My work as a pastor and a chaplain brings with it some very important boundaries. I am bound by my allegiance to Christ and the Church. I am bound by my vows of ordination. I am bound by my oath of confidentiality. I am bound by legal restraints for patient and family privacy. I am bound by the ethical requirements of chaplaincy. I am bound by the laws of the land which govern us all.

And yet… I am free to worship God as I choose and to represent God in my place of work and influence, small as they may be. It is in these places of ministry and calling that I have the greatest freedom, and yet am so clearly bound by God’s call on my life.

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt,
rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing,
put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee
or laid aside for thee,
Let me be exalted for thee
or brought low for thee.
Let me be full,
let me be empty.
Let me have all things,
let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things
to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Thou art mine, and I am Thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

The Wesleyan Covenant