Nancy Wichmann

Last weekend I was honored by the church with being the voting representative to the New England Synod Assembly. The assembly included to selection of a new bishop - a very interesting process.

While I was there, I spotted a table for the School of Lay Ministry. I figured I could always use more education, besides God had called me several years ago, He just didn't tell me what to do about it. Well, the bottom of the brochure said, "This course by itself is insufficient for rostered lay leadership." So curious me had to ask. A bit of a back story: I was baptized on Pentecost (June 12) 2011.

In the car on the way home, the Holy Spirit came and sat on me (that's how it felt). He told me it was time to take the next step.

After a few emails, the Associate Bishop told me to call. I tried on Tuesday (the 12th), but managed to reach him on Wednesday (the 13th). He explained what rostered leaders are and that little nudge happened again. He transferred me to the woman who runs the committee so I could start the "candidacy" process. Yes, that means I am now on the road to becoming an Associate in Ministry. I am not yet convinced that God intends to stop there.

To show the coincidence and the reason for the dates: One requirement is that the candidate must have been baptized for at least one year. Not being baptized was my deep, dark secret. But during Lent last year, Pastor John mentioned that communion was only for the baptized. So, when I stopped taking communion, he decided it was time to fix that oversight and set Pentecost to do it. I cried a lot that day. During the liturgy, I got to give both Eucharist elements to John. That was simply one of the greatest moments of my life!

The church has since honored me by electing me as the Learning Minister. And the Mass. Bible Society made me a facilitator for its Dickinson Bible Series. All coincidence?

I am beginning to doubt the existence of coincidence. Part of the process is to write an essay covering my faith journey; looking back, there were lots of "coincidences" that now look like a plan. Was it coincidence that I "stumbled" into Lutheranism? Was it coincidence that a transgender woman who had been called to ministry stumbled into ELCA, which would allow her to fulfill her calling? I see a plan.