Category Archives: Ministry
Will I Ever Update Consistently????
The run-down of the last 15 days:
[+] Daniel ended up in the ER on the 13th. He was coughing badly and spitting up. Our chief of medicine (whom I loathe and would rather die than see) was on duty and to my surprise, he actually had a small semblance of a bedside manner. He ordered some bloodwork and an x-ray and found that Daniel was probably just still dealing with having the breathing tube down his throat… except that he wasn’t intubated!!!! (Not that Dr. Ego listened to me…) He gave him some antibiotics to ward off anything that could be there.
[+] On the 14th, I was home with a sinus infection and had just been to see the doctor. I was stopped in front of the Dash Inn waiting for someone to pass so I could turn left when a woman plowed into me at 30 mph, knocking me into the other lane and parking lot. It’s good that she ended up pulled over across the street because I was seriously going to rip her head off. My car was unquestionably totalled — the back end was smushed in to the point that the back doors were stuck in the frame. I was in complete shock and the firemen and paramedics decided that it would be really good to take me to the hospital. I was in the ambulance with HER (the person who hit me) and one of the little kids in her car.
I was stone-silent the whole way to the hospital — I was just SO mad. I mean, it’s just a car and THANK GOD I DIDN’T HAVE DANIEL WITH ME but I loved the car and it meant independence for me because we live in the middle of nowhere. The doctor I’d just seen (Dr. SuperCool) the new osteopath at the clinic) was on call and she was like “I just saw you….” She ordered x-rays and checked me out. The x-rays came back clean for my back and neck and she gave me some Darvocet with Skeletax to deal with the pain and relax the muscles down.
Currently, I’m waiting for the MHP to send over the paperwork so I can get the police report to my insurance company. HER also apparently doesn’t exist in most forms so nobody has been able to get ahold of her to get insurance information, making this whole process more complicated.
On the 23rd, I was having really bad neck pain so I went back to Dr. SuperCool and asked her for some OMM. It was an *interesting* experience but it worked wonders and I haven’t had much pain since.
[+] Jon had a call interview in California so we flew out on the 24th with Daniel. He traveled really well and my in-laws greeted us at the airport with signs, ribbons, and balloons. They also got us In n’ Out for dinner. My sister-in-law and I got pedicures the next day (thanks to my wonderful father-in-law) and we got to have hang-out time with Daniel’s godparents (well… one set) and their daughter Emily who would be our god-daughter if they believed in infant baptism.
The interviews on Saturday went well (I think) and the people were really nice. Jon preached two services on Sunday and the call committee from [the-church-who-must-not-be-named] came to see him. The best part of all of this was watching my father-in-law and Daniel bond — there were some definitely cute moments. My evil twin and his fiancĂ?e also flew down for Sunday and so they got to meet Daniel.
Protected: Drama Llama Chronicles (XXIV)
Life Happens
Let’s see… what has happened in the last week or so…
[+] Jon got his new laptop. With birthday money from both sets of parents, Jon was able to get a laptop of his own from Dell (with me using my employee discount from my [employer who cannot be named]). It’s been a good thing — he’s been able to customize it and I don’t have to share any more!
[+] The dude had his 4-month Well Child exam. At his exam on 8/27, he was 11 lbs 1.5 oz which is pretty respectable. His growth curve is perfect and he’s at about the 50th percentile for a 2 month old which is what he is gestationally. He got two of his shots that day which did not make him a happy little bear and he got his other shot this last Tuesday. His hernia surgery is scheduled for the 11th and everything seems to be set for that.
[+] I had my annual exam right before Daniel’s appointment and unfortunately, I didn’t fare as well. My bloodwork came back crappy (not unexpected) though they finally caught my thyroid misbehaving so I’m now on Synthroid. I honestly can’t tell you if it’s working yet or not because I was dealing with a nasty migraine this week and felt like cat spit anyway.
[+] We made arrangements to fly to [undisclosed location] in California to interview at the end of September. We’ll stay with my in-laws (more like Daniel can stay with them and bring us if he wants) and hopefully see some family and friends out there.
Stunning Blows and Prayers Needed
The head of the call committee of the church in Alberta called to say that Jon wasn’t a match. He did say he’d recommend Jon highly to the assistant to the bishop there for the other churches in the area who are looking for pastors but it’s still a blow to Jon. I’m sad because they were good people and an amazing church. They took their time deliberating which makes me think that this wasn’t a decision made lightly. In the end, it’s still the second time Jon has made it to an in-person interview this year only to be shot down. Pray for him.
There is a church in California which is looking at Jon. It would mean being closer to family and friends and if nothing else, it’s an option. Pray that things go well when we fly out there next month.
Why I Am Not Flipping Out At The Moment
New York Times: Lutheran Group Eases Limits on Gay Clergy
Yes, I am a conservative Christian. Yes, I would have voted against this. (All my GLBTQ peeps know this.) However, I’m not having a massive hissy fit over this.
Why you ask?
1.) I’ve got too much going on in my life to flip out over anything else at the moment. Jon is in the process of finding another call, I have a 4 1/2 month old baby who is teething, I’m working 3 days a week, I’m still dealing with the emotional and mental schtuff from Daniel’s birth and stay in the NICU, and I’m tired to the point where sleeping all day would be sooooo nice. While I’m aware of the implications of this, I’m really having a hard time caring right now.
2.) The language of the decision is as such:
The first step asks the assembly whether it is committed “to finding ways to allow congregations and synods that choose to do so to recognize, support, and hold publicly accountable lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships,” said the report.
The second step asks the assembly whether it is committed to finding a way for Lutherans in committed, same-gender relationships to serve as ELCA professional leaders — clergy, associates in ministry, diaconal ministers and deaconesses.
If steps one and two are accepted, step three asks the assembly to commit to implementing steps one and two “in such a way that all this church bear the burdens of the other, love the neighbor, and respect the bound conscience of any with whom they disagree.” According to the report, “decisions about policy that serve only the interests of one or another group will not be acceptable.”
Step four presents a proposal for how the ELCA could move toward change “in a way that respects the bound conscience of all,” said the report. The fourth step is different from the previous steps in that it is “not simply a commitment in principle, but makes a specific recommendation for flexibility within existing structures and practices of this church to allow for people in publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender relationships to be approved” for professional service in the ELCA, stated the report.
In none of the bolded passages does it state that members will be forced to call a gay or lesbian pastor to their congregation. My bishop (the most awesome Jessica Crist) actually states it best:
The resolution on Ministry Policies is actually a series of 4 resolutions, moving from committing the ELCA to begin the process of finding ways to recognize and support life-long, monogamous, same-gender relationships, to finding ways for rostering appropriately prepared and qualified persons. Even if all 4 parts of the resolution pass, there will be a lengthy process for implementation. The resolution makes possible in certain instances the rostering of people who happen to be in same-gender relationships. It is important to note that the intent of this is to open possibilities for ministry. Congregations have a lot of leeway in the call process now. They can accept or reject a candidate proposed by the Synod Office. That will not change. The intent of these resolutions is not to force congregations to accept pastors who do not fit. Rather it is to allow congregations to call pastors who do fit.
In other words, this isn’t something that will take place overnight and it isn’t something that will be binding on every congregation and every person. Congregations are always allowed to reject a candidate given to them just as candidates can reject a congregation profile given to them. If it were binding that a congregation had to consider every candidate given, that would be a different story.
3.) This issue has been talked to death for the last 8 years. I swear that some of the “yes” votes were cast on the condition that we could stop talking about sex at Synod Assembly. (At least… this is what my Lutheran peeps on Facebook are saying.) In the words of one of them, “one of these days, we might be able to get past sex and the church roof and onto the issue of Christ being crucified and raised from the dead.” At least there’s a decision on the horizon and we can stop dialoguing ourselves to death!!!
So… this is why I’m not flipping out like I normally would be.
Prayers Needed
The call committee of [undisclosed location in Canada] votes today (August 6th). This is a congregation that is really open to discernment and the leadings of the Holy Spirit. For those who do, please pray that God’s will be done in terms of whether they call Jon or not. They are a seriously AMAZING group of people and we’d love it if they did call us but we want God’s will to be done in any case.