Vermont
Academy
of Floral Design
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of Floral Design
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Commissioned Ministry of Liturgical Floral Design The Call My call to become a commissioned minister of Liturgical Floral Design has grown over the years through working with my local church. I started by designing floral arrangements for special holidays or church services. These designs simple at first, symbolic in concept slowly developed into elaborate Lenten Gardens then floral interpretations of lectionary scriptures. In addition to designing altar displays I became involved with the Department of Church and Ministry, our church deacons. While serving as a deacon I enrolled in the Vermont Academy of Spiritual Training. VAST is a three year intense biblical studies program offered through the Vermont Conference United Church of Christ. In the first year I presented a paper on The History of Flowers and the Church. It was while doing research on this paper that I began to see the importance of flowers and their role in our church service, flowers were a ministry in themselves. This was my call. The Candidate The procedures for the candidate are set forth in the Manual on Ministry of the United Church of Christ. A commissioned minister is called by God to perform a vocation from within the structure and authority of the church for the purpose of serving the church through that work. Commissioned ministers, by the act of commissioning, covenant with the church to carry out that vocation for the service of the church. In my case I was in uncharted waters as there was not an established precedent for a flower ministry. My first step was to petition my church council requesting support and recommendation to become a candidate for commissioning in ministry. With this recommendation I then proceeded to the next level, meeting with the Ministerial Standards and Standing Committee. Ministerial Standards and Standing Committee The Ministerial Standards and Standing Committee reviewed my application and the description of the type of commissioned ministry to make a determination about whether or not the type of ministry fits the Association's policies of church-related ministries requiring commissioning. If it decides to proceed, it notifies the candidate and local church and sets a date to meet with and examine the candidate. In October of 2004 I met with the Ministerial Standards and Standing Committee. After questions related to my call and the nature of this ministry I presented the committee with my portfolio of floral designs that I had done for the church over a fourteen year period. This was followed by more questions. On April 5, 2005 the Committee unanimously recommended that I be examined by an Ecclesiastical Council in the Washington Association for the purpose of being commissioned. The Ecclesiastical Council - Washington Association On October 23, 2005 I met with clergy and delegates of the Ecclesiastical Council - Washington Association. After the formal presentation of required documents to the Ecclesiastical Council and recommendation for examination by the Ministerial Standards and Standing Committee I presented a synopsis of the Ministry of Flowers (see Ministry of Flowers page) followed by a presentation of two floral design. The first design was a floral interpretation of my Statement of Faith (see Symbolic Designs page). The second was a recreation of a lectionary scripture design that I did for a Hospitality Workshop on Revelations 21:11-22:5 The New Jerusalem (see Scripture Designs page). During the floral demonstrations I explained the concepts and symbolism used in each design. Thus the spoken word becomes visible. Clergy and delegates from each church than had time to ask questions and comment on the ministry. A final vote was then taken to authorize me to a commissioned ministry in Liturgical Floral Design. The vote again was unanimous and a commissioning service was authorized to be held on November 6, 2005. The Commissioning Service On Sunday, November 6 at 2:30 pm a call to worship in a service of commissioning was given by the Reverend Peter Plagge at the Waterbury Congregational Church, Waterbury, Vermont. It was a day of celebration with clergy from the Washington Association, the church choir, friends, relatives and florists from Maine, New Hampshire and New York and Vermont. This was not only a special day for me to become the first Commissioned Minister of Liturgical Floral Design, it was also a first for our congregation and a first in the life of the United Church of Christ. Barbara J. Smith AIFD a former student and close friend gave the Address titled Grace of Ned. The Reverend Jonathon New presided over the Exhortation, Examination, Sharing of Covenant, Laying on of Hands, Prayer of Commissioning and Declaration. The Presentation of Gifts and Charge were given by the Reverend Peter Plagge. I gave A Word of Thanks to all who supported and encouraged me on this journey in an explanation of the interpretative altar design (see Symbolic Designs page). The journey now begins that will continue for the rest of my life. Ned L. Davis AIFD, CMLFD American Institute of Floral Designers Commissioned Minister of Liturgical Floral Design
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