|
|
 |
|
tomanifest@mindspring.com
919.554.2711
"Oh Love that fires the sun, keep me burning."
- Bruce Cockburn, "Lord of the Starfields"
The Call
Slowly growing in me over a number of years was the unexpressed desire, even to myself, to become a minister. As a young
person growing up Southern Baptist, I realized early on that traditional approaches to religion didn't go deeply enough into
my spiritual heart. Later in my life, when the desire to become a minister surfaced, I realized that ordination in any particular
denomination would not serve me very well, knowing that I could not serve others as I wished to under the auspices of a strictly
Christian flag. This issue came close to deferring my desire for ordination.
The Priesthood of the Believer
One of the most valuable parts to me of my Baptist heritage
is something called "the priesthood of the believer," which I took to mean that Baptists are free to interpret their
faith according to their own innate understanding, and to have a direct relationship with the Beloved, with God. I chose to
be ordained by a religious institution that supports my belief about the priesthood of the believer and allows my deeply
ecumenical nature to be served. The Association for the Integration of the Whole Person is that institution.
www.aiwp.org
|
|
|
The Ordination Process
It was extremely important to me that the ordaining
body require something meaningful of me, something beyond my writing a check and filling out an online form, which I would
not have done. The ordination packet for AIWP (more than fifty pages) asks for fairly extensive documentation of one's qualifications
and experience, along with letters from three professional and educational references. In addition, a number of personal essays
are required.
Before deciding to submit documents to AIWP, I shared all the information in the ordination packet with
three people whose opinions and keen intellect I value, asking them to peruse the materials with a critical eye. These three
are my brother, attorney James W. Pierce; Thomas A. Jackson, Pastor Emeritus of Wake Forest Baptist Church; and Dr. H. Eugene
McLeod, retired theological librarian and church lay leader. When I received their endorsements, I undertook the required
discernment process and then applied for ordination. At that time, I also invited Tom Jackson and Gene McLeod to serve on
my Board of Directors, which they readily agreed to do. In late 2009, therapist and pastoral counselor, Suzanne Luper, asked
if she might join our Board. Suzanne is the Director of Triangle Pastoral Counseling in Raleigh. It is an honor to have these
outstanding companions by my side in this ministry.
Click for excerpts of endorsement letters to AIWP.
Click here to read what Board members have to say about Amy.
|
|
|
Back to top
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|