Jaslyn Challenger –February 24, 2017 DCOM Responses to Questions

1. a. Do they know God as pardoning God? Yes, I believe God to be a pardoning God: one who loves unconditionally and continually forgives our disobedience. God forgives and does not hold our sins against us but pardons us through grace. God will bring us back to wholeness that our relationship with God will be strengthened and renewed through what Jesus Christ has done. Because of God’s saving grace God does not hold grudges and therefore do not hold my indiscretions against me and pardons me of them. In my spiritual walk, through prayers and ministry, I experienced God’s pardoning through it all. When I am tempted to be disobedient while on my spiritual walk, God delivers me and resources me so that I will not fall prey to temptation. For, “The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.” (Ps. 103: 8-9)1

b. Do they desire nothing but God? I absolutely do desire nothing but God. I am extremely dependent on God for I am nothing without God in my life. All I want is a relationship with God and that it will continue to grow stronger and stronger each day that I am alive. My faith in God is steadfast and I want more and more of what God has to give through Jesus Christ. On account of my faith in God, I feel that I can accomplish things that may seem impossible. This is in line with what Paul states in Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”2 I seek God’s strength in everything that I do that is pleasing to God. In my desire for God, I pray, read my bible, and minister to others and my relationship with God increases my desire to making my life more fulfilling.

1 NIV Psalm 103: 8,92 NIV Phil. 4:1

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c. Have they the love of God abiding in them? Yes I am confident that the love of God is abiding in me because of the love I extend to others. The love that I express to others is genuine love where I am able to see beyond their flaws and express the love of God in me to them. The bible expresses many areas of love and how much God loves us; that God’s Son Jesus Christ was sacrificed for us. John wrote in 1 John 4:7 “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God...”3 My love for God is a love I will continue to share with others even as I share the good news about salvation. Having experienced God’s unconditional and abundant love, I am compelled to share the good news of Christ so that others may come to know that same love bestowed by God.

d. Are they holy in all manner of conversation? As a child of God and a committed disciple of Jesus Christ, I try to be holy in all conversations. Knowing that words have the power to edify or hurt, I am careful to speak words that edify as I seek to build the Kingdom. As a Christian I always want my conversations to be positive and uplifting at all times. I am very careful with my conversations because others are relying on my honesty. I seek to be a conduit and not a hindrance to God’s grace in the life of others.

2. Have they gifts, as well as evidence of God’s grace, for the work? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly? Yes, God has given me the gifts of compassion, servanthood, leading, teaching, dancing, and preaching. These gifts have been evident to me and confirmed by others with whom I’ve partnered in ministry.

Have they a clear, sound understanding; a right judgment in the things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? All things are of God (John 1). Therefore, God continually pours out His love, grace and mercy and seeks justice for all creation. I am aware that salvation is a gift and I am saved through faith. Paul stated, “For it is grace you have been 3 NIV 1 John 4: 7

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saved through faith—and not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”(Eph 2:8).4

Have they fruit? Have any been truly convinced of sin and converted to God, and are believers edified by their service? Since I have been serving in ministry and sharing the good news of God with others, lives are being transformed. I have witnessed others making commitment to Christ and becoming involved in the ministry of the Church. My teaching in Bible Study Class is having a positive effect on all who are participating. On occasions after I have preached a sermon, worshippers would share how they were touched by the message. I still encounter worshippers who were blessed through messages I have preached and they share how they are applying it to their lives. I feel affirm in my call when I hear these words of encouragement.

The Most formative experiences of your Christian life: There are several experiences that have been formative and transformative in my life. One of my first experiences came when I was a child growing up in a household of church goers and every Sunday I had to go to church and attend Sunday school. I remember looking forward to every Sunday attending Sunday school and learning about a God who is the creator of all people and things. Then, during my teenage years, when I attended confirmation class. In one of the assignments given, we were asked several things about the Bible but the one question I always remember is this: “if you had to sum up the whole bible what would you say it’s about”? All the students answered in sentences, but my answer was one word “Love”. The teacher said very good and asked why I believed that it is about love. I told her that it is because in it we read and learned about God’s love for all people and through the sacrifice God made with his son Jesus Christ for us all.

4 NIV Eph. 2:8

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As an adult I can recall being asked several times, are you a teacher? When I asked why, I was always told because of how I spoke with such compassion and care in whatever I was relating at the time. But, then I was asked if I was a preacher at the end of a job interview and I was taken back a little because I never saw myself preaching to others in an open forum. I would however, teach, counsel and offer a word of encouragement to others behind the scenes but never in the open. So I was in awe by the question but flattered that a Reverend saw the love of God in me just through a conversation. I did respond by saying “no but I am considering becoming a Lay Speaker and I’m the coordinator of my church’s dance ministry”. He encouraged me to continue on that path and wished me all the best in the future. Although I did not get the job, I believe it helped in preparing me for this journey into ordained ministry. Today, looking back, I believe that God has been preparing me through all the questions asked by people who all saw something in me that at the time I did not see. So, when I think back about how my journey toward ordained ministry has unfolded from a youth into adulthood, I believe that God has been speaking to me through others.

These experiences have also been transformative. My Christian journey has been reinforced through the following ministries: Discipleship class, Bible Study class, Lay Servant School, Dance Ministry, Clinical Pastoral Education and pursing and completing the Master of Divinity degree. Each of these ministries have helped me develop my understanding of the calling to ordained ministry. Participating in discipleship and bible study classes both prepared me to understand more readily the subjects of my study when I entered into Seminary. The teaching from the classes taught me how God used the Prophets and Apostles to spread the good news. The classes I attended at Lay Servant School were all helpful to my spiritual growth. As the coordinator of the dance ministry I learned a great deal about the ministry. I was also able to teach a bible study with the dancers as we prepared to minister through

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movement of the body. Before, we rehearsed a song, a passage relating to the same was read from the Bible, so that we would understand the purpose and meaning of the piece for the dance.

Attending Clinical Pastoral Education have enlightened me to the needs of patients who are aging, suffering with dementia and dying. I’ve learned how to be more appreciative of the gift of life, the meaning of family love and how to be more patient with others who are suffering and moving through life’s many trials and tribulations. Being a part of the group sessions, I was able to be open with my feelings as well as deal with the feelings of others towards me. The sessions at times were uncomfortable but I was able to use the knowledge gained to relate more spiritually to the patients and their family and as well as my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Lastly, after being a part of a bible study group I am now currently teaching a bible study class where lives are being transformed to the Glory of God. I am seeing how God’s word is transforming the lives of the members in the study group. These ministries also have been very instrumental to my spiritual growth as I continue to grow in my walk with Christ. God's call to licensed or ordained ministry and the role of the church in your call.  After the experiences I’ve encountered and the call into the ministry I believe wholeheartedly that I am to serve God in the capacity of Ordained Ministry to fulfill my calling. I am being called to minister to the people of God through serving professionally and spiritually and to do so becoming an ordained pastor it will allow me to fulfill my call. To serve God is a gift that I received through teaching and preaching to the people of God. Through the administration of the sacraments I am enabled to help others to reconnect to the love of God shed abroad in their lives. It will also give the people of God hope to seek Him in worship and thanksgiving as well as to teach them through the sacraments about the love of God through the Son Jesus Christ.

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I will admit that before I started Seminary I struggled with the thought of fulfilling a calling to become an ordained pastor because of my nervousness to stand up before people and in a sense declare “Thus says the Lord”. However the constant nagging did not go away until I intentionally chose to pursue the call. Confirmation came through the asking of friends, family, and members of the congregation about pastoring. I never gave the ordained ministry serious thought earlier in my life because I felt more comfortable behind the scenes sharing the Word of God to others. Now, that I am pursing the call to become an ordained pastor, I feel more alive and look forward each day to spread the Word of God through, teaching, preaching and ministering to the sick, and especially administering the sacraments among God’s people.

As an ordained pastor my responsibility to the church will be to oversee the ordering of the life of the congregation. I understand that I will have responsibility to serve the people as Jesus did. Jesus served all people without prejudice no matter who they were or where they came from. He displayed the attitude of what a great leader should be like. I am to present myself with the same attitude towards all people. The love of God should be seen through my works, my walk and in my ability to lead effectively. As a servant leader I must be able to guide God’s people as we find our way through fellowshipping with others. God’s house is a place of worship, healing the sick, guiding the lost, and fulfilling the need of all God’s children.

To be an effective leader in the church, my role in the church will entail but not be limited to the teaching of Bible study and Discipleship classes where others will be able to benefit from the same teaching I had that brought me to this point of my spiritual journey. Other areas will include my teaching and preaching the word of God, the administering of the Sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and Holy Baptism, to lead worship, and order the life of the Church. The Pastor, Laypersons, members of the

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SPPRC and members of the congregations with which I relate have all been reaffirming and encouraging of my pursuit of my call

Your personal beliefs as a Christian: As a Christian I believe in God and from that flows everything else. We live in a society that causes us to question what and why we believe. Dietrich Bonhoeffer5 declared: “only the one who believes obeys and only the one who obeys believe”. As a believer I allow my actions to speak for me. James 1: 22 states “do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” This scripture is a constant reminder to me to live in such a way so that others can see Christ shining through me.

The Trinity: As a Christian I believe in the one true God, who is eternal and exists in three persons, of oneness, who have the same characteristic, quality and nature. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are the three persons of the Godhead which is known in theological terms as the Triune God or the Trinity. In the Trinity, God the Father is known to be first as7 God the creator. Next God the Son (Jesus) is the eternal Word who was incarnated and lived among humanity, being fully human, was divine and human in nature all at the same time. Jesus who was born of the Virgin Mary by the power of the Holy Spirit, crucified, died and was buried. He was resurrected from the dead and rose to life for remission of the sins of all people. Paul said that Jesus Christ who died for our sins that, “he delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” (Rom. 4:25). Jesus is the one and only mediating intercessor between God and humanity and through His ascension is in place to intercede for all who believe in Him as He now sits at the right hand of the Father in Heaven. We are to live a godly life that will prepare us for His return again someday for the people of God. I will trust in God’s mercy and righteousness for the just and unjust. During my prayers and 5 Bonhoeffer, Dietrich (1995) The Cost of Discipleship. NY: Touchstone Books.

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fellowship with God, I find myself growing closer to God to fulfill my call to serve God’s will on my life.

I believe in Jesus Christ who is the promised Messiah and Deliverer, our Lord and Savior, who died for the sins of the world. Jesus lived a life as a human and divine, who was tempted to sin but did not allow Himself to fall prey to the temptation. He lived a life of obedience to the Father in Heaven. Jesus’s love for God surpassed all understanding.

I believe in the Holy Spirit whose presence is of God that dwells in each believer. The Holy Spirit is after Jesus Christ of the triune God and who is in unity eternally with the Father and the Son. I believe in the Holy Spirit as God present with me, which guides, comforts, and strengthens me in all my weaknesses. The Holy Spirit is present in my life producing those qualities known in the New Testament as the fruit of the Spirit as found in Galatians as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). In similarity, the Holy Spirit inspires gifts in us to be used to up build us on our spiritual journey. The Holy Spirit works in and through my life as it convicts me of any thought or behavior of a sinful nature.

Sin: Sin is the condition of estrangement from God which affects the human race. Sins are specific actions, words or thoughts which arise from the sinful condition and deny the presence, power and purpose of God. According to Migliore6, sin is all that contravenes the will of God as expressed in special revelation – the Ten Commandments, the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ; also known to some degree by general revelation – conscience, the sense of moral responsibility. An important distinction is made in theology between actual sins – particular transgressions of the will of God, and original sin – and the radical and universal human condition. Sin is not only manifested in personal life; it is

6 Migliore p. 424

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also deeply rooted in social structures. The roots of sin are distrust of God, denial of grace, rejection of life in solidarity with others and the worshiping of wealth, power, pleasure or nation. Every Christian doctrine explicitly or implicitly correlated with an understanding of the saving work of Jesus Christ. By the power of the Holy Spirit, human beings are made partakers of the divine nature and experience the newness of life. By this new birth the believer becomes reconciled to God and is enabled to serve God with the will and affections. According to John Wesley, “people could fall from grace or backslide. We cannot just sit on our laurels, so to speak, and claim God’s salvation and then do nothing.” We are to participate in what Wesley called “the means of grace”7 and to continue in the Christian life.

Repentance: Repentance is the act of expressing penitence and contrition for sin. Its linguistic roots point to its theological meaning of a change of mind and life and direction as a beginning step of expressing Christian faith8 as found in Acts “that they should repent and turn to God and do deeds consistent with repentance” (Acts 26: 20). Repentance is turning away from sin and turning to God to seek forgiveness and new life in Christ Jesus. Repentance is the beginning of salvation. It is more than regret for sin; it involves turning in a new direction.

Atonement: Atonement is to be made one with God again. Migliore9 explains that atonement or “at-one-ment” refers to the reconciling act of God in Jesus Christ, especially though not completely through His passion and death, that re-establishes the broken relationship between God and humanity caused by sin. While the New Testament is unanimous in declaring that Christ lived and died “for us,” “Christ died for our sins,” (Corinthians 15: 3), there are many images and metaphors of atonement in the Scripture, and there is no single official church dogma defining the work of Christ as there is 7 . http://graceumclincoln.weebly.com/john-wesley.html[accessed February 18, 2016]8 Donald K. McKim 2379 Migliore p.405

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of His person. The death of Jesus Christ on the cross affected salvation as re-establishment of the relationship between God and sinners. “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5: 9). “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7). “We rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation (Romans 5: 11b).

Grace: is that undeserved free gift, favor and love we receive from God. It’s a gift that God gives us even when we do not deserve it because of His unconditional love for us. Thomas Aquinas states that “grace is the gracious action of God within a person that creates a change within the person”.10 Grace can take different forms in our lives and God has the power to determine to what extent it will be given. We are taught in our Christian faith that only through Jesus Christ we are offered grace; a free gift. The “means of grace” continues to be a very important part in the United Methodist Church’s doctrinal statements and were integral to the Wesley’s understanding of the process of moving on to perfection. Understanding the background of John Wesley is important as I continue to pursue my calling in the United Methodist tradition. However, he didn’t just teach about the means of grace but John Wesley also, relates his teaching to three kinds of divine grace. He believed that God’s grace is a wonderful gift freely offered to humankind. “We do not “earn” it. So he provides us with the three kinds of grace given by God. Prevenient (preparing) grace, accepting (justifying) and sustaining (sanctifying) grace.”11 John describes the three kinds of grace with first the prevenient, being with us from birth, justifying as conversion or born again and sustaining or sanctifying moving towards perfection.

10 Thomas Aquinas & A. M. Fairweather, Nature and Grace, [Philadelphia, The Westminister Press, 2010]11 John Wesley God’s Preparing, Accepting and Sustaining Grace http://gbgm-umc-org/umw/wesley/walk.stm [accessed February 6, 2016]

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Salvation: Salvation is the work of God in bringing human beings into a right relationship with God and with one another through Jesus Christ. One is saved from the guilt, power, and consequences of sin and given eternal life. The theological study of salvation includes concepts such as regeneration, conversion, union with Christ, adoption, sanctification, perseverance and glorification; also known as “soteriology.”12 Biblically, salvation comes from the mighty acts of God and the work of Jesus Christ the Savior. Paul Tillich notes that “salvation has many connotations as there are negativities from which salvation is needed.” In classical Protestantism, salvation is forgiveness of sins and rescue from the condemnation of the law. In pietism and revivalism, salvation is the downfall of specific sins and progress toward moral perfection. In the modern era, the ultimate threat, according to Tillich, is meaningless and nihilism and salvation is the gift of meaning, purpose, and wholeness of life.13

Resurrection: is God’s rasing of Christ Jesus from the dead as attested to in the book of Acts, “but God raised Him up, having freed Him from death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its power” and ”let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead” (Acts 2: 24; 4: 10;). Also based on the New Testament witness to resurrection of the crucified Christ, Christians affirm belief in the “resurrection of the dead that Jesus Christ suffered death” as in the Nicene Creed and “the resurrection of the body”. According to Migliore, “faith and hope in bodily resurrection stand in contrast to the idea of the immortality of the soul. The second holds immortality to be essential to some aspect of the human creature, while resurrection faith presupposes that death is total and hope for life beyond death rests on the sheer gift of God who brought creation out of nothing and raised the crucified Jesus from the dead. Moreover, resurrection faith affirms the significance of embodied 12Daniel L. Migliore. Faith Seeking Understanding, 42313 Ibid. Migliore. 423.

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existence in the sight of God and by extension the value of the entire material cosmos.”14 Jesus was raised again for us all so that we might live for Him. He gave His life to redeem me and all people of the world. Through Christ’s death and resurrection the power of evil was defeated. The truth of Jesus resurrection is to the heart of our Christian faith. We as Christians continue to believe Christ is still alive today.

Eternal Life: Eternal Life is the present participation in the reign of God and in the benefits of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit.15 John states that “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but have eternal life (John 3: 16). Eternal life, a believer in Christ can receive this life in heaven in the presence of God which will last forever. Again, I believe eternal life will be our final attainment of righteousness through Jesus Christ. It allows a believer to continue to live and have hope in eternal life. Eternal life is not just an extending part of life after death; it is also the best of life lived here on earth in Christ. Eternal life is a gift of God offered to humanity by Christ Jesus. Eternal life is through Christ, so to live in Christ we will get to know eternal life, and trust in Christ who sustains a believer of God who is present all the time.

Sacraments: The United Methodist Church identifies “with many other Protestant churches” two sacraments instituted by Christ and given to the church: Holy Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Migliore defines that the sacrament is derived from the Latin word sacramentum, which in turn translates the Greek mysterion, “mystery.” Sacraments are sacred practices of the church based on a Scriptural mandate and made effective by the Spirit of God as “means of grace” to confirm the presence and promise of Christ to the believer. Augustine defined a sacrament as a “visible sign of an invisible grace,” while Calvin says that they are “sign and seal” of God’s promise of

14 Ibid. Migliore. 42215 Donald K. McKim, p. 94

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salvation.16 The sacraments disclose and proclaim what God has done for the world in Jesus Christ, and convey its benefits to the community of believers.

The authority of scripture. The quadrilateral: Quadrilateral is the 20th-century description of sources of authority in the thought of John Wesley (1703-91), which are Scripture, tradition, experience and reason.17 United Methodists have an obligation to bear a faithful Christian witness to Jesus Christ focusing on the biblical and theological reflections of John Wesley. These are his four guidelines that we inherited known as the quadrilateral. John Wesley believed that the core of the Christian faith is revealed in Scripture, illuminated by tradition, vivified in personal experience and confirmed by reason.18

Scripture: The Bible is the canonical writings accepted as normative for religious faith. The bible in Christianity consists of scriptures from the Old Testament and the New Testament. Authority of the Bible is recognized as status and function providing a source and norm for such elements as belief, conduct, and experience of God.19 I believe in the Scripture and it is the primary source and determining factor for Christian doctrine. It is the Word of God which is written in the Old and New Testament. I believe the Bible was written by people who were called by God and were challenged by the Holy Spirit to share about how they were inspired by God. It tells us about testimonies and instructions to help human beings do the will of God. The Bible tells about God in creation; in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ; in the activity of the Holy Spirit; and in the coming of the promised Kingdom of God. I believe that the Word of God will be revealed when Scripture is interpreted to be truth and its meaning is made relevant in presenting the plan of God for all humanity. “As we open our minds and hearts to the Word of God through the words of human being inspired by the

16 Ibid. Migliore 42317 Ibid. Donald K. Kim.p.228.18 The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church. P. 77.2008.19 Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, 29.

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Holy Spirit, faith is born and nourished, our understanding is deepened, and the possibilities for transforming the world become apparent to us.”20 Theologically, the Bible is acknowledged in the church as a revelation from God.

Tradition: is the transmission of received teaching or practice. In Christianity, the tradition of the church centers in the revelation in Jesus Christ. The term has come to mean the genuine preservation of the faith of the apostles.21 Christian tradition is rooted in the lives and in the works and testimony of the early Christians. Church rituals, creeds, and hymns are all part of the heritage of the church. Tradition gives insight into how early Christians and communities of faith understood the will of God, how they interpreted the gospel and how they applied the Scripture to their own life situations.

Experience: Christian experience is most broadly, all the ways in which individuals or groups come to an awareness of things or events that can be considered to be sacred.22 It is also the new life Christ gives as the living truth in Scripture. It confirms the biblical message for the present. It gives the understanding of God and moral judgment. Experience is interpreted in the light of scriptural norms, and also informs reading the biblical message. Scripture still remains central in the efforts to be faithful in making Christian witness23

Reason: is the mental capacity or power to use the human mind in reaching and establishing truth. Also, it is the foundation or ground of an argument. A theory or structure of knowledge Christians believe that all truth comes from God.24 Doctrines that are developed by the study of the Scripture, in the light of tradition and Christian experience commend themselves to thoughtful

20 The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 78.21 Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, 285.22 Ibid. 9923 The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 81-82.24 Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, 232.

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people and are subjected to critical analysis. Through reason, wisdom or new revelation is gained, faith to science and grace to nature that are credible and clearly are is developed.25

Each of these guidelines enrich the other and brings its own unique perspective and helps to clarify what we believe.

Reconciliation: Reconciliation is bringing together parties who are estranged. It is the key image of salvation accomplished by Jesus Christ in His death and resurrection.”26 2 Corinthians describes that “from now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view; even though we once knew Christ from a human point of view, we know Him no longer in that way. So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new. All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Him, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” Christians are to be reconciled with God and with one another; as per Matthew, “so when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift” (Matthew 5: 23-24). Reconciliation is God’s repairing the separation between God and us, reconnecting all who have fallen to Himself through Christ Jesus. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross for our sins redeems human being from all sin so that no other gratification will be required. Reconciling self to God, brings us back together in good relation.

Understanding of the Kingdom of God. I believe in the Kingdom of God as the divine rule in human society. The reign of God was the major focus of

25 The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church, 82. 26 Ibid . Donald K. McKim p233.

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the teaching of Jesus as found in Matthew, “but strive first for the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these will be given to you as well” (Matthew 6: 33); and Luke, “blessed are you who are poor , for yours is the Kingdom of God” (Luke 6: 20). Many of the parables of Jesus about the Kingdom depict God as the One who searches for someone like me. The Kingdom is already here; it is yet to come. It is a present reality; it is a future hope. Christians are called into fellowship with God and with one another always, so that God’s divine work can happen through each of us. As Christians we pray for the coming of the Kingdom of God and this is expressed in the Lord’s Prayer.

Describe your present understanding of your call to ministry as an elder:

As I understand the ministry as elder is a person called by God to work in the local congregation or beyond (in extension ministry settings) for the equipping of the saints and making disciples of Jesus Christ, equipping the saints for the building of the Kingdom of God in the present world. An elder is a servant-leader following the example of Jesus Christ who took a towel and girded His waist, stoop down and washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1-15). An elder is called to preach the Word of God, read and teach Scripture, lead in worship, administer the Holy Communion and baptize infants and adults. An elder also prepares youths and adults to profess their faith, be an administrative officer of the local church, teaches the congregation about the teachings of Jesus and to make disciples of Jesus in the world and counsels people who have personal and spiritual problems, as well as visits the sick in their homes, hospitals and in prison. The elder leads outreach ministry and missions for the local church.

Differences between Orders:

Elder: The elder is ordained to lead the church in Service, Word, Sacrament, and Order. An elder is called by God, ordained by a bishop, and a member in

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full connection with an annual conference. The elder is an itinerant minister appointed or reappointed every year by the bishop. The ministries of elders are, Word- to preach and teach the word of God; Service- is to counsel and serve the needs, temporal and spiritual, of persons with personal, ethical, or spiritual struggles; sacraments- to administer Holy Communion, to do baptism and to visit homes and church community. The elder is the administrator of the local church. As such the elder orders the life of the community of faith.

Licensed ministers are laypeople who are called to serve in the ministry through an annual conference. The local pastor is not ordained, but may be licensed and appointed by a bishop to perform the duties of a local pastor in a specific local church. The local pastor is supervised by the district superintendent, interviews with the District committee on Ordained Ministry annually and is assigned a clergy mentor to assist him or her in completing the course of study. Licensed local pastors may be full time or part-time. They have the same responsibilities as elders, but not ordained. They are commissioned and receive Associate membership.

Deacons are ordained to lead the church in the servant ministry that every Christian is called to do through baptism. Deacons are called by God, ordained by a bishop, and members in full connection with an annual conference; may serve the church either as an appointed staff member of a local church or agency or through an appointment outside the local church. Deacons are not guaranteed an appointment (not strictly itinerant) but they are able to find their own positions, this giving them the freedom of making changes when needed. They represent and model the relationship between worship in the congregation and service to the people of God in the world.

Laity: The laity are also leaders of the congregations in partnership with clergy, and carry their witness into the world in ways often not available to clergy. Their ministry includes helping and caring kinds of service carried out by Christian discipleship as servant people of God.

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Your support system: I have been blessed with a great support system. Each person in my circle gives his or her support in different ways and it has been great. For instance, my husband support comes in the form of him being available to escort me to various places and to be there for me whenever needed. I do understand that this journey requires a lot and I don’t expect him to be where I am but to be supportive to me on this journey spiritually and emotionally. My mother and daughter who also have been great with their positive outlook to keep me encouraged. The shepherd of the Church, my Pastor, has been allowing me to assist in various areas of ministries to gain experience in the ministry. Classmates who have been offering their support through words of encouragement. I thank God for my church sisters and brothers who have also been a great support by offering words of encouragement and being there for me even if it’s just to listen. Lastly, I am greatly appreciative to the many clergy, laypersons and ministers who have offered words and encouragement and guidance to me on this journey. As I continue on this spiritual journey I am beginning to be enlightened each day of the power of God in my life.

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References

1. Thomas Aquinas & A. M. Fairweather, Nature and Grace, [Philadelphia, The Westminister Press, 2010]

2. The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church 2012, United Methodist Pub House, 2013

3. Donald K. McKim, Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Westminister John Knox press, 1996

4. John Wesley God’s Preparing, Accepting and Sustaining Grace http://gbgm-umc-org/umw/wesley/walk.stm [accessed February 6, 2016]

5. Grace United Methodist Church http://graceumclincoln.weebly.com/john-wesley.html[accessed February 18, 2016]

6. Migliore, Daniel L. Faith Seeking Understanding, An Introduction to Christian Theology,2nd ed. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. 1991

7. The Holy Bible. New International Version. Zondervan, 2009

8. Bonhoeffer, Dietrich, The Cost of Discipleship. NY: Touchstone Books, 1995

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