Reflecting on the Privilege of Ministry

Yesterday, we had the honor of hearing Rev. Eric deliver his final sermon at the pulpit of Lawrence Park Community Church. He shared his thoughts on "Reflecting on the Privilege of Ministry," taking us through his journey of becoming a minister to this very moment. Eric mentioned, "I found my vocation later in life, so I feel like I didn’t get enough time to keep doing what I love." Eric, we will always cherish the love and wisdom you've brought to our community. We look forward to welcoming you and Marilyn back in the New Year after your many adventures.

Reflecting on the privilege of ministry in the church - A few thoughts on a personal journey

Rev. Dr. Eric Bacon – August 25, 2024

As you can appreciate, I have much that I would like to share with you today, but we are always subject to time constraints. And so, I should ask for forgiveness, rather than permission, if I exceed the expected duration of today’s message. I recall in my earlier church affiliation that some congregants would be upset if the service went too long because the roast beef in the oven would be too well done. Clearly that was an age before built in oven timers! I am aware that the word “final” has been attached to my reflection today in light of my imminent retirement as a staff member of Lawence Park Community Church. Let me say that it is not my intention to be sentimental but in the words of a clergy colleague who recently retired, he said that such closure was a “tender moment.”  I can identify with this feeling in that my life, work, and identity have been very much immersed in the life of this congregation over the last several years. In my specific role as pastoral care minister this 0has meant that you have placed your trust in me when the circumstances of life, death, and personal challenges called for compassion and understanding, and you invited me to walk with you. Be assured that I will never forget the bonds that we established in those moments of need.

This morning, I am not so much going to sermonize but rather speak personally about my ministry and ministry in general as I have experienced it. In summary, what I would like to emphasize from my own learning over the last 35 years. What am I still passionate about? I am not so much referring to new learnings, but rather a deepening understanding of theological concepts and especially a more refined and responsible interpretation of the Scriptures.

But first, forgive me for a little nostalgia as I look back on my journey: It was a beautiful summer day, with a blue sky and sunshine to make the occasion momentous. Here we were at Convocation Hall on the campus of Mount Allison University in Sackville, New Brunswick, as newly ordained or commissioned ministers in the United Church of Canada. We were dressed in white albs and displaying a variety of colourful stoles that were mainly gifts from family to acknowledge the significance of our ordination. It occurred to me that we were more appropriately dressed for a forty-day wilderness experience than for readiness to report to our first churches across the country, and to the usual scrutiny and curiosity to which we are routinely subjected. Yes, the search committee had done its duty, and we had sufficiently impressed its members that we were worth taking a chance on. But that was only a small representative group of the congregation! As you can appreciate, to be in a fishbowl with a congregation curiously looking in is another matter entirely! Will he or she be as good as or better than Reverend Bill or Reverend Rose? Does he or she dress suitably for worship? And, regrettably in those days post 1988, I wonder if she or he is gay?

The overwhelming feeling for me, and I suggest for most of the class of 1995, was the relief that the journey to ordination through Master of Divinity studies, and continuous scrutiny by the heavy bureaucracy of the United Church of Canada, as to our suitability for ministry had been unending and, at times, discouraging. I recall numerous forms to be filled out; many interviews to attend, sometimes with volunteer committees that included those who had little to offer in skill sets in assessing the preparedness for a ministry vocation; and reflection papers to write at any particular time as to what was the sense of our call to ministry. A repetitive question, the answer to which is not easy to articulate. I was not a candidate who could use that biblical Damascus Road experience of being blinded and personally called by God. The still small voice within me had been a simple nudge over time and that had suggested I possessed skills for ministry and that I should seriously consider this vocation. Well. The rest is history and, some 35 years later, here I am at Lawrence Park Community Church after several calls and appointments in Nova Scotia and southern Ontario, a journey that brought me here from the simplicity of a rural struggling congregation, several stops in between, to this congregation that, in contrast to that little church in Noel, Nova Scotia, is one of largesse in resources, both financial and human.

As I look back at that ordination moment in 1995, I had no delusions of grandeur in that Rev. Eric would in any way change the world, let alone the church. When one is nearing retirement and I should say, one of a permanent nature, it is not uncommon to be asked many questions and this morning I have chosen two with which I want to respond, namely: What have I personally learned from embracing this vocation of ministry? And would I do it again?

As a preface to responding, let me say that I have always believed in and practised lifelong learning. I would say that exposure to church and all things theological provides more than enough for the learning curve of both ministry and indeed for life itself. Theology as a discipline is not static. It is not unlike other disciplines that develop and grow in knowledge and scope that, as a result improves lives, such as medicine with advancements that increase longevity and a whole host of treatments that can extend life. Theology, and specifically scripture is somewhat different, in that what changes is more in the line with our own ability to become more competent in our interpretation of it. It requires excavation and going beyond its literal understandings, the mythology, and the metaphors to arrive at a meaningful piece of wisdom or caution for everyday life. That is the very focus of accountable ministry. Continuous learning and openness to epiphanies that can be shared with one’s congregation.

At the risk of presenting a shopping list, let me mention briefly some of the conclusions I have reached in my journey that have kept me focused and encouraged me to keep going despite the challenges that ministry presents. Yes, to paint a picture of a totally rosy path is not exactly true, ministry has its speed bumps and there are times when it is necessary, to use a modern phrase, to suck it up!  Congregants are not always as stable and supportive as present company. Let me add a little humour that might explain the fickleness that some may demonstrate in their dissatisfaction with the church or indeed its minister. It is a rather cheeky anecdote. A ship’s captain came across a small island that was uncharted and observed three small dwellings on it, all of which had smoking chimneys. He went ashore and was met by a man who said that he was the only inhabitant of the island. The captain responded curiously and asked the question “If you are alone, who resides in these three dwellings?” Well, the man explained, I live in one and the other is my church. Well, said the captain, “what about the other one?”  O replied the man, “that’s where I used to go to church”! Putting humour aside, let me say that the idiosyncrasies and preferences of church members are outweighed by the fact that by far the majority of day-to-day ministry with its continuous interrelationships is fulfilling beyond description.

Firstly, I would like to reiterate from my learnings over the years in the context of scripture. The power of the gospel, when approached with an open mind and a thirst for contemporary application, is absolutely loaded with direction and inspiration. It is hard work, and we need patience to arrive at what, in many cases, is an epiphany moment that speaks to us. The Gospel is the most comprehensive code of compassionate and caring human behaviour, because it answers the proverbial question “What would Jesus do . . .  in a specific situation?” (or expressed in a more direct way using the same acronym WWJD as “What would justice demand?”) The biggest injustice that the church can perpetrate, has perpetrated, and in some parts of Christendom still perpetuates is when it uses scripture as a weapon of prejudice, discrimination, or superiority. I am not sure where it finds its supporting scriptural resource and am totally baffled as to how the Christian Right can support a morally bankrupt candidate to lead their country.

You may be wondering this morning where scripture comes into this reflection. Let me expand a little on the two brief passages that Cathie read to us. I was intentional in my choices. Matthew 28 and verses 16 through 20 is referred to as “The Great Commission. You will note that these are the final verses of this gospel, the final words of Jesus. They are not just for those aspiring to ordained ministry, but to all who claim to be Christian or, to use a phrase that regretfully is sometimes felt to be too simplistic too evangelical, or even unsophisticated, “followers of Jesus.”  I chose the opening hymn this morning to relate to these gospel verses which speaks clearly what this great commandment is all about. Just a few weeks before ordination our Atlantic School of Theology MDiv. class of 1995 processed out of the Anglican Cathedral in Halifax singing this hymn. Let me repeat the words of the first verse that were especially relevant to our vocation of ministry:

Lord, you give the great commission “Heal the sick and preach the word.” Lest the church neglect its mission, and the gospel go unheard, help us witness to your purpose with renewed integrity; with the Spirit’s gifts empow’r us for the work of ministry.” Little did we know, at that time, how much we would need that invisible empowering spirit to keep us faithful and moving forward. Simple but powerful words. Not to mention the great tune of Abbot’s Leigh

Briefly referring to the Isaiah reading, there is a phrase in these verses that came to my attention when I was in a dark period in my life following a corporate downsizing. Yes, a lofty term used to make a termination a little more appetizing, but none of us are fooled. The day I saw this, and believe me, I was not one to open up the Bible very often! happened to be the day when there was a position advertised in the business section of the Globe and Mail for a Church Administrator.  The verse in question is Isaiah 55 verse 2: “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labour for that which does not satisfy?” It was the latter words that spoke to me. I am not suggesting that a corporate life was not all unsatisfying, in fact the perks were rather attractive! However, I know now that I was being directed to a more fulfilling vocation for which I will always be grateful. That is how I started my 35-year association with the United Church at Timothy Eaton Memorial and the rest is history.

The word progressive has become popular in the last couple of decades to describe the church that has a vision. I believe that we need to have a handle on what a progressive church really is. What have we introduced? What have we set aside? Have we discarded anything that was traditional and considered unnecessary which was actually what is required orthodoxy. Might I cite the Infrequent use of The Lord’s Prayer for example. It appears a Call to Worship; a Prayer of Confession, and an Assurance of Pardon have also disappeared from worship liturgy. I might ask if this is progressive? What does the LPCC vision statement: “Unorthodox, Unlimited, United” mean today rather then when created by a Minister, the Council, or the members of the congregation. I recall that in the corporate world of the 70s’s and 80’s, companies caught on to the trend of producing a Mission Statement. It became expected. I cannot speak for all corporations but in the case of my employer, once the statement had been beautifully written in calligraphy and framed for the executives to hang on their office walls, we never referred to it again. It is my understanding that a Mission Statement is a living and breathing document and subject to revision as required. The same updating should be required for those churches who have a document or declaration of this sort.

There is much more that I would like to say to you this morning, but I do wish to respect the matter of time. Let me come to what for me is the paramount caution that I would like to leave you with this morning. It is what I am most passionate about as I look both retrospectively and prospectively at the church and whatever future it may have. That has been a great interest of mine over the years. Simply stated, if in the quest to make the church attractive and totally affirming and welcoming, the message of the gospel, that is the “Way of Jesus” becomes secondary, then the church has lost its way. Our raison d’etre is first and foremost as the Body of Christ in the world. Yes, that term may sound to some as evangelical, too simplistic, or even unsophisticated, but it is our identity if we claim to be Christians. Lawrence Park Community Church stands as a beacon of hope in its development and initiatives to address the matter of wholeness and well-being in our spiritual needs though programme and worship. As you move forward, I ask you to be diligent in that the Way of Jesus continues to be the very non-negotiable essence of what you proclaim and live. To answer my second question, would I do it all again? Yes, without any hesitation. I have been blessed, and especially blessed to have spent my final years in active ministry here in this special place. Until the next time, and I sincerely hope that there will indeed be a next time to speak from this pulpit, subject of course to my continuing competence, may God bless richly bless you all. I hope that your roast beef dinner will not be too overcooked! Amen.