The Sacredness of Ordinations
Monday Ministerial Musings
By Rev. Mark William Ennis
2024 Blog #13
March 31, 2025
The Sacredness of Ordinations
Yesterday, the Congregation of the Community Church of Glen Rock celebrated the ordinations and installations of new elders and deacons who will be joining our consistory. “Consistory” is our fancy word for governing board. I always feel moved by these ceremonies of ordinations and installations.
Although, being raised in church, I must have seen many ordinations and installations of elders and deacons, the first that I remember is my own. When I was in high school, I had the honor of being ordained as a deacon. I could not believe that I was asked to be a deacon, and I thought I would faint. Yet, I accepted my nomination, was elected by the congregation, and subsequently was ordained and installed to that office. I had chills when the deacons “laid hands” on me and I, in an instant, became a deacon. I knew that something very sacred had happened to me.
I must confess that I really did not know what I was doing as a deacon. Other people on the consistory were as old as my parents, or my grandparents. I felt a bit intimidated and was not sure how effective I was. Yet, I learned a lot about consistories from being a high school deacon. Many of these lessons still stay with me to this day.
Ten years after I was ordained a deacon, I was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament. I felt the same chills that I had felt from the previous ordination. Although not being ordained to any other offices, whenever I witness or participate in ordinations, I still feel the same chills. I know that I am in the presence of something very sacred.
How do we, who are so imperfect, to fulfill such sacred roles? How do inadequate, flawed people, do something so sacred for God? I guess that we do so with good intentions and the grace of God.
When we read Biblical history, God is constantly using flawed people to do God’s sacred work. One only has to view the Netflix series, “The Chosen” to see how flawed the disciples of Jesus were. Yet, they began the church of Christ in an empire that was headed by the Ceasars. They made life difficult for everyone, especially monotheists. Yet, somehow, the church survives to this day.
Something sacred happened this past Sunday in Glen Rock. I can’t predict the future. I have no crystal ball, nor would I offend God by trying to use one even if I had one. But I do believe that God will use flawed elders, deacons and me as minister, to do good things for the congregation here. We will be planting seeds of God’s kingdom in this next year. Only God knows when these seeds will sprout. We flawed people will be doing sacred work. By God’s grace will we be doing this effectively.
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