When one is called into the ministry is it necessary to attend seminary or a program that will help you become more aware of the social and economical conditions of the people in the Bible?
Why is education still a stigma in certain profession especially in the church as clergy. If you decide to not obtain additional education beyond daily reading of the Bible then why are so many people getting an attitude with those who decided to go to seminary, Bible College or Divinity School?
I ask these questions because of a interesting conversation I had today. We as women must put our best foot forward in all we do. We are still in a male dominate area in ministry. If we decide not to attend seminary are we allowing others to mentor us and the pastor setting up a mini-seminary to help educate clergy?
When I started this journey I wanted to know more about the people and situations of the Bible. I wasn't sure about seminary but after my church offered mini-classes in theology and history of the Bible I wanted more. As we enter into ministry let us be open to what is available to us. Learning is a two way street, the educated and uneducated can learn from each other.
I'm always fascinated by stories I hear about the wisdom of some of our elders who never learned how to read or write but they pushed their children to get their education. In many of their times or their parents time it was illegal to learn, but they knew education was the key. The old saying is still true if you want to hide something put it in a book. When we pick up our Bibles let us also pick up the history book, a newspaper and an atlas.
Praising God
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Volunteerism in Ministry
How long must one be a volunteer in a ministry before asking for compensation? I ask this question because there is a vast majority of seminary trained/ordained clergy women working in the church on a volunteer basis. There is something wrong with this picture. When I completed by MDIV, I incurred a debt that still needs to paid back. Over the years since I've completed my degree I haven't made any additional income to pay down this debt. (shaking my head). Some of us are blessed to have a church/denomination to pay for our education so we will not struggle with additional debt. I know many of us do not expect a large salary in ministry, but we ought to expect some kind of compensation or position that will help relieve the extra financial burden we added to our household. We all know a seminary degree is not cheap and our current job doesn't cover the cost for this added expense. We can not tell Sallie Mae, Direct Loans, SunTrust or Citibank can we just volunteer in your company to pay this debt.
Why do some churches and pastor believe that the work of the church by ordained staff should be volunteer work? If we continue to run the church with volunteers only, the commitment over time will fade away. As I was reading in the USA Today they talked about the compensation of a position in the church doesn't even come close to the amount of debt one obtains in seminary. Also they talked about the inability of clergy securing a position in a church during these economic hard times. The interesting point of the article is that there will be a discussion in Boston about the salary of clergy and how to increase it even during these hard economic times.
Why do some churches and pastor believe that the work of the church by ordained staff should be volunteer work? If we continue to run the church with volunteers only, the commitment over time will fade away. As I was reading in the USA Today they talked about the compensation of a position in the church doesn't even come close to the amount of debt one obtains in seminary. Also they talked about the inability of clergy securing a position in a church during these economic hard times. The interesting point of the article is that there will be a discussion in Boston about the salary of clergy and how to increase it even during these hard economic times.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Ministering to Women
As Clergy women who are not pastors, we have been drafted to work with the women of the congregation. Some clergy women do not have the gift to work with women at all. Yes working with certain gender and age group is a spiritual gift. There are some clergy women who do not get along with women at all but they try to work outside of their gift. When we do this we make a mess of things.
Have you notice when trying to work with women they are either open, closed or indifferent to a clergy woman being the leader or advisor. Most of the women do not want to work with clergy women who are younger than them because they haven't experienced what they did. Of course there are women who will work with us because they see we are gifted and really have the passion in this area to help with the issues we all face.
Before we take on the challenge let us make sure we are working within our gifts. Let us search and be honest with ourselves in the areas we are being drafted. If we know this isn't for us speak up now rather than later. We will thank God we listened to the spirit and not just our perception.
Always in the Potter's Hand
http://onthemoveministries.blogspot.com
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Have you notice when trying to work with women they are either open, closed or indifferent to a clergy woman being the leader or advisor. Most of the women do not want to work with clergy women who are younger than them because they haven't experienced what they did. Of course there are women who will work with us because they see we are gifted and really have the passion in this area to help with the issues we all face.
Before we take on the challenge let us make sure we are working within our gifts. Let us search and be honest with ourselves in the areas we are being drafted. If we know this isn't for us speak up now rather than later. We will thank God we listened to the spirit and not just our perception.
Always in the Potter's Hand
http://onthemoveministries.blogspot.com
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Dressing for the pulpit
A question was asked how should the women dress in the pulpit. Depending on the church it may not matter because clergy always where a robe.
What if the church you attend do not wear robes. Well as a non traditionalist I wear pants, african outfits and suits at times when I'm at my church. However when I preach out I will put on a suit pant/skirt and take my robe with me.
We can talk about dress, jewelry, makeup, colors and etc. The list goes on and on. Remember we are women preachers and not men. Let us dress and conduct ourselves as powerful women preachers.
Always in the Potter's Hand
http://onthemoveministries.blogspot.com
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
To Move or Not to Move....
To play on the words of Shakespeare, "To Be or Not To Be". Many women in ministry struggle with a call to ministry and then they struggle to be accepted. While I was in seminary several women changed churches because their current pastor did not give them the support needed as they pursued their calling. Some of women joined "mega churches" where their gifts were recognized and appreciated.
As I talk with some of my classmates I hear the stories of how their pastor have mentored and opened doors for them. Some have been moved beyond the volunteer position to a paid position in the church and some have been placed into a pastoring position.
However, there is a flip side to all of this. There are ordained women who are still sitting in the second chariot/chair waiting for their pastor to mentor and open the door of opportunity for them. The opportunity to move beyond the volunteer position of the church or to pastor. Some pastor are still reluctant to push their female minister out as they do the males.
As female clergy we have a choice to make when this happens to us. We either leave the church after much prayer and fasting to seek a church that will appreciate and accept the gifts we bring to the ministry. We start our own church if God has called us to pastor. Lastly, leave the denomination and go to a denomination that is more accepting of women clergy.
Many clergy women have been too loyal for too long. Many have endure the abuse of leadership and the constant saying of just keep waiting. Some of us have been waiting for more than 10 years and we are still doing the same thing which have made us lose our flavor.
Maybe today we will honestly say to ourselves ENOUGH! I have not been obedient to the call God has placed on my life. Everything we do just doesn't work any longer. It is our time to take a spiritual inventory and ask the question do we move or do we stay.
As I talk with some of my classmates I hear the stories of how their pastor have mentored and opened doors for them. Some have been moved beyond the volunteer position to a paid position in the church and some have been placed into a pastoring position.
However, there is a flip side to all of this. There are ordained women who are still sitting in the second chariot/chair waiting for their pastor to mentor and open the door of opportunity for them. The opportunity to move beyond the volunteer position of the church or to pastor. Some pastor are still reluctant to push their female minister out as they do the males.
As female clergy we have a choice to make when this happens to us. We either leave the church after much prayer and fasting to seek a church that will appreciate and accept the gifts we bring to the ministry. We start our own church if God has called us to pastor. Lastly, leave the denomination and go to a denomination that is more accepting of women clergy.
Many clergy women have been too loyal for too long. Many have endure the abuse of leadership and the constant saying of just keep waiting. Some of us have been waiting for more than 10 years and we are still doing the same thing which have made us lose our flavor.
Maybe today we will honestly say to ourselves ENOUGH! I have not been obedient to the call God has placed on my life. Everything we do just doesn't work any longer. It is our time to take a spiritual inventory and ask the question do we move or do we stay.
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