When you think of spending a week in New Orleans during Mardi Gras, God isn't the first thing that probably comes to you mind. I just got home from spending a week with 500+ youth ministry workers and volunteers in New Orleans. The week is called the Extravaganza...and that it was. Spending time worshiping God and celebrating the youth I serve is a fulfilling experience. Whenever I get back from these type of events it takes me a few days to recover. The days are long and the nights are short, your mind and heart are filled to the brim with emotion and information. We heard different pastors speak on various topics related to youth ministry and pop culture. We worshiped with different styles of music, which is always my favorite part.Overall, my favorite part of the week is getting to spend time with my youth worker friends. We share ideas and happenings, within our groups as well as learn from what others are doing. We also discuss struggles and how to overcome our own weaknesses to be better at our ministry.
A topic that came up was feeling inadequate from clergy. There is a stigma that if you are not clergy than you are not taking seriously or have any "rights" as far as doing ministry or there are thing you just can't do because you aren't ordained. This brings me back to when I was 15. To make a long story short I went to a Servant camp in Key West. One night we visited the Metropolitan Community Church and listened to the pastor explain that he was a homosexual and his ministry revolved around that. At the time I didn't really understand what homosexuality was but knew the Bible said it was wrong. I was curious and raised my hand to ask a question. I asked something along the lines of, "How can you preach the word of God if you are living in a way that the Bible says is wrong?" I meant nothing disrespectful by my question, I was just curious and had an eagerness to learn and understand. The Lutheran pastor that was their walked over the the row I was standing in and said, "It also says in the Bible that women should not speak out in church!" I don't remember anything else he said because I was humiliated. Now the thought is, because I am not clergy I can't be respected as a youth worker. I struggle with this more out of the frustration of other people and not with my own thoughts and beliefs. I believe that we are all called to share the Good News. Regardless of gender, race, economic standing, past or present we are all called to love and serve the Lord. It is not my place to decide who is able to speak the Good News, it is just my place to speak the Good News and share God's love. Yes in the Lutheran Church their are rules and traditions that state I can not do certain things, and that is OK and understandable.
