The karaoke machine is ready. The freezer is full of ice cream. A red sash awaits the guest of honor. The ordination may be scheduled for tomorrow, but the ministerette party is about to begin!
So what, exactly, is a ministerette party? A ministerette party is a bachelorette party for an ordination—that is, a party with friends celebrating the milestone of ordination. It’s an opportunity for the ordinand’s friends (clergy and otherwise) to make them feel extra loved and supported as they embark on their next adventure in ordained ministry.
Like a bachelorette party, a ministerette party can be as big or as chill as the ordinand or the party planner wants to make it. It could be a party at a friend’s house the night before ordination. It could be hosted by a colleague or friend. There isn’t a set way to throw the party! No matter what, though, a ministerette party is a chance to recognize the ordinand for their hard work and to celebrate the activity of the Holy Spirit in their life.
Why have a ministerette party?
Every ordination should be celebrated. For many, this may look like gatherings of families, friends, and coworkers, and a ministerette party can be a part of these existing celebrations for the ordinand.
However, not all ordinands are able to celebrate in the way they would like to. They may be living somewhere new or have families that are unable to fully celebrate their ordination due to differences of religion or location. Their friends may not be a part of the church and may not understand the importance of the occasion.
In these instances, a ministerette party is a chance to create your own celebration and include people from both inside and outside the church. A nonreligious friend may not know how to contribute to a reception in the church fellowship hall, but they could be all-in to bring snacks for a party. Ministerette parties provide an access point for people you love to celebrate this event in your life when they may not otherwise be a part of it.
Even if you have other opportunities to celebrate, a ministerette party is a chance to observe the occasion in a more informal capacity. It can be customized to the ordinand’s interests and provides a chance for them to enjoy themselves outside of the actual ordination service.
What does one do at a ministerette party?
It’s up to you! I recently hosted a ministerette party for a friend and colleague. Since neither of us liked surprises very much, I prepared an online survey for her to fill out with questions like “General Vibe,” “Favorite Foods,” “Guest List,” and “Color Scheme.” Then, I took her ideas and ran with them!
Based on her responses, we ended up having a chips-and-dips bar, doing at-home karaoke, and finishing with ice cream sundaes. Our party was sober, so I created a “signature mocktail” and supplied other nonalcoholic beverages for people to sample. Depending on the ordinand’s preferences, you could also consider meeting at a bar or brewery, enjoying a potluck meal, or taking the event outdoors.
Ministerette parties are also a great chance to lean into some modified bachelorette activities, such as:
- Pin the Stole on the Minister: For this one, a friend created a poster using a photo of the ordinand wearing a clerical robe to which I added a cardstock stole. Guests could close their eyes and try to stick the two pieces of the stole on the minister’s picture.
- Ordinand Quiz: See which guest knows the ordinand best! You can create a number of different quiz games for free online, such as Kahoot or Jeopordy. This is a great opportunity to include some niche questions related to the ordinand’s religious life, like “On what day was the ordinand baptized?” and “Which is their favorite gospel?”
- Reflection time: Partying aside, it can be special to create some space for the ordinand to share about their journey to ordination and what it means for them to take this next step. What is their call story? When did they feel more like quitting? What parts of their ministry are the most life-giving to them? What are they excited about in ordained ministry?
- Gifts: These are completely optional, of course, but people may want to bring a special something for the ordinand. At our party, I ordered a stole from a list provided by the ordinand, and then most guests pitched in a little bit to cover it. This enabled friends to contribute to a special stole for the ordinand without paying the (often steep!) cost on their own.
So… this is a thing now?
Yes! There is no “right” way to mark an ordination, of course, but throwing a ministerette party for yourself or someone else can provide a way for you all to rejoice in this milestone of ministry. Ministerette parties remind us that following God’s call to ordained ministry is an occasion worth celebrating!
