a sermon from Bishop Ken Ross at the ordination of Rachael Toliver to the Diaconate.

Ordination does not create a higher or holier calling, but names a particular role within the shared vocation of the whole Church as a kingdom of priests. God repeatedly calls his people out of fear and self-protection—the places where we hide—into trust, obedience, and participation in his work. The vocation of service is shaped after Jesus himself, who came not to be served but to serve, especially among the vulnerable and overlooked. This way of life does not arise from pressure, self-denial for its own sake, or religious performance, but from living securely in what Christ has already accomplished for us. When the people of God stop grasping and begin serving, they discover joy, freedom, and the power of God’s kingdom made visible.