Ministry Recognition

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• Ministry Recognition
• In The
• American Baptist Churches
• Of Pennsylvania and Delaware

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(No Transcript)
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Our Purpose

• American Baptist Churches of PA DE
• is committed to recognizing the ministry call
• of men and women
• and to the effective preparation of those
• whom God is setting apart
• as pastors or vocational ministry leaders.
• We uphold the priesthood of all believers
• and the giftedness of all of Gods people.
• We also recognize that
• from within Christs Body, the Church,
• that some are called to functions and positions
  as
• pastors, teachers and leaders
• who are gifted to equip the Church for ministry.

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Our Purpose

• The establishment of standards for pastoral and
  vocational ministry credential is to serve the
  Church and to encourage the highest development
  of those who will serve as pastors and servant
  leaders.
• These standards are provided to set a pathway for
  men and women sensing a call to ministry
  assisting them to find appropriate recognition
  and context in which to respond to the call that
  God is placing upon their lives.
• The processes and standards outlined are
  established to encourage trust, ensure competency
  and develop pastoral leaders who will serve the
  Church with great joy and effectiveness.
• As local American Baptist churches and other
  ministry organizations seek pastoral leaders it
  is hoped that these standards will serve as a
  resource to best recognize those whom God is
  calling and sending to serve.

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Our Purpose

• It was he who gave some to be apostles,
• some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
• and some to be pastors and teachers,
• to prepare Gods people for works of service,
• so that the body of Christ may be built up
• until we all reach unity in the faith
• and in the knowledge of the Son of God
• and become mature,
• attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
  Christ.
• Ephesians 411-13

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Ministry Recognition through

• Ordination
• Standard Process
• Non-Standard Process
• __________________________________________________
  ______________________
• Certified Lay Minister Process

7
Ministry Recognition through

• Ordination
• Standard Process
• Non-Standard Process
• __________________________________________________
  ______________________
• Certified Lay Minister Process

8

• Ordination Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Enroll in and complete a Master of Divinity
  program from an accredited or Regionally
  recognized institution (3 year program).
• Seek a pre-ordination license from your local
  church in consultation with the local Association
  not less than 6 months prior to expected
  examination for ordination.
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program at the Center for Career Development and
  Ministry.

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The Center forCareer Development and
MinistryDedham, Massachusetts

• providing career assessments and consultations
  since 1968

I found their assessment advice to be thorough,
candid and compassionate. They created a warm
and safe space to engage in a deep and broad
analysis of my vocation.
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• Ordination Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Enroll in and complete a Master of Divinity
  program from an accredited or Regionally
  recognized institution (3 year program).
• Seek a pre-ordination license from your local
  church in consultation with the local Association
  not less than 6 months prior to expected
  examination for ordination.
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program at the Center for Career Development and
  Ministry.
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics (if not part of seminary
  training).

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The Covenant And Code of Ethics
Having accepted Gods call to leadership in
Christs Church, I covenant with God to serve
Christ and the Church, with the help of the holy
spirit to deepen my obedience to the Two Great
Commandments to love the Lord our God with all
my heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love my
neighbor as myself. In affirmation of this
commitment, I will abide by the Code of Ethics of
the Ministers Council of the American Baptist
Churches and I will faithfully support its
purposes and ideals. As further affirmation of
my commitment, I covenant with my colleagues in
ministry that we will hold one another
accountable for fulfillment of all the public
actions set forth in our Code of Ethics.
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• Ordination Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Enroll in and complete a Master of Divinity
  program from an accredited or Regionally
  recognized institution (3 year program).
• Seek a pre-ordination license from your local
  church in consultation with the local Association
  not less than 6 months prior to expected
  examination for ordination.
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program at the Center for Career Development and
  Ministry.
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics (if not part of seminary
  training).
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education.
• Complete an ordination paper and submit to your
  local Association for evaluation.

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Whats inAn Ordination Paper?
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Whats inAn Ordination Paper?

• Introduction
• Faith Journey
• Call to the Ministry
• Your Gifts for Ministry
• Academic and Field Preparation
• Reasons for Seeking Ordination within ABCUSA

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Whats inAn Ordination Paper?

• General Comprehension of Christian Doctrine
• The Person of God
• The Person of Jesus Christ
• The Person of the Holy Spirit
• Humanity and Sin
• Salvation The Nature of the Gospel
• View of Scripture
• The Christian Hope Death Eternal Life
• Christian Eschatology

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Whats inAn Ordination Paper?

• The Doctrine of the Church
• The Theology of Mission
• Ordinances Baptism The Lords Supper
• Ecumenical Aspects of the Church
• Place of the Church in History
• Purpose and Place of the Church in Todays World
• The Role of the Ordained Minister
• The Ministry of the Laity

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Whats inAn Ordination Paper?

• Relationships
• Ecumenical Witness to Community and World
• American Baptist Churches, USA
• American Baptist Churches of PA DE
• The Association

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• Ordination Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Enroll in and complete a Master of Divinity
  program from an accredited or Regionally
  recognized institution (3 year program).
• Seek a pre-ordination license from your local
  church in consultation with the local Association
  not less than 6 months prior to expected
  examination for ordination.
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program at the Center for Career Development and
  Ministry.
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics (if not part of seminary
  training).
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education.
• Complete an ordination paper and submit to your
  local Association Credentialing Committee for
  evaluation.
• Undergo an Ordination Council. Sufficient
  affirmation of the Association is required.
• A call to a specific ministry location.

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Ministry Recognition through

• Ordination
• Standard Process
• Non-Standard Process
• __________________________________________________
  ______________________
• Certified Lay Minister Process

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• Ordination Non-Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Contact the Area Minister, who will arrange a
  meeting with the Area Commission Team. Complete a
  preliminary application and ministry evaluation.
• Work with the Area Commission Team to develop a
  Ministry Plan ensuring competency in all areas of
  ministry. Completion and evaluation of Ministry
  Plan is necessary before completing following
  items.
• Seek a pre-ordination license..
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program..
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education work with an approved Mentor.
• Complete an ordination paper..
• Undergo an Ordination Council..
• A call to a specific ministry location.

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• Ordination Non-Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Seek a pre-ordination license..
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program..
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education
• Complete an ordination paper..
• Undergo an Ordination Council..
• A call to a specific ministry location.

22

• Ordination Non-Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Contact the Area Minister, who will arrange a
  meeting with the Area Commission Team. Complete a
  preliminary application and ministry evaluation.
• Seek a pre-ordination license..
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program..
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education
• Complete an ordination paper..
• Undergo an Ordination Council..
• A call to a specific ministry location.

23

• Ordination Non-Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Contact the Area Minister, who will arrange a
  meeting with the Area Commission Team. Complete a
  preliminary application and ministry evaluation.
• Work with the Area Commission Team to develop a
  Ministry Plan ensuring competency in all areas of
  ministry. Completion and evaluation of Ministry
  Plan is necessary before completing following
  items.
• Seek a pre-ordination license..
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program..
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education
• Complete an ordination paper..
• Undergo an Ordination Council..
• A call to a specific ministry location.

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Old Testament New Testament Preaching/Homiletics S
ystematic Theology Church History Educational
Ministries Pastoral Care Missions Evangelism Worsh
ip
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• Ordination Non-Standard Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church.
• Complete a Bachelors degree program (4 years of
  College).
• Contact the Area Minister, who will arrange a
  meeting with the Area Commission Team. Complete a
  preliminary application and ministry evaluation.
• Work with the Area Commission Team to develop a
  Ministry Plan ensuring competency in all areas of
  ministry. Completion and evaluation of Ministry
  Plan is necessary before completing following
  items.
• Seek a pre-ordination license..
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program..
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Participate in at least 1 year of supervised
  Field Education work with an approved Mentor.
• Complete an ordination paper..
• Undergo an Ordination Council..
• A call to a specific ministry location.

26
Ministry Recognition through

• Ordination
• Standard Process
• Non-Standard Process
• __________________________________________________
  ______________________
• Certified Lay Minister Process

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• Certified Lay Minister Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church, with support and recommendation
  of your church to begin the process.
• Complete the required courses of the Certified
  Lay Minister track through the Church Leadership
  Institute.

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C.L.I.
Church Leadership Institute
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• Certified Lay Minister Process
• Be a member in good standing of an American
  Baptist Church, with support and recommendation
  of your church to begin the process.
• Complete the required courses of the Certified
  Lay Minister track through the Church Leadership
  Institute.
• Work with an approved Mentor for 2 years and
  submit their Fitness for Ministry report to your
  Credentialing Committee.
• Complete courses in Baptist History and Polity
  and Clergy Ethics.
• Complete a certification paper and, with support
  of your local church, submit it to your local
  Association Credentialing Committee for
  evaluation.
• Undergo a Certification Council. Sufficient
  affirmation of the Association is required.
• When an initial Certification is granted,
  complete 6 units of Continuing Education within 3
  years to qualify for permanent Certification.
• Attend and complete the Candidacy Assessment
  program at the Center for Career Development and
  Ministry.
• Develop a plan for ministry with your Association
  Credentialing Committee.

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Our Purpose

• It was he who gave some to be apostles,
• some to be prophets, some to be evangelists,
• and some to be pastors and teachers,
• to prepare Gods people for works of service,
• so that the body of Christ may be built up
• until we all reach unity in the faith
• and in the knowledge of the Son of God
• and become mature,
• attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of
  Christ.
• Ephesians 411-13

31

• Ministry Recognition
• In The
• American Baptist Churches
• Of Pennsylvania and Delaware