Ordinations are not about the future pastor being ordained. Yup. This coming ordination is not about me. Not at all.

Ordinations are about a community that identifies and raises up one of their own. They are about celebrating the work of the Holy Spirit among God’s people, about lifting up gifts and promises of Baptism. They are not about the ordinand, but about the community being and doing community.

Lots of people have been wondering who should go. I have invited friends from many different faiths, to include Hindu, Islam, Native Mexican, Native American, Atheism, Judaism and more. They are a part of my growth and my faith. Their passion for their understanding of the divine and the work of that divine presence in and through us (yes, even as Athiest there is sense of divinity- ask me another time) encourages and lifts me up in my own understanding of God. They are who help form me and teach me who my God is by faithfully walking their own spiritual path. They should be there too.

The people who should attend are the ones who wish to witness my personal call and promise to my faith- not theirs. The people who should attend are the ones who prayed and lifted me up in our mutual faith. The people who should attend are the ones who work in justice with me, and walked streets with me and fed homeless like me. To put it succinctly, the people who should attend are the ones who lived life with me and wish to witness and recognize a faith leader being named and formally pronounced. It is about the journey as community.

Ordinations are a lot like weddings. The people who attend do NOT have to follow the promises of the bride or groom and thank goodness, there are some men I would not want to be married to, but my friend chose them, so I witnessed their vows. Even though we don’t make the vows, we are witnesses to it. Witnesses who, hopefully, will remind the bride and groom of their vows when times get tough. That is the purpose of witness. Not to live the promise yourself, but to witness and recall for the other that they have made this promise.

I need you there to celebrate what we as community have done. We together have helped to identify our own gifts, and in particular, the ones that point to me as a faith leader. We together have taught, encouraged, laughed and cried. YOU have nourished me. So now, witness with me. Witness my promise and celebrate your hard work in growing a pastor, a faith leader. We need leaders in all faiths. So come. You don’t need to be Lutheran or even Christian to witness and hold faith with me, for me, and beside me. Come. Witness. Celebrate. Come.