Yesterday I spent a majority of the day at Glen Lake Camp for my annual interview with the Conference Board of Ordained Ministry. This was my fifth interview before this board, but the first time I had come before them as a candidate to be ordained.
After a 90 minute interview with a team of three pastors and one lay person and the deliberation of the entire board, they approved me for ordination at this year’s Annual Conference in June.
I have been “in process” moving towards ordination for about 10 years, so the entire experience was really amazing, but there were two things yesterday that I found particularly meaningful.
First, my final approval came in the same place where I felt God calling me to ministry almost 17 years ago. Sitting outside the building where my interview team was discussing after we had finished out visit, I could see the steps I was sitting on one night at church camp when I felt God’s call on my life.
Second, when I was invited in to be greeted by the entire board and receive their applause and congratulations, my Dad, who has served on this board for quite some time, was standing off to the side joining in their applause. I was so thankful for their affirmation, but even more, I was honored to be my father’s son standing before his colleagues which have now become my own. I was honored that he was there.