conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

novitiate

This is a picture of the novitiate at Richmond Hill. I spent many hours in this room. I wanted to share it with you all...it seems the novitiate is the place where I must return again and again. I have these orders, if you will, my ordination vows. I should tattoo them on my body somewhere. I forget them too easily.

Leader: You have come here today to stand before God and these people, your community of faith in this church, in the wider American Baptist family and in the ecumenical body, in an act of love and submission to your God and as a declaration of your willingness to serve the Lord Jesus Christ as an ordained minister within the American Baptist Churches. Before God and these people, you are called to answer, in all sincerity of heart, these questions now asked of you.

Are you persuaded that God has called you to be ordained a minister in the church of Jesus Christ and are you ready to take upon yourself this holy ministry and to serve faithfully in the responsibilities of that calling?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I am.

Leader: Do you affirm your commitment to Jesus Christ as Lord and your commitment to allow God's Spirit to transform your life by the renewing of your mind, heart and soul?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I do.

Leader: Will you promise to be faithful in prayer, in the reading of scriptures and through study to deepen your knowledge of divine truth, human experience and the love of God?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I will.

Leader: Will you be faithful to the work to which you have been called: in preaching and teaching the Gospel, administering the Word and Table, and in exercising pastoral care and leadership?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I will.

Leader: Will you endeavor to reconcile those who are estranged, to bring individuals to a realization of their need for God and to declare to them God's acceptance? And will you work toward greater understanding, love and trust between all God's people throughout the world?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I will.

Leader: Will you offer your loyalty to the American Baptist Churches and as a minister in this denomination, will you work toward the unity of the whole body of Christ?

Candidate: By the grace of God, I will.

Leader: As a minister of the Gospel, I beseech you to walk worthily of the calling by which you have been called with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, giving diligence to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything, give thanks; hold fast that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. Give heed to reading; study to show yourself a minister approved of God rightly handling the Word of Life. Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable, and perfect will of God. Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought; but think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every person the measure of faith. Never be overcome by the evil around you but overcome evil with good. Do these things and you will be a good minister of Jesus the Christ.

Back to the novitiate I go.

Posted by tripp at January 8, 2005 01:20 PM