After I was told the local review's decision, as my local assessor was leaving she congratulated me, and gave me a little advice on how to more fully put into words my sense of call. I appreciated this as I believe she knows I am called and also understands how difficult it is to put something I feel in my heart into words.
Then, she made the slightly throw away comment of something along the lines of "remember the ministry of word and sacrament has more ministries than parish ministry". I know I told her.
Since then, that statement has been coming occasionally into my mind. She had made that comment a while back too. Perhaps I am called to minister outwith parish ministry and this is God sowing the seeds for that. Perhaps I will start in parish ministry and more into another area later. All I know is I will go where God leads me and it'll be a life changing journey!
It's another of those standard questions that can get thrown at you at assessment conference:
ReplyDeleteWhy 'Word and Sacrament'?
Why parish ministry?
They're worth thinking about as there's a strong possibility you'll be asked. You can approach it from several different angles. One option is to say why it's 'not' one of the other ministries. It's probably best though to balance that with a more positive why it 'is' what you feel called to. Do bear in mind the distinctives of 'Word and Sacrament' and parish ministry in relation to the many other forms of ministry.
That's not to suggest that an answer of how you're still exploring which call, or still being open to a particular ministry, isn't acceptable, but be careful not to appear too 'unconvinced'.