Jessica Schrock-Ringenberg, Author at 5Q Central

Recently I have had the opportunity of attending several of our denomination’s annual gatherings and immediately I recognize what our denominational leaders have long understood about our very congregational structure-- there is not one Conference like another. The culture, the ambiance, the spirit of the people assembled in each conference is distinct and... beautiful. Each conference is an expression of a different orientation toward leadership and love of the church.

Admittedly, I have a tendency to become obsessed with concepts that blow my mind and I quickly drive everyone around me crazy with the sharing of my new found knowledge.

But I am actually not an evangelist, it is actually one of the gifts I need to develop.

But when I find something worthy of good news status I easily muster up the evangelist’s drive to tell everyone about the newest greatest thing. And I find myself with the teacher’s need to read, read, and read some more, so that I can fully grasp the magnitude of that which so happened to alter my understanding of the Universe. (And teacher isn’t my primary or secondary either).

But good news (whatever we deem worthy enough to consider good news) when we discover it manages to harness the imagination of every Christly endowed gift growing inside of us.

Our small town’s gathering of pastors came together for our monthly meeting with two major agenda items: 1) The sending off of two pastors to different callings, as well as 2) Welcoming a summer pastoral intern in our midst.

We started the meeting welcoming the new guy in our midst, which included introduction of ourselves as well as “what advice would you give someone discerning a call to ministry?” (May I remind you there were over five denominations represented.)

It felt disastrous as leader after leader shared, but the general sentiment could be summed up from the most ‘seasoned leaders’ in our midst as they said:

“It is thankless and it is lonely.”

“Run! If God wants you God will get you.”

This week, we are excited to share with you a guest post by blogger, Jessica Schrock Ringenberg. Her article, What's In A Name?, originally appeared on themennonite.org and we are re-posting here with the permission of the author. Thanks, Jessica! Another inspiring voice in the 5Q Symphony! We sat in the church sanctuary with our head in our hands, completely and utterly defeated. The church had completely fallen apart...