we are growing toward and are called
to be a community as we grow and work for the Kingdom of God.
My call to ordained ministry has developed over many years with
the nurture and love of people around me and with the knowledge
that God is always with me. Being aware of my gifts and knowing
my strengths and weaknesses is important. I really care about
people and can demonstrate and share the love of God with others.
I love to lead worship and feel that sermon preaching is a
growing edge for me. I have some good leadership skills and am
8
interested in learning more about pastoral care and counselling.
I am an enabler and a perceptive person who listens well to
others and helps them learn to use their gifts. I wish to help
others know God's love and the power of God's Holy Spirit as
shown to us through Jesus, the Christ.
The church throughout history has been a people struggling and
involved with the faith issues and real life issues of a complex
world. Helping people to work through these issues in the light
of the Gospel is a primary task of the church. I not only want
to be a part of helping people to live Christianity as we
understand it to be, but I also feel called to leadership in this
important work of God as shown to us through Jesus, the Christ.
9
| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 447.1 | I'll go first, I guess | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace: the Final Frontier | Tue May 05 1992 00:19 | 89 |
| The future Rev. Francey,
> We have a story to tell! We, the people of God, are part of
> God's narration. We all are on a journey and part of my path in
> that journey will be shared with you here.
I like the exuberance I hear framed in these words.
> Our story begins before recorded time. "God calls the worlds
> into being ...." God, being so full of love that creation must
> flow from God, creates us in God's image.
Outstanding imagery.
> My understanding, my insight into who God is and
> what God does, my theology is an evolving one. I believe my
> faith journey to be an ever-growing understanding of God, God's
> plan for the world, and God's will for me. My hope is for this
> growth to continue for the rest of my life.
A refreshingly honest and humble self-assessment.
> We are empowered to be partners in making God's
> love, justice, and peace visible and real in the world.
Amen! I just wish more Christians would acknowledge this.
> Ordinary things like bread and wine are signs of the presence of
> God. They are signs that all life is sacred. There is a mystery
> in bread. The grain has died in the earth, and has borne fruit
> after its death. The death yields hundreds of new grains. Jesus
> used the image of bread for himself. In like manner, Jesus said
> that when we drink the cup it is in remembrance of him.
Yes! Nice use of one of Jesus' sayings.
> One of the things we learn from Jesus is that the church is a
> serving community. Because of Jesus' examples and teachings, the
> church is involved in service and ministers to persons within and
> beyond the worshiping community.
So true. A church does not exist simply for its own benefit.
> How many churches find it difficult to call a minister who varies
> from the white male model? How is our worship affected by this
> lack of pluralism in our pulpits? What can we do to further
> enhance our openness to others?
Excellent questions!
> The United Church Of Christ
> We live in a world that is a global community. We live in a
> pluralistic community that seeks to accept the reality of the
> various strains in our culture. We, The United Church of Christ,
> seek in our unity to affirm the positive value of the fact that
> there are different strains. And we strive to celebrate that
> diversity by respecting the integrity of each group.
Well put! Certainly an ideal worth striving for.
> Personal Faith Journey
> active Deacon, and taught in the Church School.
> My Clinical Pastoral Education experience was
> illuminating to me.
> Within the church as the body of Christ, I seek to be a servant-
> leader
These echo my own experience and background.
Of course, there is little I can say either about the UCC or your personal
faith journey. I lack expertise in both areas. I can say that these
portions seem to me to be articulate and thoughtful appraisals (which I
believe is the most beneficial purpose of such an exercise).
As for your theological reflections, I found only positive things to say
and nothing I could punch holes in.
Ron, how much of your interview focused on in what your paper said? 100%?
50%? 10%?
Peace,
Richard
|
| 447.2 | Response to Richard | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Tue May 05 1992 22:12 | 19 |
| Richard,
Thanks so much for taking the time to thoughtfully read my Ordination
Paper. I sometimes lack confidence in myself (and my ability to
express myself) so your comments make me feel great! I also don't mind
constructive criticism, but usually get plenty of that from Ron.
I am happy for you and your congregation that your service went well on
Sunday. We also had a great day, as Ron told you.
Well, I'm off to study for my Old Testament Final, which is on Friday.
(I'll be glad when that's over!)
Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Dot
|
| 447.3 | You're welcome! | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace: the Final Frontier | Tue May 05 1992 22:58 | 9 |
| Also, I wanted to add that I appreciated your use of inclusive language,
which I noticed in Ron's paper, as well.
I've had to write a statement of faith before and I know that it is no easy
task. Judging from your paper alone, I'd say that you're as good as
board approved.
Peace,
Richard
|
| 447.4 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace: the Final Frontier | Thu May 07 1992 16:47 | 16 |
| re: 447.1
>Ron, how much of your interview focused on in what your paper said?
>100%? 50%? 10%?
I guess I was trying to get a feeling for how thoroughly and
severely this document is scrutinized.
I take it the meeting with the board tends to lean toward the
supportive, rather than the critical. And I take it that there's no
restrictive formula for conducting the interview with the candidate.
Might we pose a few questions for Dot like we did for you?
Peace,
Richard
|
| 447.5 | on the examination process | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Thu May 07 1992 17:35 | 34 |
| Richard,
The paper is presented via mail to each member of the Church & Ministry
Committee at least two weeks prior to the scheduled meeting. The
committee consists of from nine to twelve people, half lay, half
clergy. The contents of the paper and the interview are taken very
seriously as the vote of the committee is binding for all UCC churches
around the world.
The person's academic credentials, fitness for ordained ministry, sense
of call (inward, outward, church's affirmation), letters of
recommendation are all part of the process. As you may recall
regarding my ordination paper, I intentionally did not focus my
theology in a traditional way. I left an "invitation" for q's based on
some of my statements.
Generally, one of my strengths is my interviewing abilities and
therefor many of the comments made by noters regarding my paper gave me
cause to reflect on areas of concern noters and therefor, committee
people, might have. The comments by noters were invaluble to me as I
worked thru the preparation process.
By all means, please fire away questions to my spouse. If you were
interviewing a candidate for becoming the pastor of your (for us, UCC)
church, what questions would arise out of the reading of Dot's paper?
What has she told you too little about, too inconsistently about?
You, as a committee member (if that was your role), are voting for the
whole UCC denomination. Do you want this person to be ordained?
Shalom,
Ron
|
| 447.6 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace: the Final Frontier | Thu May 07 1992 21:03 | 34 |
| Dot,
Well, the questions in Note 381.16 would still be applicable.
In addition, here are a few more to ponder:
1. What do you feel is the most rewarding aspect of serving as an
ordained minister in the UCC?
2. What gifts and graces do you bring to the professional ministry?
3. What do you see as the benefits and potential difficulties of
serving in a shared ministry?
4. You seem to have a grasp of the suppressive roles traditionally
thrust upon women and minorities. How do you handle situations
which arise out of that traditional mindset, such as, when you
sense that someone expects you to defer to your husband even
though you've both emphasized that yours is a shared ministry?
5. What awareness do you have of sexual harrassment among women in
the clergy?
6. What do you do to prevent "overdoing" for others?
7. You mentioned your CPE experience. Having you considered serving as
a chaplain? How do you see yourself utilizing this training and
experience?
8. Describe in your own words how servant-leadership varies from other
types of leadership.
Peace,
Richard
|
| 447.7 | Update requested | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace Reservist | Wed Jun 03 1992 00:50 | 11 |
| Hey Ron!
How is Dot feeling about the upcoming meeting with the ordination
review board? And how (besides proud) are you feeling about your
spouse's encounter with the board?
Praying that a church for you two to pastor will just fall in
your laps.
Peace,
Richard
|
| 447.8 | on Dot's status | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Wed Jun 03 1992 13:58 | 51 |
| Thanks for checking in on us. Dot seems to be much more low key about
the upcoming event than I was. I was off busily working on my paper,
trying to check out my systematic foundation, trying to find any
inconsistencies, trying to work on potential questions that might be
posed. I received much support from the C-P noters both within the
notesfile and through direct email.
I am a bit of a worrier, a bit of a person who wants so much to be able
to present myself well and at the same time present my real self. I
like to take time to work toward a goal such as the examination.
Dot is much more at ease with herself, is much more relaxed, is more of
an introvert than I am. So, I haven't pushed her to bang away on the
keyboard to answer your qusetions. She is a person who reads said
questions, mulls them over for a long time by herself and then whenever
she speaks or acts, it is usually with content that delightfully
surprises me - although I'm becoming less and less surprised!
We received our fourth monthly listing of UCC churches within
Massachusetts that lists churches currently looking for a pastor(s) and
hope to fire off profiles to them as soon as the June 10th examination
is over. The churches are located in Maynard (next to the Mill!), in
Clinton, West Boxford and Westboro (or Southboro?).
Most likely, a church will not "fall into our lap" although we surely
hope that God has a big part in helping to show us where and when the
call is coming from - and so in this sense, letting go (by me more than
Dot) and letting God is in a way having a church indeed fall in our
laps.
This is Dot's last week free from seminary as she will be taking a
course in medical ethics beginning next week (for two weeks). Then she
will be taking her last two courses this fall (her last Old Testament
and her last ethics courses).
Shalom,
Ron
ps: I mentioned in an earlier note that I was going to try to enter the
Old Testament Final for all who were interested could take. To be
honest, my work at Digital has been very stressful for the past few
months as it is difficult for me to do (technically). So by the time I
go home, I'm exhausted. We've been going to bed around 8:00 to 10:00pm
and have been using our waking hours catching up on the day. During
the weekends, we are now sailing from Friday nights thru Sunday
evenings - this is our last shot for having this kind of freeedom as
the church work life doesn't offer two days off in a row, or two days
off period. We hope to have a church to pastor before summer is over
or during the fall at the latest - if this is at all possible.
|
| 447.9 | regarding questions | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Wed Jun 03 1992 19:26 | 24 |
| Richard,
Thanks for the questions regarding my Ordination Paper and I'm sorry I
haven't responded. When I finished school three weeks ago, it felt so
good just to relax and not think for awhile. I've been enjoying the
garden, our new three month old puppy, and catching up on other house
and personal things that I had let go during school. I've also been
trying to get ahead on some of my reading for the Medical Ethics course
I'll be taking the next two weeks.
Your questions have given me some very good areas to think about, both
for when I go before the Church and Ministry Committee and for when Ron
and I go into ministry together. Thank you for them. I hope it is ok
with you that I use them for my own personal value instead of
officially answering them in this notes file. As Ron responded to you
in the previous note, our lives have been rather busy lately and I
don't have the energy for writing more at this time.
Thanks for your warm wishes for our future - it means alot!
Shalom,
Dot
|
| 447.10 | | CARTUN::BERGGREN | heart full of song | Thu Jun 04 1992 02:29 | 10 |
| It's nice to hear from you Dot, and that you're having the time now to
relax and enjoy the other important things in your life. :-) I'm still
plugging away at my thesis; I feel very good about it, though I have
about 6 weeks to go. 8^/
Wishing you and Ron the very best!
Shalom,
Karen
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| 447.11 | | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace Reservist | Tue Jun 09 1992 02:48 | 7 |
| Ron,
I'll be keeping you and Dot blanketed with prayer all through
this coming Wednesday.
Shalom,
Richard
|
| 447.12 | Thanks for prayers | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Tue Jun 09 1992 14:22 | 17 |
| Thanks, Richard! Frankly, I'm swetting and she's doing fine! It
wasn't until last night when we finally found out what time she's going
to be examined. I had called the chair of the C&M Committee about a
half dozen times over the past few days without making contact and
without a returned message. Anyway, she's on for 2:00pm.
Dot's off doing things other than what I'd be doing at this time. She
just began a course in Med'l Ethics and is presenting this WEDNESDAY
(!!!) on recent developments on contraception and abortion.
I dreamed last night on Creation, the Fall, Sin, Evil, Death, Christ,
Salvation, Consummation ... She snored!
Shalom,
Ron
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| 447.13 | yip-yip-hooray! | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Thu Jun 11 1992 18:27 | 11 |
| Yeah!!! Hurrah!!! Whoopee!!! Son-of-a gun!!! Super!!! What-a
way-to-go-Dot!!!
NOW, GET BUSY WRITING THAT PROFILE!!! (whoops! me, too!)
Shalom,
Ron
ps: I hope Dot posts some comments!
|
| 447.14 | Atta-woman!!! | ATSE::FLAHERTY | Wings of fire: Percie and me | Thu Jun 11 1992 18:57 | 5 |
| Three cheers for Dot. That is wonderful news. If the church turns out
to be close by, we would love to attend a service some time.
Ro
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| 447.15 | Praise God from whom all blessings flow | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace Reservist | Thu Jun 11 1992 21:29 | 4 |
| Sincerest congratulations to Dot!
Shalom,
Richard
|
| 447.16 | | CARTUN::BERGGREN | heart full of song | Fri Jun 12 1992 00:53 | 4 |
| That's terrific Dot! Congratulations! Now maybe *you* can sleep
a little easier Ron. :-)
Karen
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| 447.17 | Thanks, comments next week | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Fri Jun 12 1992 10:54 | 26 |
| Thanks for your "congrats" for Dot. She's off to class early this am
and then we're off sailing for the weekend. Dot said she'd like to
comment about her "day" early next week.
We're going to meet my youngest daughter and her husband in Portland,
ME early this evening (and her inlaws) and go together to a "Christian
Concert", then out for pizza and then to the boat. Saturday, we're
taking everyone out for a day-sail and a barbeque. Sounds like fun!
My daughter and her husband belong (actively) to the Church of the
Nazerene. I don't know much about their tradition but I may get a good
indoctrination (and maybe lots of hand waving and "Praise the Lord") by
evening's end. I'm a little uncomfortable, well, actually a little
more than a little, with outward demonstrations like handwaving -hmmm- yet,
I'm very comfortable within the black traditional "yes, Jesus, yes, yes" and
"amen". Maybe I feel this way because one seems more personal and more
an act of devotion and the other seems too showy, too much like "see, I
praise Jesus".
Pardon my rambling, I'm still just kind of bubbling over Dot's great
day!
Shalom,
Ron
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| 447.18 | | OFFSHR::PAY$FRETTS | | Fri Jun 12 1992 12:40 | 8 |
|
Ron,
Please also add my congratulations for Dot......and enjoy your weekend
on the water!
Carole
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| 447.19 | now that's an idea! | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Fri Jun 12 1992 12:57 | 5 |
| Now that's pretty neat. Imagine, one day a few days ago passing the
ordination exam and then just a few days later "on the water"! -
glug, glug - oh me, of little faith ;-)
|
| 447.20 | Thank you | OLDTMR::FRANCEY | M/L&CE SECG dtn 223-5427 pko3-1/d18 | Mon Jun 15 1992 19:57 | 32 |
| I want to thank all (especially Richard, Ro, Karen, and Carole who
wrote congrats to me) for your prayers and good wishes over my meeting
with The Church and Ministry Committee last Wednesday. It was a good
experience and a "User friendly" one too.
People asked me questions that were framed in a supportive way and were
aimed at information gathering rather than at trying to "catch" me on
some theory of doctrine or theology. Richard, your questions about
our shared ministry were on target as people wanted to know how I
envisioned that to be and what might be some of the problems. Someone
else wanted to know how I felt about giving sermons every week etc. I
was asked about the UCC Statement of Faith since I had used that as an
outline for the theology part of the paper.
Since I've known most of the people on the committee for some time
(Rhode Island is a small state and I've been active in my church for
many years), everyone was very supportive and commented on the growth
they have seen over the years.
When I reentered the room after leaving so that they could deliberate
on my session with them, they applauded and I received hugs and smiles
all around. A minister next to me said, "Go for it, Dot!" I sang in
the car all the way home. And there was Ron waiting on our front steps
with a pot of flowers and a big sign on the garage door saying
"Congrats" So he did have confidence in me after all.
Thanks again. You all feel like friends (and I know you are).
Shalom,
(One step closer to being Reverend)
Dot
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| 447.21 | We are blessed by your presence | CSC32::J_CHRISTIE | Peace Reservist | Mon Jun 15 1992 21:53 | 7 |
| Dot and Ron,
I'm very happy for you both and honored to have you as part of
the CHRISTIAN-PERSPECTIVE noting community.
Shalom,
Richard
|