Ordination

[Mark Metcalfe]

My son-in-law (Nathan Patnode, Malden, MA CotN) is getting ordained on Saturday.

A man that was in my youth group many years ago, Brian Bollinger, is also getting ordained.

Perhaps some of you preachers would wax anecdotal (or nostalgic) for the rest of us?

Mark

[Kevin Bowser]

Is Brian Bollinger the son of Bob Bollinger the former finance guy for ENC back in the late 70's and early 80's?

[Mark Metcalfe]

Is Brian Bollinger the son of Bob Bollinger the former finance guy for ENC back in the late 70's and early 80's?

The same. Larry Bollinger, Brian's brother and Bob and Lucy's younger son, is the head of Compassionate Ministries for the Church of the Nazarene.

Larry was in my youth group, too. :-)

Mark

[Jim Franklin]

There is a young lady ministerial student from NNU who attends our congregation whose last name is Bollinger.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

Perhaps some of you preachers would wax anecdotal (or nostalgic) for the rest of us?

Nostalgia from my own ordination:

I began pastoring in August 1988. That district had assembly in June each year. At the time you needed two years of service for ordination. As I approached assembly in 2000 I was two months short. I applied for district license renewal. At my interview they asked my why I wasn't going for ordination. I told them I was short on service. They told me I was close enough and they would try to convince the General. I was surprised and I really didn't much care. In fact, at the time I was even slightly uncomfortable because I was a stickler for following protocol. The General turned out to be easily persuaded.

My dad was an elder. In the service he was given my credentials to present to me.

One year later when I should have been ordained if the rules had been applied legalistically I had to miss the assembly. I was with my dad who was terminal with a brain tumor. He passed a month later.

I can't tell you how thankful I am that my ordination took place when it did....

(I had the privilege a year ago of presenting my daughter her first Local Minister's License.)

Wilson

[Mark Metcalfe]

There is a young lady ministerial student from NNU who attends our congregation whose last name is Bollinger.

Bob and Lucy had two sons; both married and in their 30s, and their wives cannot be these young ladies.

Some people pronounce Bollinger as "bol-in-jer" while this family pronounces it "bo-ling-er."

Mark

[Billie Goodson]

Nostalgia from my own ordination:

I began pastoring in August 1988. That district had assembly in June each year. At the time you needed two years of service for ordination. As I approached assembly in 2000 I was two months short. I applied for district license renewal. At my interview they asked my why I wasn't going for ordination. I told them I was short on service. They told me I was close enough and they would try to convince the General. I was surprised and I really didn't much care. In fact, at the time I was even slightly uncomfortable because I was a stickler for following protocol. The General turned out to be easily persuaded.

My dad was an elder. In the service he was given my credentials to present to me.

One year later when I should have been ordained if the rules had been applied legalistically I had to miss the assembly. I was with my dad who was terminal with a brain tumor. He passed a month later.

I can't tell you how thankful I am that my ordination took place when it did....

(I had the privilege a year ago of presenting my daughter her first Local Minister's License.)

Wilson

Funny Wilson, I too am a stickler for rules and probably would have felt like you -- interesting how God works things out! Great story to teach us to be humble and learn to look for Him and His Plans.

[Mark Metcalfe]

If a husband and wife get ordained on the same day, would that be coordination?

[Roland Hearn]

Nostalgia from my own ordination:

I began pastoring in August 1988. That district had assembly in June each year. At the time you needed two years of service for ordination. As I approached assembly in 2000 I was two months short.
Wilson

Wilson,
Could you clarify a little here? Do you mean you started pastoring in '88 and you were approaching two years in '90, or that you started pastoring in '98 and two years was up in 2000, or do you mean you started in '88 and took a long break so that your two years was only coming up in 2000?

[Betty Bolerjack]

If a husband and wife get ordained on the same day, would that be coordination?

I guess Mark and I are "coordinated (coordained?)" then! LOL We were ordained together at the SW OK district assembly on June 2, 2005.

[Roland Hearn]

I was ordained in January 0f 1990. It was one of the most spiritual experiences of my life. My mentor, John Moore, now on assignment as European region evangelism co-ordinator, was the one who prayed the prayer preceeding the GS doing the official ordination. I sense God put His hand on my life in that moment. I'm not one for big official fanfare about anything and felt like God's call upon my life was enough. I was pastor of a small but growing rural church and felt that God was doing amazing things in my life. I was surprised by how significant that moment was for me. It probably was more the sense of acceptance than anything that impacted me but it was special none the less.

[Gina Stevenson]

I guess Mark and I are "coordinated (coordained?)" then! LOL We were ordained together at the SW OK district assembly on June 2, 2005.

Does that carry over to your clothing, too, Betty? Perhaps we should just check out the pictures you two have posted, and see if the two of you are "coordinated," eh? ;)

[Betty Bolerjack]

Does that carry over to your clothing, too, Betty? Perhaps we should just check out the pictures you two have posted, and see if the two of you are "coordinated," eh? ;)

Sometimes, Gina! Not all the time! HA!

[Mike Schutz]

Several things about my ordination remain in my mind:

1. My wife Esther was VERY pregnant with our second child on that hot, June day. There were (to the best of my recollection) 12 ordinands that day on the New England District. The GS - I do not remember who (I have been asked this many times, and it seems everyone else remembers who was their GS but me), had all the ordinands and their spouses kneel for the entire time. Esther was VERY uncomfortable by the time everyone surrounded us and laid hands on us. Kneeling there, in the hot sanctuary of the Wollaston Church, with all those people around me, I began to have an attack of claustrophobia. (Little did I know that this would be a foreshadowing of many other attacks of "ministerial claustrophobia.") :eek:

2. Just before the ceremony, the district secretary said to the ordinands and their spouses, "If you would like a picture with the General, please come over here." At that point, my VERY pregnant and already very uncomfortable wife said, in a voice unintentionally loud enough to be heard by everyone in the room, including the GS, "Now why would anyone want that!" :basic05

3. This was only the second day my parents had ever been in a Nazarene Church. My mom's comment, "For folks who like to sing so much, why don't you Nazarenes like to dance?" :basic05

I remember nothing that was said at my ordination, similar to remembering nothing that was said on my wedding day, when all I remember was that my cousin/groomsman passed out at the altar.

That being said - at every wedding, and every ordination service, I renew my vows to my wife, God, and the church.

[Wilson L. Deaton]

Do you mean you started pastoring in '88 and you were approaching two years in '90,

Oops! '88 and '90 would be correct. (It doesn't make sense but I'm going to blame this error on y2k.)

Wilson

[Mark Metcalfe]

Here is how I wrote it up in my open journal (emailed to interested folks from the time before blogs):

We arose early on Saturday to attend the ordination of our son-in-law and father-to-be, Nathan Patnode. Nate was among six ordinands. Though the spouses were not ordained, each was alongside. (If a husband and wife get ordained at the same time, would that be a coordination?) Rod Rivera prayed for Nate, and asked my Dad to make his way through the assembly of ministers so that he could lay his hands on Miranda during the prayer and laying on of hands. Brian Bollinger was also ordained as a deacon, and he generously favors me with some credit for being his Junior High youth leader. It was nice to hear Lambert Brandis peal the organ, though I think others found it amusing or old-fashioned. After meeting old friends at a reception over in the ENC gym, Nate's parents (Fran and Sue) took a bunch of us to lunch.

I found out yesterday that Nate and Mandy are having a girl in October; that eliminates half the naming suggestions they've had to deal with from me.

Mark

[Mark Metcalfe]

I am not adept (yet) at indoor functions. Enjoy the photos.