May calls attention to God’s call on clergy
Helping people respond to the calling of God on their lives is a priority of Oklahoma Conference’s Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM).
Supported by BOM, the Second Annual Ministerial Recruitment Month will be observed during the month of May. Every church is encouraged to participate by finding ways during worship and through special events to emphasize the importance of hearing God’s call.
1. Sample worship bulletin inserts will be provided by the BOM Ministerial Recruitment Subcommittee for use during May. These may be copied to distribute on Sunday or in other settings.
2. Pastors are urged to speak about their own calls to ministry, either in worship or as part of another gathering, and to talk individually with people who sense a call in their lives and express interest in lay, licensed, or ordained ministry.
3. Invite people who feel God’s invitation in this way to attend the Service of Commissioning and Ordination on May 27 at OKC-St. Luke’s UMC, during the 2015 Annual Conference. At the close of worship that evening, Bishop Robert Hayes Jr. will offer an invitation to ministry.
"Last year’s response was a holy moment, as people came from all over the sanctuary to kneel, pray, and commit their lives to the great adventure God has in store for them. We believe the same will happen this year," said Chuck Nordean, director of Clergy and Congregational Development.
That response launched a series of events that further engaged those who responded.
First, each person received an informational packet, including a copy of "Christian as Minster: An Exploration into the Meaning of God’s Calling."
Then in September, BOM held a Call to Ministry Rally that was attended by more than 120 participants from 54 churches. During that day, people who wanted to become part of the formal clergy candidacy process were assigned to district mentoring groups.
In February, at the "I Am Laity" Summit, 95 people registered to attend a session led by Rev. Nordean. It was titled "Here I Am, Lord — An Exploration into God’s Calling."
Nordean said, "God continues to call people to an incredible work in the life of the Church, and faithful servants are responding in all sorts of ways — as certified Lay Servants, as bi-vocational Local Pastors, full-time Local Pastors, and as candidates for Ordained Ministry."
‘People came from all over the sanctuary to commit to the great adventure’
– Chuck Nordean