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Last Updated: Friday - 09/24/2010
Week of June 21, 2004
Watch for changes, says psychologist
Fellow graduate tells lay ministers they too shall reap benefits, rewards
By WCR Staff
Edmonton
The benefits and personal rewards of becoming a lay minister are waiting to be discovered, says Dr. Leo Klug. Graduation, he said, is only the first step in a meaningful journey or service.
Klug was selected by the 21 graduates of the Formation for Pastoral Service program as keynote speaker for their ceremony June 13 at Newman Theological College. A doctor of psychology, Klug has written and been involved in human and spiritual formation education.
"There are few images in the Bible more powerful than the image of journey," he said. "In the Hebrew Scriptures, we hear of the mother of all journeys - from slavery to freedom.
"In the Christian Scriptures, there are many journey stories. The three I know you love are the journey of the prodigal son, the journey of Jesus into Jerusalem and the journey of the disciples to Emmaus.
"Journey away from the quest for certainty, toward the challenge of wrestling with tentativeness and remain faithful not only to old questions, but to new answers."- Dr. Leo Klug |
Klug suggested the formation program has significantly changed all the graduates. Some changes they can see immediately, while some remain unknown. But all changes will eventually be revealed to them.
"As you continue your journeys, I have a five-fold prayer for you," Klug offered. "Regarding ministry, continue to journey away from the varnished glitter of status, toward a clear focus on service. Regarding faith, journey away from the quest for certainty, toward the challenge of wrestling with tentativeness and remain faithful not only to old questions, but to new answers."
Regarding Scripture, he continued, graduates should journey away from literalism and into the wisdom of story. Resist the temptation to journey into yesterday. They should also venture away from the allure of definitive answers, toward the promises of consensual decision making and questioning. They should also honour the distinction between tradition and traditions.
"It's been said that tradition consists not so much in wearing your grandfather's hat, but in having faith."
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