While serving as Admissions Director at McCormick, I had the privilege to read and listen to hundreds of perspective students talk about their call to ministry. These stories were fascinating! Some spoke of angels and visions, of hearing God's voice and feeling the Holy Spirit. Others simply spoke of an experience at camp, a warm word from an Elder, or just a simple nudge in the direction of Seminary. Different experiences, but all were authentic expressions of God's call on their life.

I learned two lessons: God's call is to be taken seriously and God's call will not go away.

Marilyn and I have a pastoral and leadership call on our lives. We each experience the joys and struggles a call brings. Having a father and two brothers in ministry, I wanted nothing to do with professional ministry. Like Jonah I ran in the opposite direction. My life as an insurance agent and owner of my business was wonderful and empty. I never worked so hard to achieve so much that meant so little. God's call was like a toothache that wouldn't go away. Well, one yes became another, and with the help of many prayers, laying of hands, and encouraging words; with much patience and tender care of pastors, teachers, professors, and saints, I became a pastor, and a leader.

A call must be nurtured, and a call must be chosen. We must choose to follow God's call in our lives because the alternative is always present as well. As a clergy couple, Marilyn and I constantly encourage one another in ministry and remind one another that God is doing an important work through us.

For years I knew that Marilyn was called to denominational leadership. The opportunity to express that call has come about in an unexpected but beautiful way. We are confident Riverside Presbytery is a great fit for Marilyn, even as we say, "What!" (This is a normal prayer to God for us!). Milwaukee is the perfect fit for my gifts and skills. The irony is that in 2013 Marilyn spotted the Milwaukee job opening and said, "Honey, I think you should apply to this one!"

Just as God has a call on our lives, Marilyn and I have entered into a covenant called marriage with one another. A key element in our marriage is looking out for the other's good. Encouraging one another in our calls is a way of keeping call and covenant in balance.

In the book, "Clergy Commuter Marriages: Living Apart, Staying Together," Tom Mattick places covenant with God and covenant with spouse in tension. Marilyn and I do not see God's call and our covenant of marriage in tension, though. There is flexibility in each. As much as we enjoy being together, we have spent half of our marriage living apart.

So, as we prepare to live the next two years flying between Milwaukee and San Bernardino, texting, emailing, and using facetime, we are filled with nervous excitement and anticipation. We will each be challenged to create community. I have the advantage of family and friends in Chicago, but now I must do a better job of connecting with people in Milwaukee. Marilyn will be starting from scratch, but a committed community has already warmly welcomed her.

Marilyn's email tagline reads, "It is always the adventurers who accomplish great things." As we travel, we always begin with prayer and then say, "Another great Marilyn and Craig adventure!" Well, it's time to buckle our seatbelts because here we go again!

Rev. Craig M. Howard 

(To respond to Craig, [email protected])