Ballentine Call Story

As I discerned my call to ordained ministry, I experienced no lighting bolts of sudden clarity. Instead, over a number of years, I received encouragement from others, as I expressed interest. God worked through those others!

My discernment began when I was in high school and got to know my pastor and learned what kind of work he did. I came to think it would be interesting work to do myself. As I matured and talked more with my pastor about this, he encouraged me to talk! He took the time to listen.

When I was in college, I worked many hours each week on our excellent daily student newspaper. I enjoyed writing and editing very much, and worked with other talented students, some of whom went on to professional journalism careers. I listened for guidance: did I want to become a journalist? Still in the mix was my interest in parish ministry. And still my pastor was open to listen and encourage me.

Clarity of call came during the summer between my third and fourth years in college. I worked that summer on the Lutheran magazine as an intern. So, that summer, I was writing – and I was working for the church. I was able to talk with many ordained pastors during that summer (in what is now called the “church wide office”), receiving their counsel and perspective. I came to realize that, instead of writing about peoples’ lives, I wanted to be involved in their lives, as a parish pastor. I entered seminary the fall following my college graduation.

Since my ordination in 1979, my sense of call has only deepened as my own faith and love of God has deepened!

Project Connect is an initiative of the Eastern Cluster of Lutheran Seminaries. Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, and the Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary, Funded by a generous grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc.