Thank You Aunt Jane

What version of the Bible were you just reading? Seminary Professor preaching at my ordination in Boston Presbytery

“That was the Southern Version.” Jane Miller from N.C. who read the Scripture before the sermon

I remember it was April 8, 1984 but my denomination has recorded it as April 1, 1984. April Fool’s Day is the perfect day for anybody’s ordination, so I’ll take it, even though I still think it was April 8th.

It happened at Burlington Presbyterian Church outside Boston and my parents, my grandmother, and my Aunt Jane were all present along with college friends, seminary friends, and assorted church people. It was the first time my grandmother had ever traveled north of Virginia. My Aunt Jane from Asheboro, NC was part of the ordaining commission.

Let me tell you about my father’s only sister, Jane. I imagine she would have gone to seminary herself if women did such things in the 1940s. She never told me that she thought I seemed to have gifts for professional ministry.

But she invited me to the commissioning of mission workers at Montreat Conference Center when I was a teenager. We researched Alonzo and Althea Edmiston together at the Historical Center, also at Montreat. I’m convinced that HH and I were called to Fairlington Presbyterian Church in Alexandria, VA (my second call) because the chairperson of the search committee happened to have a house (in Montreat again) down the street from my Aunt Jane.

She told me memorable stories about her life as a school secretary, a beauty salon owner, and a gift shop proprietor. But mostly she was a Church Lady, a follower of Jesus, and funny and loving human being. I loved her. She was faithful and feisty. I have stories I cannot share here.

Jane passed away in 2013 at the age of 88. Today she would be so proud of her children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren. One of her granddaughters is a PCUSA pastor whose ordination I was honored to participate in in 2018.

It’s hard to believe but I was ordained 40 years ago today. Or maybe it will be 40 years on April 8. Either way, I’m profoundly grateful.

Image of Easter Sunday (circa 1964) with me, cousins REMP and CAES, and Aunt Jane. (Note how I had the same hairdo as Jane.)