My Mum's Ordination

My mum was ordained as a minister recently and I was asked to speak at the ceremony. What follows is my speech that has a nod towards the Requisite Organisation's theory of call to adventure. For most of us this is when we feel the call to a higher level of work, once we have the requisite knowledge, skills and experience.

For our family, a women being ordain doesn't create controversity. Women and men are equal in the eyes of God and the law and as such can do similar roles.

The following paper is the actual speech with the content being embedded into the statements.

Cheers Michael

Thank you , I have entitled my little speech here today as Kathleen’s Call to Adventure, as we are here to celebrate Kathleen’s call to adventure as my mother, and your most recent pastor is ordain.

I’m Michael Kromwyk, Harry and Kathleen’s son and I’m really proud to be with you all here today!

In preparation for this presentation I have been studying recently about the concept of ‘call to adventure’. A consultant that I met through work, Andrew Olivier, defines the concept of being called to adventure as a transitional period in one’s life and how we use our knowledge, skills and experience to take on the next logical challenge. Today we are reflecting with Kathleen on her journey and her call to adventure.

If I think in terms of her ‘spiritual’ life we can track her journey and the key points that have lead her to being ordained today:

• Kathleen’s first act was to be called to God in the 1970s when the family was ‘saved’ and joined the AOG in Edithburgh. I can still recall those long nights in Church on a Sunday evening falling asleep under the seats while mum and dad engaged with God. I should find out if this still happens in your church today!
• A little while later Harry was called to adventure (in lot more ways than one) to PNG. Recently I showed by son, Sam a picture of Harry and Kathleen with a host of locals. I told him that they were teaching them to collect cans – and he believed me! For those of you who know my parents I think you will get the joke! But Kathleen embraced this journey and was called to be there as well to help these communities
• We return to Australia and shortly after they had a calling to Wallaroo. This is still a part of Harry’s call to adventure, but definitely supported by Kathleen – they really worked as a team in this community.
• Then came the various churches around SA (Kingscote, Balaclava, Wallaroo and even Queensland) where knowledge, skills and experience was learned by both and the desire to be a pastor in her own right was a small fire burning inside Kathleen. As in any business or church there are trials and tribulations, both professionally and personally. But this enables one to grow and this was just another step in the journey towards this eventual call to adventure.
• Then came Tailem Bend. Kathleen has a real desire for this community and to not only take a pastoral role in helping people in the spiritual sense, but also in a practical sense. This town will always be important to her as it was when Kathleen was called to adventure

Prior to Kathleen taking this step to be ordained, she was comfortable in her role as a support to Harry. But then the call came, its desire is stronger than anything you can describe and she took the leap to become a pastor in her own right. This is Kathleen’s call to adventure.

I ask you to turn to Matthew Chapter 4 verses 18-20 with me, where Jesus calls his first disciples to their adventure:

“Jesus Calls His First Disciples”

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

In some ways my mother and your Pastor is now joining the ranks of other famous, strong and influential biblical women who like Simon Peter and Andrew where called to adventure in different ways. These include:

Mary Jesus’ Mum

Deborah: the prophetess and the only female judge of Israel.

Priscilla: who assisted Paul in the early church

Hannah: the mother of Samuel the Prophet.

Rebekah : the Wife of Isaac

Ruth: daughter-in-law of Naomi, & Rahab

Sarah: Abraham’s wife.

Miriam: the prophetess and older sister of Moses and Aaron.

Kathleen, on behalf of your family and your congregation we congratulate on your ordination and your call to adventure.