Page 3 - Set Apart Ministry 2017

STEPS IN THE CALLING OF PERSONS INTO THE

SET-APART MINISTRY

The District Ministry Commission desires to assist local congregations in identifying
individuals who demonstrate a particular calling of God upon their lives. In order to fulfill
its mission in an orderly, consistent, and God-honoring manner the District Ministry
Commission has outlined the following sequence of events so congregations and
candidates will understand the process of becoming a Discerner and then moving into a
Licensed and eventually into a Commissioned or Ordained ministry status.

1. Each congregation should constantly be alert to those of its members who
demonstrate a high level of spiritual maturity and who give evidence of particular
giftedness and usefulness to the ministry of the local church. Such individuals may
be good candidates for the set-apart ministry.
2. The congregation will submit the name of a person to the District Ministry
Commission (DMC) to be interviewed as a potential Discerner.
3. The candidate will complete the Discerner Interview Guide and return it to the
District Office.
4. DMC will interview the candidate. If approved, the candidate will become a
Discerner and enter into the discernment process.
5. The Discerner will put together a Calling Cohort with a DMC appointed Mentor.
6. The Discerner and Cohort will meet at least 4 times during the year following the
guidelines provided by the DMC.
7. The Discerner and Mentor will meet at least 4 times during the year following the
guidelines provided by the DMC.
8. Near the end of the discernment year the Discerner will fill out the Pre-Licensing
Interview Guide and submit it to the DMC.
9. Near the end of the discernment year the Discerner will fill out a Covenant of
Accountability which will outline the Discerner’s future educational goals and
activity in the life of the church.
10. Near the end of the discernment year the Discerner will complete criminal and child
abuse background checks.
11. Upon completion of the discernment year the DMC will interview the Discerner as a
candidate for Licensing. If approved a recommendation from the DMC will be
made to the congregation.
12. Upon the recommendation from the DMC, the congregation will vote to approve
the Discerner as a Licensed Minister.
13. A Licensing Service will be held in the congregation in cooperation with the DMC.
14. The Licensed minister will participate in the Readiness for Ministry testing as
directed by the DMC. The cost for the Readiness for Ministry testing will be shared
by the DMC, the Licensed minister’s congregation and the Licensed minister on
the following schedule: DMC pays 40%, the Congregation pays 40%, and the
Discerner pays 20%. This testing will be completed as soon as possible after
licensing.

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