Some advice and encouragement for Candidates for the Methodist ministry (Presbyters and Ordinands)

Transcription

1 P a g e 1 Sme advice and encuragement fr Candidates fr the Methdist ministry (Presbyters and Ordinands) It is that time f the year again! I knw that the screening f Candidates fr the Methdist Ministry is cming clser because I start getting lts f phne calls frm Methdist clleagues, and their candidates, asking fr advice and insight t help them prepare fr their screening. I thught that I wuld cmpile a few thughts here that may be f sme encuragement, and perhaps even ffer sme insight, fr thse wh are preparing t be screened as Candidates fr the Ordained Ministries f the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa (that is bth Deacns and Presbyters). Let me say, hwever, that I n lnger represent the Educatin fr Ministry and Missin Unit in ANY fficial capacity. I n lnger serve within EMMU. My advice will always be, first and fremst, t cntact ur dedicated staff in the Unit - they can be reached via telephne n (012) fr fficial advice and infrmatin abut screening. That being said, I served as a District Supervisr f Studies fr sme years, and then during my years in EMMU I wrte (and rewrte, and rewrte, and REWROTE) mst f the prcedures and examinatins and questins fr Candidates fr the Ordained Methdist Ministries. Sme general advice fr Candidates fr the Ministry. 1. First and mst imprtantly yu need t prepare yurself and yur spuse fr the day f yur candidates screening. This prcess is intended t be a time f discernment n behalf f the Church. Remember that ministry is extremely taxing, and frequently a sacrificial and cstly chice n behalf f bth the Church (wh will spend many thusands f Rands ffering yu an exceptinal wrld class training), and n the part f yu and yur family wh will face many challenges and difficulties during yur training and the ministry that fllws that. S, please d apprach the the screening prcess great respect, very deep and cmmitted prayer, and with abslute hnesty and penness. I wuld encurage yu t prepare yurself and yur spuse in a few ways:

2 P a g e 2 Pray tgether as a cuple, and spend time praying n yur wn. Be abslutely certain f the fact that Almighty Gd has called yu t the rdained ministry! I shall say mre abut the emphasis n 'rdinatin' a little later. Encurage sme members f yur family and cngregatin t pray fr yu and yur family n the day f yur candidates screening. Be certain t prepare a clear and reasnable accunt f yur cnversin t Christianity that yu will need t share with the cmmittee. I shall say a little mre abut this very imprtant part belw. Hwever, I wuld suggest that yu take sme time t share yur accunt f yur cnversin with a few trusted friends and clleagues (such as members f the Church in which yu wrship, yur minister, sme family members etc.) Please take sme time t carefully and clearly write ut yur understanding f why yu believe Gd has called yu t train twards rdinatin as a Deacn r a Presbyter (the wrd fr an rdained 'minister') in the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa. Remember that the cmmittee is likely t hear 15 r mre such accunts during the screening prcess - s keep yur testimny and call as clear and structured as yu can (I'll say mre abut that belw) and KEEP IT AS SHORT as pssible! My suggestin is that yu try t fit each f these (the testimny and accunt f call) t n lnger than 3 minutes each. Discuss as many f the implicatins, challenges, pprtunities, an pssible scenaris with yur spuse and children. The screening cmmittee is ging t ask abut such things as yur financial situatin, any unsettled debt, yur health and the health f yur family, hw yu will cpe with cnflict, what things scare yu as a family, hw yu will supprt yurselves etc. 2. On the day f screening please be sure t knw exactly where the screening will take place, and n what day yu will be screened. Yu can cnfirm these details with yur District Supervisr f Studies (if yu dn't knw wh that is please ask yur minister t check at the start f the list f names in the Yearbk). Make sure that yu arrive n time and that yu have set aside the whle day fr the screening. At times things runs a little lnger than expected. 3. My advice is that yu dress fairly smartly fr the screening - by this I wuld mean that men shuld wear a tie and jacket (where apprpriate) and wman a smart suit r dress. Remember, that in sme senses this screening is a little like a jb interview. Yur clthes and bdy language make an impressin upn the cmmunity. 4. Be patient and kind. Yu may have t wait fr a while between the tw examinatins (thelgy and 'readiness' r screening). Remember that the cmmittee is under a great deal f pressure and frequently spends days screening candidates. It is a taxing and very emtinal prcess. It will be gd fr yu t remain calm and friendly when yu

3 P a g e 3 encunter the cmmittee. The same ges fr yur spuse wh will have t sit in n the 'screening' r 'readiness' cmmittee. A humble, yet cnfident demeanr makes a wnderful impressin. In the 15 years that I was part f screening candidates I cannt tell yu hw many peple harmed their chances by being t nervus, tired, r irritated when they came t be screened. The general frmat f the screening f Candidates fr the Ministry. The screening prcess is actually cmprised f tw cmmittees. The intentin, as stated abve, is fr these cmmittees t discern tw very imprtant things. First, they shall need t discern whether yu are called t be trained fr the rdained ministry in the MCSA. In rder t d this they shall need t be cnvinced that yu have an active, real, and significant relatinship with Jesus (that is nrmally heard in yur testimny f yur cnversin), and that yu have a clear and cnfirmed call t the Ordained ministry in the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa (that is nrmally understd frm yur accunt f yur call t ministry). As part f this prcess the cmmittee will als need t be sure that yu have n encumbrances that culd hinder yur ministry (e.g., mral, dctrinal, r scial prblems - I shall say sme mre abut this under the heading f the 'Readiness' cmmittee belw). Secndly, the cmmittee has the respnsibility f ascertaining that yu hld basic views n Methdist and Wesleyan thelgy and that yu are trainable. In shrt, they shall ask sme questins and engage in sme discussin t see whether yu hld any views that are cntrary t thse f ur denminatinal traditin (this means that yu shall need t be sure t understand what Methdists in Suthern Africa believe!), and whether yu are flexible and pen enugh t engage with different psitins and thelgical viewpints frm yur wn withut simply rejecting, r uncritically accepting, them. S, yu will need t have sme basic thelgical insights, and yu will need t be able t engage with ther pints f view while maintaining yur wn views r being willing t cnsider that ther pints f view may be equally valid. Each f the tw cmmittees are appinted by the District Bishp and have at least ne Cnnexinal representative frm EMMU present (t ensure that there is a similar standard acrss all f the districts in the Cnnexin). The 'readiness' cmmittee (see Laws and Discipline 11th Editin 4.14 frward) is cmprised f bth laity and clergy. These persns will nrmally include a minister, a district supervisr f studies, smene with psychlgical skills, a persn with sme persnnel r Human resurces experience, and then the spuse f a minister and sme leaders frm lay ministries in the Church. The Thelgical cmmittee is nrmally cmprised f ministers and lay persns wh have sme thelgical training and can engage yu in a significant level f thelgical dialgue in rder t assess yur thelgy. It is imprtant t nte that if yu fail either the 'readiness' cmmittee r the thelgical cmmittee yu will nt be able t cntinue with yur candidature fr the rdained ministries f the MCSA. Officially the

4 P a g e 4 screening prcess is a prcess f yur District (appinted by yur Bishp and mderated by EMMU). S the reprt frm the screening will g bth t yur district SYNOD and t EMMU. Let's mve n t cnsider each f the cmmittees in a little mre detail. The 'readiness' cmmittee. The purpse f this cmmittee is t discern yur call t ministry and yur readiness t begin training fr the rdained ministry f the MCSA. Let me make tw brief pints right at the start: The cmmittee needs t be CONVINCED that yu are called t the ORDAINED ministry f the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa. Many candidates have cme t the screening cmmittee cnvinced that they shuld be in sme frm f ministry - but d remember that yu are appearing befre the cmmittee t cnvince them that yu shuld be trained twards rdinatin as either a Deacn f a Presbyter in the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa! Ordinatin is a very specific thing (it has t d with being set aside and cmmissin either t the ministry f 'wrd and service' (if yu're called t be a Deacn) r 'wrd and sacraments (Baptism and Hly Cmmunin)' (if yu're called as a Presbyter (Reverend) in the MCSA). S please, be sure t cnvince the cmmittee that yu are called t be Ordained! If yu want t understand a little mre abut rdinatin and the different frms f ministry please read the fllwing paper that I wrte fr the Dctrine, Ethics and Wrship Cmmissin (DEWCOM). Yu can dwnlad the paper here: - s please remember that yu must cnvince the cmmittee that yu're called t be Ordained! That is different frm the cmmn expressin 'full time ministry'! All Christians are in full time ministry! Sme f us are ding full time ministry in ur regular wrk, thers d it expressly thrugh the life f the Church (the latter are called and set aside t the Ordained ministry, and the sacraments and preaching are an imprtant part f that ministry). Secnd, and equally imprtant, yu need t cnvince the cmmittee that yu shuld be trained twards rdinatin in the Methdist Church f Suthern Africa! It is imprtant t shw the cmmittee that Gd has called yu t serve within the MCSA - the Church will entrust yu with precius members (and prperties!), and they will invest a large sum f mney t train yu, s they need t be sure that yu're called t serve in this denminatin. Remember this cmmittee has a respnsibility t serve as the Church's steward in this regard. Anther vitally imprtant part f this cmmittee's task is t make sure that even if yu are called t the ministry, yu are READY t be trained twards rdinatin. Smetimes even when a persn is called t enter the rdained ministry the timing may nt be quite right. There are many things t cnsider. Sme f

5 P a g e 5 them relate t yu persnally - perhaps yu need t grw in sme area, r need help t vercme sme struggle r encumbrance. At ther times it may be smething in yur surrundings r cmmunity that may nt be ready fr yu t enter the ministry - fr example yu may have a child that requires schling in a particular area, r a wife that is nt supprtive f yur entry int ministry. Timing is very imprtant! The cmmittee will ask yu questins under the fllwing headings: 1. Persnal spirituality (cnversin and call, current relatinship with Jesus, current devtinal life and participatin in the life f the Church). 2. Methdist Ministry (the challenges f being in ministry, call t Ordained ministry, gifts and strengths yu bring t the MCSA, why the MCSA?) 3. Persnal histry (any histry f abuse, family relatinships, yur persnality, yur fears etc.) / Emplyment histry / Persnal relatinships in general (hw d yu deal with cnflict etc.) / persnal relatinships at hme / persnal relatinships at wrk and Church / Academic histry / Practicalities (e.g., hw yu will cpe financially while yu're at Cllege, ages f yur children, schling, medical needs etc.) In this sectin the cmmittee will ask yur spuse sme questins abut him r herself, their supprt f yur entry int ministry etc. 4. Nn Itinerant and Part Time candidates. This is a VERY, VERY imprtant sectin f the screening! Being part time r nn itinerant must NOT just be a matter f cnvenience (e.g., 'I have a jb that pays well and I dn't want t lse the incme', r 'I like the area in which I live and s am nt willing t mve ut f my twn') Yu will need t cnvince the cmmittee that yu're CALLED t d ministry while yu have anther vcatin, r that yu're CALLED t serve in a particular Church r Circuit! Please nte this as it is very imprtant! Please als nte the new regulatins (since 2007) that require yu t have a letter frm yur emplyer acknwledging their 'awareness' f yur intentin t candidate fr the Methdist Ministry (they dn't need t give permissin, but they d need t knw that yu will be spending sme f yur time). I want t set yur mind at ease by saying that nne f us has it 'all tgether' - we all have sme areas with which we struggle and sme fears. S be prepared t be hnest and pray that Gd will guide the cmmittee in their deliberatins. The thelgical cmmittee.

6 P a g e 6 The purpse f this cmmittee is t engage yu in thelgical cnversatin in rder t get sme idea f yur thelgy, yur understanding f Methdist thelgy, and yur ability t engage with the ideas and thughts f thers. I wuld suggest that yu read a cuple f bks t prepare yurself fr this imprtant cmmittee: Hulley, LD Wesley - A plain man fr plain peple. Westville. Methdist Church f Suthern Africa. (available directly frm EMMU) Malinga, P & Richardsn, N (eds) Rediscvering Wesley fr Africa. Pretria. Educatin fr Ministry and Missin Unit (pp. 1-28, 51-72, , , ). (available directly frm EMMU and Cnnexin bkshps) Strey, P 2004 And are we yet alive? Re-visining ur Wesleyan heritage in the new Suth Africa. Cape Twn. Methdist Publishing Huse (see chs. 3, 4, 5 which is very imprtant, 6, and 7). (available frm Upper Rm Africa and Cnnexin bkshps). Then there are tw newer bks that can give yu sme gd insights int ur Suthern African Methdist heritage: Bentley, W & Frster, DA Methdism in Suthern Africa: A celebratin f Wesleyan Missin. Kemptn Park. AcadSA Publishers. (this bk cntains sme superb chapters with histrical and thelgical reflectins n hw Methdism came t Suth Africa, and hw it develped and what challenges the Church currently faces). (available frm Upper Rm Africa and Cnnexin bkshps). Bentley, W & Frster, DA What are we thinking? Reflectins n Church and Sciety by Suthern African Methdists. Cape Twn. Methdist Publishing Huse. (this bk has sme wnderful chapters and essays discussing sme f the mst cntentius ethical and thelgical issues in Suthern African sciety (these include same sex relatinships, pstmdernism, Africanizatin f Christianity, liturgy and wrship, eclgy and the envirnment, gender issues etc.) (available frm Cnnexin bkshps). I have included sme f the ntes that we prepared fr the examining cmmittee in years past - these will give yu sme insight int the nature and prcess f the thelgical examinatin cmmittee. General ntes t the examining cmmittee: A. The purpse f the examinatin is t assesses the candidate's ability t grapple with thelgical, practical, and ethical issues related t the rdained ministry.

7 P a g e 7 B. Please remember that it is unlikely that the Candidate will already have a strngly articulated thelgy, hwever, sme basic thelgical skill shuld be evident. Furthermre, the candidate shuld display an ability t interact with the views f thers (e.g., thse f members f the examining cmmittee). The candidate be cnsidered trainable twards achieving the exit utcmes required fr an rdained minister f the MCSA, and shuld nt hld views that are radically different frm thse f ur denminatin. C. Remember it is essential that yu make the infrmatin abut the examinatin available t the members f the examining cmmittee sme weeks in advance f the examinatin (including cpied pages frm the bks). It is essential that all f the cmmittee members have read the prescribed and suggested bks (r the abve-mentined sectins theref). The required utcmes f the examinatin: A. It is essential that the cmmittee establishes the fllwing utcmes in rder t recmmend the candidate t train fr the Methdist ministry: 1. The candidate is able t articulate his r her thelgy clearly. 2. The candidate des nt hld a thelgical stance that is cntrary t Methdist dctrine and plicy n pertinent issues (e.g., the dctrine f salvatin, the structure f the Church and issues f discipline and plity such as the rdinatin f wmen, the submissin t authrity), practical issues such as the missin mandate f the Church, and the sacraments (fr example the MCSA's stance n rebaptism and infant baptism). 3. The candidate shws a willingness t listen t, and interact with, the views f thers. 4. The candidate has an understanding f the visin and missin f the MCSA and can ffer sme practical suggestins n hw he r she will participate in and further these bjectives. 5. The candidate wuld be teachable and trainable twards achieving the exit utcmes required fr an rdained minister f the MCSA. Sme final cmments:

8 P a g e 8 Please d rely n the insights and expertise f thers wh have gne thrugh this prcess in previus years (fr example yur minister). Secnd, please be sure t familiarize yurself with the expectatins fr the screening by cntacting yur District Supervisr f Studies in yur district! Finally, please pray fr the screening cmmittee, pray fr the ther candidates acrss the cnnexin wh will be screened (particularly fr thse wh will have t return again next year because they are nt yet ready t enter the training prcess). Knw that I, and many thers, are praying fr yu as yu ffer yurself fr ministry. This is truly a 'high calling'! We rejice t have mre gifted wmen and men entering this vcatin f service f Christ and thse whm Christ lves. I hpe this helps! Rich blessing, Din