|
|
Pages: Cover,
Content,
1, 2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28, 29,
30,
31,
32
|
page 9 of 33
|
|
|
From Call to Settlement |
|
by Lloyd M. Hall, Jr. |
Ecclesiastical steps
In-Care
|
|
|
As soon as a student in late high school or college, or an older person in other
work, is sure of God's call and is firm in a positive response to that call, he ought
to seek status as a "Student In-Care." 12
Normally, the first step would be to discuss this with the home pastor. Every
pastor is delighted to have someone in the congregation called to ministry and is
anxious to help. If there is solid reason to proceed, the student writes to the
Board of Deacons (Diaconate) informing them of her call to ministry, the
intention to prepare for ordained ministry, and requesting that she be taken
"incare." If the pastor is not well grounded in Congregational polity, consultation
should be sought with a neighboring pastor who is, or the student should be
referred to a qualified clergyperson.
The Deacons will need to understand that while this does not
necessarily (usually does not) imply any financial obligation, there
is a serious obligation for the Church, usually through its Pastor
and Diaconate, to be continually engaged with the student through
the college years. Prayers will need to be offered regularly and
contact made frequently. Opportunities should be found for the
student to participate in ministry in the Church as time permits.
The Church has the opportunity to nurture one who is called.
Following an affirmative vote and recommendation by the Diaconate, the Church, in meeting, should vote to take this student
"in-care." For the Church it means an affirmation of the course in
which the student is engaged; and a pledge of prayer, fellowship,
support, and guidance during the preparatory years.
That level of support will be increased once the student enters
seminary. At this point, many Churches feel it is orderly to
provide an annual scholarship for "their" seminarian. Certainly
this is a help for a very expensive professional education but it is
also a way for the Church to be a practical participant in the
process of insuring competent and educated clergy for our
Churches.
If local conditions permit, it is advisable to ask the local
association of Congregational Churches and/or Ministers to assist
the Church in this matter.13
The association should have provision
to provide an advisor (who may be the student's pastor) to the
student. This advisor is responsible to help the student make
appropriate academic and work choices, but more importantly to
provide the friendship of a more experienced person who may
become a colleague. It is very important that this designation -
whether by Church or association - be made so that the
responsibility is conferred intentionally.
In each instance, in-care status should probably, as Gray suggests, be limited to
one year and be renewed as conditions warrant.
|
Licensure |
"Licensure," writes Abercrombie citing The Congregational Christian Ministry,
...1953, "is the status through which a candidate in training for the ordained
ministry of our churches is certified by the Association as qualified to preach the
Gospel, and as a licentiate to serve a church."
14
Gray also is clear that Licensure
is not a matter that should be reserved solely to the action of a Church, but
involves thorough examination and action by the local association.
Taking place usually after the first or second year in seminary, at a time when the
student is assuming ministerial duties in a Church, the student is again the first
actor. Informing his home Church Diaconate of his placement, he requests that
his status be changed to that of Licensed Minister. The Deacons, followed by
Church action, will now need to say that they share this student's conviction that
she has the call, character, and gifts for ministry.
Because this action inherently involves the good name of the Churches, it is
incumbent upon the licensing Church (today probably the home Church and not
the Church the student will be serving)
15
to invoke the participation of the local
association. Associations have varieties of mechanisms through which they act
on matters of licensure so the details will vary from place to place. Uniformly, the
purpose is to continue that level of support implied by the in-care status, but to
confirm that preparation is proceeding at a satisfactory rate, that everyone still
anticipates that this
individual will continue toward ordination, and that this person can
safely be commended for ministerial service. There is valid
tradition in granting licensure only for one year at a time, allowing
for a yearly review of progress and assurance of the candidate's
continuing compliance with expectations.
If the student was not in-care and, therefore, did not have an
advisor from the association appointed, that needs to be done now.
The opportunity for questions will grow and preparation for
ordination will encounter more unknown territory. The association
is obligated to provide support at this level (again, not necessarily
financial). The role of the advisor from the association is different
from that of the intern supervisor appointed by CFTS or the
fieldwork supervisor appointed by the seminary.
|
|
|
12
Gray opens this status to seniors in high school, largely on the basis of a needed status for
draft deferment (not relevant in 1999). He also limits the body taking the student in-care to
the Church. Abercrombie (Way of Inter-Church Fellowship; p 32ff) designates it "In Care of
Association," which reflects the contemporary reality that many associations have formal
procedures for
supporting the Church and the student in this status.
13
Possible wording for appropriate motions and other detailed information is
included in the appendices.
14
Abercrombie, Inter-Church Fellowship; p 34
15
All actions pertinent to ecclesiastical
standing need to be initiated by the Church of which the person (student, candidate for
licensure, ordinand) is a member.
|
|
National Association of Congregational Christian
Churches
PO Box 288, Oak Creek, WI 53154 |
|
Pages: Cover,
Content,
1, 2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8,
9,
10,
11,
12,
13,
14,
15,
16,
17,
18,
19,
20,
21,
22,
23,
24,
25,
26,
27,
28, 29,
30,
31,
32
|
| Page 9 of 33 |
|
|
