Reflections of a Baby DS...

Written: 3/19/2009

By Rev. Virginia O. (Ginger) Bassford, Ph.D.

Incoming Weatherford District Superintendent

I am the youngest of four children, the “baby” of the family. My next-in-line sibling is ten years older than I, which according to birth order experts, also means that I function as the youngest, the oldest and the only child. So one should not be confounded to discover that I’m just weird – a misfit from the get-go. It should also then not be confusing to learn that I was actually “comfortable” the first time someone called me a “baby DS” – well, that is to the extent that one is ever “comfortable” with being a District Superintendent in the United Methodist Church. (But after all, I am the youngest of the group!)

“Baby DS.” That name was first used on me a little over a month ago; just days after the Bishop called and asked me to prayerfully consider this appointment. What a learning curve since then! I remember thinking that I was never going to be “allowed” to be a pastor – let alone ever a DS. When I was first interviewed by the District Committee on Ordained Ministry (dCOM for short), the committee grilled me for what seemed like a lifetime. Then they dismissed me so that they could deliberate and vote on whether or not they affirmed my call to ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church.

I remember standing there for over 20 minutes as the voices in the room next door grew louder and louder. I thought I was going to die! They started to yell at each other! “What will I do?” I thought. “They aren’t going to approve me! Where will I go? I have to live out this call. Will I change denominations? Try again next year? What will I do?”

I was completely caught off guard when the door opened and there were 12 delightful smiles looking out at me. Each one shook my hand, patted me on the back and congratulated me. Talk about mixed-messages! It took me days to gut-up enough courage to ask my mentor pastor why they had argued about me for so long, and what I had done wrong. I still recall his response, “About you? We weren’t arguing about you! We were arguing about a theological issue that you raised – we voted on you the first 2 minutes after you were out of the room!”

Well how ‘bout that!

Things are not always as they seem.

I had perceptions of the cabinet that were not as they seemed. Picture a grand dart board and seven DS’s (guys) standing around chewing the fat as they tossed darts, one even chewed a big soggy cigar. Some threw with a caviler hand – some with great umph! That’s how I thought appointments were made. (Well, maybe not really, but on some occasions it seemed that way!)

Or, picture this: a red-faced curmudgeon swearing to “get even” for that “young-whipper-snapper” for not genuflecting in the proper reverence, or for the church that didn’t pay its “taxes” (aka apportionments) on time. Yeah. Right.

I’ve had those thoughts, just like many of you.

I was wrong.

This is what I’ve observed these past several weeks. It is incredibly similar to what I have experienced sitting on the Board of Ordained Ministry (that’s BOM for short – please don’t say it like an onomatopoeia) and the dCOM for the past 9 years. Looking around the table, faces lined with concern; literally praying to ask the right questions, to make the best choice. The people behind the faces talked about what the “best” choice was not what was easy or necessarily “fair” by the world’s standards. The best choice – the one that had integrity, that helped advance the Kingdom of God.

I’ve heard words of grace, far more words of grace than I would have ever imagined in these recent weeks. I have received grace, both in sitting at that table and in realizing all the grace I have received in the preceding years.

I have felt the grave and passionate concern of my colleagues – not for an institution – but for life – real, tangible life. Life that is bigger than you or me, greater than what you want or what I want, more important than our material wishes or desires. I have been washed over by the profound knowledge that this is not just a cabinet, not just a committee. These were pastors with whom I sat, perhaps in the truest sense of the word. Pastors who would neither rubber-stamp a proposal nor carelessly cast aside a candidate; who would strive not to do just something, but who would work and work and work and work to do the best thing – even if others outside the room did not understand and rejected them because of the decision they made. Willing to be misfits – every single one of them.

                 Ministry is a long, arduous journey from its inception to the day we can even stand at the starting line – perhaps as long as eight to ten years and more. The investment of time and resources is colossal. Those who guide others along the journey are not always perfect – every 20 years or so we might even leave a candidate standing outside the office while we argue about something totally unrelated to her interview. But if we are faithful to God, God will bless our respective ministries as we strive to be the Body of Christ in the world.

May each of us – laity and clergy alike, and those who are in process in between – strive to be faithful, tenaciously work to build the Kingdom of God, and effectively serve God and The Church, The People of God – for that truly is… the Best Thing – regardless of one’s order of birth.

Comments

1. Katie Long wrote on 4/16/2009 11:18:55 AM

Ginger,

Thank you for taking the time and heart to write this. And blessings as you serve.

Peace,

Katie

2. Denise Rogers wrote on 4/16/2009 4:35:45 PM

Bless you Ginger. As one waiting to be seated, it is good news to know that what we hope and pray for is.

3. Penny Yaites wrote on 4/18/2009 12:22:35 AM

Ginger, thanking for sharing from your heart and confirming that we, The United Methodist Church, act out the call of Christ in every aspect, every area and at every level. For in Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female... nor babyDS...smile...for you (we) are all one in Christ Jesus.

4. Dale Schultz wrote on 4/19/2009 7:26:22 PM

Ginger, Thanks for sharing your insights. Our prayers are with you as you prepare for your new ministry.