Page 13 - Set Apart Ministry 2017

CALLING COHORT GUIDELINES

An important element in the process of calling individuals to the set-apart ministry is the
Calling Cohort. The Calling Cohort is defined in the Ministerial Leadership Polity paper
adopted by Annual Conference in 2014. (Ministerial Leadership Polity, 2014, pgs. 15-
16.)

1. The Calling Cohort
The discerner and the congregation, in consultation with the District Ministry
Commission select the Calling Cohort.

Guidelines for the Calling Cohort
Will include:
 An ordained mentor appointed by the District Ministry Commission
Encouraged to include:
 A congregational companion: a member and representative of the
discerner’s home congregation
 A district companion: a representative of the discerner’s district, in addition
to the ordained mentor
May also include:
 A spiritual friend
 A trusted peer
 A teacher or professor

This Calling Cohort, named by the individual discerner and the congregation in
consultation with the district, will remain intact throughout the calling, training, and
discernment process. The responsibility of convening the group rests with the
individual discerner. The individual discerner shall schedule the cohort to meet as
often and as many times as needed for discernment of call, but the group shall
gather together no fewer than 4 times prior to a calling interview. If a member of the
Calling Cohort is unable for any reason to remain an active participant, it shall be up
to the individual discerner in consultation with the Calling Cohort to decide whether
to replace the individual and if so, by whom. The cohort continues meeting up until
the time of credentialing, and beyond, should they so choose. A Calling Cohort may
meet in person or via conference call, videoconference or some other means of
gathering geographically diverse groups into the same space.

The particular responsibilities of the Calling Cohort are: (Ministerial Leadership Polity,
2014, pg. 17.)

d. The Calling Cohort:
 Serves as a spiritual companion to the discerner through the times of calling
and ministry training;
 Meets at least 4 times during the calling process for Bible study, prayer,
theological reflection, and discernment;
 Continues in communication with congregational leadership;

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