Some brief reflections of where I am, how I got here, and where I might be going.

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Religious language does not refer to an object but to a more fundamental reality in which the speaker is deeply involved with what he or she talks about.
- Louis Dupre, Symbols of the Sacred

There is a fundamental difficulty in talking about things like ministry, call and vocation, in that language is imprecise in areas were clarity is sought, and overly precise in places where a broader understanding is called for. With this in mind, I invite you to read my brief thoughts on the topics of ministry and vocation.

The Meaning of Ministry
O Jesus, will You one day put my poor soul and my poor life also into the hands of the Father? Put everything there, the burden of my life, and the burden of my sins, not on the scales of justice, but into the hands of the Father.
- Karl Rahner, Watch and Pray with Me

The meaning of ministry is difficult to define succinctly. There are probably as many definitions as there are ministers. All are called to minister. It is not the exclusive province of a seminary-trained elite. Those professionals who have education, learning, and discernment should use their gifts for the encouragement of the ministry of all people, so that the priesthood of all believers can be realised in the church. For us as Christians, our goals should be justice and love, following the example of and giving praise to Jesus Christ, and living our lives in church and outside of church in the best way we can to exemplify this to our brothers and sisters.

A Call to Ministry
Behind the changing face of the priesthood remains the saving face of Jesus the Christ.
- Donald Cozzens, The Changing Face of the Priesthood

My own call to ministry has been a winding course through schools, churches and jobs that at first glance seem to have little to do with ministry. However, much in my life seems to have served the purpose of education and preparation for ministries I would have never thought of or deliberately chosen. As I became more invested in working at my church prior to seminary, I also became more interested in the world outside who seemed to lack what I was seeking (who even seemed to lack the desire to be seeking). Where my ultimate vocation lies I do not know; I have been ordained a minister of word and sacrament to be able to share these gifts with the world. Whether this be in a formal parish setting, some chaplaincy, or as a gift additional to other secular employment, I cannot say at this point. What I might chose given a choice, I’ve learned, is ultimately irrelevant, as what I have found in my life beyond my choosing has often been the better course.

Working in the Church
Faithful to our Reformation heritage, we believe in the priesthood of all believers. Just as liturgy and sacrifice pertain to the lives of Christians in the world, as well as to the worship of the church, when we are true to the great covenant of faith and obedience, so priesthood is a quality of our lives in this world as much as it is an aspect of liturgical worship. These two aspects of priesthood are inseparable in a true Christian understanding of the term.
- Charles Price and Louis Weil, Liturgy for Living

As I stated above, the true function of ministry in the church should not be, in my opinion, confined to the church. It is my hope that experience of ministry in the church will strengthen my knowledge and experience while strengthening and encouraging those with whom I work both inside the church and beyond the church building walls. In particular, working together with a group of committed Christians toward common ideals of worship and ministry, while recognising and respecting our differences, is something I feel strongly in need of at the present point of my education.

[We should] see all Christians in full-time ministry wherever they are—in family, work, community, or worldwide ministry settings.
- Robert Browning and Roy Reed, The Sacraments in Religious Education