DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS AND CHANGES CANDIDACY AND ORDINATION PROCESS

DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS AND CHANGES

CANDIDACY AND ORDINATION PROCESS

CANDIDACY AND ORDINATION PROCESS Ministry of All Christians Grace Gifts Fruit

FITNESS/POTENTIAL, READINESS, AND EFFECTIVENESS Certified Candidacy Fitness/Potential Provisional Membership & License Readiness to Serve Full Membership & Continuing License Effectiveness in Ministry

CANDIDACY

EVALUATION CRITERIA CANDIDACY DISCERNMENT & CALLING § Understanding of call § Mentoring § Discernment ASSESSING FITNESS § § Background checks Psychological assessment References Other leadership

REQUIREMENTS – CERTIFIED CANDIDACY ¶ 310 INITIAL REQUREMENTS § § High school graduate or equivalent Membership or participation in UM ministry setting Charge conference support Assessment steps ¶ 313 ANNUAL APPROVAL § Charge conference support § Educational requirements § d. COM interview Complete list of steps – www. bomlibrary. org

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – CANDIDACY PROCESS – No Changes LAY SUPPLY – ¶ 205 – One Yr. Limitation CHURCH FINANCIAL SUPPORT FORM – ¶ 303. 4, ¶ 310. 2, ¶ 313. 2 TRANSLATION – ¶ 310. 2 b)(2) and ¶ 666. 4

LICENSING AND LOCAL PASTORS

EVALUATION CRITERIA – LICENSING INITIAL LICENSE § Articulation of call to licensed ministry § Ready to serve as a full or part-time local pastor ONGOING LICENSE § Effectiveness in appointment setting

REQUIREMENTS – LICENSING ¶ 315 INITIAL REQUREMENTS § § § Certified Candidate Complete Orientation to Ministry Complete Licensing School Transcript Evaluation d. COM, BOM, Clergy Session Approval Appointment ANNUAL APPROVAL § d. COM, BOM, Clergy Session Approval § Educational Requirements § Appointment

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – LOCAL PASTOR ¶ 323. 2 Fellowship Chair member of BOM (Part-time or Full-time) ¶ 324. 1 Clarify – Local Pastors are clergy members ¶ 324. 6 Age requirement replaced by four-year service requirement ¶ 324. 6 c) 2 Expand Course of Study ¶ 324. 6 d) Advanced Course of Study includes BGTS

COMMISSIONING & PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP

EVALUATION CRITERIA – PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP READINESS TO SERVE • Articulation of call to the ministry of deacon or elder • Doctrinal Exam • d. COM has certified that candidate demonstrates the needed leadership capabilities

REQUIREMENTS – PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP ¶ 324 EDUCATION § Bachelor’s Degree § Minimum of ½ of the Graduate Education including ½ of the Basic Graduate Theological Studies DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS § § § Certified Candidate – 1 year to 12 years Completion of written and oral doctrinal exam Disclosure Statement Interview with the BOM Vote – 3/4 approval from d. COM, BOM, and Clergy Session

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – PROVISIONAL MEMBERSHIP ¶ 324. 4 Increase Basic Graduate Theological Studies from 24 to 27 Semester Hours ¶ 324. 9 k Change in Doctrinal Exam Question

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – DEACONS ¶ 328 Sacramental Responsibilities for Deacons ¶ 331 Appointments Beyond the Local Church

ORDINATION & FULL MEMBERSHIP

EVALUATION CRITERIA – FULL MEMBERSHIP EFFECTIVENESS IN MINISTRY § Demonstrated growth in effectiveness in ministry § Ready to assume lifetime commitment to the membership responsibilities of the annual conference

REQUIREMENTS – FULL MEMBERSHIP ¶ 330 EDUCATION ¶ 335 § Completion of all educational requirements DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS § § § § Provisional member – 2 to 8 years Demonstrate physical, mental, emotional health Sermon and Bible study Project to demonstrate effectiveness in ministry Written or oral doctrinal exam Interview with the BOM Vote – 3/4 approval from BOM and Clergy Session

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – FULL MEMBERSHIP ¶ 330 and ¶ 335 – Delete repetitive questions ¾ Majority Vote for Consistency § Certification, ¶ 310 (d. COM) § First-Time Licensing, ¶ 315. 2 d, ¶ 315. 6 b), ¶ 315. 6 d) (d. COM, BOM, Clergy Session) § Associate Membership, ¶ 322. 1 (d. COM, BOM, Clergy Session) § Provisional Membership, ¶ 324 (d. COM, BOM, Clergy Session) § Full Membership, ¶ 330 (Deacons) and ¶ 335 (Elders) Clergy Session) (BOM,

OTHER NOTABLE CHANGES

MENTORING & MENTORS

REQUIREMENTS – MENTORS AND MENTORING ¶ 348 WHO NEEDS A MENTOR? § Applicants for certified candidacy § Certified candidates before they become local pastors or provisional members § Local pastors enrolled in Course of Study § All provisional members SELECTING MENTORS § Cabinet recommends § BOM selects

RESPONSIBILITIES – MENTORS CANDIDACY MENTORING § District Superintendent, Vocational Discernment Coordinator, d. COM, Conference Candidacy Registrar CLERGY MENTORING § Local Pastors – d. COM, District Superintendent § Provisional Members – BOM, District Superintendent WHO CAN SERVE? § Ordained Deacons or Elder, Associate Members § Any Local Pastors who complete Course of Study

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS – MENTORING ¶ 348. 1 b) Part-time Local Pastors who have completed Course of Study may be Clergy Mentors ¶ 348. 3 Clergy Mentoring Groups encouraged for Local Pastors

CONFERENCE RELATIONS

LESS THAN FULL-TIME APPOINTMENT ¶ 338. 2(1) Limited Itineracy ¶ 338. 2(2) Clergy Initiated ¶ 338. 2(3) Bishop Initiated - with or without clergy consent § Less than full-time requires Cabinet, BOM recommendation with 2/3 Clergy Session approval. § Three-Fourths Clergy Session approval required after eight years.

TRANSFERS ¶ 347. 1 All transfers of provisional or ordained clergy from other Annual Conferences must be recommended by the BOM to the Clergy Session for approval ¶ 347. 6 Recognition of Orders paragraph moved ALL PARAGRAPHS NUMBERED ¶ 348 OR HIGHER SHIFT DOWN ONE

TRANSITIONAL LEAVE ¶ 353. 2 c)(2) Elders transitioning from local church to extension ministry ¶ 353. 3 Limited to one 12 -month period

BOM & d. COM PARAGRAPHS

BOARD OF ORDAINED MINSTRY ¶ 635. 1 No District Superintendent or Extended Cabinet Member shall chair the BOM. ¶ 635 (references throughout) Expands terminology that the BOM is now responsible for “ordained, licensed, certified, and assigned leadership”.

DISTRICT COMMITTEE ON ORDAINED MINISTRY ¶ 666. 1 The District Superintendent shall not chair the d. COM ¶ 666. 4 Shall seek ways to make reasonable accommodations for cultural and ethnic/racial realities and language translations as candidates meet the requirements for candidacy, including interviews, psychological assessments, criminal background, and credit checks. Cross reference to ¶ 310. 2 b)(2)

EIGHT-YEAR ASSESSMENT

NEW EIGHT-YEAR ASSESSMENT ¶ 349. 3 ALL CLERGY Six-month assessment process every 8 years WHO LEADS? Cabinet, BOM, Orders and Fellowship TIMELINE January 1, 2020 GUIDELINES See NEW ¶ 349. 3 DISCUSSION Thursday Morning

COACHING RESOURCES & LEGISLATION

GENERAL CONFERENCE DECISIONS - COACHING STUDY OF MINISTRY § Encourage coaching for all clergy § Include coaching as a part of the Eight-Year Assessment URBAN CONGREGATIONS § Pathway for transformation STRENGTHENING THE BLACK CHURCH § Sustain Black congregations § Support Black pastors in cross-racial and cross-cultural appointments

Coaching Resources www. umccybercampus. com

DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS AND CHANGES