This week I met with the Presbytery of San Francisco’s CPM for my Final Assessment, and after spending two hours with them, they brought me back into the room and let me know that I am now officially Certified Ready to Receive a Call.
Well, I’ve actually been here before with another presbytery, but it feels a little more official now after having gone through a fairly rigorous process. We are in the midst of trying to figure out what that means for me and for my current call to serve at a United Methodist Church, but it just feels so good to be at the end of this call process.
This process has not been easy by any means, and while I certainly have plenty to bitch about, I’m aware that many others go through very frustrating and even traumatic processes as well. Now that I’m almost fully on the other side of it, I can say that I have come through this process with a much greater understanding and validation of my decision to remain in the Presbyterian Church (USA). I am more sure about my purpose here in this denomination than I was back in December of 2008, when I was supposed to be ordained. I’m not saying that I’m glad that this process has been difficult, but now I’m able to see some of the positive things that came out of the process.
Thanks to all of you who have supported me (whether you’re Presbyterian yourself or believe that denominations are the devil) through this process and maybe sometime in the near future, you can all come to one heck of a party after my ordination service!