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Job Description - Ministerial Committee

Policy Section 1230

Constitution

The Ministerial Committee is constituted by action of the business meeting of Conservative Mennonite Conference on August 11, 1995, as reported on pages 31 and 32 of the CMC Annual Report 1995. The Ministerial Committee is not included in the CMC Constitution, but is covered by the Constitution in Article VIII, section 5, which states, "any committees or appointees not provided for otherwise may be appointed directly by the Conference or by conference officers as the Conference directs."

The action recorded on page 31 of the CMC Annual Report 1995 provides (1) that each member of the Ministerial Committee shall be an ordained CMC minister, (2) that priority shall be given to membership on this committee vis a vis membership on other boards and committees, (3) that the committee shall consist of five members with terms of five years, (4) that the organization of the committee shall consist of chairman, vice chairman, and secretary with reorganization effected each year under the leadership of the CMC general secretary or someone designated by him, and (5) that the committee shall be included on the annual CMC election slate prepared by the CMC Nominating Committee.

The CMC Ministerial Manual, was adopted in February 1999, revised in 2000, and 2003 and reprinted in 2001 and 2004. It recognizes the Ministerial Committee. Some of the tasks assigned by the Manual to the Ministerial Committee preceded the Manual as policy while other tasks became policy through the adoption and revision of the Manual. The duties listed below are considered to be in accord with and implementive of the provisions of the action of 1995 and current provisions of the Manual.

Accountability

The Ministerial Committee is accountable to Conservative Mennonite Conference through the CMC Executive Board with point of communication being the CMC general secretary or, if deemed necessary by either party, the CMC moderator.

Purpose

The Ministerial Committee is constituted for the purpose of providing a ministry of:

  1. Evaluation and reference in regard to doctrinal and spiritual qualifications of current and potential CMC ministers
  2. Reference in regard to congregational pastoral vacancies and potential pastoral availabilities
  3. Resourcing CMC ministers individually and collectively in regard to ministerial assignments, functions, and relationships.

General Duties

The Ministerial Committee is responsible to:

  1. Assist the Executive Board in defining the parameters of accountability of ministers to CMC;
  2. Receive and evaluate in annual segments of a five-year rotation the periodic theological affirmation of ministerial members;
  3. Refer to the CMC Executive Board responses of theological affirmation which, in the opinion of the Ministerial Committee, are questionable;
  4. Conduct the examination and evaluation of the Ministerial Questionnaires of candidates for ordination, licensure, or transfer by a schedule acceptable to the Executive Board;
  5. Be available upon request to officiating ministers for counsel in regard to ministerial qualifications for ordination and licensure;
  6. Be alert to the existence and identity of ministerial candidates and potential pastors in behalf of congregations seeking pastoral candidates.

Specific Duties

The specific duties of the Ministerial Committee include ...

  1. 1. Processing the questionnaires of candidates for ordination or licensure who were chosen by the ALeadership Nomination Method@ (see CMC Ministerial Manual) and the questionnaires of applicants for transfer. This process involves these steps:
    1. Committee members receive the questionnaire from the general secretary and review it.
    2. Committee members respond promptly to the chairman of the Committee (1) to indicate the acceptability or unacceptability of the completed questionnaire, (2) to identify the points of problem or questions, and (3) to state whether or not, in the judgment of the Committee member, the questionnaire needs discussion in a meeting of the Committee and/or in a meeting with the candidate.
    3. In the case of ordination, the Committee or a designated member meets with or otherwise communicates with the candidate, if necessary, for clarification of issues or questions. In the case of licensure, the Committee meets with or otherwise communicates with the candidates at the discretion of the Committee.
    4. The Committee attempts to meet, in advance of the CMC business meeting by arrangement made by the chairman, with those candidates whose questionnaires have been processed or are in process. This may be for the purpose of clarification (see 1-c) and/or for fellowship, acquaintanceship, and orientation. If a meeting in person is not arrange-able, communication may be by phone or by written conversation by a designated member of the Committee.
    5. The Committee formulates a recommendation to the Executive Board concerning authorization for license or ordination.
    6. The chairman reports in writing or in person to the general secretary a word of approval, disapproval, or question concerning the candidate=s qualifications with notation of any significant points of question or problem.
  2. Communicating with each candidate for purposes such as acquaintance, affirmation, and discussion of concerns. This communication may be in the exercise of 1-c above, or otherwise.
  3. Receiving from the general secretary and reviewing the Ministerial Questionnaires of ministerial candidates chosen by the congregational nomination method and ordained or licensed.
  4. Receiving and evaluating the periodic theological affirmation of ministerial members, discussing points of question with the subject minister as needed for clarification, and referring to the CMC Executive Board responses of theological affirmation which, in the opinion of the Ministerial Committee, are questionable;
  5. Responding to requests from officiating ministers for counsel in regard to ministerial qualifications for ordination or licensure;
  6. Receiving requests for names of potential ministerial and pastoral candidates, either directly from congregational leadership or from search committees or the general secretary or members of the Executive Board, and contributing to a list of potential pastoral candidates maintained by the general secretary;
  7. Meeting at least semi-annually and at other times as needed with a definite schedule of meeting at the site of Ministers Fellowship at 9 a.m. of the Monday of Ministers= Fellowship week and on the grounds of the annual conference at 1 p.m. of the day preceding the CMC business meeting, unless otherwise determined and announced by the chairman;
  8. Being alert to the possible need to meet several weeks in advance of the semi-annual CMC business meeting and scheduling such meetings as determined and called by the chairman;
  9. Working with the CMC Executive Board and general secretary in the duties of the Ministerial Committee.

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