As Planned
Okay, about a month ago I posted that I would be posting my application to become and Inquirer and then, NOTHING HAPPENED. So I'm picking back up where I left off.
To begin with, let me state that acknowledging the CALL personally is much easier than acknowledging the call publicly. And anyone who has received a call, and has been reluctant in admitting it, can profess the difficulty in acknowledging the call personally.
To become Ordained in the PCUSA, one must first be taken "under care" by their local congregation. After that, if the applicant desires, they must be taken in as an "Inquirer" under the Presbytery. In my case, I was taken under care by our local church way back in September. Being taken under care means that the church supports and encourages you in your efforts, and will do whatever they can to support you -- by providing food, childcare, financial aid -- whatever.
When I requested to be taken under care by my local church, I thought I was officially an "Inquirer." I had completed most of the application to become an Inquirer and felt completely prepared. As I mentioned before, the application was extremely long.
I soon learned that had only taken the very first tiny step of becoming and Inquirer. After much confusion, I learned that I needed to have our session notify the clerk of the Presbytery that I had been taken under care. Coincidentally with that, I would send in my application to the Presbytery and receive notification of a scheduled interview with the Committee on Preparation for Ministry (CPM).
Because I did not know this, none of the notification was done and none of the sending in was done until the beginning of this month.
Just last night I received my notification of my interview with the CPM. I must say, it was a little nerve-wracking. I don't get nervous very easily, and I'm quite nervous. Maybe that's because it has just been so frustrating along the way and this is where I should have been back in September. I don't know. In any case, the interview is scheduled for 1:00 PM on a Monday, and I teach until noon on Mondays. No body asked me when it would be possible to meet, and no body asked if 1:00 would be a good time for me. It just so happens that the meeting is in the closest city, which is an hour away from here, so if I make it on time it will be divine intervention. And the office where we are meeting is clear across the city so I guess it is more like an hour and a half to be honest.
Perhaps I could let my students go a little early to allow for more time for travel. The class is at the community college here, and the students truly would not mind getting a little more "study time."
I need to put this in God's hands. Which is where it should be anyway.
8:11:19 AM 
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