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NEED for TRANSITIONAL GUIDANCE and TRAINING for NEW PASTORS in the CME CHURCH Under the Direction of David Hull, D.Min., Supervisor

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NEED for TRANSITIONAL GUIDANCE and TRAINING for NEW PASTORS in the CME CHURCH Under the Direction of David Hull, D.Min., Supervisor NEED FOR TRANSITIONAL GUIDANCE AND TRAINING FOR NEW PASTORS IN THE CME CHURCH by TRACEY ANDREA KIRKLAND A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of the James & Carolyn McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY Atlanta GA 2020 THE NEED FOR TRANSITIONAL GUIDANCE AND TRAINING FOR NEW PASTORS IN THE CME CHURCH by TRACEY ANDREA KIRKLAND Approved: Date David Hull, D.Min. Faculty Supervisor Date Robert N. Nash, Jr., Ph.D. Faculty Reader Date Cassandry R. Keys, M.Div. External Reader Date Robert N. Nash Jr., Ph.D. Associate Dean, D.Min. Degree Program, James & Carolyn McAfee School of Theology Date C. Gregory DeLoach, D.Min. Interim Dean, McAfee School of Theology DEDICATION To my parents Sylvester and Flossie Kirkland whose lifelong support made this dream possible and to my biggest fan, Nicole, for her never-ending love and support. To my daughters Alexis, Jasmin, and Andrea whose love and support continue to inspire me. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Someone once said good things come to those who wait, but Romans 2:6-7 reads God “will repay each person according to what they have done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, he will give eternal life. I must give honor to the one who created me and called me to this ministry journey, but I do not take ownership of this accomplishment in isolation. I want to thank my committee members, Dr. David Hull, Faculty Supervisor, Dr. Lisa Allen-McLaurin, Ministry Coach, and Presiding Elder, Cassandry R. Keys, Ministry Supervisor. Special thanks to my editor, Dr. Nancy Penton for bringing all the pieces together and making it happen. Thank you all for your undying support, time, and patience for the past three and a half years. Thank you for pushing me, challenging me, and stretching me to give my best effort into this project. Your assistance is truly appreciated, and I am forever grateful. I want to thank the McAfee School of Theology family for making sure I had everything I needed to be successful in this program. I am forever indebted to Dr. Michelle Garber who made sure we would not falter in this program. Thanks for all the help with registration and for sending the friendly reminders to keep us all on track. You are a rock star and Mercer should be very happy to have you. I want to thank Dr. Robert Nash for going into the archives and finding my initial application to take a second look at the evidence that someone did not thoroughly investigate. Thank you, sir, for giving me a chance to show myself worthy of an opportunity to be a student in the McAfee iv School of Theology in pursuit of a Doctor of Ministry Degree. You, sir, deserve a standing ovation. Special thanks go out to Dr. Valerie Tate-Everett, Rev. Portia Wills-Lee, Dr. Sherry Adams, Elder Cassandry R. Keys, Bishop James B. Walker, and my beloved Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC). Each of you has played a significant role in my Christian walk and because of your unselfishness you gave me a platform to serve, learn, and flourish in ministry. Thank you for giving me the space to be used in a mighty way. I want to acknowledge my Mt. Zion CME Church family. Thank you for opening your loving arms and for accepting me and my family. Thank you for allowing me to serve as your pastor, thanks for all the meals, the laughs, and the great fellowship. Thanks for sacrificing some of your Wednesday night Bible study time so that I could write and do my research. Always know that you played an important role in this journey and more important this accomplishment. v TABLE OF CONTENTS Page DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEGMENTS .............................................................................................. iv ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................. ix CHAPTERS 1. INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND ........................................................... 1 Description of the Ministerial Context ....................................................... 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................ 5 Ordination Requirements .......................................................................... 11 Ordination Process .................................................................................... 13 Christian Methodist Episcopal Church ..................................................... 14 Ministers Admitted on Trial...................................................................... 15 Traveling Deacons .................................................................................... 15 African Methodist Episcopal Church........................................................ 16 United Methodist Church (UMC) ............................................................. 17 Research Question .................................................................................... 19 Procedure .................................................................................................. 20 Limitations and Delimitations of the Project ............................................ 20 Definition of Terms................................................................................... 21 Assumptions .............................................................................................. 25 Purpose and Significance .......................................................................... 26 2. BIBLICAL, THEOLOGICAL, AND HISTORICAL FOUNDATIONS ............. 28 Biblical Foundation ................................................................................... 28 Discipleship............................................................................................... 30 Mentoring .................................................................................................. 35 Teaching Perspective ................................................................................ 38 Theological Foundation ............................................................................ 43 Equipping the Disciples ............................................................................ 44 Historical Foundation................................................................................ 51 Models of Training Pastors ....................................................................... 58 vi TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page 3. MINISTRY CONTEXT ................................................................................................ 62 The CME Church ...................................................................................... 62 Winston Salem-Greenville District ........................................................... 65 Role of the Senior Pastor .......................................................................... 67 Most Significant Challenges Needing Attention ...................................... 69 The Project ................................................................................................ 72 The Process and Procedure ....................................................................... 73 4. THE PROJECT ..................................................................................................... 77 Participants ................................................................................................ 77 Retrieval and Data Coding ........................................................................ 78 Interpreting the Results ............................................................................. 81 What did the project reveal? ..................................................................... 82 5. THE CONCLUSIONS .......................................................................................... 85 Resource Possibilities for the CME Church ............................................. 85 Committee of Ministerial Assessment and Committee on Ministerial Examination .............................................................................................. 85 Social Media and Virtual Learning ........................................................... 86 Mentoring Program ................................................................................... 87 Bishop’s Course of Study ......................................................................... 88 CME Educational Institutions ................................................................... 89 Church Manuals ........................................................................................ 89 Resource Guide ......................................................................................... 90 Understanding the Church ........................................................................ 92 CME Theology and Doctrine .................................................................... 93 Sacred Commitments of the CME Church ............................................... 93 CME Book of Discipline .......................................................................... 94 CME Church Membership ........................................................................ 94 Preparation and Ministerial Examination ................................................. 95 Pastor’s Self-Care ..................................................................................... 96 Time for Transition ..................................................................................
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