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I’ve been a Presbyterian my whole life, and I’ve felt a clear call to ministry since about seven years ago when I was teaching a class at Synod School. I was reading Isaiah 58 as part of the class discussion, and I was just struck by the necessity of the call – I had to answer it and find out where it led me.
Through many surprising turns, it led me here, to northern California, San Francisco Theological Seminary and the Graduate Theological Union. It also led me to my current position as Intern in Urban Multicultural Ministries at Calvary Presbyterian Church in Berkeley. I have had a lot of amazing experiences, have grown as a person of faith, and have honed my skills for ministry – and I am more than ready to enter into the next stage of my life as a Minister of Word and Sacrament.
In brief, I would like to serve a church. I would like to serve a church with all of my gifts and my skills as well as my frailties. I would like to serve a church that is growing and changing while holding to what is the heart of our tradition. I would like to serve a church that is willing to try new things and is also willing to tell me what is important to them and what their boundaries are. I would like to serve a church that is messy and also beautiful, like the one I currently serve. I would like to serve a church that is in it for the long haul. I would like to serve a church that is strong enough to be gently pushed sometimes and more importantly to push back. I would like to serve a church that is ready to join me in a life of ministry, challenges, victories, losses, celebration, seeking, finding, faithfulness, community, resurrection and new life. Is that too much to ask? I don’t think so – I just want to serve a church.
I’ve been told that I’m a skilled and enthusiastic teacher, and I know that I enjoy teaching a great deal. I love leading worship and encouraging as much participation from the congregation as possible. I love preaching, but not so much that I forget that it’s never about me. I love being with people when important things happen in their lives. I love having deep, ongoing conversations that last for years. I love Communion and Baptism. I love making meaning together, living out our faith together, discerning together what the Spirit is already doing in our lives and then jumping in with both feet. I love being the church together, inside and outside, every day.
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