Assignment | Lesson Three | Calling
January 27, 2026 9:40 PM
- A reflection on the discussion forum for the week. About 200–250 words. Your reflection must respond in some way to the following prompts: Due Friday, Feb 20
- Two (2) responses to your peers of no more than 100 words per response. Your response can be appreciation of their insight, further questioning, or respectful critique. Due Sunday, Feb 22
Discussion (19)
I really appreciated all of the materials this week. I particularly loved that I wasn’t sure how to tie it all together until I had finished reading and watching it all. As I think of it all and how it pertains to me, I’m able to see that my calling has been much of like an out of focus camera lens. When I was younger, it was completely blurry and I didn’t mind that so much. Now that I’m older, it’s less blurry. There’s more definition around the shapes and objects and landscape. Last year, I found myself needing more from church, needing a larger challenge. In Adams writing he mentions we need to be spiritually changed by our religion and I truly felt that! I know that I am being called to go deeper in my understanding and faith so that I can use what I learn to be a better partner to God and to this world.
I am very blessed and privileged to be working for two ministries within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). My “office” of communications and marketing allows me to spread much needed information throughout the greater church and beyond. It also gives opportunity to form partnerships and relationships with those outside of our ministries so that we can further our work (collaboration is another part of my calling!). I know that anything that I take away from my studies here will help me serve these ministries, the church, and those outside the church at a greater capacity. Taking it even further to a prophetic faith, allows me to be part of that reach that extends beyond the Disciples of Christ. “Bad religion stays in the church. Good religion breaks loose in the world.” This is where I want to be. I want to break loose into the world with God’s love.
There were lots of great “a-ha” moments for me this week. The one that I will share is the one that I screenshot and texted to some of my church family. Brown Tayler wrote. “Preaching is not what the ordained minister does for 15 minutes on Sundays, but what the whole congregation does all week long.” The idea that we are all ministers of sorts, being ordained through baptism, and living out in the world, caring for it, loving each other, outside of the wall of our church is beautiful.
I love your image of the camera lens coming into focus, Erin. I bet it's like that for a lot of people as they experience life!
One thing I appreciate about the Disciples is the 'priesthood of all believers' tenet. I think we're better at recognizing ministry across the congregation than a lot of others are. But I also really like that Taylor points out that ordination happens at baptism - that we all share the same sacramental calling to life a life of ministry. It's cool that you've already shared this with your church family!
I echo your colleague: love the camera image! In my lecture video, I spoke to how the church o wider faith community authenticates one's call. If we follow your camera analogy a bit, could we say that the church can serve as a tripod for your camera, as a lens cleaner, or maybe as a master camera person with years of experience teaching you to use your own camera and pointing to vistas and images "in the background" worth focusing on? Which of these work best for you, you think?
I also like you sense of living out your call in community and collaboration. This reminds me of Paul a bit. You see, he often (though not always) ended his letters with greetings to and from peers in ministry. To be honest, I used to skip these parts, but then I realized something rather profound: Paul was weaving and tending to those "webs of relationships" that nurtured and furthered his own call, and he likewise was lifting up partners in ministry who deserved support, acclaim, or both!
Great post!
I love the thought that the church is like a tripod. It steadies the camera and points it in the correct direction. The second I take that camera off the tripod then the I'm not focused on the intended subject!
I’m employed as a half-time solo-pastor of a small congregation. When I accepted this call nearly a year ago I had just taken 12 years out of ministry to manage our home and raise young children - a period I refer to as ‘mom-istry.’ During that chapter I came to understand that I could bring the spirit of ordained ministry to raising kids. Interacting on the playground, supporting teachers and other families at school, and managing a family is ministry when approached with love, support, encouragement, sharing resources, teaching, and respecting appropriate boundaries. These are often the same elements I bring to my work now as a congregational pastor. Different setting, different role, but same commitment to being a part of God’s love and liberation in the world.
I would have loved to hear Rev. Adams deliver this sermon - I got chills and was stomping my feet just reading it! I hope I can live up to the prophetic ministry he uplifts in the spirit of Isaiah 58 and Luke 4. In my current context we talk a lot about resisting the pull of dominant culture to be aligned with empire in the way so many Christians seem to be these days. We are challenged to serve Christ with integrity and keep showing up to meet the needs of our neighbors however we can, all along the Jericho road.
An a-ha moment I had from Taylor was reading that, when it comes to discerning vocation, becoming ordained is taking the easy way out. It was funny to me because often ministers joke about running from their call like Jonah or resisting the ‘still, small voice’ until it shouts. But I see how aligning ‘office’ with vocation simplifies a lot of things for ministers who then do not have to wrestle with how to serve God and neighbor in settings outside the church.
Sara- I had a similar reaction to Rev. Adams sermon. I highlighted most of the pages because almost every sentence illicited a head nod from me.
Your statement "resisting the pull of dominant culture to be aligned with empire" reminded me of 1 Samuel 8, where the Israelites say "we want a King" and the Lord responds "they have rejected me as their King". The Bonhoffer video even mentioned another pastor who gave a speech titled "God is my Fuhrer" which seems to reflect this desire to keep God on God's throne, and not place our hope and faith in worldly political leaders.
I loved Rev. Adams sermon as well! And like Max, I wrote notes upon notes from it.
I can identify with ignoring that small voice until I heard a literal shout. I was asked to share my call to ministry with my church one day and to see their faces stare back at me when I said that was kind of comical.
Excellent reflection, Sara! I love that parallels and syntheses you drew between pastoral ministry and (let me see if I can pull an alliteration here) parenting "mom-istry." (Great word, btw!) I share in your a-ha moment: we ministers have it easy in a way! I learned this while ministering to union steelworkers, teachers, and pipe fitters. For them, something as simple (simple to me at least) as "not cussing as much" in professions where everyone from the the union "foreperson" down to the new welding apprentice were "cussing," was a challenge for the women and men at my church who wanted "to use better words and be a better witness for Christ" (actual quote from a church member who was a steelworker). Now, it is easy to see this example as trite or insignificant. (I for one don't cuss a whole lot but also don't think it is as big of a deal... sorry!) But behind that was a profound example of how being--using Brown Taylor's words here--an ordained minister and "God's person in a world" is much easier than being a high schooler, teacher, firefighter, etc., and "God's person in the world."
This begs the question: How does this then change the ways that pastors and ministers define, and equip for, discipleship for the steelworker, high schooler, investment banker, and computer engineer sitting in the pews?
I have felt an urge on my heart to use my privilege to say what I believe to be true with regards to justice. People abusing power is harming our broader communities. In circles of other white people, my voice stands as authoritative, and it is a responsibility to use my voice to share what I’ve learned from other marginalized groups. (I also struggle with the ethics and problematic nature of this dynamic which I am still trying to explore). In the last year, I’ve had this intense feeling that I can “do more” for my community. I’m not exactly sure what that looks like, but I understand Barbara Brown Taylor in this “invitation to be more” (Brown Taylor, pg 28).
I currently hold multiple “offices” as a small business owner, leader in my congregation, a father and husband. My role as a business owner teaches me about ethical leadership, which I can bring to my leadership in the church and other settings. I am considering that even if I never become ordained, that I share this “mutual vocation to serve God.” (Brown Taylor, pg 29)
One of the most compelling insights from Adams is that “religion loses its vitality when it no longer radically searches and challenges the spirit of humankind” (Adams, pg 23) In more ordinary ways than Bonhoeffer, those of us in the American church are called to “compassion and action” (Bonhoeffer video) against rising authoritarianism.
One a-ha moment for me is that while every generation faces oppressive forces, that ordinary people are called to become faithful peacemakers.
Max, I appreciate your statement about the oppressive forces that face every generation. As I watched the Bonhoeffer video, I could make parallels from the U.S. treatment of enslaved African-
Americans both during slavery and post-emancipation and with the way Jews were treated in Nazi Germany. The similarity was frightening, including the reasoning behind the treatment. In both cases it was the Bible being used as justification for mistreatment of another human. It is still going on in this generation. I tell myself that the church is still called to compassion and action, but when I look at the state of this country, I wonder if the church is hearing the call.
Hi Max - it sounds like you have a full life with lots of responsibilities. Many places to serve God and live into ministry - ordained or not! You mentioned the business skills that you bring to your roles in church. Which gifts flow from your place in church to running a business? Just curious what stands out to you.
I also feel this rising sense of wanting to do more to stand against authoritarianism and white Christian nationalism. I'm grateful to be in conversation with many others who share the same concerns. We will all have to work together!
Max,
Watching the Bonhoeffer movie, I saw parallels between the oppression of Blacks in the U.S., and the oppression of Jews in Nazi Germany. The similarity was scary, especially because in both cases the Bible was used as justification for the oppression. I didn’t know much about Bonhoeffer before this lesson, but his conviction in denouncing the wrong he saw was apparent. I tell myself that the church is still called to compassion and action, but when I look at the state of this country, I wonder if we are hearing the call.
Excellent reflection, Maxwell! So many threads to pull from in your post--so many great insights! I actually want to focus on one of your parenthetical statements: "(I also struggle with the ethics and problematic nature of this dynamic which I am still trying to explore)." I assume you are speaking to the dynamics of authority and power. This is a big one. And we will hopefully spend some time in the Zoom discussing this. (I think we Disciples have 'no clue' when talking about pastoral authority. That's my hypothesis, at least.) Brown Taylor, I think, needed to more with this. Because yes, we all share in the ministry of "being God's person in the world," both lay and ordained. But, pastors are granted some authority and leadership in ways that better to the rest of the congregation. Even just standing behind the pulpit, without uttering a word, a pastor embodies some power over, and not simply power with, the congregation. So, like you ask, what are the "ethics" of this? If being granted "pastoral" power is unavailable (and I think it is), how do we negotiate this power morally?
Professor- Thank you for the thoughtful response. I hear you suggesting that because as Disciples we believe in the "priesthood of all believers" we sometimes don't critically engage the "authority" that is embedded in our institutions. That's a very convicting point, and I would love to hear more of your thoughts on how we navigate that responsibly when we all meet for Zoom.
Retiring in 2021, I spent 40+ years in public outreach. I loved my job. Now, leaning towards issues of racial and social justice, I feel I should be writing, and speaking about things I see that are unjust.
I didn’t feel called to ministry; I just want to be a well-equipped lay leader. That is why I’m in this program. After reading Brown Taylor’s article, I see being a well-equipped leader as my call. I agree with the author that all baptized believers have the same vocation and are called to share the gospel whether we are clergy or laity.
I serve my church in the office of Chairperson of the Congregation. Studying to improve myself as a servant in that office or any other office that I’m needed, complements my call to be a well-equipped lay leader.
It would have been great to hear Dr. Adams preach his sermon, “Faith Critiques Faith.” When he asked, “Is you got good religion?” My answer is, “I’m not sure, but I hope so. I want to be as committed to my faith as Bonhoeffer, and to remind myself that the good news of the gospel belongs not only to those of us who proclaim Christ as savior, but it belongs especially to those who are oppressed.
My “a ha” moment came when watching the Bonhoeffer film and looking at what the Nazi’s did to Jews in Germany, I thought, “Wow, they got that from the United States’ treatment of African Americans.
Annie- I was also struck by the parallels of the Nazi's actions towards Jewish people and American slavery, and then even the echos of how anti-immigrant sentiment is playing out today. I've been working my way through the book of Exodus lately, and I'm amazed that a religion rooted in liberation from oppression could so easily turn to oppress other groups of people, using the Bible as it's excuse.
Hi Annie, I appreciate your feeling the urge to speak out and do something about all the issues that are surrounding us now. I think so many are feeling the same way. I commend you for diving deeper into these studies to use these tools to work towards that. I know that I feel better when I fall back on my faith and hopefully my "good religion" to speak up and act when I'm called to do so.
Hello, Annie! Great reflection! Love all the connections, both with Dr. Adams and the Bonhoeffer story--both of this sources really align with your sense of call to address "issues of racial and social justice" and to "writing." You clearly live out Brown Taylor's call for lay persons to see themselves as also called to "ministry." The connections between Nazi treatment of Jews and U.S. Whites' treatments of Blacks have become relevant today with all the fascism and White Christian nationalism on the rise! I wonder what would it do if congregations began exploring this connections, and learning from the past, as a way to strategize action for the present.
Great work here, Annie!
Hey y'all,
I asked Google if Nazi treatment of Jews related to American Race laws and found this:
https://macmillan.yale.edu/europe/publications/hitlers-american-modelthe-united-states-and-making-nazi-race-law-2017