Ordination in the Uniting Church of South Australia

Last week the Uniting Church in SA celebrated the ordination of 7 people who had been candidates for Minister of the word. This ordination was particularly special because we celebrated the ordination of the first person from South Sudan to be ordained in the Uniting Church of Australia.

Each ordination has it's own feel because the ordinands involved give input to the service. They spend time with the moderator in the weeks leading up to the ordination and discuss the way the service will be shaped. For example, when I was ordained there were a few of us with young children so we wanted children to feel involved in the service. We had bags for the children with card, glue, stickers, textas and envelopes so the children could write notes of encouragement to the ordinands during the service.

This ordination service started with song and dance by the Sundanese Youth Choir in SA. Definitely a great way to start a celebration service.

Our moderator Rev Rob Williams then acknowledged the first people of Australia and welcomed us to the ordination service.

Rev Dr Ian Price preached the word and led us in wondering "What is in your hand?" with the help of some improv actors from the gathered people :-) You might recognise the part of Moses.

The ordination service was very meaningful and it's always a special time to see the people praying over the newly ordained people.

We then shared Holy Communion together. I have no idea how many people were there but you can imagine with 7 ordinands there were 100's of people there. However, time was given so that everyone was able to share in the meal.

Everyone who was ordained on the day already had a placement but this day signified the beginning of their ordained ministry.

For me it was a celebration but also a moment in my day for reflection.I was celebrating one year in my current placement and just over a year since my own ordination.

Women and Men - bringing messages of love

Now I will add one more unique aspect of the UCA in regards to call. As I have already said, as a member of the UCA and of God’s family you are expected and encouraged to use the gifts and skills God has given you. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, there is an emphasis on unity within the UCA. Galatians 3: 26 -29 says “So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” As such, the UCA does don’t discriminate against people in the church and neither does it discriminate against people who hear the call from God into ordained Ministry regardless of their gender. It acknowledges that all people bring their own experiences to Ministry and that different voices need to be heard within the church.

In March 1990 a document was presented to the Assembly standing committee titled “Why Does the Uniting Church Ordain women to the Ministry of the Word?” Which you can find online or in the book “Theology for Pilgrims” (edited by Rob Bos and Geoff Thompson 2008) which is a helpful read. In the introduction (p565 of Theology for Pilgrims) it says “Therefore we express astonishment that Christ’s Church would offend against the Saviour’s suffering love for all people, by claiming that no women are called by God to the ministry of the Word.”Which is a strong statement but shows the support the UCA gives for ordained women.

Even today there are many sides to the women in ordination debate with some very strong voices on the issue. The reality is there are still many churches in the world that oppose women’s ordination into ministry or positions of women teaching men in the church. (Look here and here) In that respect we are very fortunate that the UCA does have an emphasis on unity and equality. This can be an area of discernment for both men and women thinking about a call to ordained Ministry in the UCA as women find confidence that God can call them in to ordained ministry and men must be able to also confidently feel women can be ordained into ministry and that as men they are comfortable to work alongside women in positions of authority and leadership. This is something that you might like to reflect on in you discernment process.