Service of Ordination and Installation of Mark Peters Ward

Charge to the Congregation

The Reverend Joan Kahn-Schneider

Unitarian Universalist Association Ministerial Search Representative

Hendersonville, North Carolina

(UUA Advisor to UUCA Search Committee)

Two years ago yesterday, February 5, 2003, I first met with you as Ministerial Settlement Representative to explain the process. You asked insightful questions and you listened well.

From that first meeting you selected your Search Committee. On June 1, I met with that committee and later facilitated their retreat.

For a year and a half they worked hard and faithfully. They listened to you. As a result, they selected Mark Ward as the candidate who best fulfilled your ministerial hopes and wishes.

And here we are together again - the culmination of that first meeting.

What an honor it is that Mark invited me to give the Charge to you on this, the occasion of his Ordination and Installation.

What a strange word "Charge"

Charge Account

Charge of electricity

To take charge

To be in charge

How much should I charge?

I remember going to baseball games back as Crosley Field when my boys were young. The electric moment when the organ would plan and folks would stand and yell "CHARGE!"

Come on team make it happen!

Let’s roll!

We’re behind you!

I guess that is probably the best interpretation for A Charge on an occasion like this.

COME ON TEAM - LET'S ROLL. LET'S MAKE IT HAPPEN - WE'RE BEHIND YOU.

There are a number of interesting metaphors for ministry.

Some call it a Marriage.

One colleague called it a tight rope walk.

My favorite is a dance.

Ministry is like a dance - in which, in the words of UU poet Ric Masten, we learn to follow, learn to lead, feel the rhythm, fill the need.

A dance in which the partners move together - first slowly feeling the rhythm - filling the need until it becomes clear how the music of the moment instructs movement.

All of us here gathered wish for and anticipate that you and Mark will have a good and long ministry together. And a good long ministry takes time to ripen. It does not happen all at once.

You and Mark are working toward shared ministry. Those are nice words used freely throughout ministerial circles. But do you know what shared ministry really means? Few do.

I expect coming to understand shared ministry is going to be a learning process. Toward that end, I charge you to slow down and listen.

This is a new ministry. A new dance, with a new partner.

Listen to Mark. Hear what shared ministry means to him.

Listen to one another. Hear what shared ministry means to each of you.

Listen to the deep yearnings of your own heart.

Let a dancing song be heard.

Play the music say the words.

Slow down. Take time.

And then when you really know the steps you want to take together you will do it in a way that you will both honor and empower one another.

You have in Mark the elegant response to what you asked of your Search Committee. Now, give your new minister space to learn your rhythm - to know when to follow - when to lead. Give Mark time to explore his uniqueness in this new community. Ministers know that it is never a good idea to try to change anything in the first year. Sadly too many congregations want to charge (there's that word again!) Forward and do too much too soon. Don=t make that mistake.

There are so many steps you and Mark need to learn together.

This beginning is not the time to make changes.

This beginning is the time to develop a new relationship.

You will make mistakes. So will Mark.

You will step on one another’s toes.

That’s OK.

Without the dark there is no light,

If nothing’s wrong,

Then nothing’s right.

So, Charge, my friends - let it happen. We’re behind you.

Through the good times and the bad times too,

Let it be a dance.