My Call to Ministry, Part One:

(The following is an essay that I wrote for the Fund for Theological Education, www.thefund.org. I'll be working on a ministry fellowship through FTE during the summer of 2007. I don't normally converse this formally in real life, except when given money to do so.)

How do I imagine the gifts and struggles I bring to ministry participating with God’s call for the ministry of the church? I can only address this question within the framework of my core principles. Compassion, hospitality, and social justice values form the foundation of my being. All of my ministry skills, gifts, and struggles are intimately connected to these values. Looking at my life through this lens keeps me grounded, focuses my passion, and clarifies my call.

I believe that God is calling for a ministry of wholeness within the church. Poverty, war, and sin, however, have kept this ideal from being realized. While our brokenness may at times seem unanswered, God continually responds! Healing takes place through the gift of Christian community, where worship, prayer, and Christian fellowship offer reconciliation. I feel called to nurture community through word and sacrament. I am passionate about faith formation and personal growth, and live with a commitment to make God’s vision of wholeness a reality.

Personal struggles with depression and faith have gifted me with a deep and intuitive sense of compassion. My work in education and youth ministry offers numerous opportunities to identify with the emotional and spiritual needs of others. When teenagers share faith questions and doubts, I express compassion through listening and support. As an ordained minister, I will continue to serve as a Christ-like light of compassion. Following the example of Jesus, I will work to accept and love the People of God unconditionally. This is not always easy, of course; some of God’s people are easier to love than others. My approach will be to nurture a community of faith that understands compassion as action. Through Christian community, the mandate of tangible compassion for our neighbor is made possible.

My hospitality commitments are rooted in my experience of childhood. I grew up in a home where hospitality flourished. My parents opened our home to hundreds of foster children and refugees, offering stability, guidance, and love. On Sundays and holidays, our house teemed with single and elderly people who would otherwise be alone. Through this experience, I came to understand hospitality as a concrete means of practicing our faith. Inspired by the example of Jesus, I imagine my ordained ministry as one that strives to welcome the stranger. If we truly believe that we are all members of the same Body of Christ, we need hospitable churches! In addition to welcoming the unknown and unchurched, we need to welcome the strangers in our midst; those we know and love who silently struggle with abuse, addiction, orientation, faith, and/or estrangement. Unconditional, nonjudgmental love creates a safe space for wholeness and healing to take place.

I imagine myself using my relational, liturgical, and musical gifts to lead a church that practices hospitality to everyone. Relational skills will aid me in modeling hospitality to my parishioners. Experience in liturgical and worship planning, in combination with speaking and writing skills, will help me proclaim the Good News of acceptance and welcome. I have always enjoyed leading the congregation in worship and song. By encouraging musical participation, I hope to engage the congregation in a song of joyful invitation. Through creativity and hilarity, I will convey the freeing message of God’s grace and acceptance. I look forward to opening my own home and church to the diversity of God’s people, and hope to inspire others to do the same.

I also feel a deep calling to work for social justice. Pilgrimage travels in Guatemala, Taize, and the Holy Land have clarified this call and commitment. As Christians, we are called to engage ourselves in the ongoing discernment of truth. We are called to stand up for the poor, oppressed, and powerless, both abroad and within our own communities. While I know this call is real, it is easier said than done. Social justice work is oftentimes overwhelming and exhausting. For guidance, I once again need only to follow the example of Jesus. Although tired and up against tremendously powerful forces, Jesus steadfastly pursued his radical notions of social justice. He knew, however, when to take a break! When confronted with fatigue, Jesus would retreat for rest and prayerful discernment. I also need to remember to sustain myself through prayer and reflection. In my life as a parish pastor, I will work to build a sustainable movement of social justice awareness. We are called to care for the world, but we first need to take care of ourselves.

Although my social justice convictions are strong, I struggle with the question of exactly how to bring this gift to my ministry. While I know what my personal justice work looks like, I need to learn how to effectively convey this vision to a parish. Lasting change is only possible through a communally shared vision. My hope is that my gifts of facilitation and discernment, in combination with a strong theological education, will equip me to express the Gospel mandate for social justice.

Today’s church finds itself in a challenging time and place. Political, ethical, and doctrinal controversies have all taken their toll. Jesus stands within this turmoil, inviting us to remember that we are all members of the same Body of Christ. We are in desperate need of healing and wholeness; it is the essence of God’s call for the ministry of the church. My baptism has called me to a life of service. Faithfulness calls me to use my gifts and struggles to participate in God’s ministry. By nurturing compassionate communities of faith, I hope to participate in God’s ongoing call for healing and transformation.

Introduction

Hello there. My name is Christoph, and this is my blog. I am a 32 years old Scandinavian-American who likes cranberries, guitars, and the Minnesota Twins.

I also like transitions. I believe that God calls and accompanies us through our transitions, guiding us on a lifelong pilgrimage of faith and discovery. Through the gifts of community, I've found myself on the receiving end of God's grace time and time again. Without this grace, life's seemingly endless succession of transitions would be daunting and difficult (if not impossible) to navigate.

Currently, I find myself in life transition #286. For another week, I am serving as a youth director with Lutheran Youth of North Seattle (LYONS), a cooperative youth ministry organization serving 10 Seattle ELCA congregations.
A week from now, however, I'll be moving across the country to start my studies at Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia (LTSP). There I'll be pursuing a Masters of Divinity degree, which usually leads to ordination as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA).

Why seminary, you might ask? Well, this question is a good one. I'll write more on it later. I'll also use this blog as a way to keep my fans (aka my friends and family) up to date on what's happening with me. Perhaps I'll use it to post some interesting pictures and articles as well.

Thank you for visiting - please feel free to leave a comment or question for me about anything - but only if your'e nice and have a sense of humor. God bless!!!