My experience at Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond was a blessed journey. Seminary expanded my theological perspective, gave me many tools that will aid me indefinitely and validated God's call for my life — a calling to serve God through the local church.
I had a wonderful internship serving as part-time pastor of a caring congregation. During the theological education process, I discovered spiritual growth, lasting friendships and countless resources — and during my final year of seminary I entered the exciting yet confusing world of the full-time pastorate search.
After sending my résumé and cover letter to countless referral sources, pastor search committees and Baptist agencies, I waited and prayed. Occasionally, I would receive a phone call from a committee or a letter thanking me for inquiring into their open position. Most committee members inquired my age over the phone. “27,” I would reply with as much maturity as I could muster. A pregnant pause would usually follow. When one pastor search committee member contacted one of my references, she openly complained, “We've been in the search process for two years now and we just can't seem to afford a middle-aged minister.”
I did not sense that God's call on my life required a congregation to settle for me! Instead, I yearned for a special fit between pastor and parish. I dreamed of a congregation that was energetic and excited to have a young pastor serve them that could only be matched by the enthusiasm that I would have to serve them. It was at that point in which I learned about the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's Minister-in-Residence Pilot Program, a unique two-year grant-assisted venture, and was called to participate in this opportunity by Franklin Baptist Church in Franklin.
The residency program supports young seminary graduates called into congregational life by immersing us into vibrant teaching congregations as part of the CBF's Initiative for Ministerial Excellence. Each of the nine residencies throughout the South and Southeast are unique to the needs and gifts of each resident and congregation. At Franklin Baptist Church, I serve as a full-time associate pastor with a diverse variety of ministerial tasks and a healthy amount of creative freedom.
Throughout the residency I received dedicated support through the strong mentorship and direction of the senior pastor, Richard Childress. In addition, intentional reflection on congregational ministry occurs with a reflection team comprised of active laity, my peer resident ministers and the guidance of CBF leaders. I am most grateful for the CBF's active and invested care for young clergy.
As I approach the halfway point in this exceptional program, I can already assess that my calling to serve God through the local congregation has been strengthened and validated. My competency in performing pastoral tasks grows stronger each day and my enthusiasm for ministry overflows. While I will still be a young minister searching for a pastorate next year, I finally have some amazing full-time ministerial experience to back up my call and education.