Welcome to Seek His Purpose, a blog of random musings about the Revised Common Lectionary and rural life.
I am a commissioned lay pastor in the Presbyterian Church (USA). In the World of Presbyterianism, that does not make me a Reverend or a Pastor (or any other Title With a Capital Letter). It mostly makes me an elder with an attitude. (It also means I don’t wear robes, which sometimes makes it a little difficult to find a place to hang a portable mic.)
As a disclaimer, the Presbyterian Book of Order points out that “God alone is Lord of the conscience” (G-1.0301) meaning that any statement I make should not be construed as the official stance of the Presbyterian Church (USA)–or sometimes even my own, since it’s fun to throw in thoughts once in a while just to get people fired up.
I am also a former journalist, a freelance writer, political junkie, occasional quilter, cat lover (but also the owner of two unruly dogs), and closet fan of hard rock music (I am a child of the 70s, after all.)
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January 11, 2009 at 12:39 am
Christian Beyer
OK, now I understand why I ‘get’ you. Cats, dogs, hard rock, the seventies, political junkie. But QUILTS!? I’m going to have to reassess my values.
January 18, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Kimberly Vanbrimmer
Just curious why you don’t wear robes. Is that a Presbytery rule, your church’s preference, or your own choosing? I’m asking because I am going through the process to become a CLP, and my best friend is going to be commissioned as a CLP next month. She and I were talking about robes, and we weren’t sure if she would be able to wear one or not. When I googled it – your blog popped up. Any advice you could give us on the robe situation would be great!
Thank you,
Kimberly Vanbrimmer
January 18, 2009 at 10:54 pm
seekhispurpose
In my case it’s a personal preference, and I’ve never really researched a “rule”. An ordained minister once told me that a robe is a symbol reserved for people who have achieved their MDiv, but I don’t know if that’s true. I have a good friend who is a Lutheran PMA (the equivalent of a CLP), and she wears a robe. In her case, she says it keeps her from worrying about whether she’s too dressed up or not dressed up enough. My only experience with wearing a robe was high school graduation, when I decided they were very hot. As my bio indicates, my biggest problem continues to be where to hang the mic. Most women’s jackets don’t have the inside pocket, where lot of male ministers stow the control. If you speak from a pulpit, this isn’t a problem.
My personal soapbox is that somewhere along the way, the rank and file Presbyterian has quit believing that they not only have the ability, but the responsibility, to participate in worshipping God and providing pastoral care to each other and the community at large. Many of our churches have become way too pastor-dependent, allowing their success or failure to hinge on whoever is paid to be the minister. My message is that people need to get their rear ends out of the pews and pursue the ministries God has planned for them, and trust that where the Holy Spirit leads them is as valid as where the Holy Spirit leads me. In my mind, a robe only serves as a visual to the congregation that the CLP or minister is a step above everyone else. Did Jesus wear a robe? (Probably, but not the kind we’re talking about.)
There is a Facebook page for CLPs, and I’d like to post your question there to get some other feedback.