Oh my.
Today, during the discipleship time, we had a meeting to elect the new leadership for the Ggaba Mukono Ecumenical Contact (GMEC, pronounced GMAIC with a soft ‘g’), a relationship we have with Ggaba National Seminary (Catholic), going back to about 1965. We meet a couple times a year for fellowship, sharing academic papers, and football (soccer) and volleyball. Since they don’t have any female students, we can’t play the sports, but can serve as members of the committee. Though the chair must be ordained, and though unsaid, presumably male.
We elected the chairman easily enough. When it came time to nominate for the secretary, some of my classmates were above me in the gallery (balcony) campaigning for me. I shushed them, because I don’t want to be the secretary. Things are so formal here; their minutes are practically transcripts. I have no desire to strive to match that. So the secretary is from my class. Then we were nominating representatives from each class: BD I, BD II, MDiv I. Xavier Grace stood up and said, “I nominate Jessica Hughes.”
And the crowd went wild. I mean, the entire chapel yelling and applauding. I was mortified. Still am, for that matter. I feel the love, but wow. Several people told me they were so happy that I’m doing this. When I asked why, the answers were a mix of “because we love you” and “we’re happy you’re serving with us.”
Both reasons just bless my socks off.
Congratulations! Kae