Describe the nature and mission of the Church. What are its primary tasks today? If the sacraments call us into the world, the church is the “us” that is called. In my previous paperwork, I talked about the church being the place where we come to know and begin to embody the Kingdom of God…
Touching and Tasting God’s Love
What is the meaning and significance of the sacraments? In the sacraments of our church, ordinary things like bread and grape juice and water become vehicles of God’s divine grace. We gather as a community not only to acknowledge God’s presence with us, but we are each able to reach out and experience for ourselves…
The Most Effective Witness
For the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness to the Christian gospel and in consideration of your influence as an ordained minister, are you willing to make a complete dedication of yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life; and to this end will you…
Sources of Revelation
The United Methodist Church holds that Scripture, tradition, experience, and reason are sources and norms for belief and practice, but that the Bible is primary among them. What is your understanding of this theological position of the church? In traditional Wesleyan thinking, scripture must be the central source of theology and all of the other…
The Other Two… Christ & the Holy Spirit
What changes has the practice of ministry had on your understanding of a) the “lordship of Jesus Christ,” and b) the work of the Holy Spirit? In my ministry, my understanding of the lordship of Christ has not changed much at all, but I have had the opportunity to preach and teach the Kingdom that…
Call & Response: ie: post ordination paper sermon & bishop’s letter
Call and Response. In the African-American church tradition – call and response is what happens when the people hear something the preacher says and can’t contain themselves… they have to respond. It’s the chorus of Hallelujahs and Amens and Tell Me More Sister’s that the congregation brings out to help the preacher along in telling…
The Human Condition
What effect has the practice of ministry had on your understanding of humanity and the need for divine grace? Over and over again I am reminded about our utter need for grace. In my own life and ministry the work I do would not be effective or positive if it were not for God’s grace.…
Doctrine of God… or something.
When I submitted my candidacy papers, I had just finished Constructive Theology. I was in a totally heady space, although I also had a lot of practical application involved. In my first round of papers, here is how I talked about God: We have come to know and trust in God primarily through scripture –…