So What's Changed?

After a hiatus from writing I am back.

Many readers/listeners know that for the better part of three presidential administrations I was working toward being ordained in the United Methodist Church. When I first began the process I was a security contractor and my wife and I had yet to have children. I was apprehensive, unsure of my beliefs, and questioning whether or not I was doing the right thing. You see, I went to West Virginia Wesleyan College to study religion and go into ministry and through a series of events I joined a fraternity instead and studied sociology and political science.

On June 17, 2022, I was ordained in Hampton Virginia with Allison, Camden, Jason, and Ed by my side. Taylor chimed in from the cheap seats with, “Thanks be to God!!!” (making for the only unscripted moment of the service).

The Sunday before I arrived in Hampton I sat in on Sunday school with the teenagers of our church. In sharing our joys and concerns I shared the joy that I would be ordained by the end of the week.

“So what’s going to change, Pastor Teer, once you’re ordained?” a student asked.

“What do you mean?” I responded hoping to skirt the question.

“Like, once you’re ordained, what will be different?” she fired back.