TonioTimeDaily

“What exactly are the requirements for ordination? Does the minister pledge celibacy, poverty, and obedience, and declare their adherence to a strict creed? As you might imagine, they do none of these things. Matters of celibacy would generally be considered none of the congregation’s business (as would matters of gender or sexual orientation). There is no vow of poverty—ministers draw salaries, like other professionals. And obedience is out of the question, although ministers do have a mutual covenant through which they agree how they will relate to one another. It involves matters of support and mutual accountability, and very much does not involve obedience. As for adherence to a strict creed, that’s not only not a requirement, it’s explicitly stated in the Unitarian Universalist Association bylaws that it cannot be a requirement. What happens at an ordination service? Does the bishop lay hands on the new minister? Well, this would be tricky, because there is no UU bishop. There is often a laying on of hands, but it usually involves everyone. There’s usually a Charge to the Minister and a Charge to the Congregation (these are marching orders of a sort, given by someone the new minister chooses). There’s usually the offering of a collegial blessing such as the right hand of fellowship, where another minister welcomes the new minister into the collegial group. And there’s always the act of ordination, which is performed by the members of the congregation and is usually a reading led by the congregational president. There is no magical moment of ethereal transformation where the minister takes their place as an intermediary between God and humankind. UUs do not all agree on whether there is a God, much less where such a God might be located. But we definitely agree that whatever transcendental forces exist, ministers do not have a special place in controlling or mediating those forces. Ministry is not a supernatural state of any kind. It’s a choice, a process, and an ongoing relationship.” As I child, I was willing to lose my entire life, money, housing, vehicles, my health care, my insurances, materialism, possessions, power, statuses, pleasure, comfort, praise, approval, and my acceptance for Jesus! As a child, I believed that I would gain eternal life with Christ! I think of being a theologian, and a lawyer. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/antonio-myers4/support