Dear friends,
I passed all my ordination tests this weekend at presbytery. With this now complete, I’ll start preparations to move and focus more time on support raising. There is about 15% more needed in monthly pledges before I can leave. Depending on how the next couple weeks unfold, I am tentatively planning on leaving for Cambodia the first week of October. Also, this upcoming weekend, September 4th – 6th, I’ll be preaching and speaking at New Life Mission Church of Northern California (PCA) in San Jose.
Sermon: On August 8th, I preached at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Godfrey, IL. Here is a link to the sermon: John 15 sermon
Prayer: You can join me in thanking God for his faithfulness during a hectic summer of travel, training, study, and testing. Also, the weeks ahead will be filled with many transitions and goodbyes.
Thanks,
Luke
P.S. In case you are curious what the ordination process looks like that I just completed, below is the description given in the Book of Church Order.
Trials for ordination shall consist of:
a. A careful examination as to:
1. his acquaintance with experiential religion, especially his
personal character and family management (based on the
qualifications set out in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, and Titus 1:6-9),
2. his knowledge of the Greek and Hebrew languages,
3. Bible content,
4. theology,
5. the Sacraments,
6. Church history,
7. the history of the Presbyterian Church in America, and
8. the principles and rules of the government and discipline of
the church.
A Presbytery may accept a seminary degree which includes
study in the original languages in lieu of an oral examination in
the original languages.
b. He shall prepare a thesis on some theological topic assigned by
Presbytery.
c. The candidate shall prepare an exegesis on an assigned portion of
Scripture, requiring the use of the original language or languages.
d. He shall further be required to preach a sermon before the
Presbytery or committee thereof, upon three-fourths (3/4) vote.
