COMMISSION FOR THE STUDY OF MINISTRY Report for 2016 General Conference

“ We participate in the hope for a dynamic, Spirit-led Church. The Commission offers paths to strengthen leadership so the Church will be responsive and adaptable in making disciples of Jesus Christ who love and transform a richly diverse and changing world. ~ Commission Members

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY ➤ Ministry Study Commissions do not make disciples of Christ – local churches do! ➤ Our role is to create pathways in our denominational structure to prepare, deploy, and equip such leaders throughout the world. ➤ We believe our findings can make a difference in this work and we want to help you get to the crux of what will make a difference for our church.

WHAT’S IMPORTANT? ➤ Perhaps the most important factor in the vitality of local church ministry is the availability of creative, spiritually grounded leaders to shape, guide, develop and lead congregations and communities

PROPOSALS FOR HOW TO MOVE FORWARD

DEEPEN OUR THEOLOGY OF MINISTRY ➤ All of ministry is a gift of the Holy Spirit ➤ Lay, licensed, and ordained ministry is grounded in baptism and nourished by Holy Communion ➤ Legislation proposed to:  Clarify our ordination theology (¶¶ 301, 302, 305, NEW Section VI)  Clarify relationship between ordination and sacraments (¶¶ 316, 328, 340) ➤ Recommendation VI, p. 7

INCREASE FLEXIBILITY IN LEADERSHIP PREPARATION ➤ Through Broadening the Paths to Ordained Ministry and Collaborating Broadly on Theological Education ➤ Legislation proposed to:  Remove Local Pastor’s age restriction for provisional membership (¶ 324.6, p. 23) ➤ Recommendations for:  Growing collaboration regarding theological education  Combination of Course of Study with a Bachelor’s degree ➤ Recommendation V, p. 6

LEADERSHIP AND ORDINATION ➤ Support candidates from inquiry to ordained ministry and provisional membership to full membership ➤ Clergy formation is an ongoing process that does not culminate with ordination ➤ Legislation proposed to:  Reshape the Ordination Process (NEW Section VI, p. 31) ➤ Recommendation VI – Number 3, p. 10

LEADERSHIP SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT ➤ Guiding and supporting the leadership of licensed and ordained clergy ➤ Legislation proposed to:  Strengthen lifelong learning and coaching (¶ 351.2, p. 28)  Require periodic clergy assessments (¶ 350.3, p. 27)  Annual evaluation with more in-depth assessment every eight years ➤ Recommendation VII, p. 11

QUESTIONS

Full Report gbhem.org/gc16

Thank you for your consideration. The Commission invites you to adopt these recommendations as ways our Church can develop and equip leaders for today and into the future.

Commission Members David Bard, NCJ Bishop Ken Carter, SEJ Tom Choi, WJ Thomas Frank, SEJ Taylor Fuerst, SCJ Amy Gearhart, SCJ Bishop Grant Hagiya, Chair, WJ Kimberly Ingram, SEJ Johannes Knoeller, Germany Central Conference Mary Elizabeth Moore, Boston University School of Theology Albert Mosley, Gammon Theological Seminary Bishop Gary Mueller, SCJ Cory Oliver, SEJ Jasmine Smothers, SEJ Marjorie Suchocki, WJ Jay Williams, NEJ

WHAT are we trying to accomplish?

WHAT ➤ provide maximum adaptability and flexibility to prepare, deploy, and equip leaders to make disciples of Jesus Christ and transform the world

WHY does it matter RIGHT NOW?

URGENCY ➤ more adequately align our practice with our theology of ministry ➤ open up the ways in which people can practice ministry as credentialed and equipped leaders ➤ provide support and accountability for lifelong clergy ministry

SO WHAT! How does this affect us?