Clergy Letter of Acceptance

[skyrider]

This letter was sent to me in 1984.

Dear Skyrider:

God bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.

On behalf of our father in the Word and us, the Board of Trustees, I extend

to you an invitation to be ordained to the Christian ministry this Wednesday

night at Corps Week. It is your decision. We have made ours based on the

quality of your ability and leadership according to the standards of Timothy

and Titus; therefore I offer you the privilege and responsibility to enter

the fellowship of the ordained clergy household.

Isaiah responded to his ordination invitation (after some "soul-searching")

with "Here am I; send me." This succinctly expresses what your heart response

must be. In my life, I know that once I said "yes" to ordination, then I

was committed by my free will to carry out whatever God and The Way Ministry

want me to do. The opposite motive is found in I Samuel 2:36b, "Put me, I

pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread."

Ordination, so to speak, became another means of just getting physical need

met. Becoming ordained does not guarantee you a salaried lifetime position

with The Way International with all expenses paid. If you respond with

the truthful heart of this calling, it guarantees you to have your need met

throughout life so that you can work harder, longer, and more joyfully than

ever before in your life and serve God's people.

If your thinking is in accordance with these standards and you choose to

accept this invitation, please respond in writing to me (hand deliver to

me personally, XX XXXXXX, or XXXX XXXXXXXXX) by Monday at 7:00 p.m.

I love you and look forward to your response.

In his steps,

L. Craig Martindale

snc

[skyrider]

30 years later......and I have a few questions:

1) So why are standards of Timothy and Titus for me.....and not wierwille?

2) Pluck a verse, "Here am I, send me."....from the cherry tree.

3) Why is everything, in twi, ALWAYS about the money.....up front?

4) There's that "have your need met" thingy again.

5) Even at the clergy level.....twi's wayspeak was so generic and bland.

6) Enter the fellowship of the ordained clergy household.......

7) Work harder, longer and to the grave.......serving twi's agendas.

Is there any wonder why some 480 twi clergy have exited?

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

In most denominations, you have to have recommendations from your local pastor/priest and congregation, then meet for an interview with state board of clergy and laity, do academic education at approved seminary for 3 out of 4 years with year of internship and mentoring , then ordained by synodical/diocesean bishop or state president/moderator, submit annual reports, do occasional continuing education credits, etc. Wierwille and Martindale were incompetent in this area.

[Steve Lortz]

In most denominations, you have to have recommendations from your local pastor/priest and congregation, then meet for an interview with state board of clergy and laity, do academic education at approved seminary for 3 out of 4 years with year of internship and mentoring , then ordained by synodical/diocesean bishop or state president/moderator, submit annual reports, do occasional continuing education credits, etc. Wierwille and Martindale were incompetent in this area.

ABSOLUTELY! ...and so was Dale Sides...

Love,

Steve

[Thomas Loy Bumgarner]

Wierwille seemed to butt heads with President of NW Ohio Synod of E&R and at least his first parish/congregational consistory. It was his way or they were to hit the highway, and Emil Bassler was not going to be bullied by this young arrogant pastor.

[Broken Arrow]

ABSOLUTELY! ...and so was Dale Sides...

Love,

Steve

Lol! Just to name a few!