Celebrating the Ordination of Will Clark
Redeemer Family,
On Sunday evening, May 17, one of our CCO college ministers, Will Clark, will be ordained to the priesthood!
Now, I would imagine that some of those words may be unfamiliar to a few of you, so let’s brush up on our old-school vocabulary:
Ordained: This refers to the New Testament practice of church leaders laying hands on a person and praying for them in order to ask the Holy Spirit to set them apart for a particular area of responsibility and ministry in the church. There are three orders of ordination practiced by most Christian traditions: Deacons, Priests, and Bishops.
Priest: The word “priest” actually comes from the Greek word for “elder,” presbuteros. (Presbuteros -> presbyter -> proster -> priest, if you were curious.) The priest is a chosen leader in a congregation, vetted by members of the church and approved by them and the bishop for ordination, and is responsible for maintaining orthodoxy in the teaching and overseeing the proper celebration of the sacraments within the parish. We may also call him or her, appropriately, pastor (shepherd) since they are responsible for caring for the spiritual needs of the members of the church. The priest celebrates Communion, baptizes, marries couples, and proclaims God’s forgiveness and absolution of the people’s sins after they confess either in the service or in private.
Deacon: This word comes from the Greek for slave or servant, diakonos. The deacon is responsible for helping serve at the Communion Table during worship and leading the congregation in serving the poor, hungry, and needy both inside and outside the church. Two types of deacons exist: transitional deacons seek to be ordained as priests and vocational deacons intend to remain deacons.
Diocesan: This word refers to our diocese (The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic) which, for us, is a regional network of churches in Virginia, D.C., and Maryland.
Synod: This is simply an old word for an annual gathering of clergy and other church leaders.
Will Clark has been in ordination process for a number of years now which includes a written application, in-person interviews and exams, psychiatric evaluation, seminary study, assigned reading, ministry experience, and recommendations from the Vestry and Rector of their parish. He was ordained to the diaconate last year, and I’m grateful for the continued hard work and dedication that Will has shown through this process.
Well done, brother!
If you are able, please join us in celebration by attending Will’s ordination service at 2715 Grove Ave., followed by a reception (*reception details to come). It is also appropriate to take a moment to pray for Will, that the Holy Spirit would further equip him for the labors that lie ahead.
O Lord Jesus, who art the Good Shepherd that careth for thy flock: We beseech thee to bestow upon thy Church the gifts of the Holy Spirit in abundance, and to raise up from among us faithful and able persons called to the ministries of Deacon, Priest, and Bishop. Inspire them to spend and be spent for the sake of the Gospel, and make them holy and loving servants and shepherds of the flock for whom thou didst shed thy most precious blood. Grant this for the sake of thy love. Amen.
INVITATION FOR THOSE WHO SENSE A CALL TO MINISTRY
Now, as you’re reading this, you may be someone who has wondered whether or not you are called to ordained ministry. If that’s you, we would love to hear from you and help you with the discernment process.
Christian discernment is best practiced together, not alone.
You can find further information about the ordination process here, and we would be glad to walk you through it if you have any questions.
