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Ordination marks move to Team Ministry
Pastor Peter Abetz
The ordination of a young man to the ministry is
always a historic moment. For the ordinand it is the culmination of a
lot of heart searching. First there is the decision to study for the
ministry. Then there are the 5 years of full time study in Geelong at
the Reformed Theological College. Then a vicariate, preliminary Classis
exam, calls received and considered and finally a call accepted. Then a
move to the new church, a final Classis exam and then finally comes the
ordination.
Ordination to the ministry marks the fact that a young man has been
called to the ministry. His personal inward call has been confirmed by
the church, and his formal ministry of the Word and Sacraments now
begins.
The recent ordination of Clinton Berends in the Christian Reformed
Church of Willetton was a very special moment for Clinton and his wife
Tracy, as well as for the congregation of Willetton, where Clinton had
been called to serve in a team ministry with Pastor Abetz.
The congregation of Willetton had a foretaste of team ministry when
Peter Smit was called in 1995. But the fact was that he was responsible
for establishing the church-planting project in Yangebup, which meant
that it would only be a team ministry for a short time. Once Yangebup
began its evening services, Pastor Smit effectively became the full time
minister of the Yangebup congregation.
The Willetton church has a very large number of young people – over 100
under the age of 24. Already in 1994, the church council committed
itself to working towards a full time youth worker as soon as finances
would permit. The first step towards team ministry came when Mrs Susan
Pol was appointed church secretary in Feb. 1997 (15 hours/week), to free
Pastor Abetz up for more work with the youth.
In 1999 Chris Bongers commenced as our part-time youth worker. When
Chris decided to leave us to pursue full-time studies at the end of
2000, the congregation took the bold step of faith to call Clinton in
February 2001 to serve as a second pastor, with special responsibilities
for the youth area. It was a decision that was not taken lightly. The
congregation was aware that it required a significant increase in the
giving and the refinancing of the building loans, and the provision of
some extra office space.
The workload between the two pastors in Willetton has been divided along
the lines of their gifting: Pastor Berends – preaching, youth ministries
(faith nurture and pastoral care of under 24 year olds.) and Pastor
Abetz – preaching, administration, pastoral care for 24+, and outreach.
Both pastors involve themselves in the youth ministries and outreach,
but each has the responsibility in one of these areas. It is our hope
that the move to team ministry will strengthen our outreach and youth
ministry, and enhance the preaching as each pastor only needs to prepare
one sermon per week.
The Lord has blessed Clinton with a strong gift in the area of
preaching, and a passion to reach the lost for Christ, particularly
young people. Since arriving in Willetton, Clinton’s leadership in the
Youth Ministry area has been a very noticeable blessing. He has involved
himself in the local state primary school with teaching SRE, and works
alongside the chaplain at the local senior high school running several
programs.
This has been an exciting step in the life of Clinton and Tracy, and the
Willetton Church. Some 300 people were packed into the Willetton church
to witness Clinton’s ordination on Sunday June 16, 2001. We trust that
under God’s blessing it will mark the beginning of a long and fruitful
ministry for him.
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