Another Step Forward

Last night, my Dearly Beloved and I took another step forward in the application process to candidate for the ordained ministry of the Uniting Church. Along with another applicant, we presented ourselves before the full Maroondah Presbytery and made submissions as to why we should be affirmed in our application and go forward to the Selection Conference in September.

We had already met with and been interviewed by the Presbytery's Candidates Committee, which involved a detailed and in depth examination of our faith journey to this point in our lives, and our reasons for applying to candidate as ministers. The interview was very thorough, with lots of probing and thoughtful questions, and conducted in an atmosphere of respect and support for the interviewees. We already knew that the Candidates Committee were going to recommend to the full Presbytery meeting that we be affirmed in our application, but that, of course, didn't mean we still didn't have to present ourselves before the Presbytery and make our case.

This involved each of the applicants making a short speech to the Presbytery and then answering any questions from the floor. We had to keep our speeches short because, aside from not wanting to bore anyone to tears, the Presbytery had a very full agenda to get through - which made the task of providing the meeting with a reasonable insight into our lives, our faith journey, our spiritual gifts and passions, and our reasons for applying in a bite-sized presentation very tricky indeed!

But we managed it. After doing so, we went out of the meeting room with a number of support people to await the Presbytery's verdict. Naturally, we were slightly apprehensive, and very grateful for the presence of the support people by whom we were accompanied. And then we were called back - feeling, I have to admit, slightly like prisoners being called back to court to hear the verdict! - and were informed that the Presbytery was very enthusiastically affirming and supporting all the applications.

A break for supper was called. All the applicants were immediately flooded by the rest of the people present at the meeting with their warm congratulations and expressions of support. It was wonderfully affirming and heartening to be the subject of such generosity and kindness, especially given the nerves that had accompanied the process. Needless to say, we went away feeling both slightly exhausted and on quite a high!

So, we have successfully negotiated the congregational and Presbytery phases of the application process - we now have to prepare for the Selection Conference in September. I am sure this will be an equally nerve-racking event - although we were glad to hear from one of the candidates present at the meeting last night that she quite enjoyed the conference! - but I am sure with a little help from our friends, and a little grace, we will have as enriching and positive an experience as we did last night.

Talk to you soon,

BB.

Quote for the Day: Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 6-7)