Bethany Lutheran Church

The first official thing that one does after they’ve decided to explore becoming an ordained leader in the church is to sit down with somebody from synod and begin talking about candidacy. The candidacy process happens in three stages: entrance, endorsement, and approval… well kind of four because there is everything before entrance that they refer to as “pre-entrance,” but, whatever. The point is, there is a process that involves interviews, essays, evaluations, recommendations, and even a psychological evaluation!

Early in the process the candidate will be introduced to the Wholeness Wheel (as seen above). The Wholeness Wheel is a wellness philosophy of Portico, a ministry of the ELCA that provides the insurance for many of it’s rostered leaders, that invites people into recognizing that we are indeed made in the image of God and that God’s desire for us is to have a full an abundant life as whole beings. This means caring for our whole selves – not just the body as is the main focus of many doctors, not just the mind as is the focus of many psychologists, not just the educational as is the focus of many teachers, and not just the spiritual as is the focus of many priests and pastors – but the whole self, working together.

As the image above suggests, the wholeness wheel introduces seven different wellness that the person should spend time address: social, emotional, physical, financial, vocational, intellectual, and spiritual. They are all important in making up the whole person. If one part of these suffers, the person suffers in some way.

Attached is a pdf that further explains the Wholeness Wheel and its different aspects.

"The psalm sets the tone this day: “Happy are they whose transgressions are forgiven, and whose sin is put away!” Happy are those who have “become the righteousness of God” in the merits of Christ Jesus. Happy are those for whom the forgiveness of God has “rolled away . . . the disgrace” of former times. Happy is the father at the return of his prodigal son. Happy are we that our sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake. Rejoice!" -Sundays and Seasons

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

¹ Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to [Jesus.] ² And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
³ So he told them this parable: ^11b “There was a man who had two sons. ¹² The younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of the wealth that will belong to me.’ So he divided his assets between them. ¹³ A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant region, and there he squandered his wealth in dissolute living. ¹⁴ When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that region, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that region, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ He would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, and no one gave him anything. ¹⁷ But when he came to his senses he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.” ’ ²⁰ So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. ²¹ Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ ²² But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
²⁵ “Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. ²⁷ He replied, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf because he has got him back safe and sound.’ ²⁸ Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command, yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your assets with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!’ ³¹ Then the father said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.’ ”

Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

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