Sermon by The Rev. Susan R. Sowers at the Ordination of Tim Backus

Ordination Sermon for The Rev. Timothy Backus

January 29, 2011

Christ Church, Pensacola, FL

Here we are!  
On the heels of Advent and Christmas – where we, and especially you – Tim – have been actively waiting – waiting on God, waiting on the church, … waiting… to give birth to your priesthood.  Yet much like the call-story of Jeremiah that we just heard – we sense that God has had a similar call on your life since ‘before you were born.’

And it is precisely now, in Epiphany, the time of God’s unveiling, that we come together to ordain what God has already called into being.   The gestation period is over.   Today marks you different – forever.

So with joy overflowing, we celebrate with you –> joining our hearts and hands and halleluiahs with God’s Holy Spirit in making you a priest in His church. For years now, you have heard that voice, calling you out to serve as a Pastor and Teacher – empowering you (as St. Paul says) ‘to equip the saints for their work of ministry.’  And by necessity – that voice, that call, God’s will – has led to this moment.

Of all the Episcopal church services, selecting scripture for one’s ordination is highly personalized.  With permission from the Bishop, Tim ventured outside the suggested OT readings and selected Jeremiah’s call and commissioning. Very telling.  
And while he asked me not to harp on the “I’m only a boy” bit, in my sermon… yet here-in lies the rub…?

He looks…well, very young – especially for a priest.  Tim doesn’t have the gray hair and the wrinkled face that people think accompanies wisdom.  He doesn’t yet have children with whom he can illustrate the theology in his sermons…  In fact, Tim plays the drums and listens to Casting Crowns, rather than our preconceived idea of a priest who wakes, morning by morning… with choral anthems on his lips.

At first glance, perhaps Tim does look younger than what we expected.  Yet I wonder – when we start drawing a picture in our head of what that a “priest” looks like (?) – I’m sure many of you didn’t draw a woman either…

And with a whole 5 weeks of this priesthood business under my belt, I must admit that the challenges ahead are great…

At some point, don’t all priests, young or old, male or female, wonder if they have “brought enough to the table” for all those who will need us?  We are asked to be marriage counselors when lives are falling apart, and to be that “non-anxious presence” when congregations are splitting.  Week by week, we must break open the Word of God and find just the right nugget of insight which fuels Kingdom living for each person’s varying circumstance.  And don’t we wonder if we’ll have a real word of comfort for a parent whose child has just died in a car wreck?   That’s a lot to expect from anyone.

Surely – for one so young – Tim must be in water way “over his head.”…

And with that image – of being way “over our head,” I can’t help but be reminded of an exchange I had with one of my LTs in Iraq in April of 2004.  As a brigade commander of a logistics unit in Germany, I had flown in to Iraq to visit the soldiers of our deployed companies.  This was a scary time:
In a period of two days, the insurgents had dropped most of the highways overpasses, making our supply routes impassable.  Ammunition and food were reaching critically low levels for us – at the Bagdad International Airport.

While on Military Police patrol the day prior, one of our gunners had been killed when a Rocket Propelled Grenade took off the back of his head in an ambush.  And it was while I was visiting his squad, the following day, that we got word that a US Apache helicopter had been brought down by enemy fire – just outside our compound.

All of a sudden – things kicked into high gear.  One of my MP platoon’s got the mission to go out and surround the helicopter in order to protect the pilots from being killed or captured.
Very quickly – the vehicles were staged.  In the midst of ammo getting loaded and radios being verified – this young LT strode quickly in front of me, saluted, rendered me a quick greeting saying: “Afternoon ma’am, wish I had time to talk, but we’re moving out!”  And she was off… onto her vehicle and the convoy roared out.

I’ll never forget that moment.  Here was this 5 ft tall, freckled, red head, 21 year old LT – fresh out of West Point – leading this group of guys straight into a hornet’s nest…   
Inside I’m thinking “no!”  I didn’t want this young LT doing this.  She has no experience in combat! Yet – she moved out fearlessly…  As I look back now – I’m sure in her mind she knew she’d been commissioned by the President of the United States, she had earned the position as Platoon Leader, and she had trained with her platoon for this very moment. Sure, she was called to lead a task that was extremely dangerous and way “over her head” – experience-wise –> yet she had been empowered by something larger to do this – and was truly living into her commission.

For me, this LT’s response is precisely the point of Jeremiah’s call story.  We’re ALL serving “over our heads” in “helping” God redeem back his entire creation!?  Are you kidding me?  But In fact, Ministry must be a God-sized project or it’s something less than ministry.
Notice – God tells Jeremiah that it is not about what qualities he possesses.  It is NOT what we, or Tim, can do on our own strength or wisdom.  But it is about hearing, and actually believing God’s call on our life to be true.  It’s about responding in faith.  And recognizing that God is the principal actor and source.

The Lord says to Jeremiah – “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you.”  
Tim – the fabulous news here is that the ‘Steadfast love of God’ has come to you.  He will give you the words and He will do it. And like my LT – you don’t wander out there alone.  
God gives us each other.  He gives us Himself with skin on in the form of the Body of Christ.

Our Lord called YOU for a reason.  You have special qualities and an ability to hear God’s voice.  
I’ve only known you since our Seminary days – yet it is clearly evident that you bring so much to the table for the office of Priest.  Everyone at Virginia Theological Seminary knew, and loved, Tim Backus.  As co-host of the Variety Show, his leadership and good natured humor allowed everyone to laugh at ourselves during the various class skits.  But Tim was also a Class Chaplain.  Amongst a whole class of would-be priests, Tim was the one that folks, of all ages and backgrounds, felt comfortable in confiding.

Like Jesus, Tim is that border walker – he can cross over into any group of people and love them where they are.  Tim brings music, vibrancy of life, new ideas, a passion for serving God, a listening ear, and a deep compassion for God’s people.  And at Seminary, in the midst of a difficult decision by the administration, I remember being so impressed by Tim’s willingness to take a stand for the marginalized – regardless of how it might impact his popularity.  Tim has and will continue to be a voice for the voiceless.  He has all the stuff – that God wants to use…

Best of all – Tim hears the voice of the Good Shepherd.

How wonderful that he selected the Good Shepherd as the Gospel Image for his priesthood.  From my vantage point – it’s important  for priests and bishops to remember that they are sheep among sheep.  That there is only One Good Shepherd – and that is Jesus, the Christ.  
As much as a priest might not like to think of themselves as a needy sheep, and would much prefer the idea that we are “a little shepherd over their own flock,” Jesus’ revelation of roles is quite singular here.  He is the only One who can ultimately protect, feed and save the sheep.  And “Thanks be to God!” because we are all serving over our head!

There’s so much that could be said about the importance of drawing strength and sustenance from the One who cares for us in a way that is so intimate and ultimate.  Jesus, our Savior… our Good Shepherd… The One who knows us by name, who guards our coming in and our going out, the One who lays down his life for us so – that – we – might – have LIFE, more abundantly.

This is the One worthy of following.

Tim, for all the giving out of self that lies ahead of you as Priest…for all the loving and the sharing that you will continue to do…knowing to stay close to the Good Shepherd will be your supply and salvation.

The Rev. Susan R. Sowers