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Let
anyone with ears listen!
Matthew 13:9
A good deal
of what the Committee on Preparation for Ministry does is to
listen. We listen to Inquirers and Candidates as they unfold
their stories of faith and call. We listen to the larger
church as voices from seminaries and examinations speak to
us of talents and skills for ministry. Most of all we listen
with candidates for God’s discerning voice that together we
might confirm their call as disciples and direct their path
toward Ministry of Word and Sacrament and Commissioned Lay
Pastor. Seeds are sown into all kinds of soil, but we do
indeed see the Word planted deeply into the hearts of many.
Our
Committee this past year has seen three of our candidates
ordained, as well as brought to examination a candidate who
was called here. We brought to the presbytery a pastor whose
ordination came from a different denomination and walked
with him through the process of having his ordination
recognized and being enrolled as a member of Presbytery. We
have enrolled two Inquirers and moved three to candidacy, so
that we now have six Inquirers and five Candidates. We
continue to listen to those who are considering ministry and
to sessions who want to endorse and support them.
This year we
revised the policy and procedure for preparation for
Commissioned Lay Pastors, to acknowledge the use of online
learning from seminaries. We currently have two candidates
for CLP status.
We reviewed
the new Advisory Manual for CPM’s and have accepted it as
our manual of operations.
We have
listened to folks from the Ministry and Vocations area of
General Assembly as they educated us more fully about our
work and shared with us the reality check for new graduates
in a denomination of small congregations and scarcity of
full time positions. We continue to consider what that will
mean in our work as sowers.
It is a
privilege to be a part of the journey of these Inquirers and
Candidates. We rejoice in their triumphs and pray with them
through their struggles. And always we seek as those with
ears to listen.
Rev. Kathy Barlow Westmoreland, Moderator
Bruce Archibald Kay Atkins
Jan Dixon Mary Gregory
Becky Lindsay Denise Pass
Hugh Shin Tom Sweets
Chris Torrey Janis Adams, staff |
