October Memories: Birthdays, Ordination, and Installation

It was an October day in 1978. It was a day like most days, except it was my first birthday away from home.

At home, I knew what to expect. In my family, birthdays were noticed. There were presents to open and I was given the privilege of picking a birthday menu.

On this first birthday away from home, I was at college. It was time for dinner and a number of us were lining up for whatever food was being prepared in the cafeteria. There was no birthday menu or home-cooked meal waiting for me.

At my college, the administration publicly listed the birthdays of students. During our time waiting for food, someone began to sing happy birthday to me and as others joined in, the feelings of home-sickness lessened with every note that was sung.

I was noticed – and isn’t that part of the key elements of any birthday? To know that you are seen and appreciated?

This month is my birthday and the 90th birthday of my father. He will protest our needing to gather as a family and he will not want any “fuss,” but I know that being noticed is something that he will appreciate. Our family even advertised a note of his birthday in the CRCNA official publication (The Banner) so others might remember him and send greetings to show they noticed.

October is also the month of two other major events in my life.

Thirty years ago on October 15, 1995, I was ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. I was ordained at Orland Park CRC, as that church family called me to be a home missionary for a new church (New Life) to be planted in New Lenox, Illinois.

During the service, I made vows and the church made vows as we committed to each other before God.

I then kneeled and seven pastors laid their hands on me as part of the service of being set apart and empowered by the Spirit to take up my calling. It was and is a humbling experience.

Sixteen years later to the same date, on October 15, 2011, I was installed as President of Calvin Theological Seminary. I again kneeled as others prayed over me as part of a service of being set apart and empowered by the Spirit to take up this new calling.

Sometimes, I am asked about whether I preferred being a pastor or being a president. I always respond to that question with a smile and ask, “When did I stop being a pastor?” I then go on to note that being a president flows out of my role and calling as a pastor.

I see the last thirty years as part of a continuity in my pastoral calling to serve the Church as the Church serves the mission of God.

This time of remembering and reflection comes when we are entering into the 150th anniversary celebration of Calvin (Calvin Theological Seminary and Calvin University) as we trace our roots back to March 15, 1876, when one pastor was called by the church to train pastors.

In keeping with that heritage, I’ve done my best to serve by shepherding the faculty and staff at Calvin Seminary to lead, grow, and be equipped for the common vision and mission of serving the Church.

As we pause and pay attention to this mission in our 150th celebration year, I see the future of our church and denomination being stewarded and formed for the next 150 years.

Thank you for your support and recognition of our mission and vision. We hope you can participate in our “birthday party” celebrations this year.

Finally, I want to give thanks for all the people who prayed, supported, encouraged, and came alongside me, my wife Jackie, and our family as we moved through these years of church planting and seminary service.

We could not have taken these steps without God’s people along the way. Today, I want to notice you and how anything that I have been blessed to do as a pastor and a president is because others were also called to service and together – we can celebrate the work of God in our lives! To God Be the Glory!

In His Service with You,

Jul Medenblik

President, Calvin Theological Seminary