Today I spent some time thinking about my job description. You see, technically I still need approval to do all the ministry I have been doing and want to be doing on behalf of my church. I need this approval especially if I want this ministry time to count toward my time as a provisional Deacon so that one day (hopefully in May, 2014) I will be ordained as a Deacon in full connection. Tomorrow I will sit down with our head pastor, Staff-Parish Relations Committee Chair, and District Superintendent to draft a proposal for the Bishop and the Board of Ordained Ministry to approve.
The directions I was given from my District Superintendent thus far were fairly vague: it should clearly state hours, accountability, and a job tasks that are Deacon-specific... that "could not be performed by laity" (whatever that means)*.
So, today I listed out things I had been doing and started dreaming of things I would like to be doing (theological/clergy-type things of course, nothing a mere lay person would be capable of to be sure).
My list includes things like Education Advocacy (doing) and Special Worship - weddings and funerals (not doing but certainly a "clergy task" I could be doing).
If you had time each week and no limits, how would you be in ministry with your community? How about if you had time each week and no money (no salary, almost no budget), what would you do then?
*For those unfamiliar with the United Methodist system, there are only 2 things that an Elder ("pastor") can do that laity cannot - baptisms and blessing of communion. A Deacon, while clergy, cannot do those 2 things either, thus, making them equivalent to laity in the tasks they are allowed to perform (technically even laity can officiate at weddings and funerals, it just takes an extra step in some states).
The directions I was given from my District Superintendent thus far were fairly vague: it should clearly state hours, accountability, and a job tasks that are Deacon-specific... that "could not be performed by laity" (whatever that means)*.
So, today I listed out things I had been doing and started dreaming of things I would like to be doing (theological/clergy-type things of course, nothing a mere lay person would be capable of to be sure).
My list includes things like Education Advocacy (doing) and Special Worship - weddings and funerals (not doing but certainly a "clergy task" I could be doing).
If you had time each week and no limits, how would you be in ministry with your community? How about if you had time each week and no money (no salary, almost no budget), what would you do then?
*For those unfamiliar with the United Methodist system, there are only 2 things that an Elder ("pastor") can do that laity cannot - baptisms and blessing of communion. A Deacon, while clergy, cannot do those 2 things either, thus, making them equivalent to laity in the tasks they are allowed to perform (technically even laity can officiate at weddings and funerals, it just takes an extra step in some states).
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