Just back from the Virginia Synod Assembly -- a day early, so I can lead worship at St. Stephen tomorrow morning. I wish the Synod Assembly was on a Thursday, Friday and Saturday (which is the way it is in many Synods), instead of on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I don't think the Synod Assembly is a good enough reason to miss leading worship at home. (A number of other pastors practice the same civil disobedience as I do and cut out early!)

I go to Synod Assemblies mostly out of a sense of duty. Actually, this year's Assembly was more worthwhile than most because the keynote presenter and the Bible study leader were both outstanding! That's not always the case. The business of this Assembly, as usual, was boring in the extreme. I keep thinking we could take care of it in three hours instead of three days. Of course, the highlight is seeing and talking to folks that I don't see often because of geography: colleagues and former parishioners and young adults that were in my youth event small groups when they were in high school, and two of our William and Mary students who were there. Mealtime conversations are great!

So, while I'm there, I'm visiting with colleagues, and hearing how their ministries are going in their congregations. And all of that is really interesting to me -- there are so many different situations for ministry in our Synod. But something strikes me when I'm on the way home from an Assembly. It happened again tonight. As I get east of Richmond, on I-64, I feel so glad to be getting back to Williamsburg!

There really is something in this idea of "call" for pastors. I was called to three congregations before coming to St. Stephen: in Towson, MD, Virginia Beach, and Wilmington, DE. In all of those places, while I was there, I was deeply committed to my work, and I did important work in all of those congregations. In some cases, my effect has been lasting in peoples' lives. There are people I love deeply in all three of those congregations. But I am no longer called to any of those places. I could not imagine being in those locations again. Instead, I am excited as I return to Williamsburg! I look forward to being with the St. Stephen folks in worship tomorrow morning. I would miss that if I stayed over on Sunday at the Assembly!

And so, this evening, once again my call to ministry in this place and this congregation has been validated.