My ordination story: Deacon Clare Purfit
09 July 2024
Deacon Clare Purfit shares the story of her ordination.
After many years of hard work, walking into the Conference hall to be received into Full Connexion of the Methodist Church and to become a full member of the Methodist Diaconal Order (MDO) was not only an honour and privilege but also an amazingly emotional experience, hard to describe.
It affirmed the call from God which I had answered. At times It wasn’t an easy journey, but when I was welcomed and received and the MDO cross was placed around my neck all became very clear. God had called ‘me’, ‘Clare’, to do his work in the church and the MDO. I couldn’t have done it alone but God was with me guiding me all the way. God promises to equip us when he calls us and he certainly was there with me every step of the way.
To have each other and our families and friends with us as we heard them shout ‘they are worthy’ was emotional and a real blessing.
It was good to celebrate with all the ordinands in the morning, but I was ordained with my fellow deacons in the afternoon at Morley Central Methodist Church. To have each other and our families and friends with us as we heard them shout ‘they are worthy’ was emotional and a real blessing.
I say thank you to everyone there, we all felt so loved and supported. I especially thank my fellow ordinands who are now lifelong friends and Sisters and a Brother in the MDO. I was ordained to prayer, witness and service and look forward to continuing my lifelong ministry (for now) in the Circuit in Wigan and living out my life as a full member of the MDO.
Clare Purfit