Are you still out there?

Wanted all of you to know that I was thinking of you. Check-in if you can. Take care, Cheyanna

Moving Out

Well, I posted my PIF online and waited for the avalanche of mail offering me all kinds of incentives if I would just please consider coming to serve their church. (sound of crickets chirping) Obviously, the response has been somewhat less than I had hoped. So I thought, Ok, they just need a little jump-start. I sent my PIF to ten or thirty of the more desirable churches and waited for their enthusiastic response. I now have a stack of letters that all begin with, "After reviewing your qualifications, the committee has decided.........................." By the time October rolled around and we had no money to pay the rent, we became homeless.

Lori's sister offered us a room in her house so, with the help of several seminary friends, we packed up our stuff and moved to eastern Ohio. Our address is now:

Ron and Lori Church
320 Alice St.
East Palestine, OH 44413
(563) 564-0813 (my cell #)

I am now searching for churches in eastern Ohio, western Pennylvania and northern West Virginia. I am expecting to achieve the same level of success here as I experienced in Iowa. I will keep updating all of you (both of you?) on how things are going as I continue the adventure of finding that one church for which God has prepared me.

Ron Church

November 6th

Dear Friends,

Just wanted to mention that Kenda Dean will be speaking at UDTS on Tuesday November 6th. We used Kenda's book - The Godbearing Life - in Les' class. Kenda specializes in youth and family ministries.

UDTS is a bit behind in sending out publicity (which is why I wanted to mention it here). I am planning on traveling over from the great NW early Tuesday and staying Wednesday for tables before heading home. Would be happy to pick up anyone along the way...I can travel west on Hwy 9 or 20.

Hope to see some of the 'old timers' in Dbq.

If you want a ride email me at debwise at mchsi dot com

Blessings,
Deb

These last few weeks have been among the most difficult of my life; no joke. Things are still a little rough. The two big things are my denomination and my landlord. First, the landlord. He is a great guy with a good heart and is a strong Christian...he's one of those that says "praise the Lord" a little too much and a little too easily. Really, he's just a lonely guy who needs company. My apartment is in an old house where there are five apartments all together; my landlord lives next door. I just found out today that he has been in my place several times without telling me but manly without asking my permission. He has been in my place about 4 times without asking. I am so frustrated.

The biggest frustration is my stinking presbytery. I was told to choose an old exegesis exam and take a month to do it. When I came to the sermon I was supposed to write a whole sermon. The committee would review the material and we would have a conference call when I could defend my work. HA...defend...HA...that was the last thing that happened. The committee did not get together to discuss my work prior to the call...plus they were not in the same room when we were talking. In all, there were four questions asked and one of those was about my girlfriend. The others pertained to how I wrote the sermon and why I did not write it include this or that. Imagine if you will...writing a sermon and having four pastors (one who is retired) critiquing your work. They said things like..."why didn't you say it this was" ....or "I would have say this." One gentleman asked my theology of heaven...I thought I answered the question as best as I could.

When I got off the phone I thought I nailed it. WRONG! I was told there were more questions raised after I got off the phone...WHEN I COULD NOT DEFEND OR ANSWER THEIR QUESTIONS. One of the "concerns" was that I am not reformed enough in my theology of heaven and hell. Plus, they were concerned about the grammar in my sermon. Let us remember that grammar and theology are not what a reader would be looking at in an exegesis exam.

When my liaison informed me of the outcome I was frustrated. Part of my frustration was directed toward because of things she did not tell the committee. For instance, that grammar is not something that is looked at...or that I was told not to worry about grammar in my sermon because it is a manuscript for ME. Also because my liaison told me that, in her opinion the committee would have passed me if there was a church pursuing me. Which just makes this whole big-giant-enormous-fat-hoop trite.

When I asked what my next step was and my liaison told me a lot of nothing. Really, she was not sure. I told her I needed written instructions...it took three weeks to get written instructions...three more weeks with my life on hold.

In all...I am frustrated with things. It have made me question a lot of things...like my call. I really could use some prayers and supportive words...God bless...

Walking On Water

When I started CPE, my supervisor (a Presbyterian) asked me, "How good an evaluation do you need to convince your committee that you should be ordained?" I said, "I need to walk on water." Hence the title of this post. As it turned out, I took to hospital ministry like a duck to water. I ended up getting a stellar evaluation. Then I had an appointment with my committee.

When I walked into the conference room to face the committee, I felt like I was walking into a Bizzarro world where nothing was familiar. The committee that in the past had nothing but doubts and criticism for me suddenly had nothing but praise and adoration. It was embarrassing! I was certified as ready to receive a call without hesitation. I was sent forth to engage the forces of evil with great fanfare. I was hugged by everyone in the room. Again embarrassing!

Maybe I didn't walk on water, but I did work hard and I did do a good job and I was recognized for having done a good job. At the end of the day, that is really all that any of us can ask for.

Grace and Peace
Ron

For those of you who are still watching the blog, I thought I should put my update in also. I am finishing my summer CPE at the VA Hospital in Oklahoma City. Over the course of three months of ministering to hospital patients every day, I have undergone a startling metamorphosis. I have been transformed from an uncertain seminary graduate into a minister. I still don't like talking about myself. But no one else is going to do it for me, so I have to do it myself. My supervisor told me that my instincts for ministry are amazing. On one occasion, I noticed that a Vietnam Veteran was suffering a PTSD episode. I intervened and was able to talk him out of it. I have visited the families of deceased patients. I have talked with patients who had just been told that they are not going to get better. I visited with a patient who only had one leg, and he was going into surgery to have it removed. In my surgical round, I stood next to the surgeon as he lifted a patient's beating heart out of his chest. In my peer group meetings, I have figuratively torn my own heart out and laid it on the table for everyone to examine.

What I am trying to say is that I have come a long way in just a couple of months. I am not the same person you knew in seminary. I came here with nothing. I gave myself to the patients and they taught me how to minister to them. I meet with my COPM committe in about two weeks. My supervisor said that with the evaluation that he is going to give me, they should approve me to seek a call, no problem.

I ask your prayers as I continue to navigate the hazardous waters of ordination. I thank you for the prayers that have been given for me already, they are a major reason why I have gotten as far as I have.

Ron Church

Keeping in touch better...

Greetings my dear brothers & sisters in Christ,

While I am all for keeping and using this blog, we all must admit, it hasn't been the most effective tool for keeping in touch. I suspect it's due to busyness and the inconvenience of remembering to check this site now and then.

I would really like to keep in touch better with most of you to share ideas & resources, keep updated on the journey, and to encourage one another in Christ. The format that works best for me is simply group emails (with all the addresses in the “Bcc” line while emailing to yourself in the “To” line so as to not send out emails with 50 names exposed!).

If any of you are interested in keeping in touch with me, please just send me an email with the best email address for you. Here is the best email for me in this regards: roms1417 at hotmail.

Thanks & blessings!
Chris

"Reverend" sounds a little strange!

Hi everyone,
We are settling down here in Edgington after a 90 mile move from Dubuque to just south of the Quad Cities. Ordination was May 20th, and Installation at Edgington Presbyterian Church was last Sunday, July 1st. I started officially serving this congregation on June 3rd. It has been a busy month...much busier than I ever anticipated for the first month on the job.

I have already buried two members. The first death happened just two weeks after arriving. A leader within the church and community, a highly respected and beloved individual, committed suicide on a Friday morning. It's an interesting feeling driving to a home where a family is waiting for you where a loved one has just taken their own life! The funeral was huge...I was told there was around 300 in the sanctuary; the balcony was flexing from the weight on it, and people were in the basement listening on the p.a. system. I spent a lot of time that weekend...and continue to do so, talking about God's faithfulness in light of our own unfaithfullness.

We went to a Quad City Swings baseball game a few weeks ago in downtown Davenport. THey are a St. Louis Cardinals minor league team, and I kept thinking how much Scott P., Blake S., and the other Cubs fans would have enjoyed being there.

The installation last weekend was great. Pat Sileo gave the charge to the congregation, and Cheyanna Losey gave the charge to me. Phil Jamieson and his family came down from Dubuque...it was just a really nice afternoon of worshipping God, and participating in the mission and ministry of Jesus Christ.

I appreciate your prayers as I will be delivering my first "powerpoint" sermon this Sunday on Galatians 6 (lectionary). The church installed a retractable screen and mounted a projector to the ceiling last year. They have been using it for announcements and for music, but never for a sermon...we'll see how this goes!

Peace to you all,
Mark