daniel's ordination
For this sacred, blessed and noble act you perform today, you are to be congratulated, blessed yourselves, and challenged.
The Reader’s Digest version of my charge to you, the congregation of College Park Baptist Church, and other friends and family gathered, is this:
You come believing in Daniel Ingram as a vocational minister.
You come affirming Daniel as a vocational minister.
And you come blessing Daniel as a vocational minister.
As you believe in, affirm, and bless, you are admitting Daniel’s gifts and abilities for ministry; you are recognizing his sense of calling; you are acknowledging him to have high moral character and integrity; and you are trusting that he will uphold the reverence, the distinction, and privilege of that to which he is called.
That’s it! That’s the charge . . . in a nutshell. But because I’m a Baptist minister, I cannot stop with such a condensed version of what your role and charge is.
Ordination is an interesting animal. It is an event, but better understood as a process. It is present—here and now—yet it incorporates knowledge and actions of the past as well as a looking to the future. Ordination is focused on a single person, yet its action benefits, influences, and depends on a corporate body. And for that body—you—it has elements of both privilege and responsibility.
When considering Baptist life and polity, there’s added another intriguing aspect. Ordination is a setting apart of an individual—a specific individual, in this case, Daniel —to be involved in the reconciling and grace-giving work of God. And yet, as Baptists who affirm the principle called “priesthood of all believers,” we learn from early days of SS that we are actually ALL called to be a part of that work of the Kingdom of God. In that sense, ordination is practically an oxymoron within itself—why ordain one when all are believed to be priests (and servants) in the work of God? So, as we do acknowledge the special and unique calling of Daniel today, and in that, do “set him apart,” we should all be reminded of our own callings, our own places, in God’s work.
My charge to you would be best given to you in some thoughts of what this oc casion IS NOT!
Ordination is not passive on your part. You may think this oc casion is only about Daniel, that your-doing-what-you-are-doing is only for him. Ordination is, or should be, as much about the church as it is about the candidate. You are not by-standers or spectators; you are participants. This church participates in the calling out of, the affirmation of, and the commitment to, this one who stands in your midst today—and those are active, vital roles, not passive or indifferent roles. It is a moment that speaks as much about who you are as a church and what this church is about as it is about affirming who Daniel is and what Daniel is about.
Ordination is also not red tape. This is not just a formality, and should not be looked upon as just going through the motions. It’s more than ritual and ceremony. There is an intentionality and purpose behind what you do. I was pleased to hear the full process you’ve embodied here. Many times, one’s ordination council is the day or two before, or sometimes (believe it or not) the afternoon of, the planned ordination—the service pre-planned and programs already printed. That pre-mature and rather presumptuous process trivializes and minimizes the gravity of ordination. I know Daniel’s ordination council was held weeks ago, an honest attempt on your part not to take things for granted as this full process unfolds! That in itself tells me you’re not thinking of this as just red tape. What this church is doing today has purpose and meaning beyond this day; and what you do individually as you lay hands upon Daniel and offer words of encouragement and blessing is to be meant. Your job of ordination should be a serious and deliberate one, one requiring intentionality, prayer, and commitment on your part.
As you come to this moment, your focus should be clear, your reasons justified. Don’t do this simply because Daniel wants you to ordain him; don’t do this because this church hasn’t ordained someone in a while; don’t do this because it seems like it’s the thing to do since he’s been fulfilling a ministerial role already; don’t do this because Daniel is Marnie’s husband (although that would almost be reason to!). You do this because of who and what you believe Daniel is, and can be; because you believe in the gifts and skills and desire he brings to be a vocational minister; because you trust his intentions to follow the voice of God; and because you commit yourself to care for and support him as he finds his place as a minister of the gospel. Bringing yourselves individually and yourself corporately as a body of believers with that kind of intent will not allow you to treat this time lightly.
Ordination is also not a sign of ownership on your part. It is true that Daniel is basically at your mercy—for you hold the “yes” or “no” in your hands. Your role is integral and necessary to this process, but your position stops short of any dominion or possession. This service signifies your “stamp of approval” of Daniel, not your control of him. However, you are charged to accept the role of having some expectations and holding Daniel accountable in upholding the privilege of the title “Minister.” There’s a precarious line between holding someone accountable and acting as if you own. Please do your part in knowing the difference.
As sincere and as genuine as your motives are on one hand, being realistic and fair in your expectations of Daniel are critical on the other. Ordination does not imply the idea of perfection, therefore, do not expect Daniel to be perfect. Daniel has made mistakes in his life (we won’t mention them here!), and he will make others. Ordination does not insulate one from making mistakes. It is fair for you to expect discipline and continued maturity; it is fair for you to expect a deepening of his spiritual life and quest, a growing faith, and keener discernment. But make sure that does not spell “perfection” in your minds. If, and when, that is the case, ministers are granted qualities far beyond what is fair . . . or meant. Daniel, in all his glory and goodness (!), also comes in all his humanity, and that must be remembered.
Somewhat similarly, ordination also does not imply having all the answers, so don’t expect Daniel to have or offer all the answers. Life is full of questions—wonderful and unanswerable questions, haunting and challenging questions. Congregations make a mistake when they look to anyone to give them simplistic, clear-cut answers to life’s dilemmas, ambiguities, and wonderings. Ordination does not imply a know-it-all theology . . . and this oc casion does not magically bestow that upon this or any other candidate. This ordination does not mean that Daniel has it all figured out. Sure, you should expect Daniel to provide guidance and support to those struggling with life; you should expect Daniel to help people navigate the journey of life. Just don’t mistake the placing of your hands of blessing upon Daniel with the placing of the burden of ‘answer-giver’ upon him.
Lastly: Ordination is really not about today. Ordination—as much as it is based on the past, and holds meaning and significance in this present moment—points beyond today. As you hold Daniel in your hands today, ordination at its best will also release him into the future. You certainly have him today, and in this moment, but part of your acknowledgement of who he is and your blessing upon him means that you also let him go. He will, at least he should, grow and evolve as a person and as a minister. That means he will change. Part of your blessing upon him and your letting go of him means you will allow him the freedom to move beyond this time and place, beyond who he is this moment, beyond what he thinks and believes this day. That may sound troubling, but remember that part of the trust you place upon him as you do this is in his continued openness to God, his continued availability to God’s calling, and his continual seeking of God’s way.
For this sacred, blessed and noble act you perform today, you are to be congratulated, blessed yourselves, and challenged.
I would now like to involve you more actively and directly in accepting your role as ordaining body. Symbolizing your unity in this action and your common-voice, I ask you to stand together, and after hearing each of several questions of charge and intent, respond together “We do.” (motion to stand)
Do you, College Park Baptist Church, and others gathered here:
believe Daniel Ingram to be a person from within your midst whom God has called to vocational ministry?
(We do.)
do you acknowledge his deep and growing faith, his sensitivity in listening for and to the voice of God, and his honest and pure intent of this ordination?
(We do.)
do you affirm Daniel’s gifts and abilities to be an effective and qualified minister of the Gospel; and do you affirm that Daniel’s character and integrity are above reproach and are of such to hold such a distinction?
(We do.)
do you commit yourselves to be a continued support and encouragement for Daniel, as he grows and develops as a person and minister, accepting the challenge to balance fairly your role as accountability partner with your expectations of him as a minister?
(We do.)
do you accept the role of ordaining body for Daniel Ingram, with all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that may entail.
(We do.)
and do you give Daniel your blessing this day—in support and affirmation of, and belief in, who he is and who he will become?
(We do.)
You are so charged. AMEN.