I have been called!

Today I got a letter from J. A. Thompson (Rev), Secretary of the Placements Committee of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania. It is now official.

I have been called to the congregations of Romsey, Lancefield, Mt Macedon and Riddells Creek.

To celebrate the news I drove up to the Memorial Cross and had a celebratory drink (a chocolate milkshake) at the Top of the Range Tea Room.

This is a wine-growing area, so it’s a bit sad that I don’t drink wine. But that does mean I’ll be sober enough to chauffeur other people on wine tours.

Being called does not mean that I am getting ordained. The Uniting Church prepares people for ministry in four phases, and I am just about to enter phase three: the Ministry Intern Phase. This phase lasts between twelve months and three years, so (God willing) I will be ordained sometime in 2008-2010. Bossey people: start saving up for those tickets to Australia. You are all invited to the ordination – again, God willing. (I will be living in a four-bedroom manse in Romsey, so I’ll have somewhere for you to stay when you come to visit.)

Non-Bossey people: I’ll let you know when and where the Service of Recognition is happening.