Long Limen
I'm feeling like I'm in a really long transitional period right now. There are several reasons. First, I've been approved by the Board of Ordained Ministry for Commissioning; but now I have to just wait for several months until: first, I find out where the bishop plans to appoint me; second, go before the clergy session for the final test before comissioning; third, be commissioned; fourth, finally be appointed and become a pastor somewhere. That will be on July 1st. So, I'm reasonably sure that's what's going to happen, but right now I just have to wait.
Then there's school. At the end of this term, I'll actually have conpleted every requirement for graduation. But there's still one more term to go. So I'll take some more classes, just waiting to graduation to come around in June.
Then, there's work at the Baptist church, where I'm still a pastoral intern. First of all, it's a little odd because I'm just kind of waiting for the Methodists to come through this summer so I can go back there. And I am kind of excited to be a Methodist again. Nothing against the Baptists; they've been great. I'm just very much a Methodist.
But it's weirder than just that. They've already hired my replacement, and he's my new boss. They hired a Transition Pastor, who will become the Interim Pastor when the current Senior Pastor retires at some undisclosed future date. (the Baptists are pretty paranoid about leadership changes) I the mean time, he'll be taking over my duties in Adult Education. So anyway, he's a great guy -- I've worked with him before -- but it's just kind of weird to have my replacement already hired. And he's my boss. And he's in my old office (I volunteered to give it to him) and I'm stuck in a little cubby hole with the Youth Pastor. They reassigned me to help out with youth until I leave in May, but that's not very long to establish report. So, I'm just kind of waiting to be done, in a way.
Which means that I'm in a very long period of liminal space. I'm anticipating a not too distant future, but still waiting for it to arrive, in a sort of no-man's land of uncertainty.
Then there's school. At the end of this term, I'll actually have conpleted every requirement for graduation. But there's still one more term to go. So I'll take some more classes, just waiting to graduation to come around in June.
Then, there's work at the Baptist church, where I'm still a pastoral intern. First of all, it's a little odd because I'm just kind of waiting for the Methodists to come through this summer so I can go back there. And I am kind of excited to be a Methodist again. Nothing against the Baptists; they've been great. I'm just very much a Methodist.
But it's weirder than just that. They've already hired my replacement, and he's my new boss. They hired a Transition Pastor, who will become the Interim Pastor when the current Senior Pastor retires at some undisclosed future date. (the Baptists are pretty paranoid about leadership changes) I the mean time, he'll be taking over my duties in Adult Education. So anyway, he's a great guy -- I've worked with him before -- but it's just kind of weird to have my replacement already hired. And he's my boss. And he's in my old office (I volunteered to give it to him) and I'm stuck in a little cubby hole with the Youth Pastor. They reassigned me to help out with youth until I leave in May, but that's not very long to establish report. So, I'm just kind of waiting to be done, in a way.
Which means that I'm in a very long period of liminal space. I'm anticipating a not too distant future, but still waiting for it to arrive, in a sort of no-man's land of uncertainty.
posted by david at 4:50 PM
3 Comments:
So how's the waiting going, niceling?
It's going fine. It'll be nice when we at least know where we're going. But things are good. I just notice that gap between what is and what will be.
Cool. That was me, BTW, Mary Ann.
Please wish me luck: my cohort of candidates go to a retreat with the B.O.M. on Monday and Tuesday. United Methodist Survivor.
Post a Comment
<< Home