Attention all ordained ministers: I have a burning question for you. Thinking back to your candidacy process, is that a process you are grateful for now? (As opposed to being grateful that it’s over.) And were you grateful for it then?
I’m asking specifically about the denominational vetting process—interviews, position papers, etc.—as opposed to seminary and CPE and the like. (Feel free to talk about all of it though.)
What I’d like to know is whether or not clergy experience that process as helpful in their ministerial formation. The vast majority of clergy I’ve talked to over the years have found placed their experience somewhere on the continuum between unhelpful and traumatic. I want to know if that’s true across the board or just for the people I happen to know.
Hi, Chance,
I saw the whole process as a winnowing, a cauterizing, a continual “are you sure?” kind of thing. I had a lot of encouragement from laypeople and ministers alike as I began the credentialing process. I never had any doubts about my call and so I tended to view every step as one more thing completed, sort of like crossing off items on my to-do list. Once CPE was done, I looked back, thought, “well, look how I’ve changed/grown/failed/regrown because of that very tense 10 weeks”. Barged into my second year of seminary even more sure of my call. Arranged an internship that worked well for me and gave my formation process a quantum leap. Went back for my final year in seminary realizing that I really was going to be able to do this, it wasn’t just a pipe dream.
By then I had gotten my ears pinned back by the MFC which told me I needed to deal with my intensity (who, me?) and required me to see a spiritual director for a year before I could qualify for preliminary fellowship. I needed that comeuppance, because, boy, was I full of myself (and may still be, though I manage to tame it most of the time).
Yep, I’m grateful for it all. I needed to learn a lot about myself and about what it means to be a minister. Much of it I learned because of the credentialing process. Seminary was fun. Qualifying for Final Fellowship was hard personal work and I’m glad I did it.
Kitty, it’s good to hear you had a good experience. I’m sad, though, that this is one of the few stories of gratitude I’ve heard. I wish there were more.
Once I remember to separate my seminary experience from the credentialing process (two totally different creatures), I can echo Ms. Kitty. The MFC (and the regional committee) affirmed me when I needed affirming, kicked my ass when I needed ass-kicking, and checked my ego when it needed checking.
That’s good to hear.