ECO ORDINATION MANUAL Updated 4-9-13
-
Upload
trinhthuan -
Category
Documents
-
view
219 -
download
2
Transcript of ECO ORDINATION MANUAL Updated 4-9-13
2
Table of Contents
1. Letter from the Synod Executive
2. Outline of the Ordination Process
3. Preparing for Ordination
4. Candidacy
5. Peer Review
6. Extraordinary Circumstances
3
Dear ECO Community,
I am thankful for the hard work and dedication of the pastors, elders, and seminary students who prayerfully took responsibility for creating the elements involved in the ordination process. With ECO’s launch, many questions have surfaced. As we seek to clarify the process for candidates and others, instead of asking, “What does one have to do to be ordained in ECO?” three questions guided our work.
• What general qualities and characteristics do ECO pastors need to have?
The qualities and characteristics of ECO pastors fall into three core areas. First is the develop-‐ment of biblical and theological knowledge that is Reformed and evangelical in nature. Pastors need to be able to effectively communicate this knowledge in a postmodern world. The second core area is the ability to have particular ministry skills. These skills include preaching and teach-‐ing, as well as the ability to lead adaptive change and develop leaders. Finally, it is important for pastors to have both emotional and spiritual maturity. We firmly believe that one can’t minister effectively without these characteristics.
• What is the best way to develop the qualities and characteristics of ECO pastors?
Often the church has outsourced the development of pastors to seminaries. While seminaries and other educational institutions have an extremely important role to play, we feel more em-‐phasis needs to be placed on personal experience, mentoring, and living out the covenant order that is central to the identity of ECO.
• What is the best way to gauge the development of candidates for ministry?
We will continue to have national exams graded by people unknown to the candidate. Rather than being the primary benchmark for ordination, however, we believe service is a springboard for a deeper examination by the local ordination team. Candidates should be placed in scenarios and situations that bring about the types of dialogue and interaction they will experience in a congregation.
What we as an Ordination Team have sought to do in this process is to minimize the “hoops” for ordination while simultaneously raising the bar in what we expect from ECO pastors. This process will need to be adapted as new presbyteries are created. We look forward to being blessed by the next generations of pastors that God raises up for his Church.
In Christ,
Dana S. Allin ECO Synod Executive
4
The ECO Ordination Process An Outline
PHASE ONE: Preparing for Ordination
• Join a discernment group • Prepare written answers to the questions for discernment (p. 6) • Actively participate in the life and mission of a congregation for at least six months • Seek confirmation from pastors, elders, and peers • Begin educational considerations • Apply for Candidacy
PHASE TWO: Candidacy – in correspondence with the Pastoral Ministry Ordination Team (PMOT):
• Continue active participation in the life and mission of a local congregation • Obtain endorsement from pastors and Session • Write
o a Statement of Faith, o a philosophy of ministry and, o a confirmation of the ECO Essential Tenets
• Complete a psychological evaluation • Join a Peer Review Group • Complete a Master’s degree • Successfully complete the ECO Ordination Exams
PHASE THREE: Ordination
• Be certified ready to receive a call by your home presbytery • Receive a call to a congregation or validated ministry
Preparing for Ordination
5
Community Discernment To identify future pastors, it is necessary to have an intentional community discernment process within the local congregation. Spiritual maturity, discipleship, leadership, and contribution to the life of the Church should all be evident in the lifestyle of an individual who is preparing for ordained ministry, and out of that ministry an individual should begin to hear encouragement from ministry partners, supervisors, and ministry recipients to begin a more formal process of seeking God’s call to ordained ministry. Questions such as these can help a community discern whether an individual is ready to enter the ordination process:
• In what areas of ministry has this individual been involved, and who can affirm the evidence
of gifts for fruitful ministry? If not yet engaged in a formal ministry setting, where might they start, and who would be an appropriate mentor for them?
• Is the individual a part of a small group, or small community with peers and friends who know them and who can begin to speak into their potential call to pastoral ministry?
• Is this individual already leading in the congregation (or ministry area), and how do others respond to their leadership?
• Is this individual teaching in the congregation (or ministry area), and how do others respond to their teaching?
• Has this individual shown interest in theological education for the purpose of enhancing their ministry experience?
Personal Discernment
1. Gather together an intentional discernment group and ask them to begin praying with you
about entering the ordination process. This group should include an ECO or Fellowship pastor, an elder, and at least two people who know you well. These people should be willing to walk with you through the entire ordination process and be able to meet with you as a group on an ongoing basis.
2. Reflect on the following questions, writing your answers and presenting them to your discern-‐ment group. Later, you will share these with the Pastoral Ministry Ordination Team (PMOT) should you continue in the ordination process.
6
• What gifts for ministry do you see in yourself? How are you developing these gifts?
• In what areas of ministry have you been involved, and who can affirm that gifts for fruitful ministry are evident in your life?
• Where have you been drawn to serve in your local congregation, and how have you re-‐sponded to that sense of call? (If not currently serving, begin exploring where you can use your gifts in your congregation and start serving in those places.)
• Are you currently part of a small group or small community of people to whom you give permission to speak into your life? If not, why not, and what next steps can you take to get involved with others with whom you am sharing your life?
3. Meet with one of your pastors and/or a member of Session and express your interest in begin-‐ning the ordination process. You will need to be actively involved in the life and ministry of a lo-‐cal congregation for at least six months prior to applying for ordination. Ordinarily this will be an ECO congregation or a congregation that is a member of The Fellowship of Presbyterians. Share the above questions with them along with your answers. Seek their wisdom and prayer.
4. Identify the ministry setting(s) where you have served or are currently serving. Contact any ministry supervisors, or those who have worked closely with you and ask for a letter of recom-‐mendation to the PMOT describing your ministry, the gifts they see in you for ministry, and why they affirm your entry into the ordination process.
5. Explore seminary options. Ordinarily you will be required to earn a Master’s in theology or bib-‐lical studies from an accredited seminary. Exceptions might include a Master’s level work or a degree from an alternate educational institution approved by the PMOT.
6. Complete the Application for Candidacy and send a copy to your pastor, the moderator of your Session, and to the chair of your PMOT. Applications for candidacy will be accepted based on the recommendations of your ministry supervisor(s), your pastor, and your Session. The PMOT will also be looking for evidence of sub-‐stantial successful vocational ministry experience before you will be approved to enter Candi-‐dacy in ECO.
7
Candidacy PROVISIONAL ACCEPTANCE Once you have submitted your application for candidacy, the PMOT will assess the most appropri-‐ate route for you through the candidacy process. Ordinarily this will involve completing the re-‐quirements outlined in this manual, though each individual’s personal story and experience will be taken into consideration by their PMOT. Examples of extraordinary circumstances can be found in the final section of this manual. Once your PMOT has made its assessments, you will either receive confirmation of your provisional acceptance as a Candidate for pastoral ministry or you will receive an explanation as to why your PMOT could not approve you at this time. Guidelines for ordination come from ECO Polity:
“In addition to adherence to the Essential Tenets, presbyteries will ensure that Candidates for ministry are adequately trained for their task. Training will include a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and ordinarily a Master’s degree from an accredited theological seminary in bibli-‐cal or theological studies, as well as appropriate hands-‐on ministry experience and mentoring. Candidates for ministry must demonstrate significant theological and biblical competence as well as the necessary skills for pastoral ministry.” (P-‐2.04)
To move from provisional acceptance to candidacy you must complete or obtain:
• a psychological evaluation for ministry • a national background check • endorsement from two pastors in ECO or The Fellowship of Presbyterians • endorsement of your Session • a one-‐page Statement of Faith • a written statement of commitment to the Essential Tenets of the Reformed Faith • a written philosophy of ministry detailing your experience in ministry, your sense of call-‐
ing, your gifts for ministry, and areas in which you need to experience further growth.
You must also join a Peer Review Group before moving to candidacy.
Once these requirements have been met, your PMOT will present you to your presbytery in what-‐ever way seems most appropriate given resources and geography.
8
CONTINUING ON IN CANDIDACY Education You will be expected to complete a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) and will ordinarily complete a Master’s degree with an emphasis in biblical and/or theological studies from accredited academic institutions (P-‐2.04). In extraordinary circumstances, your PMOT can work with you to meet this requirement.
Peer Reviews
You will continue in Peer Review Groups throughout your ministry (P-‐2.0402). Please see expecta-‐tions of peer reviews for Candidates in the next section.
Vocational Requirements
You must be actively serving a congregation. In almost all circumstances this will be a congregation in ECO or The Fellowship of Presbyterians. Appeals for exceptions can be made to your PMOT.
You should seek, along with your PMOT, many different vocational experiences within your minis-‐try context. These vocational experiences should be thoughtfully considered and will be approved by your PMOT.
You will have advocates including an elder from your sponsoring congregation, an ECO pastor of your choice, and a member of your PMOT. As a group, these people will walk with you through the ordination process and help keep you connected to your PMOT and presbytery. You may use members of your discernment team to meet this requirement.
Ordination Exams
You will take a closed-‐book Bible content exam during the first year of your candidacy and a written exegesis exam ordinarily after your second year of Master’s level education. ECO will create these and give you regular opportunities to take them.*
You will also take an open book (non-‐electronic) written exam in Polity and Missional Strategy and a closed book exam in Theology and Worship (with emphasis on the Book of Confessions and the Essential Tenets). You will also write an Exegesis Paper.
Exams will be sent to the PMOT of another presbytery for grading. Grades will consist of scores of
* Initially these will be rolling exams with the anticipation that the denomination may, in the future, want to create a process of semi-‐annual test taking.
9
1-‐5, with 3 being a minimum passing grade. The PMOT grading the exam will include feedback for your PMOT. The final evaluation of your completion of the exams will remain with your PMOT. Your PMOT may ask further clarifying questions on your exams and will, after discussion, provide a final grade. Your PMOT may require you to retake any or all of the exams. You will receive written comments at the conclusion of the assessment. Final Examination
You will be considered certified to receive a call when you have successfully completed the follow-‐ing:
• Bible Content Exam • Exegesis Paper • Theology and Worship Exam • Polity and Missional Strategy Exam • A sermon preached to a group chosen by the PMOT • Endorsement from the moderator of your Peer Review • A Master’s degree • All vocational ministry assignments with positive endorsements from ministry supervisors
When all requirements have been fulfilled you will be ready to circulate a resume and receive a call. You will not be ordained until you have received a call and been examined by the receiving presbytery. When you receive a call from a presbytery other than your home presbytery, the Mod-‐erator or Clerk of the Presbytery will request a letter from your home presbytery stating that you have met the requirements for ordination and are certified ready to receive a call.
10
Peer Review
Thriving relationships between pastors and congregations are vital to building churches that make disciples of Jesus Christ. Relationships built on honesty, accountability, support, and peer review are essential to the health of our pastors and staff. Fostering these relationships begins early in the ordination process. It is impossible to serve Christ in a vacuum, and we don’t want candidates to feel they can or should pursue ordination alone. Candidates will form peer groups based in their primary area of residence, study, and ministry. These groups will consist of a small number of candidates and at least one mentor who is approved by ECO. The mentor will provide feedback and assignments for each member of the peer group throughout their ordination process. Groups will meet in person regularly to discuss their process, their education, and their life in ministry.
Peer Groups serve three main functions:
1. Create mentoring/peer relationships for you that will last throughout the ordination proc-‐
ess. Peer groups will be a place where you and other candidates can meet people who are pursuing a similar type of call and build a network of support and accountability.
2. Provide a holistic picture of you that can be discussed with your sending congregation. 3. Create a space for experiential learning through which you can evaluate your peers’ growth
as well as your own. To that end, you will be encouraged to complete tasks in four areas of ministry.
• Evangelism • Mission • Public speaking, Preaching, or Teaching • Pastoral Care
These tasks serve as a way for you to experience various types of service in ministry and gain in-‐sight into your approach to ministry as well as your personal and family life.
Forming Peer Groups
You will be responsible to work with your PMOTs to select an approved mentor in your geographic area and form your peer group. Presbyteries can provide information about candidates and pastors who have expressed interest in mentoring, but presbyteries will not be responsible for forming peer groups. Mentors
11
Mentors are vital to the success of the peer review process. ECO mentors are selected through PMOTs and are carefully trained and equipped to not only serve you but also to serve ECO. They are essential in providing resources, comfort, and guidance for you in the ordination process. Ide-‐ally mentors would be pastors, chaplains, or educators with a passion for the ordination process and for the exciting time of growth unique to it. Your mentor will connect with you in your peer group regularly and intentionally. They will visit you in your ministry positions and maintain con-‐tact with the pastors/staff of your congregation. Mentors represent the link between you, the con-‐gregation you are presently serving, and the congregation supervising your ordination process. Mentors will ordinarily need to spend time connecting with, caring for, and guiding Candidates for two years or more. ECO congregations will need to support mentors during the process.
Congregations
The creation of peer groups marks a serious departure from the way denominations have sup-‐ported Candidates in the past. Instead of fulfilling checklists at the direction of impersonal commit-‐tees, you will have a proverbial village of peers and mentors helping you through your ordination process. Experiential learning and flexibility are priorities that congregations need to uphold. Their interactions with all candidates are a chance to help mentor or apprentice the future pastors of ECO. As a candidate, you are encouraged to work in one congregation but partner on tasks with your peers to experience ministry in different environments. To do this, congregations should help you manage your time and experiences well. The Fellowship of Presbyterians
Peers need not be solely seeking ordination in ECO. Peers in The Fellowship of Presbyterians can be considered for membership in peer groups.
12
Extraordinary Circumstances
ECO recognizes that God doesn’t have one standard operating procedure. Therefore, it should not surprise us that when God is calling a person to ministry there can be some degree of diversity with regard to timing, life circumstances, and expression of call. Since ECO is a relatively new Reformed body, we should further expect to encounter various indi-‐viduals who feel called to be ordained in ECO, but have partially completed ordination in a different denomination. Trying to avoid getting in the way of the Holy Spirit while, at the same time, being faithful in discerning a call to ordained ministry is our goal. Therefore, we encourage PMOTs to consider the following recommendations in regard to extraordinary circumstances: Individuals Already Ordained in a different denomination may apply directly to ECO as a minister member. They do not need to participate in the ECO ordination process. Individuals who have Begun Ordination in another body should be warmly and enthusiastically welcomed into the ECO ordination process. Every effort should be made to accept and transfer work already completed once the fit with the culture and foundational principles of ECO has been determined. To continue that process in ECO, the PMOT will assess what must be completed to fulfill ECO requirements. The Candidacy period will be determined by the PMOT.
Individuals Seeking Ordination to Validated Ministry (a call to a form of ministry other than as a pastor of a congregation) should be encouraged and affirmed in their sense of call. ECO recognizes micro-‐expressions of the community of faith as ‘church,’ and we are open to the possibility of or-‐dained ministry in many different contexts. That said, even though one of these callings may not involve regular preaching of the Word or administration of the Sacraments, candidates will be re-‐quired to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in all areas of examination. Individuals Lacking a Master of Divinity Degree (M.Div.) The Master of Divinity Degree, in its current form, can be a good, but incomplete tool for training in pastoral ministry. Some individuals with an M.Div may not be able to affirm or articulate the con-‐tours of the Reformed faith, while some who have never completed an M.Div have become per-‐fectly capable theologians in the Reformed Tradition through other means. The PMOT should rec-‐ognize that theological training can take a variety of forms and seek to affirm candidates who have acquired sound theological training outside an M.Div while maintaining sufficiently vigorous stan-‐dards to preserve the integrity of ordination within the Reformed Tradition.