1. When were you ordained?
June 6, 2004

2. What was the first official act you did as an ordained minister?
I presided at the table at my own ordination. Besides that, I participated in the ordination of church officers the very next Sunday.

3. What were your most embarrasing moments in ministry?
Other than mixing up a few names, I haven't had many. Watch this space, though...I'm sure I'll have some!

4. What have been your best moments in ministry?
Just walking beside the people.

5. What weddings are your most memorable?
Haven't done a wedding yet, although two are scheduled for 2006. The first year I was here I got about 5 requests a week from the Mega-Church up the street that was building a new sanctuary. Somehow their wedding coordinator was under the impression that our lovely little church was a rent-a-wedding-chapel. I guess she thought that because the pastor who was here before me had a little "Marrying Parson" business on the side, which he conducted in this church. I set her straight.

6. What baptisms are your most memorable?
The twins whose adoption I witnessed this past fall. Just absolutely lovely--not a dry eye in the house.

7. What do you hate about ministry?
Administrivia.

8. What do you love about ministry?
Everything else.

9. What do you wish your parishioners would do for you?
Like John, I wish they would pray for me. If they already do, I wish they'd pray harder!

10. If you were not a minister, what would you be?
Social worker/counselor, I guess. It's hard to imagine not being a minister at this point.

12. Who have been your mentors?
I have some wonderful mentors/teachers from Semi-Famous Theological Seminary. Also some wonderful pastors here in the Snow Belt. One person in particular has been very influential in my formation. He's not a nationally known bigwig, but if he reads this he'll know who he is.

13. Who are your top 5 favorite bloggers and why?
Well, since I'm part of a webring, that is a dangerous question. I have a number of people that I check out every single day, but it is way more than five, so I'll keep it to myself.


14. What was it like the first time you were with someone who died?
It was in CPE, which was before I went to seminary. It was very scary. It's much better now.

15. What was it like the first time someone made sexual advances to you -- their pastor?
I went to visit an older gentleman in a convelescent home. When I say older I mean 90. It was about 2 months into my first call here, and no one informed me that he was the resident "dirty old man." I only see him now when his wife is in the room, which doesn't aways stop him. I leave my coat on, and I'm very careful not to sit within arm's reach of him. I ignore his flirting. Yes, there is some dementia going on.

17. What is the best thing about your church?
There's not a lot of "Can't" that happens here. They have a very rich 163-year history, that keeps them together in the hard times.

18. Do you think of leaving your church and/or ministry?
I don't think about leaving this place, because I don't think I've done everything God sent me here to do. I imagine I have quite a few years left here. In fact, I'm pretty sure I'm just getting started. Most of my classmates from Semi-Famous are on their second call now, 3.5 years out of seminary. I only know of two besides me who are still in the same place. (I got a later start.) That makes me kind of sad.