The Time Has Come
As the Carpenter and Oysters were told in Lewis Carol’s Through the Looking Glass:
“The time has come,” the Walrus said,
“To talk of many things:
Of shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—
Of cabbages—-and kings—
And why the sea is boiling hot—
And whether pigs have wings.”
But more seriously, about becoming a minister of the Gospel.
Over the past few months, the process has been cranking up to consider whether I will be admitted to the Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne as a candidate for the Presbyterian ministry.
The caretaker minister and elders at Wodonga (the Session) have endorsed my application and sent it on to the Presbytery of Benalla. It will hold a special meeting at Tatura at 10am on Tuesday 25th October to hear me preach and consider whether to approve my application too.
Should this happen, I will then have to get the approval of the Theological Education Committee of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria and the Faculty of the Presbyterian Theological College. I would then begin my studies in February 2012 and hopefully graduate with a Bachelor of Theology at the end of 2015, aged 29.
I’ll be meeting with the Academic Dean at PTC on Friday to discuss my studies, then attending the Open Evening to get to know the college. During my course of study, I will do 2 one-year attachments to churches to hone my pastoral skills and one summer of ministry at a rural church. At the end of my training, I will be sent to a church for an exit appointment and would become eligible to be ordained as a Presbyterian minister.
Of course, there are practical arrangements to make too. My plan is to live on campus in Box Hill and to worship at Hawthorn Presbyterian Church.
God willing, this means that I will be concluding my work at 98.5 The Light and Wodonga TAFE. There are some good prospects for replacing me at The Light, and for that I am thankful. It appears that the TAFE will not be running further courses in broadcasting. I am sorry that this decision has been made.
By the time I move it will be almost 10 years since we arrived in Wodonga. It has claimed a place in my heart that I did not expect it to. I hope to be back many times over the next few years, and would delight to see the Gospel continue to spread throughout the city and surrounding towns.
As I uproot myself, I ask that you pray for me. First, give thanks for God’s guidance and provision through the years which have led me to this point. Second, ask that the necessary approvals will be given for me to pursue this calling to the ministry. Third, pray that the practical arrangements will fall in to place and that God will provide for me during this time. Finally, pray that the training will fit me for many years of service to Jesus and the church which he bought for himself with his own precious blood.
(Feel free to ask me about the process. If any of the terminology is confusing, try reading the Wikipedia article on Presbyterian Church Government, which I had a large part in writing.)
