Barefoot in Spirit

Submitted by Edward Parrish III
Retired Disciples Clergy

Lynchburg, VA

Edward Parrish, III

My mother and father took me to a Disciples church “before I was born.”  Since then, I’ve been doing it myself - and have grown increasingly committed to the Disciples “message” for the Church throughout my 62 years.  In my elementary years, I went to church barefoot between Easter and Thanksgiving (got a nail in my foot during revival one year).

Since my early years, I have grown more “barefoot” in Spirit.  I was early-shaped in church camps, work camps, mission trips, Disciples college (Lynchburg College) and seminary (Lexington Theological Seminary); have served as a congregational pastor in Virginia, Kentucky and West Virginia and as program director of youth and young adult ministry in Disciples Home Mission.

I recently retired from pastoral ministry after 42 years of service in congregations and am becoming further-shaped in pastoral ministry as a hospital chaplain.

The mystery, wonder, joy and challenge of ministry continues to grow and I delight in my further-increasing capacity to serve as I search, pay attention" and say “yes” to the learning experiences of my life.

In the “dark times” of my life, I have found solace especially in John 1:5, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”  In the “discerning” times I cherish Isaiah 43:1-19, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine..., I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

I am deeply excited about this moment in the history of the world and Disciples’ place in it.  I concur with many souls who believe that the “corrective” that is taking place in individual hearts and in global communities has transcendent implications.  Each of us has a role, a choice - we make the future by how we make our way.

My first General Assembly was in Louisville, 1971.  The “chalice” was introduced and voted upon there.  The first night there were individually colored bands of cloth hanging separately by gravity from the top of the backdrop.  On the second night they were gathered in the middle by a simple strand.  The third night the rainbow base of the chalice was formed.  And the fourth night somehow the whole thing was tipped so as to be pouring out the gospel spirit into the whole world.

We are bodies and body of Christ for the world.  The continuing guiding question for me is, “What is God calling me/us to do?”