Preacher

I’m taking a grad leveling class right now so I can earn the extra credits I need to begin a doctoral program. The class I’m in is a preaching course and a couple weeks ago we gave our first sermons. While I took a preaching class in undergrad I was eagerly anticipating this course and learning new skills and ways of preparing a sermon. Well, a few weeks ago was the first sermon I’ve really ever preached and let me tell you, I felt, and still feel, liberated, empowered, and validated. While it wasn’t perfect, it felt so good to have the opportunity to preach and share the gospel in a way that I have never had the opportunity to do before. 

You guys, I can preach.

I'm not saying I'm perfect at it, but I’m not bad. In fact, I think I did quite well. I still have more to learn, for sure, but I did it. And I don’t say that to brag, but to celebrate that I’ve been given the chance to discover another area that I can grow in and enjoy participating in in the life of the church and God's world; a way that to this point, I wasn’t sure I’d be good at and wasn’t sure when or if I would ever find out. I am so incredibly thankful, but also sad that it has taken me 27 years to finally find out. 

I'm currently preparing my next (and last) sermon for this course and throughout the sermon prep process I keep finding myself eagerly reading and enjoying the steps that will bring me to the point where I'm ready to write. Which is both invigorating and a bit heartbreaking. 

You see, I've never been a part of a congregation where I would be allowed to preach. And as I noted before, I wasn't even sure if that was something I would be good at or actually interested in, but even just having the opportunity to try like the boys I grew up with got to would have been something I'd have enjoyed and learned a lot from. 

Over the past several years I have been surrounded by woman who are active in ministry, or wanting to be, and are from traditions that typically do not support woman in leadership roles within the church. This community of women, via internet, face to face conversations, phone calls, and conferences have been such an encouragement to me and have helped me gain the confidence I need in order to continue pushing. 

So. I've got my undergrad degree in Christian Ministry, my Masters in Missional Leadership, I'm working toward starting a Doctorate of Ministry program, I've spent hours and years volunteering in ministry roles, and...I've preached. And I will try to continue to find ways/places to preach. I'm not sure preaching is what I would want to do full-time, but so far I do enjoy it and hope to have the opportunity to preach from time to time. But whether or not I do, knowing that I can and knowing I have a community of women (and some men) standing behind me as I pursue this call to ministry (in whatever form it takes) is such an encouragement to me. 

It's been a rough road the past several years (and especially the past few months) with trying to find ways to pursue ministry without ever being given a job with the title of minister or pastor, but I'm claiming that title and call on my life and will keep pushing forward. 

A shot from preaching in my class a few weeks ago