As always, your writing is too rich and deep and wide for one comment to seem like anything appropriate to the whole. But I do have to say that when you spoke about ordination and the metaphor of marriage to God and you said, " I encourage you not to examine the metaphor too closely." You really made me laugh. Deeply. Thank you.
Regarding ordination, I am so happy for you but also, like you point out it has been such a journey and that makes me irrationally angry. My call is different though. Part of the beauty of self-examination has been understanding that my call is to use that anger to move past the systems and create new ones. But not everyone has that call. I admire your devotion which I know has to remain in constant check for your deepest wellbeing. I celebrate with you. As for me, I was ordained finally, too, (re-ordained actually since the UMC church doesn't let you keep it if you leave). There were some lovely people there. It was weird and wonderful. A chose a tree as my elder. It takes all of us and all of our wirings for change.
Oh thank you Jeff for this very personal reflection on your process to become ordained. I admire your tenacity and patience and grace for a very long drawn out process to get where you are this week. I feel so honored that you place your llfe before us in your writings and share your vulnerabilities and are just who are! I'm excited for you and happy that you see your value in what you do in so many different and unique ways. Here's a big hug for you today! ((((((hug))))))
It already is enough. God has called you AND equipped you for Her Service. And as Eugene Peterson says, ‘A Long Obedience in the Same Direction’. This is who you have been and who you are now.
Jo, I don't know you and I have no idea why you are trying to stir up trouble on this day of all days. It comes across at best as uncharitable.
Anyway, since you want to talk about the textual clues about God's gender—as if God could or should be bound by human understandings of gender, which I don't believe—you have forgotten to note that in the Hebrew Scriptures, which you mention, the Spirit of God is feminine. See, for instance, Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God is described as hovering above the waters—with words that are decidedly feminine.
Sure. Yet languages change over time and as far as I can tell from the Psalms, Isaiah and even Jesus’ life, pronouns don’t matter as much as God has called and equipped..l So let’s disagree and celebrate Jeff’s call and ordination!
Dear Jeff, I am very moved by what you have written with such honesty and revealing so much of your heart. May God bless your ordination tomorrow and continue to lead you in paths old and new. Thank you so much for your fellowship. Celia
Congratulations. I admire your patience and grace that has brought you to this moment. Prayers are with you for this very special day. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. As always they are rich and speak volumes.
Thank you so much for giving a glimpse into your thoughts as you lead up to the big day! I appreciate your perspective on things so much— your meditation on worms actually brought me to tears, as I have been struggling this week with feeling like nothing any of us do matters. It gives me encouragement to keep "making compost" where I'm at.
Thank you, Jeff. For your words here, and for your faithfulness, and for sharing your gifts with the church. And God bless you as you take this next step. Will try to catch the live stream and will be praying for you.
Hi Jeff, I only know you through your writing and my most excellent spouse Marla, but I just want to say that I am so grateful for the ministry you have carried on through word and presence over these many years. Thank you for your faithfulness, transparency, and beautiful spirit. I will never look at compost or worms the same because of you! :)
Best of luck to you, Ted
Beautiful reflection, Jeff. Prayers are with you for tomorrow! Zach and I will be there praying and celebrating with you.
As always, your writing is too rich and deep and wide for one comment to seem like anything appropriate to the whole. But I do have to say that when you spoke about ordination and the metaphor of marriage to God and you said, " I encourage you not to examine the metaphor too closely." You really made me laugh. Deeply. Thank you.
Haha. You're welcome. The metaphor is terrible in so many ways!
Regarding ordination, I am so happy for you but also, like you point out it has been such a journey and that makes me irrationally angry. My call is different though. Part of the beauty of self-examination has been understanding that my call is to use that anger to move past the systems and create new ones. But not everyone has that call. I admire your devotion which I know has to remain in constant check for your deepest wellbeing. I celebrate with you. As for me, I was ordained finally, too, (re-ordained actually since the UMC church doesn't let you keep it if you leave). There were some lovely people there. It was weird and wonderful. A chose a tree as my elder. It takes all of us and all of our wirings for change.
Oh thank you Jeff for this very personal reflection on your process to become ordained. I admire your tenacity and patience and grace for a very long drawn out process to get where you are this week. I feel so honored that you place your llfe before us in your writings and share your vulnerabilities and are just who are! I'm excited for you and happy that you see your value in what you do in so many different and unique ways. Here's a big hug for you today! ((((((hug))))))
Thank you, Ruth!
You have served as a pastor in so many ways throughout this long a d arduous "process ". Thank you for your faithfulness to this moment.
It already is enough. God has called you AND equipped you for Her Service. And as Eugene Peterson says, ‘A Long Obedience in the Same Direction’. This is who you have been and who you are now.
Alleluia!
Dear Tiare,
Genesis 1:31 states:
“God saw all that HE had made, and it was very good.”
God never refers to Himself as “She”
In His Word.
Jo, I don't know you and I have no idea why you are trying to stir up trouble on this day of all days. It comes across at best as uncharitable.
Anyway, since you want to talk about the textual clues about God's gender—as if God could or should be bound by human understandings of gender, which I don't believe—you have forgotten to note that in the Hebrew Scriptures, which you mention, the Spirit of God is feminine. See, for instance, Genesis 1:2, where the Spirit of God is described as hovering above the waters—with words that are decidedly feminine.
Thanks for your input.
Sure. Yet languages change over time and as far as I can tell from the Psalms, Isaiah and even Jesus’ life, pronouns don’t matter as much as God has called and equipped..l So let’s disagree and celebrate Jeff’s call and ordination!
Dear Jeff, I am very moved by what you have written with such honesty and revealing so much of your heart. May God bless your ordination tomorrow and continue to lead you in paths old and new. Thank you so much for your fellowship. Celia
Congratulations. I admire your patience and grace that has brought you to this moment. Prayers are with you for this very special day. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. As always they are rich and speak volumes.
Blessings as you cross this threshold! 💞
God knows the church (writ small and larger) needs you.
Thank you so much for giving a glimpse into your thoughts as you lead up to the big day! I appreciate your perspective on things so much— your meditation on worms actually brought me to tears, as I have been struggling this week with feeling like nothing any of us do matters. It gives me encouragement to keep "making compost" where I'm at.
I hope the ordination goes well!
Thank you Jeff for this beautiful story! I love who you are!!!! 🥰
Thank you, Jeff. For your words here, and for your faithfulness, and for sharing your gifts with the church. And God bless you as you take this next step. Will try to catch the live stream and will be praying for you.
Wishing I was there to witness in person, but I will be live-streaming from afar and celebrating with you in spirit.
Hi Jeff, I only know you through your writing and my most excellent spouse Marla, but I just want to say that I am so grateful for the ministry you have carried on through word and presence over these many years. Thank you for your faithfulness, transparency, and beautiful spirit. I will never look at compost or worms the same because of you! :)
Hope we get a chance to meet sometime! Thanks so much. And Marla is indeed a most excellent human.
Very nice. The church will be better with you formally in it in this manner.