The second goal of Christian Vocation—Ordained Ministry—encourages academically promising students to consider lay and ordained ministry, including further education at seminary, as their vocation. This goal corresponds to the second part of our definition of Christian vocation—distinctive calling to ministry— and is synonymous with the call to ordained ministry, the work of missions, and the monastic life.

Messiah College takes responsibility to provide opportunities for students to carefully and prayerfully consider the specialized vocation of ordained and lay ministry. The following initiatives support students in this reflection.

• Ministry Exploration—This initiative offers an intensive learning experience that centers on the distinctive calling of God to ministry. It addresses the opportunities and challenges of lay and ordained ministry, as well as the theological understanding of ministry. Activities include:
  • Establish the C.N. Hostetter Fellows Program to recruit women and men who have interest in exploring their gifts and abilities in relation to ministry. Key components include scholarships, retreats, mentorships, and a six-week summer intensive experience
    (Click here for the C.N. Hostetter Fellows Program application.)
    Visit the C.N. Hostetter Fellows Program website.
• Revitalization of Christian Ministries Curriculum—This initiative offers the opportunity to assess our current curricular program that prepares students to effectively serve congregations and to pursue seminary education. Activities include:
  • Review Christian Ministries curriculum and recommend possible revisions
  • Consider ways of encouraging the pursuit of seminary education
• Women in Ministry—This initiative seeks to nurture a campus climate that supports God’s call to women in leadership roles in the Church. Activities include:
  • Establish a Women in Ministry and Missions Resource room.
    • Women in Ministry Bibliography
  • Support the Miriam Project, a campus-wide educational effort to address traditional gender roles and issues of equality
  • Promote leadership roles for women in the broad-based Christian church
  • Support the Wesleyan/Holiness Women Clergy conference through providing travel scholarships to the biennial conference and establishing a mentoring program for female students who are pursuing ministry