Pastor Josh is (most likely) Getting Ordained!

[Pastor Josh]

I just got through my ordination interview, and it was tough.  However, the committee is going to recommend me to the full board for ordination.  The Board votes tomorrow, and then the clergy vote in June, but those are usually just formalities.  I'm bringing this up here mainly to thank all of you for your encouragement and support, especially those of you who took part in the theological discussion thread I started.  It was a great help in preparing for this.  FOT are great, and I feel honored and blessed to be one.  If anyone will be in Peoria the first weekend of June, you're invited to come see the festivities.

[SJK]

Good luck Pastor Josh! I'm sure everything will work out.

[Sarah]

1. In my opinion, pastors should not refer to themselves in the third person.

2. Is it proper to call yourself "pastor" before you are ordained as such?

3. Congratulations on your promotion.

[Keith Whitener]

Boom boom boom! Way to go Josh!

[JustNicole]

Congratulations! That is great news.

Now both you and John Wurster are pastors! http://www.fpckerrville.org/JohnWWurster.htm

[Pastor Josh]

Nicole, that is great.  I wonder if he'd compete in a pastor-off with me.

Actually, I have been a pastor for six years now.  This June, I will be ordained as an Elder in Full Connection with the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of the United Methodist Church.  It's sort of like the difference between being a professor and having a Ph. D.

[Hugman 3.0]

So does this make you Reverend Josh?

[Pastor Josh]

It would have.  I just got a phone call that the Board of Ordained Ministry voted not to recommend me for ordination this year.  I'm pretty upset, and I'm not really sure what I'm going to do now.  I can try again next year, but I'm not sure I want to.  Pardon me getting churchy, but over the last few years I've been realizing that the last place you can actually follow Jesus is in the church.  Maybe I'm bitter, or maybe this is a sign.  Either way, I'm glad the FOT can't kick me out.

[dudep]

Ugh, sorry to hear it PJ.  As for the FOT: even if we could kick you out, I can't imagine we'd want to.  What would scum force do without its spiritual leader??

[Pastor Josh]

Thanks.  Just to be clear, I still have a job.  Things are okay in the short term.

[dave from knoxville]

Thanks.  Just to be clear, I still have a job.  Things are okay in the short term.

Cheezus, Pastor Josh. Do they give any reason, or is it like the bogus explanation given to people who don't get tenure? (We could tell you why, but if you ever want a recommendation from us, you best not ask.)

[Pastor Josh]

They gave a reason, but I don't buy it.  They told me that the answers to my disciplinary questions were too short.  If they aren't satisfied with my answers, then that's what the interview is for.  I'm not part of the booster club, so they're slapping me on the wrist to get me in line.  Or maybe they're hoping I'll take the hint and leave. 

[Hugman 3.0]

They gave a reason, but I don't buy it.  They told me that the answers to my disciplinary questions were too short.  If they aren't satisfied with my answers, then that's what the interview is for.  I'm not part of the booster club, so they're slapping me on the wrist to get me in line.  Or maybe they're hoping I'll take the hint and leave.

Believe me, I know, PJ.  Not sure what exactly you're differences of opinion are, but as the son of a very liberal member of a very conservative Lutheran organization (you know, the "change it from the inside" kind of guy), I can tell you you're in for a lifetime of headaches, frustrations,  and people talking poop about you.

Sorry for the bad news. 

[fonpr]

They told me that the answers to my disciplinary questions were too short. 

Did you fail to mention stocks and racks?

Good for paragraph each.  Easy.



You're still our Pastor.

[Shaggy 2 Grote]

Sorry to hear that, Josh. But, like Jesus, you have made your true ministry a bunch of misfits and outcasts who are obsessed with a comedy radio show. You'll always be welcome here as far as I'm concerned!