Commentary: A servant's eye view of ordination
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The Rev. Victoria Rebeck |
June 13, 2005A UMNS Commentary
By The Rev. Victoria Rebeck* "Go in peace to serve God and your neighbor in all you do." I
repeated this benediction to myself again and again as I scooped up my
clerical robe and dashed to my car to get to the Minnesota Annual
Conference ordination service on June 2. It was my only spoken line in
the service and I wanted to get it right. A
few months ago I was asked to be the bishop's deacon at ordination. I
was thrilled. It would be the first time I had a leadership role in an
ordination service, and this would be Bishop Sally Dyck's first
ordination. I felt honored to be asked. It
is historically the deacon's role to assist the elder who is presiding
over worship. The word deacon comes from a Greek word meaning servant.
One of the deacon's acts of service is to wait upon the one who presides
over the sacraments.
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Web-only image courtesy of the Minn. Annual Conference
The Rev. Victoria Rebeck (left) assists Bishop Dyck during an ordination service.
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Sally Dyck breaks bread during ordination services on June 2 for the
Minnesota Annual Conference. The Rev. Victoria Rebeck, a deacon, holds
open the worship book to makes it easier for the bishop to read the
liturgy. A UMNS Web-only image courtesy of the Minnesota Annual
Conference. Photo #W05-050. Accompanies UMNS story #346. 6/13/05 |
My main tasks were to
be at Bishop Dyck's side, to hold the worship book to make it easier
for her to read while she used her hands for sacramental acts, to make
sure we did not lose our place in the pages, to pour the water she would
use in the reaffirmation of baptism, to assist her in communion, and
help her in any way she wanted. Though Bishop Dyck was eager to respect
our conference's traditions around ordination, she led the service
confidently. She didn't need much help!Once
the service got underway, and I saw the faces of the ordinands looking
back up at us from their place in the front row, I recalled that the
service was not about my opportunity to stand with the new bishop, but
to support and affirm these new clergy members. I remembered how full my
heart felt when I was in their place five years ago. I hoped our four
ordinands, and the fifth person whose orders we were recognizing, would
sense the support that I knew all our clergy wanted to express to them
at that time. The
rite of ordination includes the laying on of hands. The bishop puts her
hands on the ordinand's head and invokes the Holy Spirit. Surrounding
the ordinand are two special sponsors. This is an intimate and, for
some, an emotional moment. To be present at this event is the real honor
of participating in ordination. My job was to hold the bishop's order
of worship so that she could read her words while laying her hands on
the ordinand's head. It was very easy to get caught up in the moment and
neglect my responsibility of making sure the bishop could see the
things she needed to read!
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Web-only image courtesy of the Minn. Annual Conference
The Rev. Victoria Rebeck prays with a woman who is hearing a call to ministry.
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Rev. Victoria Rebeck prays with a young woman who is hearing a call to
ministry during ordination services on June 2 for the Minnesota Annual
Conference. A UMNS Web-only image courtesy of the Minnesota Annual
Conference. Photo #w05051. Accompanies UMNS story #346. 6/13/05 |
After this comes
another moving portion of the Minnesota Annual Conference ordination
service: the clergy turn to the ordinands and sing "The Servant Song" to
them. While we did this, I remembered how I treasured at my ordination
service the affirmation we ordinands received from our new clergy
sisters and brothers. I was aware that I was entering into a covenantal
relationship with a group of people for mutual support and
accountability. This is what I remember most from my own ordination
service. I hoped we clergy were communicating that to our new brother
(yes, only one man) and sisters as well.After
this I did my best to suppress a throat tickle and avoid a coughing fit
during communion. Bishop Dyck, some other members of the board of
ordained ministry, and I prayed with people who came forward during
communion to share their experience of a call to ministry. Once again, I
felt humbled by that sense of honor—to be present with people who were
opening their hearts to God. There
are other able deacons in our conference and it may be a number of
years before I again get to assist the bishop in ordination. It was a
highlight of my ministry—both for getting to stand with our new bishop,
but also for sharing in a pivotal time in the lives of four new clergy
sisters and a new clergy brother. *Rebeck is director of communication, Minnesota Annual Conference. News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.
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