credentialed ministry in the fmcic
DESCRIPTION
Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15. Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15
Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC
The process toward credentialed ministry is a journey, marked by significant moments and events along the way. This presentation provides an overview of this process which we call ‘tracking’. This resource should be used along with paragraphs 805-840 from the Manual of the FMCiC.Let the journey begin….
Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC• Both gifts and graces characterize
men and women the church ordains and commissions. Gifts are special endowments of ability. Graces are special qualities of character. Both have their source in the enabling Holy Spirit. Although the church must discern who have such endowments, credentialed ministry is always first and foremost an act of God’s calling and appointment.
Credentialed Ministry in the FMCiC
Credentialed ministry is both a calling and a profession. It is a calling in that it is a response to a divine summons. It is a profession in that this service is worked out under the direction of the church that sets ministers apart as leaders and requires accountability. (From para. 800 in the Manual of the FMCiC)
Call: Credentialed Ministry
Do you sense a call from God for pastoral leadership? If so, then you know the internal dialogue and journey you are experiencing with God.
We also look to other leaders in the local church to discern and confirm that you possess the gifts and graces for credentialed leadership.
Finally, we look to the Ministerial Education Guidance and Placement committee (affectionately referred to as MEGaP) to affirm and recommend you for either ordained or commissioned ministry.
Call: Credentialed MinistryThis confirmation of call is like a three-legged stool; all legs need to be the same length for the stool to be effective and likewise all three aspects of call need to be present for credentialed ministry.
Personal
Church
MEGaP
Tracking:to Ordained Minister or Commissioned Minister
Lay Minister
Ministerial
Candidate
Ordained
Minister
Commissioned
Minister
Overview toward ORDINATION
If you are called to pastoral overseeing of a local congregation – that is, ministry of Word and Sacrament and Leadership – and are willing to move to minister at different congregations, then tracking for ordained ministry is the way to prepare for that call. After becoming a Ministerial Candidate (MC), four years of ministry experience under appointment at a local church plus the educational courses are required.
Overview toward ORDINATION
There are at least two MEGaP interviews beyond the MC interview to become an Ordained Minister. Following the final interview and subsequent recommendation by the MEGaP, the recommendation goes to the National Board of Administration (BoA) for final approval.
When the BoA approves, the Bishop of the FMCiC will ordain the Ministerial Candidate at the local church at a time that is mutually agreed upon.
Overview toward COMMISSIONING
If you are called to a specialized ministry at one local church, then tracking for commissioned ministry is the way to prepare for that call. After becoming a Ministerial Candidate (MC), three years of ministry experience under appointment at the local FM church plus the required courses must be completed.
Overview toward COMMISSIONING
There is at least one MEGaP interview beyond the MC interview to become a Commissioned Minister. Following the final interview and subsequent recommendation by the MEGaP, the recommendation goes to the National Board of Administration (BoA) for final approval. When the BoA approves, the Bishop of the FMCiC will commission the MC at the local church at a time that is mutually agreed upon.
Tracking: Lay Minister Ministerial Candidate
The Director of Personnel office “Tracks”
all candidates through the required steps
Get your “Tracking” started today!
Tracking: Lay Minister
Member at local FM church approved by Official Board to become Lay Minister; See par. 810 in the Manual for requirements and process
Complete SHAPE document; MBTi personality type (with Director of Personnel); Family of Origin reflection paper and conversation with a MEGaP member and your spouse (if applicable)
Send confirmation of Lay Minister’s License to Personnel Office ([email protected])
Tracking: Lay Minister Ministerial Candidate
The Director of Personnel office receives the recommendations
Pastor/Official Board recommends Lay Minister for Ministerial Candidate AND appointment at local church as assistant or associate pastor
‘Tracking Truths’
• This is your tracking. While there are people and resources available to you, what happens in your tracking is a response to you. You need to take responsibility for your own credentialing journey.
• Ministerial Candidacy is NOT an end point destination; if you are not moving forward in appointment time OR educational courses, you are not actually tracking.
‘Tracking Truths’
• Maximum timelines: 7 years to commissioned minister; 10 years to ordained minister
• MEGaP committee gives one of three possible responses: yes, not yet, no; coming for an interview is not just jumping through a hoop
• Credentialing does not guarantee employment
The MEGaP committee, a team of 3 lay people and 3 clergy from your geographical region
meets with the candidate for the MC interview when all assignments, courses
and paperwork have been received.
The lay minister has 3 one-hour interviews on a Saturday in the following areas:
• Self-awareness
• Contextual awareness
• Theological awareness
MEGaP recommendation: One of three possible responses - yes, not yet, no.
Tracking
Interview 1
Lay Minister
Ministerial
Candidate
Ordained
Minister
Commissioned
Minister
Tracking Steps
Tracking: Seeking an Appointment
• If you are recommended by MEGaP for Ministerial Candidacy, your lead pastor and/or official board will be contacted for a request to have you appointed to the church as an associate or assistant pastor, if the request has not already been received.
• Ministerial experience under appointment is a requirement for tracking; you do not need to be employed full time but you do need to work out with your lead pastor/board what meaningful appointment looks like so that you experience a variety of ministry contexts for skill development.
After two years of ministry experience under an appointment at a local FM
church, MEGaP meets with the Ministerial Candidate for a mid-term
check-in, provided all assignments are completed (including growth areas) and
the MC has finished ½ of required courses
i. Self-awareness
ii. Contextual awareness
iii.Theological awareness
MEGaP recommendation: One of three possible responses: yes, not yet, no
For Ordained Minister
Tracking: Ministerial Candidate Ordained Minister
Lay Minister
Ministerial
Candidate
Ordained MinisterTracking:
Education
Interview 3
(4 yrs)
Tracking: Education Experience
Interview 2
(2 yrs)
After a total of four years ministry experience under appointment at a
local FM church, plus completed educational requirements and
assignments, MEGaP meets with the MC for interviews:
i. Self-awareness
ii. Contextual awareness
iii.Theological awareness
MEGaP recommendation: one of three possible responses: yes, not yet, no
For Ordained Minister
Tracking: Ministerial Candidate Ordained Minister
Lay Minister
Ministerial
Candidate
Ordained MinisterTracking:
Education
Interview 3
(4 yrs)
Tracking: Education Experience
Interview 2
(2 yrs)
After a total of three years ministry experience under appointment at a
local FM church, plus completed educational requirements and
assignments, MEGaP meets with the MC for interviews:
i. Self-awareness
ii. contextual awareness
iii.Theological awareness
MEGaP recommendation: one of three possible responses: yes, not yet, no
Tracking: Ministerial Candidate Commissioned Minister
Interview 2
(3 yrs)
Tracking:
Education
Experience
Ministerial
Candidate
Lay Minister
Commissioned Minister
Tracking
Steps
Interview 1
Ordination or Commissioning Service
• When you are notified that the BoA has approved the recommendation from MEGaP for ordination or commissioning, contact Kalesha Peters ([email protected]) to schedule the service with Bishop Keith Elford
• Commissionings generally occur during a worship service while Ordinations are held at a time separate from a worship service
Director of Personnel
To get started in tracking, contact Rev. Kim Henderson,
the Director of Personnel for The Free Methodist Church in Canada
905-848-2600 ext 215 or by email at