Can I just say that some people totally stink?!

[Pacifist Patriot]

I know this doesn't affect anyone here but I need to vent. I performed an unpaid ministerial internship this year with the belief it would result in my ordination in the denomination within which I was doing the internship. Actually, I started the year thinking I would be ordained and THEN I would give my unpaid time to the church but I was willing to go along with the feet dragging (as I saw it...I now realize most people did not understand the order of events outlined in the memo.)

I did everything that was asked of me and then some. I fulfilled every single item spelled out in the internship proposal. My efforts grew that church more than it has grown in at least a decade.

This past Sunday the supervising minister met with me to tell me he could not affirm my ordination. He said that I was clearly called to the ministry and that it was a good fit. BUT I did not do a Clinical Pastoral Education unit (only one available is over an hour's commute away) so he could not affirm the ordination.

I was never ever once told by him that this was a deal breaker or even an issue! He had numerous opportunities over the past 12 months to bring this up as a problem and never once did. Nor was it in the internship proposal documentation. Shoot, in September the board met to schedule my ordination. He attended the meeting and never raised an objection then!

Sadly, this is now likely to result in a very messy situation pitting the minister against the board / congregation. I really am uncomfortable being at the center of this.

Merry Fucking Christmas

[Rosemary2205]

1. I feel for you.

I have absolutely no clue how the ministry business works but no one deserves to be treated like that.

Good luck. Maybe the holy ghost will make a "deposit" on the man's head for you? :shrug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

2. Thanks.

Sadly, it's as political as anything else on this planet.

[Rosemary2205]

3. Oh I think ministry is probably worse politically than normal life.

I only have one boss. Fortunately he's a nice man but I he's the only one I have to convince I am worthy of my job.

You have hundreds of bosses. God help you if you didn't take a slice of such an such's pie at the picnic, or you have been there a whole 6 months and haven't dropped in on such and such family, or you looked at someone the wrong way, or your tie was little to flamboyant or blah blah blah.......you people have it ROUGH.

[Pacifist Patriot]

5. LOL! You've got that right.

Every church member is a boss.

[xchrom]

4. i feel terrible that happend to you.

and yes -- church business is political sadly - - try to remember this too shall pass.

[Pacifist Patriot]

8. Thank you. Each day gets better.

[NC_Nurse]

6. What bullshit.

If that was a requirement he should have told you long ago.
What a jerk.
I'm sure you deserve it with or without the "unit". ;)

[Pacifist Patriot]

7. *grin* I do, I really do.

The horrible thing is that I have quite a few people who are more than willing to go to bat for me. The down side is that it would create a congregation v. minister battle. Oy!

[u4ic]

9. I'm so sorry, Pacifist Patriot

That seems far too long for it to be just an oversight by the supervising minister.

Shouldn't the congregation have known about this, too? Was there some sort of committee overseeing your internship? Is it possible they're both at fault for not including it in the internship proposal?

I wish I had some advice or words of wisdom, I can only give you :hug: :hug: :hug: .

[Pacifist Patriot]

12. You're right. It is far too long.

I can pin point no fewer than 5 situations over the past year that would have been golden opportunities to communicate this expectation. This indeed highlights the communication gap between the board and the supervising minister. It was a cluster f**k no matter how you look at it.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. I detest this sort of bullshit...

...as if taking a class offers anything your experience hasn't already provided. :grr:

Is there any way this requirement could be satisfied online?

I'm so sorry you're going through this. :hug:

[Pacifist Patriot]

11. I've already got a MA/PhD in Divinity Studies

The training I lack is not obtained by all ministers. This particular minister has completed umpteen CPE units and fancies himself a CPE supervisor. The irony is that I have done his pastoral care work over the past year despite this being his supposed area of expertise. You're absolutely correct. It's bullshit. Thanks for your kind words. I do appreciate them.

I realize people are taking me at my word and that means alot.

[Blue-Jay]

13. I bet Jesus smelled like roses.

Plus, he was white, blond, and good-looking.

[Pacifist Patriot]

14. Not a Christian denomination.....

but I get your point.