Candidate for Ministry Inquiry Tool

District Committee on Ministry

Dear District Committee on Ministry Chair,

Among the many tasks of the dCOM is shepherding candidates through the discernment process, helping them to determine whether or not they are called to vocational ministry in the United Methodist Church. This can be a daunting process. Many dCOMs wonder what questions they should ask of candidates in order to ascertain readiness for ministry. The committee must evaluate each candidate’s ability to attend licensing school and to complete either course of study as a local pastor or to obtain a seminary degree, which would ultimately result in pursuing the ordination process with the Board of Ordained Ministry.

All baptized Christians are called to ministry. These ministries are as various and unique as the churches that populate your district. United Methodists believe that the discernment of call for baptized Christians for vocational or ordained ministry is best discerned in community. Throughout the entire process of candidacy, the United Methodist community of faith will surround this person in the discernment process.

The tool attached to this document is provided to help your committee engage in meaningful, discerning conversation with persons who come to the dCOM as part of the candidacy process of the United Methodist Church. This is certainly a time to encourage and pray for each candidate. It is also a time to ask reflective questions about God’s call upon this person’s life. Perhaps the most important questions your committee members need to ask each other are, “Is this person called into ministry as a lay person, as a part-time clergyperson, or as a full-time clergyperson?” or“Does this person exhibit gifts and graces for ministry?” You will note that the suggested questions are divided into groups, including those to be used for an initial interview with the dCOM, and others for ongoing interviews, certification, or change of status applications.

Use this tool as a guide for open and honest discussion with your candidate. On behalf of the church, be bold in your discernment as a committee. Helping to process and discern a call early on will be of great benefit to the candidate and the church. The dCOM is encouraged to give careful consideration to the recommendation ofa candidate to the Board of Ordained Ministry for commissioning. A “yes” vote should not be handed down lightly. If the candidate’s calling and decision are valid, the call can stand the test of careful inquiry and examination.

Please remember that the conversations of your committee with the candidate are of a confidential nature and should not be shared outside of your committee. Any concerns about the candidate may be shared with the district superintendent.

District Committee on Ministry

Candidate for Ministry Inquiry Tool

The following questions may be asked of your candidate at the initial interview, providing a way to get to know each one and the ministry to whichhe/she is called.

1)Please tell the committee about your faith journey.

2)Tell us about your call to ministry.

3)Tell us about your desire to do God’s will. Are you willing to trust God with your future, wherever God may lead you?

4)Are there any areas of your life in which you are experiencing healing right now? (sin, brokenness, finances, addictions, divorce, etc.)

5)How is it with your soul?

6)How have your spouse and family reacted to your call to ministry? (Please note that many families struggle with a call to ministry.)

7)Tell us about some of the fruitful ministries you have either led or been a participant.

8)Tell us about any debt you may have and your plan to repay the debt on a pastor’s salary. If you are going to seminary, how will you plan to keep your debt at the lowest level possible? (Emphasize that excessive debt may be a barrier to ordination.)

The following questions may be asked of the candidate at future interviews, at certification, and when the candidate is seeking approval for application to the Board of Ordained Ministry for commissioning.

9)What does it mean to be a minister in the United Methodist Church?

10)Describe your working relationship with your pastor/staff/District Superintendent over the last one or two years.

11)What are your growing edges?

12)Describe a relationship in which you have experienced conflict. How did you handle the conflict and the situation? (Look for behaviors in the candidate’s answer.)

13)How do you feel about authority: 1) in a work environment, 2) in the church, and
3) with Jesus as Lord?

14)What are the essentials of faith and the essentials of United Methodist theology?

15)What is your understanding of:

The sacraments

Atonement

The incarnation

The death and resurrection of Jesus

The mission of the church

Your relationship with Jesus and his lordship over your life

16)Tell us about any debt you may have and your plan to repay the debt on a pastor’s salary.

Internal Questions for the dCOM to Ponder

1)Do we see opportunity for growth in the candidate’s preaching, leadership skills, and interpersonal skills?

2)What gifts and graces for ministry can we identify in this candidate?

3)What are the reasons your committee should recommend this candidate to the Board of Ordained Ministry?

4)Are there reasons why you should not recommend this candidate?

5)Does this person have the love of God abiding in them?

6)While the individual is called of God, does the dCOM discern that the candidate’s call should be carried out in the ministry of the United Methodist Church?

7)Is the candidate teachable and coachable? What is the view of the candidate’s pastor regarding teachability?

8)Does the candidate work well with others?

9)Is the candidate able to interact well with others in social settings? One-on-one settings?

10)Does the candidate dress appropriately for the vocation of clergy?

11)Upon reviewing the candidate’s social media, do they appropriately use social media while functioning as a pastor or ministry candidate?

dCOMRecommendation Form

Candidate’s Name: ______

Date: ______

Charge/Church: ______

District: ______

We recommend this candidate for application to the Board of Ordained Ministry for commissioning and change of status.

Reasons:

We do not recommend this candidate to the Board of Ordained Ministry at
this time.

Reasons:

*Chairperson – please note that this page may be used for internal dCOM documentation;however, you must also use official Annual Conference forms and forward them to the District Superintendent.

Next Steps for Your Candidate

(Please review these steps with your candidate at the close of your meeting)

1)Applications for change of status are due to the Office of Ministerial Services by October 31st each year.

2)Applicants for change of status and commissioning must attend an orientation seminar with Rev. Kevin Burney. Encourage your candidates to contact Ministerial Services or the conference’s website for more information about times and locations for these seminars.

3)Remind your candidates that all commissioning paperwork must be turned in by midnight on January 8th and that late work will not be accepted. Encourage your candidates to work well ahead of time with their paperwork. Remind them that their work with the Board of Ordained Ministry should be their best work.

4)Encourage your candidates to have an ordained clergyperson read their work and offer feedback prior to submittal. Remind them that clergy serving on the Board of Ordained Ministry may not review, read, or give feedback on any paperwork prior to official submission.

RESOURCES FOR BOARD OF ORDAINED MINISTRY PAPERWORK

By Water and the Spirit -Baptism

This Holy Mystery - Communion

Willimon, William. United Methodist Beliefs: A Brief Introduction. Louisville: Westminster Press, 2007.