Anabaptist Ordinations By Lot

[Ernie]

Oh my goodness, yes. But I was trying to follow the thread rules and not express any comfort or discomfort with this process.

I think it is possible to do the lot thing without all the drama and emotional roller coaster.

In particular, I was hoping to not have a thread arguing for or against the lot.

[ohio jones]

Since we use nomination/the lot, [seminary education] would help you very little in groups I interface with.

Does the Rosedale connection still use the lot, or ministers called as in Protestant circles?

Since a candidate for licensing or ordination needs to be questioned and approved by the ministerial committee, using the lot as a means of selection would be a preliminary step rather than a final one. I don't recall any recent reports of the lot being used. In my own congregation, it was used around 35 years ago; in the one pastoral transition since then, the choice seemed obvious enough that we used a vote of affirmation.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Since we use nomination/the lot, [seminary education] would help you very little in groups I interface with.

Does the Rosedale connection still use the lot, or ministers called as in Protestant circles?

Since a candidate for licensing or ordination needs to be questioned and approved by the ministerial committee, using the lot as a means of selection would be a preliminary step rather than a final one. I don't recall any recent reports of the lot being used. In my own congregation, it was used around 35 years ago; in the one pastoral transition since then, the choice seemed obvious enough that we used a vote of affirmation.

In our case, it is the final step. In one case I was aware of, only one candidate received sufficient nominations, so no lot.

The interview step is between nomination and the lot, if it is used.

[danfreed]

This is a thread to discuss an Anabaptist practice of ordaining by lot.

This is NOT a thread to express your comfort or discomfort level regarding this practice but rather an informational thread and a place to discuss variations in how it is/was practiced in churches or constituencies.

A lot to think about here.

Watching these church leadership procedures as a child and youth in the EPMC (ultraconservative) setting, was extremely emotionally stressful.

Later, being directly involved in less conservative settings the past 40 years (SE conference, unaffiliated conservative, Rosedale Network and LMC), helped me understand the procedure. But my perspectives may not fit the thread rules so I'll simply stop for now.

So many memories.

Thanks for the thread, Ernie

[barnhart]

I feel like I could benefit from hearing Dan's perspective. Is there a way to communicate the discomfort and still honor Ernie's thread.

[ohio jones]

I feel like I could benefit from hearing Dan's perspective. Is there a way to communicate the discomfort and still honor Ernie's thread.

Starting a new thread would be a good way to do that.

[JayP]

I have been debating how to navigate between factual response and avoiding negativity.

EPMC uses the lot for the actual selection from among those nominated.
But the significant effort to “weed out unsatisfactory” nominees does not for me align with their claim “It’s all God’will via the lot.”
They trust God but only after they put up the guardrails.

So, does Eastern use the lot. I could as easily say “yes” or “no”.

[mike]

Are there any Anabaptist groups that let you submit a nomination anonymously? It was kind of intimidating to walk into a room with all the ministers plus a visiting bishop and state your nomination. I think it actually makes a difference in who some people vote for.

Maybe it prevents someone from nominating himself.

[barnhart]

Are there any Anabaptist groups that let you submit a nomination anonymously? It was kind of intimidating to walk into a room with all the ministers plus a visiting bishop and state your nomination. I think it actually makes a difference in who some people vote for.

Maybe it prevents someone from nominating himself.

We have taken various approaches to reduce the tension around submitting nominees such as visiting in members homes to hear their voice and limiting the committee to two or three at most.

[Judas Maccabeus]

Are there any Anabaptist groups that let you submit a nomination anonymously? It was kind of intimidating to walk into a room with all the ministers plus a visiting bishop and state your nomination. I think it actually makes a difference in who some people vote for.

Maybe it prevents someone from nominating himself.

I tried to nominate someone who was not technically eligible. He had been with us awhile, was a member of a sister conference, but he had not transferred membership. He could have transferred, but did not. Officially , therefor, I had not nominated. Our bishop later admitted he would have been a fine candidate...if he was actually eligible.