Preperation

It has been too long since my last post. Christmas and Easter have come and gone. A birthday went by. We have served more than a few clients at the law office and I have assisted most every Sunday in worship. Meantime, I have been reading, reading and reading some more in preparation for Course of Study this summer. Besides that, my clergy mentor has a reading list that I am working through.

One disappointment this Spring was that the Conference decided to put the new church start on “hold”. The area where we were going to plant has suffered from the economic turndown. The businesses and homes that were projected for the area are on the shelf for now, and the Conference decided that the time was no longer ripe to plant the church. As much as I am disappointed, I recognize that the Conference has likely made the right decision. So, we continue to build a ministry in the mission field, knowing that in God’s time, we will plant his church.

Even so, there is so much to do. I have asked for more responsibility as a certified lay minister and the church has been glad to allow me to serve. As a CLM, you simply have to carve out your ministries and demonstrate that you are responsible, capable and when called upon, you will do what is asked. And we can be confident because the CLM training is really good and prepares us for the work. I am getting to preach more often and help plan worship. There are large numbers of details that need attention, and I am learning to get them on my punch list.

One bit of advice would be for you to read and study as much as possible regarding pastoral care. That was a big hole in my education, but it is a huge part of what a pastor and a CLM does. The 4 Modules were a good start, but a better understanding of how and why people hurt, and what might be done to help, is really important. Even if I were not a clergy candidate, I would be studying pastoral care texts. So far, I have put some of what I have learned to work and was glad I better understood the issues. If anyone would like a list of the books, I am happy to share.

The next steps for me are licensing school in May, hopefully an appointment in June, and then off to Perkins Course of Study School in July. I am still working at the law office and that little oil play we call the Eagle Ford shale is keeping us busy there. Of course, there is my beloved church and every moment I get to spend there as a CLM is a blessing.

Joy!

Bill