Preparing "Workers for the Harvest": Designing A
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Preparing "Workers for the Harvest": Designing a Personalized Syllabus for Pre-Ministry Development to Facilitate the Transition from Calling to Effective Ministry in Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches by Margo Lori MacDougall B.A. (Hon.), Carleton University, 1985 M.A., Winnipeg Theological Seminary, 1987 M.Div., Acadia Divinity College, 1995 Thesis-Project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry Acadia Divinity College, Acadia University Spring Convocation 2008 © by Margo Lori MacDougall 2008 I, Margo Lori MacDougall, grant permission to the University Librarian at Acadia University to reproduce, loan, or distrubute copies of my thesis in microform, paper or electronic formats on a non-profit basis. I, however, retain the copyright in my thesis. Signature of Author Date This thesis by Margo Lori MacDougall was defended successfully in an oral examination on 24 March 2008. The examining committee for the thesis was: Dr. Andrew MacRae, Director/Chair Dr. Allison Trites, External Examiner Dr. Ida Armstrong-Whitehouse, External Examiner Dr. Carol Anne Janzen, Faculty Reader Dr. Bruce Fawcett, Supervisor Dr. Harry Gardner, President This thesis is accepted in its present form by Acadia Divinity College, the Faculty of Theology of Acadia University, as satisfying the thesis requirements for the Doctor of Ministry degree. CONTENTS List of Tables vi Abstract vii List of Abbreviations viii Acknowledgement and Dedication ix Chapter Introduction 1 1. Why Christians Prepare for Leadership in the Ministry: Biblical, Historical, and Theological Foundations 4 Hebrew Leadership in the Old Testament Brief History, Etymology, and Practices of the Old Testament Priest Brief History, Etymology, and Practices of the Old Testament Levite Brief History, Etymology, and Practices of the Old Testament Prophet Spiritual Leadership in the New Testament Brief History, Etymology, and Practices of the Ministry in the Gospels Brief History, Etymology, and Practices of the Ministry in the Acts and Epistles 2. Why Baptists Prepare for Leadership in the Ministry: Ordination in Church History 45 The Ancient Church to the Protestant Reformation The Patristic Period of the Church The Church in the Middle Ages The Church in the Renaissance Ordination in Church History: The Emergence of the Baptists to Today Baptist Ministry in Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Century America Ordained Baptist Ministry in "Canada": Eighteenth- to Twentieth-Centuries IV 3. A Way to Facilitate Preparation for Ordained Ministry: The PSPD .... 78 Origins of Individuation Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) Application of the IEP to the Preparation of Candidates for Ordained Baptist Ministry 4. Phase One of the Project: Determining the Qualifying Factors and Areas for Improvement in the Preparation for Ordained Baptist Ministry Ill Identifying Qualifying Factors Report of Data Analysis for Qualifying Factors 5. Phase Two of the Project: Formulating the Template for the PSPD in Preparation for Ordained Baptist Ministry 171 6. Conclusions 179 Summary of the Argument for a PSPD Significance of the Thesis-Project to the Practice of Ministry Implications for Further Study Works Cited Works Read Bibliography Appendix A A. 1 Cover Letter to BMSE and ECO A.2 Questionnaire for All Groups Appendix B Samples of Resources Used by an Association B. 1 Application for Association License to Minister B.2 Association License to Minister Interview Questions B.3 Association of Atlantic Baptist Churches Scholarship Application Form Appendix C Resource Used by Examining Council for Ordination Appendix D Template for PSPD (Including an Example of Its Use with "Calling") v LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Local Church Respondents to Questionnaire 120 2. Local Church Question 1: What are the Qualifying Factors...? 121 3. Local Church Question 2: Process, Discernment, or Both? 123 4. Local Church Question 2: How do you identify...? (Vote or Interview) 124 5. Local Church Question 2: How do you identify...? 125 6. Local Church Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? 126 7. Local Church Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? Explain. 127 8. Association Respondents to Questionnaire 130 9. Association Question 1: What are the Qualifying Factors...? 132 10. Association Question 2: Process, Discernment, or Both? 133 11. Association Question 2: How do you identify... ? 134 12. Association Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? 135 13. Association Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? Explain 136 14. BMSE Respondents to Questionnaire 138 15. BMSE Question 1: What are the Qualifying Factors...? 139 16. BMSE Question 2: Process, Discernment, or Both? 140 17. BMSE Question 2: How do you identify...? 141 18. BMSE Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared... ? 141 19. BMSE Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? Explain 142 20. Respondents from Local Churches Requesting Interviews with ECO 150 21. Local Churches Requesting Interviews with ECO 150 22. Local Churches Requesting Interviews with ECO Who initiated the request for an Interview? 151 vi 23. Local Churches Requesting Interviews with ECO Question 2: How do you identify...? 152 24. Local Churches Requesting Interviews with ECO Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? Explain 153 25. ECO Respondents to Questionnaire 155 26. ECO Question 1: What are the Qualifying Factors...? 155 27. ECO Question 2: Process, Discernment, or Both? 156 28. ECO Question 2: How do you identify...? 157 29. ECO Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? 158 30. ECO Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? Explain 159 31. Cumulative Respondents to Questionnaire 162 32. Cumulative Question 1: What are the Qualifying Factors...? 163 33. Cumulative Question 2: Process, Discernment, or Both? 164 34. Cumulative Question 2: How do you identify...? 166 35. Cumulative Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared...? 167 36. Cumulative Question 3: Could candidates be better prepared... ? Explain. 168 vn ABSTRACT To formulate a template for designing a Personalized Syllabus for Pre-Ministry Development (PSPD) to help facilitate the preparation of potential candidates for Ordained Baptist Ministry, 100 representatives who are active in 12 evaluative stages in the present process towards Ordained Ministry within the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches completed a three-item questionnaire. They identified 16 Qualifying Factors (QFs) that they use to determine a candidate's potential for effective ministry, including Calling, Spiritual Readiness, and Theological Education and Reflection. Respondents also suggested 19 areas in which candidates could be better prepared for individual stages in the process, as well as the total process, towards Ordained Baptist Ministry, including Follow-up and Support throughout the process, Preparation for Interviews, and Further Information Regarding the Process. Based on these results, a template was formulated for use in designing a PSPD for each potential candidate for Ordained Ministry. The template appears in Appendix E, with a suggested partial PSPD for the QF of Calling. Suggestions for further study include testing the validity of the template here formulated, to determine whether or not a personalized approach is a viable resource for the preparing of candidates for Ordained Ministry within the Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches. vin ABBREVIATIONS ABU Atlantic Baptist University ADC Acadia Divinity College BMSE Board of Ministerial Standards and Education CABC Convention of Atlantic Baptist Churches CSF Critical Success Factors ECO Examining Council for Ordination IEP Individualized Educational Plan PSPD Personalized Syllabus for Pre-Ministry Development QFs Qualifying Factors IX ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND DEDICATION I want to thank God for His Strength and Guidance throughout my life and throughout this project. I also want to dedicate this finished work to: my mother, Merle H. MacDougall, for living and instilling the value of faith in the Living God; my father, Murray K. MacDougall, for living and instilling the value of education; my teacher, Albert B. Cain, for living and instilling the value of encouraging the individual; my supervisors, the Reverend Kirk Sabine and Dr. Bruce Fawcett, for living and instilling the value of excellence; my friends, Dave Trouten, and Rose & Doug Tatton, for living, loving, and instilling the value of humour; all who have supported me in prayer and word; and all to the glory of God. x INTRODUCTION Each semester that I serve as Counselor at Bethany Bible College, I see a few students preparing for leadership in full-time ministry who are undeveloped or underdeveloped in certain areas vital to effective vocational ministry. I have also observed how the lack of development in these areas has the potential of hindering these individuals personally and in ministerial leadership, as well as potentially hindering the recipients of their ministry. Because I believe that many of these areas can be developed if attended to in a purposeful, systematic way, I propose to design a Christian counselor's tool for coaching individuals through their pre-ministry development, so as to facilitate their successful transition from their sense of calling, through to effective Ordained Baptist Ministry. This tool, called a Personalized Syllabus for Pre-Ministry Development (PSPD), would serve as a God-honouring, Biblically-responsible, individualized map for the candidate's journey to effective Ordained