Posted in reflections, tagged pastoral ministry, relationships on June 28, 2018| Leave a Comment »
By Melanie Mar Chow
Photo by Ed Schipul
The only way that we can live, is if we grow. The only way that we can grow is if we change. The only way that we can change is if we learn. The only way we can learn is if we are exposed. And the only way that we can become exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. Do it. Throw yourself. ― C. JoyBell C.
Posted in reflections, tagged church, pastoral ministry on June 6, 2018| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Lindz Graham
By Ajung Sojwal
By choice, for the last few years I have been involved in interim ministry. After a particularly difficult call to a church as a newly ordained clergy, I was at a point where I was ready to renounce my ordination vows. Church ministry was nothing like I had imagined it to be.
I found myself asking what it meant for Jesus to say, “Feed my sheep.” (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged healing, pastoral ministry, vocation, women in ministry on November 28, 2017| Leave a Comment »
Photo by Iqbal Osman
By Diana Gee
Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed.
Isaiah 53:4-5 (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged community, family, pastoral ministry on October 17, 2017| Leave a Comment »
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By Debbie Gin
“I want to go back home. I want to go back HOME!” I remember screaming through sobs, while my mom—half bewildered, half understanding my deep sorrow—tried to console me. It had only been a couple weeks since our move from the comforts of a burgeoning Koreatown, Los Angeles, to the then predominantly White Hacienda Heights. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged burnout, pastoral ministry on April 4, 2017| 2 Comments »
Photo by Luciano inline
By Ajung Sojwal
One of the greatest tests that I face as a pastor is empathy. Not only for my parishioners, which is a natural expectation, but also for the one-legged homeless woman who parks her wheelchair right around the corner from our apartment building, shaking the few coins in her paper cup for all who care to hear, and the dust-covered 5-year-old Syrian boy against the brilliant red seat of the ambulance as he is readied to be taken from his bombed home to the hospital. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged ordination, pastoral ministry, reconciliation, social media on February 7, 2017| Leave a Comment »
By Diana Gee
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.
–Gal 5:22-23
This past week I was in an ordination workshop. The class was made up of people in the process of being recognized as set apart for the ministry of shepherding God’s flock. What this all means is still being worked out both for me and for my church. For the record, I have no actual agricultural experience. The closest is of the gardening variety and pet-sitting. I feel unqualified and doubtful most of the time. Nonetheless, it’s a journey worth travelling, even if it is rather daunting and lonely. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged calling, pastoral ministry, suffering, vocation on January 24, 2017| 3 Comments »
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By Ajung Sojwal
After being ordained a priest in the Episcopal church for ten years now, I am just beginning to understand this extraordinary call from Jesus. It has taken a crisis to bring about the crushing of my ego to make room for the real heart of a priest and a prophet from God. Why prophet? (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged calling, motherhood, mothers, pastoral ministry, women in ministry, women's roles on June 17, 2014| 3 Comments »
Photo by Horia Varlan
By Tina Teng-Henson
After 9 months of being my daughter’s main care-provider, I was finally ready to find and pay for consistent childcare so I could focus anew on schoolwork — which then led me further down a path I needed to take: one of more fully integrating this new identity of mine as a new mom with the other parts of who I was before my daughter arrived – daughter, grad student, minister, friend, wife. (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged pastoral ministry, readiness, season on March 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »
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By Melanie Mar Chow
I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. –2 Timothy 4:1-2 (more…)
Posted in reflections, tagged loneliness, pastoral ministry, singleness, women in ministry, women pastors on March 18, 2014| 4 Comments »
Photo by Thomas Leuthard
By Diana Gee
I’ve had several friends remark to me, “I’m glad I don’t have your job.” I take it as a backhanded compliment from people who have experienced enough of church life to know the demands and expectations placed on pastors. But having worked in secular industry and having friends in all sorts of jobs, I know that stress comes in all shapes and sizes.
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