Local Church Ministers

Description

Local church ministers are those members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, who have been called by God and are beginning the pursuit of ordination.

The local church license is granted by a local congregation to affirm a person's call to ministry. The local church license is the first of three steps toward ordination, which is the goal expected for persons holding this license. Through these steps, the church seeks to develop ministers who give evidence of high moral character, doctrinal soundness, administrative integrity, and pastoral competency.

Qualifications

To become a candidate for local church license, persons must do the following:

1. Hold membership in the local United Brethren church to which they apply.

2. Verify that they have completed the equivalent of a standard high school education.

3. Demonstrate faithfulness to the expectations of members (chapter 7), adherence to the moral and social standards of the church (chapters 8 and 9), and conformity to the general expectations of ministers (chapter 10).

Local church ministers are not eligible to serve as lay delegates to the national conference nor may they serve as ministerial representatives on any national conference board or commission. They serve as advisory members of the national conference.

Licensing

The following procedure is established for the licensing of local church ministers:

1. Referral of the Senior Pastor

After consulting with the candidate to determine God's call and the candidate's suitability for ministry, the senior pastor shall refer the candidate to an examining committee.

2. Examination

The senior pastor shall arrange for an examining committee composed of the cluster coach (or his appointee), the senior pastor, and one other member of the local conference. The cluster coach will serve as chairman of the examining committee. The candidate shall present the following to the committee:

a. Three Letters of Reference. These letters are to be obtained from acquaintances of the candidate and should give evidence of the candidate's faithfulness in Christian living and suitability for ministerial licensing. They should be obtained from the following:

(1) The senior pastor of the church where the candidate is a member.

(2) The lay leader (or a key layperson) of the church where the candidate is a member.

(3) The chairperson of the Personnel Relations Commission of the church where the candidate is a member.

b. A copy of his/her high school diploma.

c. Written responses to the following:

(1) Do you believe our Confession of Faith as set forth in our Discipline?

(2) Describe your conversion experience, journey of faith, and call to ministry.

(3) What is your motive in seeking this local church license?

(4) Are you satisfied with the moral and social standards and the government of the church, and will you maintain them on all occasions?

(5) Will you submit yourself to the official counsel of your fellow Christians?

(6) Define the following terms: depravity, redemption, faith, repentance, justification, regeneration, and sanctification.

(7) Is it your purpose, if received, to remain permanently with the church?

(8) Will you pursue the course of study required for ordination in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA?

(9) Have you ever pied guilty to or been convicted of any crime?

(10) Have you ever been charged with child neglect or abuse?

(11) Has your driver's license ever been suspended or revoked?

(12) Are you abstaining from the use of beverage alcohol, illicit drugs, and tobacco?

Based on the above documents and any others the committee may require, the candidate shall be examined to determine matters of personal integrity, commitment to the Christian faith, ministerial call, relationships with others, spiritual maturity, and understanding of the doctrinal distinctives, history, and polity of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA.

3. Report to the Local Church

Following the examination, the examining committee shall report its findings to the local church and make any recommendations it deems consistent with its findings. Pending a favorable recommendation from the examining committee, the local church may choose to grant a local church license.

4. Notify the Bishop

The cluster coach shall file a report of the examination and action taken with the bishop. This report should include copies of all documentation presented to the committee.

5. Annual Renewal

This license must be renewed each year by the local church, with a notation of the action taken made on the license by the cluster coach. Renewal is subject to the following conditions:

a. An annual report must be made to the local church. This report may be made in person or in writing.

b. Progress is being made in the required course of study (see below). Should a local church minister fail to complete the equivalent of two years of academic work within any four-year period, the license shall be considered null and void.

6. Referral for National Conference License

Local conference ministers may be referred to the national conference when the following conditions have been met:

a. The local church license has been held for a minimum of 12 months.

b. They have completed the equivalent of two years of college.

c. They have completed the course in United Brethren church history.

d. They have demonstrated a level of faithfulness and competency which warrants consideration for an annual conference license.

Should a local church minister be referred and not received as an national conference minister, the previous status as a local church minister will be retained.

7. Transferring the License

When local church ministers transfer their membership from one United Brethren church to another, the license is automatically transferred once the receiving church has confirmed the transfer of membership.

8. Loss of the License

Local churches have the authority to revoke the licenses of local church ministers whose lives and ministries are inconsistent with the expectations detailed in the Discipline. Should they desire, local church ministers shall be granted an opportunity for a hearing before final action is taken. Failure to retain membership in a United Brethren church will also result in loss of license.

9. Ministers from Other Denominations

If a minister from another denomination with the equivalent of this local church license seeks to be licensed by the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, the one year membership requirement may be waived. All other requirements must be met.

10. Unorganized Churches

Candidates who are actively involved in a congregation that is recognized by the national conference but is not yet organized as a full member congregation may obtain a local church license. The examining committee in such cases shall consist of the senior pastor (if a national conference minister), the cluster coach, and at least one additional elder and one United Brethren layperson. The process for examination shall follow the same procedures as for other candidates.

Following the examination, the committee shall report its finding to the bishop, making any recommendations it deems consistent with its finding. The bishop may then issue a local conference license. This license is subject to annual renewal by the bishop until the candidate is referred for a national conference license or the congregation is officially organized.

Course of Study

All local church ministers are expected to pursue a course of study leading toward a Master of Divinity degree through an approved seminary or the equivalent to the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry degree through the Huntington University Graduate School of Christian Ministries.

Candidates who received their local church licenses at an age of 35 years or older may be permitted to meet this requirement through a Diploma of Pastoral Leadership program or a ministerial training correspondence program approved by the Pastoral Ministries Leadership Team.

Expectations of Local Church Ministers

In addition to the general expectations of all ministers and members in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, USA, local church ministers are expected to faithfully fulfill the following:

1. Annual Reporting

All local church ministers are expected to file an annual report of their activities with the local church to which they belong. When serving as a supply pastor, local church ministers will also file an annual report with the bishop and cluster coach.

2. Accountability

Since this license is granted by the local church, local church ministers are accountable to the local church of which they are members. If they are serving as a supply pastor, they are also required to participate in and be accountable to a cluster.

3. Ministerial Service

Local church ministers shall work under the direction of their senior pastors and bishop. They may be asked to supply pulpits when ministers are ill or on vacation, act as supply pastors, or do specific acts of ministry as part of the overall ministry of their local church or denomination. If they are asked to serve as a supply pastor, they must first be approved for service by the Pastoral Ministries Licensing Team. When serving as a supply pastor, local conference ministers are authorized to officiate at funerals and weddings and to administer the ordinances of baptism and communion.