Dietrich Bonhoeffer Professor of Theology and Ethics
Union Theological Seminary in New York City
The Charge Given to David Jones,
On the Occasion of His Ordination to the Ministry
September 10, 1989 in Belmont, Massachusetts
NOTE: Twenty-five years later, I'm stunned, frankly, at how prescient and boldly evangelical Christopher's 'charge' was. It has sustained me over the years, "in season or out of season," with its heartfelt promise of grace and the love of God. I don't know if Christopher's reading, but he should know that words really do matter. And these words matter A LOT!
 |
| Christopher Morse |
David, I am grateful to you for asking me to give the charge at this your ordination. As you know, I am a Methodist, and I am suspicious of charges. I don't think I like them. The reason is that for Methodists the charge traditionally is read from the words of John Wesley to his preachers: "Be diligent. Never be unemployed. Never be triflingly employed. Never trifle away time; never spend any more time at any one place than is strictly necessary. Be punctual. Do everything exactly at the time." But unlike you, Methodist ministers must promise not only to go on from this never, never land toward perfection; they must even affirm that they expect to be made perfect in this life -- a distinction that is not always apparent to their friends.
As a Puritan, no doubt, your expectations today are more tame. But as a liberal Puritan you will be tempted by your own heresies, such cherished bromides as "God has no hands but our hands," or "The Lord helps those who help themselves."
Forget these things. Forget about being on time and never being triflingly employed. Forget about saving the world. Why? Because such words are false? No, not entirely, but because they are only right with respect to a deeper truth that all of us are forever tempted to forget.
In the Gospel by which you are called to this ministry, all charges are finally promises -- not promises you make, but promises made to you.
In all your beginnings, hear this: "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you...that your fruit should abide" (John 15:16).
In all your continuing on, whether your days be in season or out of season, hear this: "The One who began a good work in you will bring it to completion..." (Phil. 16).
In all your struggles finally to make it home, hear this: "I will not leave you orphaned. I will come to you" (John 14:18), and "make [a] home with [you]" (John 14:23).
 |
| The Ordinand, 9.10.89 |
David, are you prepared for the funerals, the baptisms, the weddings, the divorces where you ministry will now take you -- prepared to recognize, as you will, the incredible variety of hands into which the body and blood of Christ will be passed? I suspect not. None of us ever is. They will at times quite literally break your heart, and break you up. Know that it is only the broken body that is strong enough to heal, and that your brokenness somehow will be gathered up into that broken body of their Savior and yours. "Make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time," said Jesus to the disciples (Luke 21:14). "...Do not be anxious how you are to speak of what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour" (Matthew 10:19). It will be given you "to bear testimony" (Matthew 10:18).
In an interview, John Updike, who has written several novels about ministers, confessed to a certain "residual anger" toward them. "I mean," he said, "ministers tend to be disappointing, by and large...Ministers are interesting people in that they are sort of out there on a prayer, doing...they know not quite what. And nobody else does." "Like writers," he added, "but in some way perhaps more essential."
"Disappointing" or not, David, we are "out there on a prayer." But if the Gospel is to be believed, it is a prayer prayed by none other than Jesus himself concerning his disciples. "I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word...that the world may know that thou hast...loved them even as thou hast loved me" (John 17:20, 23b).
That the world may know that God loves you, David -- this is the prayer of Jesus in which you are now being sent "out there." Notice that no success or failure can ever cancel it. Whatever happens, the promise is that God's love for you will be made known.
That's all we are promised, David, but it's all any of us needs to keep us charged forever.
