What’s Next for GA #0922

FOR REGIO

NAL

COM

MIS

SIONS O

N

MIN

ISTRY

WHAT

IS G

A

#0922?General Assembly Resolution from 2009 that adopted a new document concerning ordained and commissioned ministry

WHAT

IS T

HE NAME O

F TH

E

MINIS

TRY

DOCUMENT?

It is entitledTheological Foundations and Policies and Criteria for the Ordering of Ministry for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

HOW CAN WE GET A COPY TO READ AND STUDY?

Go to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) web page at www.disciples.org and look on the left side of the page half way to the bottom for the words “Ordering of Ministry” Click that link!

WHAT

DOES IT

HAVE T

O DO

WIT

H US? Regional

Commissions on Ministry will be the bodies which implement this policy document.

HOW WILL THIS DOCUMENT CHANGE

LICENSED MINISTRY IN OUR REGION?

As of August 1, 2011 all licensed ministers were renamed commissioned ministers.

HOW DO WE NOW UNDERSTAND

COMMISSIONED MINISTRY?

Commissioned ministers will be of two types:• Those seeking ordination• Those not seeking ordination

DOES THIS DOCUMENT IMPACT THE PROCESS BY WHICH WE MOVE CANDIDATES THROUGH THE ORDINATION PROCESS?

YES

WILL WE HAVE HELP IN INTERPRETING THE PATH OF ORDINATION CANDIDATES IN LIGHT OF THE POLICIES AND CRITERIA DOCUMENT?

YES

WEB B

ASED RESOURCES

ARE ALR

EADY ON LI

NE IN

FOUR L

ANGUAGES• A Handbook

for working with candidates for ordination

• Forms to track progress of candidates

• Tools to help you create a plan of study for candidates

IN WHICH LANGUAGES ARE THESE RESOURCES CURRENTLY AVAILABLE?

French SpanishKorean English

All found on www.disciples.org

WHERE WILL WE FIND GUIDANCE FOR AN ORDINATION PROCESS THAT IS IN HARMONY WITH THE POLICIES AND CRITERIA DOCUMENT?THERE IS A HANDBOOK FOR

WORKING WITH CANDIDATES FOR ORDINATION ON THE WEB SITE!

WHAT IS IN THIS HANDBOOK?

AN OVERVIEW OF ORDINATION PROCESS

PRINCIPLES FOR COMMISSIONS ON MINISTRY

WHAT ELSE IS IN THIS HANDBOOK?

GUIDANCE IN CREATING AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN FOR

ORDINATION CANDIDATES

CANDIDATE ASSESSMENT TOOLS

WHAT

ARE T

HE KEY

ASPECTS

OF

WORK

OUTLIN

ED IN T

HE

HANDBOOK? • Initial assessment of candidates

• Creating an educational plan

• Continuing assessment of candidates

GETTIN

G STA

RTED…

..

The commission evaluates the candidate on nine personal qualities that indicate fitness for ministry

QUALITIES TO BE ASSESSED….

Faith in Jesus Christ Sense of call to ministry

Understanding of pastoral identity

Capacity for theological reflection

Moral character Sufficient wellness for ministry

Relational skills Responsible financial management

Responsible stewardship of gifts

IF TH

E COMMIS

SION IS

SATIS

FIED T

HAT T

HIS

PERSON IS

A

CANDIDAT

E TO C

OME

UNDER CARE F

OR

ORDINAT

ION…

the commission evaluates the candidate in 16 areas of ministerial practice.

HOW C

AN THE

COMMISSIO

N ASSESS

PROFIC

IENCY

IN T

HESE

AREAS?Pages 11-15 of the Handbook give helpful guidance

WHAT

ARE T

HESE AREAS

OF MIN

ISTE

RIAL

PRACTI

CE?

AREAS OF

MINIS

TERIA

L

PRACTI

CE

Biblical Knowledge

Church administration

Cross-cultural and anti-racism experience

Communication

AREAS OF

MINIS

TERIA

L

PRACTI

CE

Ethics

Evangelism

Education and Leader Development

Ecumenism

AREAS OF

MINIS

TERIA

L

PRACTI

CE

Pastoral care

Spiritual development

Mission of the church in the world

Proclamation of the Word

AREAS OF

MINIS

TERIA

L

PRAT

ICE

Theology

Stewardship

Understanding of heritage

Worship

AFTER THE ASSESSMENT OF PROFICIENCY….

The commission creates a plan of study for the candidate.

Part of this educational and formational plan is assessing the life circumstances of the candidate and resources available for preparation.

WHO FRAMES THE EDUCATIONAL PLAN?

The plan is framed by the Commission on Ministry in consultation with the candidate.

The plan is NOT framed by the candidate alone to be approved by the commission.

ARE THE 16 AREAS OF MINISTERIAL PRACTICE SUGGESTED GUIDELINES OR REQUIREMENTS FOR AN EDUCATIONAL PLAN?

The education plan must meet criteria in the Ordering of Ministry document

The Regional Commissions on Ministry may add criteria specific to its own regional requirements.

AFTER THE PLAN IS SET IN MOTION, WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE COMMISSION?

The commission continues to assess the progress of the candidate and monitor growth in both the characteristics of ministry and the practices in ministry.

WHAT IF AFTER THIS PRESENTATION I STILL HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICY DOCUMENT AND ITS IMPACT ON THE WORK OF OUR COMMISSION ON MINISTRY?

The web site area where you found the Policies and Criteria document and the Handbook also contains a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section for you to refer to for the answers to many questions.

WHAT IF MY QUESTIONS ARE NOT ANSWERED BY THE FAQ SECTION OF THE WEB SITE?

You can contact Sotello Long, Chair of the Standards Committee of the General Commission on Ministry – a task force which was formed to help regions with these new changes to their work.

THANK YOU FOR THE IMPORTANT WORK YOU

DO IN HELPING THE WHOLE CHURCH TO

STRENGTHEN ITS MINISTRY TOGETHER.