QUESTIONS FOR PROVISIONAL ELDER MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATES. Western North Carolina Conference Board of Ordained Ministry

Transcription

1 QUESTIONS FOR PROVISIONAL ELDER MEMBERSHIP CANDIDATES Western North Carolina Conference Board of Ordained Ministry Answer all the following questions thoughtfully and carefully. Be faithful to the Scriptures. Review all previous educational classes work and readings. Read The United Methodist Discipline thoroughly (especially The Ministry of the Ordained, 301ff and 324). Review your candidacy guidebook. Explain your answers to give depth to your thoughts, feelings, and convictions. The interview committee(s) will use your answers as the starting point in your conversations with them. Create a general cover page. Write your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership Throughout your papers, repeat each question before providing your answer. No question may be answered simply Yes or No. Use 12 point Times-Roman font and double space all your written work. Include consecutive page numbers in each section. Copies should be printed front and back and stapled. Assignments are due by January 16, You will be notified later in the fall to whom you should send your materials. The interview dates will be March 11-13, 2014 in Gastonia, NC. If you are returning to the Board of Ordained Ministry and you were deferred by the Call and Disciplined Life committee, you should complete the Vocation and Disciplined Life assignments. If you were deferred by the Proclamation and Discipleship committees, you should complete the Proclamation and Bible Study assignments. If you were deferred by the Theology and Doctrine committee, you should complete the Theology assignment. 1

2 Vocation Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 12 but no more than 15 pages. Create one document for this Vocation section with consequent page numbers. On the cover page for this section, write your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership 2014 Vocation. 1. Describe your call into ordained ministry. Include: a. Experiences as a Christian prior to the call b. God's influence and inspiration c. Influential relationships that shaped your call d. Past and present church involvement that affirmed your call. 2. Describe the meaning of commissioning as a provisional elder in the context of the general ministry of the church. Include the concept of servant ministry. 3. Describe your strengths for ministry. How do you perceive yourself, your gifts, and your commitment as a provisional elder in The United Methodist Church? Elaborate on areas in which you need further maturation, assistance, or development. 4. How will our polity affect your life as an ordained pastor? What is your understanding of ordination? Include your understanding and expectation of the itinerant system for elders. What do you anticipate to be the risks, sacrifices, and rewards in serving in the United Methodist ordained ministry for you? 5. Describe your leadership strengths and challenges. Describe an occasion where you have demonstrated leadership (either within or outside a church setting). 6. Describe where you have experienced personally another person who offered significant 2

3 Christian leadership to a congregation, the church, or our culture. Speak with that person and gain their insights. What did you learn from their leadership? What would you have done differently? 3

4 Disciplined Life Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 8 but no more than 10 pages. Create one document for this Disciplined Life section with consequent page numbers. On the cover page for this section, write your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership 2014 Disciplined Life. 1. You are called to dedicate yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life. Discuss your personal habits and disciplines to fulfill these highest ideals. Include: a. Physical health (exercise, diet, physical exams) b. Intellectual and emotional maturity (reading, continuing education, therapy) c. Social justice d. Spiritual Disciplines and Means of Grace e. Integrity in Pastoral and Personal Relationships Confidentiality in counseling Appropriate boundaries in family and work Celibacy in singleness and fidelity in marriage. 2. What one success within your disciplined life do you most celebrate? Where are you most challenged? What do these answers reveal about you? 3. Discuss your personal financial stewardship, including your indebtedness, investments, and giving. 4. Describe your understanding of an inclusive church and ministry. How do you relate to and serve all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic condition or disability? 4

5 Theology Your answers to these questions should be of sufficient length to state your position clearly and represent your best theological thinking. Repeat each question before each answer. Your entire paper should be no more than 24 double-spaced pages (plus 1-2 page bibliography). Number your pages in the Theology section consecutively. On the cover page of this section, write your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership 2014 Theology. Your answers reflect your academic studies in historical and systematic theology, your understanding of The United Methodist Discipline, and your own perspectives. Carefully review all sections of The United Methodist Discipline that are related to these topics. 1. Describe your basic theological ideas regarding: a. the Triune God b. nature of humanity c. sin and evil d. the role of Jesus Christ e. the activity of the Holy Spirit f. grace g. the means of grace h. the sacraments i. the kingdom of God, the resurrection, and eternal life j. the nature of the Church and its primary mission and work today. 2. Reflect on God s justice and love in the presence of evil in the world. 3. Discuss primary characteristics of United Methodist polity and the theology they reflect. 5

6 4. Describe the Wesleyan quadrilateral. Illustrate how it may be used to address a current ethical issue/debate. 5. Name and discuss the United Methodist way of salvation. How have you experienced it in your own spiritual journey? 6. How do you understand your task to affirm, teach, and apply Part III of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task) in your work as a United Methodist minister? 7. Prepare a 1-2 page bibliography reflecting the books read and lectures cited in the preparation and writing of your answers. For these questions: Use footnotes when you quote or paraphrase the author of a book or a class lecturer. 6

7 Proclamation Prepare a Sermon and Worship Service. Plan, design, lead, evaluate, and video record one entire service of worship on DVD in your ministry setting. Answer the following questions. Your total answers to all these questions (with the exception of the sermon) should be at least 10 but no more than 12 pages. Bind the proclamation materials in a report folder with pockets, labeling the cover page for this section with your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership 2014 Proclamation. Number your pages in this Proclamation section consecutively. Insert the worship bulletins in the pockets. Include 8 DVDs of the entire worship service (review all copies for proper operation). 1. List and describe any training, workshops, and practical experience you have had in the area of preaching and/or public speaking (1 page). 2. List and describe any training, workshops, and practical experience you have had in the area of worship planning and design (1 page). 3. State your personal view of the importance of preaching/proclamation (1 page). 4. State your personal preference about the style of worship. Are your comfortable with multiple styles? (1 page) 5. Choose one Scripture text for a given Sunday between the dates of September 1 December 15 this year from the Revised Common Lectionary. You do not need to preach this text on the assigned Sunday. Include a copy of the scripture text and its day in the Revised Common Lectionary. 7

8 6. Describe the setting of your service such as the nature of the congregation and why you chose the primary theme addressed (1 page). 7. Exegesis of your biblical text (2-3 pages) and annotated bibliography. What is the essential emphasis of the text? 8. In one sentence, what is the message you seek to convey in this sermon? 9. Plan the Worship Service (2 pages): Select and/or write the liturgy: readings, responses, prayers, hymns, songs. We encourage creativity and use of multi-sensory materials. Work with at least one non-musician layperson in planning and implementing your worship. Work with your church musician to plan the music. Include a copy of the worship order/bulletin in the folder. 10. Prepare a sermon to be delivered and video recorded on DVD in your planned worship service (15-30 minutes). Do not submit a funeral eulogy or communion meditation or short homily for a special day. Share a regular Sunday sermon and order of worship. Write a full manuscript or a transcript if you used notes or outline and include it with this paper in the folder. 11. Preach. There is no one sermon model. If you preach using notes or outline or vary significantly from the manuscript, submit what you use in the pulpit in the folder. You may preach behind the pulpit, or down among the people, with or without manuscript, as long as it is among a local church congregation during regular worship. Deliver the sermon in the way that you would on a regular Sunday. 12. After the service, evaluate the worship (2 pages). Reflect on planning, designing, and leading the worship; how the theme and goals of the sermon and worship were or were not realized; the experience of other leaders and participants; and how effectively your worship shaped the members of your congregation. 8

9 Bible Study Teach a one or more session Bible Study to give evidence of your current training and abilities as a teacher. Create, plan, design, lead, evaluate, and video record part of your Bible study in a ministry setting. Answer all the following questions. Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 8 but no more than 10 pages with consequent page numbers. Bind the materials in a report folder with pockets, labeling the cover page for this section with your name, address, contact phone number, address, date, and Candidate for Provisional Elder Membership 2014 Bible Study. Insert other materials for the Bible Study in the pockets. Include 8 DVDs of the Bible study (review all copies for proper operation). 1. List and briefly describe any training, courses, workshops, and practical experience you have had in the area of teaching/bible study (1 page). 2. State your personal view of the importance of teaching/bible study (1 page). 3. Create a Bible study that demonstrates your ability to teach (45-60 minutes). 4. Describe the setting and participants and why you chose the primary theme addressed (1 page). If the study is part of a series of lessons, describe the series. 5. Background study and readings (2 pages). Exegete the text. 6. In one sentence, what is the message you seek to convey in this study? 7. Discuss the various Bible Study methods you considered and why you chose particular illustrations. The use of curriculum resources is acceptable if cited. The Bible study, however, must essentially be your own (2 pages). 9

10 8. Prepare the Bible Study to be taught and video recorded on DVD. We desire just 15 minutes of your recorded Bible Study. We encourage creativity and use of multi-sensory materials. Include a copy of any handouts distributed. 9. Lesson Plan. Include lesson goals, materials list, activities, suggested questions, and handouts. If the lesson is part of a series, only include the written lesson plan that coincides with the video recorded lesson (2 pages). 10. Teach. There is no one teaching model. Submit what notes or outline you use in the folder. Share 15 minutes of the video recorded class. 11. After the Bible Study, evaluate the class. Reflect on planning, designing, and leading; how the theme and goals of the study were or were not realized; the experience of other leaders and participants; and how effectively your study helped to shape the participants (2 pages). 12. Annotated bibliography used to create the Bible Study (1 page). 10

11 Summary Vocation pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies Disciplined Life 8-10 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies Theology 24 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 1-2 page bibliography 8 copies Proclamation pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies in folders sermon manuscript (plus notes/outline if used) worship bulletin 8 copies of full service on DVD Bible Study 8-10 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies in folders notes/outline/inserts 8 copies of 15 minute on DVD MAIL THE ASSIGNMENTS PLUS YOUR PAPER AS AN ATTACHMENT TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR ASSIGNED TO YOU. 11

12 THE PAPERS MUST BE POSTMARKED AND ED BY JANUARY 16, 2014! CANDIDATES SUBMITTING LATE OR INCOMPLETE PAPERS WILL NOT BE INTERVIEWED! 12

13 PROVISIONAL ELDER NEW Old Requirements: 42 questions 2 DVDs (sermon + worship service plus Bible study) 76 max. pages + sermon New Requirements: 37 questions (less directed and more open-ended) 2 DVD (sermon + worship service plus shorter Bible Study) 73 max pages + sermon instructions are 60% shorter thus less stress on conformity conforms with 2012 Discipline kept shorter Bible study adds leadership uses the Discipline s organizational outline of Vocation-Theology-Practice (sermon), and retains Disciplined Life. 13