endorsement for ministry

Think about the people who have been your ministers. Interestingly, you are likely to remember clearly the names of ministers from a long time ago even though you have forgotten many other names from the past. What were the qualities that you admired in these ministers? Was it their biblical knowledge, their relationship with God, their pastoral sensitivity, the way they made the Gospel relevant to your life, or their contemplative spirituality?

Some of these qualities are learnt in the academy while others are formed in the worshipping community. These two aspects are discussed below, but keep in mind the one constant is that the learning and formation is always ongoing. The 'are we there yet' question is always answered in the negative.

Learning in the academy has long been a requirement for professional ministry in most settings. The areas of study are axiomatic: biblical studies (Old and New Testaments); Christian thought about God, Jesus, the church and the world; pastoral leadership and care; mission, ethics, spirituality, worship and the practice of ministry. The history and thought of Churches of Christ is another obvious subject. Christian colleges provide courses for undergraduates and graduates that encompass all these disciplines, although it is competency in each subject area, not the completion of a particular course that is required by Churches of Christ for endorsement as a minister.

Formation in the worshipping community is a multifaceted experience essential for the development of effective, healthy ministry. Here, a minister-in-training receives support and direction (usually from an experienced minister) after the style of an apprenticeship. Tasks are set, modelled, and instructions given; 'do this like this.' Attached to this training is a programme of supervised field education run by the Christian college with which the trainee is studying. This supervised field education is designed to help the trainee integrate their studies with their experience of ministry. The focus is personal growth and intentional professional development. The trainee is encouraged to set goals and objectives and monitor them. Acts of ministry are discussed in peer groups, feedback groups, and with a supervisor or mentor to develop the arts of self-evaluation and theological reflection. These two arts are crucial for sustainable, effective ministry. Self-evaluation of one's ministry leads to greater self-understanding and continuous improvement. Theological reflection occurs with the consideration of questions like “how did that act of ministry fit with the way I think about God?” or “where does that act of ministry fit with the story of Jesus in the New Testament?” The more one becomes practised in answering questions like these about their own life and ministry, the more adept one becomes in helping others discover the meaning of the Gospel for their own lives. This is an immensely valuable gift that effective ministers bring to the community.

Normally, this formation process takes three years in conjunction with learning in the academy, which can take four or more years depending on amount of study undertaken each year. However, people seeking endorsement for ministry by Churches of Christ present with a variety of life experiences, education and ministry backgrounds. This is taken into account when a programme of training is designed for each candidate. In addition, the ministry setting the candidate feels called to is also considered when formulating the components of learning and formation. If the process works well, and it usually does, the resulting endorsement by Churches of Christ for ministry merely acknowledges what has already occurred in the life of the candidate.