Fiona Sanders ordained as minister at Central Church ceremony

“It was a very special time, a sacred time, for me and for our church,” she said.

“I had a number of friends and family make some fairly long trips to be there to celebrate with me, as ordination is a significant milestone.

“We also had lunch with our guests afterwards to enjoy some time together.”

Pastor Maylin Wyndham was invited to give the presentation to Ms Sanders.

“Maylin has been a significant encourager in my journey to this moment, and it was very special to have her there,” Ms Sanders said.

“She had prepared an encouragement from the Bible and prayed for me.”

Ms Sanders said now she was ordained, she could conduct weddings, but it all meant much more than that.

“Ordination is a recognition by my denominational oversight of the vocational call to ministry, specifically as someone who possesses depth of character, theological understanding and leadership skills that are exercised in the church,” she said.

“It reflects the person’s standing in both the church and wider community.”

Being ordained has not always felt important for Ms Sanders, as she was already ministering, but she wanted to be an example to young women that there was no glass ceiling in God’s purpose for their lives.

“The biblical example also shows that there are those appointed to leadership of the church, and although I have never looked for it, it has always seemed that Jesus and his church are calling me, and I needed to say yes,” she said.

When Ms Sanders was 12 years old, she said she received what she calls a vision from God about her future.

“I had a picture of myself as a minister alongside my husband,” she said.

“I don’t see pictures in my mind at all, so this was very memorable, and ordination had felt like the fulfilment of that vision.

“I have already been ministering, but ordination fully realises this calling that I have always felt.

“There is something very powerful about external recognition.”

Moreover, a speaker at a conference reminded her about the importance of representation a few years ago.

“Our denomination fully releases women into ministry, but our numbers are always lagging,” she said.

“I want to be an encouragement to women that they are not second place in God’s plan.”

Ms Sanders’ ordination was a long process.

“In the ACC, we have a three-part process. A candidate for ordination will complete a course of theology studies and will apply for a Probationary Ministry Certificate at the invitation of a credentialed ministry leader,” she said.

“I have actually held my PMC for 17 years — as I said before, it did not always feel important for me, and for some of that time, progressing to ordination was reserved for those in church employment.

“The PMC is granted after a lengthy application, including a set of theological questions and investigation of personal character and ministry involvement.”

Now that Ms Sanders is ordained, she said there was not much of a practical difference in her duties to the church.

“I will continue my full-time role at Melbourne Uni and volunteer role with Central Church,” she said.

“I will be officiating my first wedding next year for a friend, and I am greatly looking forward to that.”

Ms Sanders and her husband, Daniel, said they were committed to giving Seymour their best.

“We were born in country Victorian towns and have witnessed the effects of losing good people to the city life,” she said.

“I hope that my church and town are proud to have an authorised and qualified minister.

“I am honoured to serve Central Church and Seymour.”