This video on the United Methodist Ordination Process was yanked from the internets a while back due to the author’s feeling it was cynical. The author then found out that clergy and the bureaucracy had used the video in conversation…and the author reposted it (h/t UM Preacher’s Network)! Here it is in all its glory.
I’ll admit it is a bit cynical but it helps people to become aware that the issue isn’t the young person’s passion but rather the onerous process of ordination. If you are not aware of the process, it can be informative. If you are aware, it has its moments of humor.
Notes:
- I did my candidacy in undergrad and it did shave off two years off the process.
- “If you want to be first, you have to start out last.” Ha!
- The slap at the District Superintendents at the end is not always true, but sending retiring DSes to retirement churches (not necessarily dying churches) has been common.
How do we better channel young person’s enthusiasm into molds or vessels that can carry that enthusiasm throughout the entire process?
Maybe you could serve Jesus by becoming a mathematician.” … love that line!
Frank Viola is right. Or at least incredibly disturbing. . . .
Great video. When I posted this on Facebook, I received a number of comments from people. A few of them were local pastors and their basic response was, “Now you see why I didn’t bother getting ordained.” They decided that it was much easier than trying to go the “long route.”
This video is 100% truth. Having recently quit the ordination process myself, it confirms my experience, and encourages me to know that I’m not alone in holding this perception of the ordination process.