Commissioning Service Thoughts
Last Sunday, I was commissioned to serve as pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Hallock. I have to say, it was a lovely service and I throughly enjoyed the leadership by several congregation members and presbytery folk. That said, before the service, if you would have asked me if it was necessary to conduct a commissioning/installation I would probably have said, “no.” With hindsight, however, I think it served a significant and important role in the life of the congregation. It certainly did in my life.
In fact, in some ways, the commissioning felt more consequential than my ordination. While my ordination was great and all, being ordained in Florida to serve in Minnesota takes a bit of an intellectual leap. But being commissioned 2.5 months after I began in Hallock, being commissioned now that I know most members and several pastor colleagues in the county, almost made commissioning feel more purposeful than ordination. The commissioning service made me feel like I was being commissioned to really do something, to affect a vibrant ministry in this particular place, while my ordination service felt a bit more fru-fruey, a bit more showy and detached from the actual context of my ordained ministry.
During a lecture a few years ago, a professor of mine in seminary playfully argued that if ordination is mostly to a function then ordination should lapse when a pastor is not in a called position. One should also give up one’s ordination at retirement, so argued my professor. I think this is probably impractical, but I now appreciate the fact that ordination without a specific call or commissioning is silly — though access to the health insurance plan is nice.
This all makes me think about the importance of commissioning for folks who happen not to be serving God as a pastor, commissioning to other vocations. I’ve heard of commissioning services in the fall for teachers, but I wonder if we should stop there. Why not have a commissioning sunday on which day everyone in the congregation is commissioned to their particular place of service at that particular time. I guess you could say that you’d lose the significance at some point, and that’s probably right. I’m grateful, though, that we didn’t lose the point here and I am happy to be commissioned, ordained, and serving here in Hallock.
If you’re really bored, or you’re my mother, you may listen to the service by clicking below:
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hmmm…was said professor ordained to the calling of higher education? or did that professor become ordained to a call at a specific church and then leave it- but still keep his/her ordination? elders are ordained for life- and, I know, this is a throw back to the Latin church’s pronouncement “sacerdotum perpetuam” – but perhaps it is also a recognition about the claim of God on your life, no matter the vagaries of where you are or where you are serving….
as for polity, I note that you use the term “commissioning”- rather than installation- local? or because it is a designated pastor?
Thanks, Nancy. Yeah, it was Stroup who I’m not sure served a parish and whose ordination is still with some presbytery in Oklahoma so make if it what you will. I do think it’s a fair question, though — why do retired pastors keep their ordination? It gets at the heart of what ordination is and isn’t.
Re “installation” vs. “commissioning” yes, I’m officially Stated Supply Pastor here due to some weird polity stuff and COM recommendation so that’s dandy. Of course, the Commissioning service was identical to an Installations service say switching those words. Peace.
i think it’s easier for you to make statements like that about ordination on the other side of it. ordination is the thing that validates us, our calls, our work, our educations (whether it should or not) and without it it appears the last 4 and a half years of my life, specifically, have been a waste. i was referred to not long ago as “not a real minister”. miss you.
George is a member of Cherokee Presbytery in Ga, not OK….and yes he has only served in educational/academic ministry. I understand he is generally a regular attendee at meetings, and has been active on committees, etc.
It’s an interesting thought though – the Disciples of Christ ordain people who have a “call” w/o a specific call to serve a congregation. PCUSA ordains only when there is a specific “call” to a ministry – congregation or validated. And those cslled to education or administration or chaplaincy must do those things mentioned in the BOO 6-whatever and elsewhere.
Thanks…. I will. I am sorry we couldn’t be with you on Sunday afternoon but I am glad it was a memorable service. Blessings on you and the people of Hallock, MN.
Keep warm.
Mum X
Thanks for the comments, folks. @Libby, yeah, I thought of that. It’s why I didn’t put anything up after ordination. I also considered how things might sound to glbtq folk denied ordination by our silly system. So yeah, thanks for keeping us aware.
@Sarah, thanks for the OK correction — I guess that’s just a rumor at CTS. But Cherokee doesn’t make much sense either. Fun to consider, though. Thanks.