I did not want this week to pass without calling attention to last Sunday’s ordination service. On Sunday, February 28, the church gathered in Woodhull, Illinois to celebrate the ordination of Christopher Heller. Chris chose not to be ordained last November because the date of the synod-wide ordination celebration fell within one week of his wedding. The challenge in rescheduling became one of finding time in the bishop’s calendar and choosing a location.Each synod has its own ordination practices. The Northern Illinois Synod continues to ordain new pastors in synod-wide services, planned by our own worship team. This is to emphasize the fact that ordination is an act of the church for the sake of the whole church. We do the same for consecration and commissioning.
We broke from tradition a bit by ordaining Chris in the context in which he has been called to serve. Chris will serve as associate pastor of the Edwards River Ministry, a parish of four congregations also served by Pastor Nancy Jaster. Bethany Lutheran Church in Woodhull, the site of the ordination, is one of those four congregations. Bishop Wollersheim officiated and Bette Mohr, AIM, dean of the Southwest Conference, served as assisting minister. The choir of Bethany sang. There were bells and brass, organ and piano.
The newly ordained Pastor Heller was immediately installed into his office by Pastor Tom Larsen, assistant to the bishop for the Southwest Conference. Leaders of the four congregations represented the congregations of Edwards River.
A number of pastors from the synod were in attendance. There were also quite a few folks who traveled from Christ Lutheran Church in Stockton, Chris’ home congregation, to join in the festivities.
To ordain and install in the same service is common in some synods. It is the exception here. As it was, however, the church was gathered and you were represented, even if you were not in Woodhull last Sunday afternoon.
(Pictured from left to right are Bishop Wollersheim, Pastor Heller and Dr. Winston Persaud, Chris’ ordination sponsor and professor at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque.)
Comments? Go to http://niselca.blogspot.com/. --JC
I like to go to ordination and installation services of the pastors and rostered individuals in the congregations of Rockford. There is always something special about the services. I love the tradition of the laying of hands on the pastor being installed or ordained. The rostered leaders present in the service come forward to touch the person being installed or ordained. They surround this individual and touch them as the blessing is pronounced. I wonder if the disciples ever did that to Jesus? He probably could have used the boost!
ReplyDeleteNo doubt about it, Jeff. We are ordained/conscrecated into the fullness of the Church, not a specific minsistry or location.
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