September 21, 2017
Story:
When my wife started college she was sure that she was going to do music and be a performer when she grew up. Then people told her that she wouldn’t be able to make a living that way so she needed to do something else. She decided to study religion and thought that she might be able to be a pastor. But then people told her that it’s hard for women to become pastors in the Adventist church, so she switched her major to psychology. The problem was her gifting and calling was in music and ministry. She couldn’t ignore the way that God had made her so she switched back to studying religion and preparing for ministry. She was one of the top communicators in preaching class and she loved to love on people and care for them. She was clearly gifted for ministry…but what should she do when it came time to graduate? Would she be able to be hired as a pastor or as a music minister? Why is this such a hard thing to do in the Adventist church? Was it true that her church didn’t really want her?
Discussion Questions:
When my wife started college she was sure that she was going to do music and be a performer when she grew up. Then people told her that she wouldn’t be able to make a living that way so she needed to do something else. She decided to study religion and thought that she might be able to be a pastor. But then people told her that it’s hard for women to become pastors in the Adventist church, so she switched her major to psychology. The problem was her gifting and calling was in music and ministry. She couldn’t ignore the way that God had made her so she switched back to studying religion and preparing for ministry. She was one of the top communicators in preaching class and she loved to love on people and care for them. She was clearly gifted for ministry…but what should she do when it came time to graduate? Would she be able to be hired as a pastor or as a music minister? Why is this such a hard thing to do in the Adventist church? Was it true that her church didn’t really want her?
Discussion Questions:
What are your gifts and talents?
What kind of ministry have you felt called to be a part of?
Have you ever felt like God called you to do something and then the church shut you down?
Have you ever felt like God called you to do something and the church made it a reality for you?
Why or why not do you feel like you are wanted by the church?
The Issue:
The problem is multi-multifaceted and focused on the tricky word “ordination.” First there are strait-up practical/authority concerns when it comes to structure, payment, taxes, and tradition. Second there are biblical-hermeneutical-spiritual concerns that are being raised and the arguments are getting fierce…girl are they ever.
