A few responses from participants at Does it Fit?
The last day of the conference, Alejandra asked Anthony and Frank to tell her about their experiences at Does it Fit?. What will you take home with you?, she asked. They answered in mini sermons, both giving insight to what the conference had meant and would continue to mean to them personally and the communities they belong to.
This question got me thinking--what did Does it fit? mean to me? What does my experience translate to in my life? And what about everyone else who was there? We all came together from different backgrounds, everyone in a different place of discernment. We were together for a short while, and then we all went back to our own communities, living our own lives. How will this conference impact us?
I came in to the conference with a clear acceptance and realization that God had called me to ordained ministry. In the video we saw on the first night, Kassinda talked about hearing the call to ordained ministry at a young age. When she couldn't go to church, she would fake church at home with her dolls. I related a lot to that story. My parents were Christmas/Easter church attendees at best, and when I heard the church bells I was intrigued. I begged to go to church, and my parents listened. Our church attendance was more regular. At about seven years old, I told my mom I wanted to be a priest. i just knew that was what I was going to do with my life.
I have never fought against the call, but, until the conference, had a lot of unanswered questions. I didn't know what the actual process was to go through in ordination. While at Does it Fit? I attended a workshop with Miguelina about the Ordination Process. This was so helpful to me as it helped me to understand on a logistical level what steps I need to go through.
I also had questions about what ordained ministry looked like for a woman, native Hawaiian, young person, and person wanting a family. What I heard most prominently from all of the leaders there was that all those things DO fit. You are entitled to the wiggle room in finding who you are with a collar. I was assured that everything can fit together, and that God isn't calling you to change and then be ordained, but that He has called us by name, just as we are.
The Does it fit? Conference was invaluable to my formation--as an Episcopalian, a young person, a woman, a person of color, and a person considering ordained ministry. I will bring back the message to my community that God has called us as we are.
-Jasmine, Diocese of Hawaii
My experience at Does it Fit? turned out to be something unexpected.
I wasn't too informed about the subjects we'd be covering at the program, before I actually got there. When I found out that we would be discussing ministry, I was somewhat skeptical. I never ever considered incorporating ministry into my goals and aspirations. In fact I literally didn't think it would fit!
Being at the program made me realize that ministry doesn't mean going to a seminary for some odd years then becoming ordained when I'm old and gray. Being at Does it Fit? taught me that there are many options when considering ministry, and we don't have to start when we're "old". On the contrary, ministry could happen right now, and it's the little steps that open you up to making a larger impact in your future.
At the conference I met so many great people from all over the United States and abroad. It was a blessing to learn about their cultures and our differences, yet still realizing that we are still all the same. I honestly didn't know how culturally diverse the Episcopalian church was until Does it Fit?
In all, what I took away from the program is that ministry can fit into ANYONE's life goal, and that ministry can start
RIGHT NOW!!!
-Goretti, Diocese of Florida.
Going to Does it Fit? I had a very open mind. When someone asked me if I was pursuing ordination it came across as a surprise to me. I never thought that becoming a priest was my calling, but it wasn't the futherest thing from my mind. After Does It Fit? I realized that as of right now I am not pursuing ordination. My mind is more focused on lay ministry.
My ministry in church is children and youth ministry. That's something I'm great at, I love being around the youth of my church. Just watching them learn more about the church makes me happy.
-Janelle, Diocese of Newark |
