QUESTIONS FOR DEACON FULL CONNECTION 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 330). 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. A primary emphasis of these papers must focus on how the practice of ministry during your provisional period has affected your answers to these questions. We inquire less about what you learned in seminary and more about how you practice ministry. We encourage ministry stories. Create a general cover page. Write your name, address, contact phone number, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 2014. 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 December 19, 2013. You will be notified later in the fall to whom you should send your materials. The interview dates will be February 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 committee, you should complete the Proclamation and Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World assignments. If you were deferred by the Theology and Doctrine committee, you should complete the Theology assignment. 1
Vocation Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 8 but no more than 10 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, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 2014 Vocation. 1. Describe how your experience of ministry as a provisional deacon has shaped your understanding of your vocation as an ordained deacon: a. God's influence and inspiration b. Influential relationships and significant moments c. Present church involvement. 2. Based on your provisional period, describe your strengths for ministry. How do you now perceive yourself, your gifts, and your commitment as a deacon in The United Methodist Church? Elaborate on areas in which you need further maturation, assistance, or development. 3. Describe an occasion in the church where you have demonstrated leadership since you were commissioned. Describe your leadership strengths and challenges. 4. Change and conflict are a reality in ministry. Describe an instance of change and the resulting conflict you have faced in your provisional ministry and how you responded. 5. Describe an occasion where you have provided leadership for missional engagement of your congregation and community. 6. Do you offer yourself to be appointed by the bishop to a service ministry? Where do you now anticipate your ministry will lead you? 2
Disciplined Life Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 6 but no more than 8 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, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 2014 Disciplined Life. 1. You are called to dedicate yourself and fulfill the highest ideals of the Christian life. Discuss your personal habits and disciplines during your provisional period: a. Physical health (exercise, diet, physical exams) b. Intellectual and emotional maturity (reading, continuing education, therapy) c. Experiences of 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. Discuss how you have shared in your ministry setting servant ministry in the world and lead the Church in relating the gathered life of Christians to their ministries in the world, interrelating worship in the gathered community with service to God in the world ( 328). 3. Describe your understanding of an inclusive church and ministry. During your provisional period, how have you related to and served all persons without regard to race, color, ethnicity, national origin, social status, gender, sexual orientation, age, economic condition or disability? 3
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 16-20 double-spaced pages (plus 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, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 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. How has the practice of ministry affected your experience and understanding of: a. the Triune God b. humanity c. sin and evil d. the role of Jesus Christ e. grace f. the means of grace including baptism g. the kingdom of God, the resurrection, and eternal life? 2. How do you understand the following traditional evangelical doctrines: a. Repentance b. Justification c. Regeneration d. Sanctification e. Marks of the Christian life? 3. Describe the Wesleyan quadrilateral, and how you have used it to respond to an ethical issue in your practice of ministry. 4
4. How has the practice of ministry informed your understanding of the nature and mission of the Church? What are the primary challenges today facing the universal Church and our United Methodist Church? How do you respond to those challenges? 5. Prepare a 2 page bibliography reflecting the theological books you have read during your provisional period. For these questions: Use footnotes when you quote or paraphrase the author of a book or a class lecturer. 5
Practice There are many Practices that you are expected to master as a leader in the Church. The following three requirements are specified in our United Methodist Book of Discipline 2012: Proclamation Bible Study Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World Follow the instructions carefully and submit your work for these three projects for evaluation. 6
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, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 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, courses, workshops, and practical experience you have had in the area of preaching and worship (1 page). 2. 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. 3. Describe the setting of your service such as the nature of the congregation or ministry setting and why you chose the primary theme addressed (1 page). 4. Exegesis of your biblical text (2-3 pages) and annotated bibliography. What is the central emphasis of the text? 5. In one sentence, what is the message you seek to convey in this sermon? 6. 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 a musician to plan the music. Include a copy of the worship order/bulletin in the folder. 7
7. 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 sermon and order of worship in your ministry setting. Write a full manuscript and or a transcript of your notes or outline and include it in the folder. 8. 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 regularly in your context. 9. 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 helped to shape the members of your congregation or ministry setting. 8
Bible Study Teach a Bible Study to give evidence of your training and abilities as a teacher. Create, plan, design, lead, evaluate, and video record a Bible study in your ministry setting. Answer all the following questions. Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 10 but no more than 12 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, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full 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, 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 such as the nature of the congregation or ministry setting and why you chose the primary concern 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. Prepare the Bible Study to be taught and video recorded on DVD (45-60 minutes). We encourage creativity and use of multi-sensory materials. Work with at least one layperson in planning and implementing your Bible Study. Include a copy of any handouts distributed. 8. 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
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. Video record the class (including the opening and closing). 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 members of your congregation or ministry setting (2 pages). 12. Annotated bibliography used to create the Bible Study (1 page). 10
Making Disciples of Jesus Christ for the Transformation of the World Submit a project, created and led by you, that demonstrates fruitfulness in carrying out the Church s mission. Be as creative as necessary to demonstrate your ministry and the equipping of others to fulfill our conference s and denomination s mission. You may use resources from another source, but not another complete curriculum. Answer the following questions. Your total answers to all these questions should be at least 10 but no more than 12 pages. Bind the project materials in a report folder with pockets, labeling the cover page for this section with your name, address, contact phone number, email address, date, and Candidate for Deacon Full Connection 2014 Making Disciples Project. Number your pages in this Project section consecutively. Insert accompanying materials in the pockets. 1. This project must be implemented and completed between the dates of July 1 and December 20 of this year. 2. Write a detailed explanation and rationale of the project that includes its genesis, scope, outline, and reflections about the project (4-5 pages). 3. In one sentence, what is the message you seek to convey in this project? 4. Describe the setting of your project such as the nature of the gathering and why you chose the primary theme addressed (1 page). 5. Work with at least one layperson in planning and implementing your project. 6. Include if appropriate pictures and other supporting documentation such as flyers, handouts, and brochures. 7. Conduct the project. What were the measurable results? 11
8. Write a final evaluation of the project (2-3 pages). Reflect on the effectiveness of the ministry project with the leadership and the participants, including what went well and what you would do differently. Reflect how this project helped shape the discipleship and ministry of the church and/or transformed the community where you serve. 12
Requirement Summary Vocation 8-10 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies Disciplined Life 6-8 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies Theology 20 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 2 page bibliography 8 copies Proclamation 10-12 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies in folders sermon manuscript (plus notes/outline if used) worship bulletin 8 copies of DVD Bible Study 10-12 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies in folders notes/outline/inserts 8 copies of DVD 13
Making Disciples Project 10-12 pages, printed front and back, numbered and stapled 8 copies in folders accompanying material MAIL YOUR ASSIGNMENTS PLUS YOUR PAPERS AS AN E-MAIL ATTACHMENT TO THE COMMITTEE CHAIR ASSIGNED TO YOU. THE PAPERS MUST BE POSTMARKED AND EMAILED BY DECEMBER 19, 2013! CANDIDATES SUBMITTING LATE OR INCOMPLETE PAPERS WILL NOT BE INTERVIEWED! 14
DEACON FULL CONNECTION NEW Old Requirements: 17 questions 2 DVDs (sermon plus either a Bible study (elder) or project (deacon)) 52 max. pages plus sermon plus Bible Study. New Requirements: 14 questions (less directed and more open-ended) 2 DVDs (sermon + worship service) plus (Bible study) 74 max. pages including the 3 projects 3 projects (proclamation, Bible study, Making Disciples project) instructions are 60% shorter thus less stress on conformity adds leadership, change/conflict resolution, mission engagement conforms with 2012 Discipline uses the Discipline s organizational outline of Vocation-Theology-Practice (3 projects), and retains Disciplined Life. 15