Monday Evening - Ordination Service

Monday evening featured "Responding to the Call: A Service for the Ordering of Ministry."

Following the processional, prayers by Bishop Kammerer, presentation of those to be licensed, commissioned, and ordained, Robert Schoeman sang the anthem, "The Lord's Prayer." The Rt. Rev. David Colin Jones of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, gave the Prayer of Illumination and read the Scripture from March 10:35-45 with the message, "The son of man came not to be served, but to serve."

Bishop Kammerer gave her sermon, "Whoever Would Be Great Among You."

Jesus knows what will happen to him when he goes to the Holy City, she said. James and John seemed almost clueless about this exchange from Jesus or maybe they're just in denial.

Bishop Kammerer delivers the ordination sermon.
"I remember 32 years ago in a time period of two weeks," Bishop Kammerer said, " I graduated from seminary, attended conference and arrived in Jacksonville to serve as associate pastor in a large church. It was all a whirlwind. After two weeks, the senior pastor said he was leaving for a three-week vacation and I'd be in charge." The senior pastor told her she would learn by doing.

"Here I was with a Master of Divinity and I was newly ordained," she said. "What could go wrong?"

The bishop prepared to officiate her first wedding in the beautiful church. "All was going well," she related. "The wedding party processed, the bride made her entrance and the young couple stood there with shining eyes. A movement caught my eye. I looked over the shoulder of the bride. Crawling up the middle aisle on his forearms was the photographer. I asked the couple to look at each other and I glared at the photographer and shooed him back. He began his retreat, crawling backwards down the aisle. Everyone was hanging over the edge of the pews, laughing. The couple was blissfully unaware." The ceremony went on without a hitch. The photographer never came to the church again. "That moment was never covered in a seminary class," the bishop said.

Soon after the wedding, a pastor was needed to preside over a funeral for a young lady who was to be married. "I planned a service of resurrection. The groom-to-be plunked himself over the coffin. It took five men to take him off. This also was not covered in class."

At the end of the three weeks, the senior pastor asked "How did things go?" Other things had happened, as well. A business center down the street was petitioning the city council to have an adult entertainment business less than a block from the church. She went to speak in opposition to the proposition. She was also asked to undermine a decision the senior pastor had made. "I welcomed the senior pastor back with open arms."

"I saw myself in the inept James and John following Jesus. Jesus accepts them at their word to follow him but they don't know Jesus is talking about the cup of suffering. The other disciples are getting angry at James and John. That's when Jesus tells them that he came to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.

"Jesus invites us to be like him. He accepts us with all our human frailties and fears. His way will lead you to the very heart of God."

Bishop Kammerer told the class of 2007 when they are ministering, visiting, they will know they are following Jesus. "You will recognize him when you know you don't have all the answers. You will be accompanying Christ in his suffering and his resurrection. You will be slow learners, nevertheless, Jesus holds you, invites you, accepts you to follow him. Following Jesus is the hardest thing we ever learn to do. It's disruptive. It means' you'll be in more trouble, not less."

A.J. Gunther is ordained elder.
She reminded, "Two robbers occupied those places of honor to the right and left of Jesus. Remember what Jesus said, 'Whoever is to be great among you, must be the servant.'"

The bishop's sermon was followed the licensing of the local pastors (38 persons), the reception of the associate members (two persons), the commissioning of the probationary members (34 persons), the ordaining of deacons (four persons) and elders (22 persons), and the recognition of orders (one person).

Following the service, the bishop invited any in the audience who felt called by God to come forward in the spirit of Jesus. She went to the floor level to anoint with oil for healing and discernment. Prayer partners were available for counsel.