Eastern Regional Association
Advent Christian General Conference
APPLICATION FOR ORDINATION
Instructions
1. Please read the entire
application carefully before attempting to fill in the data requested.
2. This entire application may
be submitted by e-mail or CD if desired.
Please use Microsoft Word format.
3. When completed, send the
material to the:
Eastern Regional Association
Commission on Christian Ministry
PO Box 1913
Rochester, NH 03866-1913
ERACET@aol.com
Section 1, General Information
1. Name in full
________________________________________________________________
2. Address
___________________________________________________________________
Street City
State Zip
3. Date and Place of Birth
_______________________________________________________
4. Check all appropriate
spaces: Male________ Female ________
single______
married ______ divorced
______ remarried ______ widower ______
5. Full maiden name of spouse
___________________________________________________
6. Name and Ages of Children
____________________________________________________
7. Citizenship
_____________________________ Native Language _____________________
8. Date and mode of baptism,
and by whom? ________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
9. Evaluate your language
skills:
below average ______ average ______ above average ______ excellent ______
10. Name and address of church
of which you are a member. ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
11. Name and address of church
which you currently attend (if different from above). _________
___________________________________________________________________________
12. Have you ever been, or are
you presently, under the care of a ministerial committee or licensing body as a candidate for the
ministry? ________
If yes, give name, address, and brief explanation of
circumstances. _____________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
13. Do you hold ordination
credentials in any other denomination or organization? ________
If yes, give name and address of ordaining body.
___________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Give name and address of issuing body of your most recent credential (if
different). _______
___________________________________________________________________________
14. Have you ever been refused
ordination, or have ordination credentials which you have been issued, ever
been suspended, revoked, or recalled by any Conference, Church Agency, or
Denomination? ________
If yes, by whom (name and address), when, and for what reason?
______________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
15. Are you engaged in preaching
or other ministerial work at the present time? ________
If yes, what is the nature of your work and how may hours per week are you
so engaged? ___
___________________________________________________________________________
16. Are you engaged in any
secular work? _______
If yes, what work and how many hours per week?
__________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
17. Do you have any large
indebtedness or serious financial problems? ________
If yes, explain. ______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Describe your plan for liquidating such
indebtedness. _______________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
18. Have you faithfully managed
any indebtedness and maintained a good credit rating for the last five years?
________
If no, explain.
_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
19. Do you believe that you have
faithfully managed your household and family responsibilities? Explain.
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
20. Give names and addresses of
six references (note: please do not use relatives for references):
a. Your present or most recent pastor:
____________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b. Elder or deacon of the church in which you hold
membership or regularly attend: _______
___________________________________________________________________________
c. A faculty member acquainted with you and your
work: ____________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
d. A respected citizen of the community in which you
live (not a member of your church): __
___________________________________________________________________________
e. Your most recent employer:
__________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
f. A mature Christian friend: ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Section 2, EDUCATION
1. Last
school grade completed __________
Name and address of school
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________ Date of Graduation:
____________
Course of study taken:
________________________________________________________
2. College.
Give information for each institution.
a. Name and address:
_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b. Name and address: _________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
c. Name and address:
_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Seminary
or other graduate studies. Give information for each institution.
a. Name and address:
_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
b. Name and address:
_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
c. Name and address:
_________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Years attended: from ________ to
________
Degree conferred
____________________________________________________________
Major field of study (or list
courses completed) ____________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
4. Please
list below other educational achievements such as home study, correspondence
school, evening school, research work, etc. that you have completed and not
included above. Give names and addresses
of schools, dates, courses completed, and/or degrees conferred.
Note: Transcripts of academic records may be requested.
Section 3, EXPERIENCE
Please use supplemental sheets of paper as needed to
describe in some detail the exact nature of your experience and/or service in
each of the three areas outlined below.
Please use the numberings and headings indicated below. When completed attach to the general
information pages.
1. Conversion
experience and call to the ministry.
2. Christian
service.
Examples: Sunday School work,
Youth work, Conference work, Campmeeting work, Pastoral work, etc.
Please list inclusive dates,
where service was done, position and degree of responsibility, and the name and
address of supervisor or other person familiar with your work. List all pertinent Christian service
experiences which you have had within the last five years.
3. Secular
experience.
Please list and give pertinent
information about such experiences as secular employment, membership in
professional societies or clubs, civic activities, extra curricular activities
in high school or college, military experience, travel, or other significant
experiences or interests.
Section 4, SELF ASSESSMENT
The purpose of this section is to help you assess your
spiritual competencies and interests so as to provide a basic understanding of
how you perceive your giftedness and calling.
Please identify up to 10 qualities which you believe
best describe your person and ministry even though you may identify with
more. An item not marked is not an
indication of weakness.
Place an “X” beside each of your choices.
____ am an
effective preacher/speaker ____
am an effective administrator
____ am
effective in planning and ____
am committed to personal spiritual
leading worship growth
and theological understanding
____ am an enabler/edifier ____
am a good listener
____ am a self starter ____ have a passion for Missions
____ am an effective counselor ____ deal effectively with conflict
____ have a clear understanding of what ____
am genuinely accepting of people
God is calling me to do
with my with different backgrounds and/or
life ethnicities
____ understand the plan of salvation ____ am genuinely accepting of other
and regularly share with
un- believers
who may have different
believers theological
positions
____ am an effective leader ____
believe everyone in the Body has a
____ assertive ministry
and work to help them
____ passive discover
their ministry gift and use
____
team oriented it
for the glory of God and the good of
the Body.
____ am a prayer warrior
____ _____________________________ ____
______________________________
I am most comfortable with the following age groups:
(Check as many as apply.)
____
children ____ youth ____ young adults ____ middle adults ____ seniors
____ people
of my own age group ____ people of all
age groups
What do you believe is God’s call on your life for
ministry?
My personality is best described as: (check as many as apply)
____ people person ____ steady (unfazed by problems) ____ inspires confidence
____ compassionate and
caring, sensitive to others needs ____
subject to mood swings;
____ reserved ____other:
_______________________________________
Which of the
following spiritual gifts characterize your life and ministry?
____
Prophecy ____
Knowledge ____ Service
____
Healing ____
Teaching ____
Discernment
____
Hospitality ____
Deliverance ____ Helps
____ Mercy ____ Administration ____ Evangelism
____
Tongues ____
Pastor/Teacher ____ Faith
____Wisdom ____ Interpretation
of Tongues
Do you believe any of the above are “sign” gifts of
the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If so,
which ones?
What do you believe are the essential
beliefs/experiences that unite believers in the Body of Christ?
How did you come to know the Lord and how would you
describe you spiritual journey to this point?
Why is ordination important to you at this time?
Describe your personal devotional life.
Personal
Evaluation
Using the scale given below, and as honestly and objectively
as you can, rate yourself on the following characteristics:
1
= usually or frequently 2 =
sometimes 3 = never
________ reputable ________
quarrelsome
________ humble ________
addicted to stimulants
________ hospitable or
depressants
________ sensible ________
sensitive to needs of others
________ irreproachable ________
anxious
________ avaricious ________
easily hurt
________ sympathetic ________
irritable
________ impatient ________
responsible
________ healthy ________
easygoing
________ domineering ________
stubborn
________ gentle ________
kind
________ jealous ________
prideful
________ punctual ________
negative attitude
________ critical ________
ambitious
________ sense of humor ________
easily embittered
________ prejudiced ________
impractical
________ self-confident ________
resentful
________ impulsive ________
respectful
________ indulgent ________
faithful
________ moody ________
good leader
________ conscientious ________
good money manager
________ selfish ________
effective home manager
________ depressed ________
introvert
________ nervous ________
extrovert
________ gossipy ________
uses alcoholic beverages
________ excitable ________
uses tobacco
________ rebellious ________
rebounds from failure
________ self-controlled ________
responds well to criticism
________ easily angered ________
vacillates on decisions
________ gluttonous
Section 5, ORDINATION EXAM
Instructions
The
Bible and Ministry evaluation has been arranged in three sections.
Section
One:
Section One is a closed book evaluation of general
Bible knowledge. “Closed book” means a
person is expected to complete this section by answering the questions from
memory. If you do not know the answer,
please look it up and write the answer in a different color ink or otherwise
indicate you researched the question.
This section includes one word or one line answers,
multiple choice, matching, and true or false questions. In the match boxes, the person matches up the
item in the left column with the correct match in the right column.
Section
Two:
Section two consists of a series of questions on
general Bible knowledge as well as some with a theological orientation. These questions call for an essay of a few
paragraphs or more in most situations.
The questions are listed here, but space is not provided for responses
on these sheets since the length of the response will vary from person to
person. Please use additional paper for
your responses, making certain to number the responses consistent with the
question number.
In answering these questions, a person may use the
Bible or any other resource that would be helpful.
Section
Three:
Section three consists of a series of generic case
studies to which a response is to be given.
Each response should be as extensive as necessary, in order to
adequately reflect a working knowledge of each situation described.
Important:
When you have completed the evaluation, please
return it with the other parts of this form to the:
Eastern Regional Association
PO Box 1913
Rochester, NH 03866-1913
SECTION ONE:
General Bible
Questions
Please attempt to answer these questions from
memory. You should write your answers
beneath each question in the space provided.
If you do not know the
answer, please look it up and write the answer
in a different color ink or
otherwise indicate you researched the question.
SECTION ONE
General Bible Questions
1. How many books are there in
the Bible? How many are in each of the
two testaments?
2. How many Psalms are there in
the Book of Psalms and who is credited with having written most of them?
3. What are the major
categories of literature in the Old Testament and how many books are there in
each category?
4. Which of the four gospels
has the strongest Jewish flavor?
5. Name the authors of the
following quotations.
“I know that my Redeemer liveth…”
“As for me and my
house…”
“Here am I, send me.”
“You meant evil against me, but God meant it for
good.”
6. Which Bible character
challenged the prophets of Baal to a memorable contest on Mt. Carmel and which
book of the Bible records the story?
7. Abraham fathered a son by
his house maiden and named him__________________.
8. Name the foreign queen who
led the northern tribes of Israel into Baal worship.
9.
The man who wrestled with an angel was:
a. Jacob b. Joshua c. David d. Daniel
10. Abraham was
called by God from the city of:
a. Babylon b. Goshen c. Ur d. Nazareth
11. The man
whose donkey spoke prophecy was:
a. Noah b. Balaam c. Balak d. Solomon
12. The man who
was “taken by God” not having died was:
a. Jethro b. Moses c. Enoch d. David
13. Nehemiah
was able to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem in:
a. 52 days b. 100 days c. 490 days d. 1,000
days
14. Ezra led
some Israelites back to Israel to help rebuild the:
a. city b. temple c. palace d. religious shrines
15. The section
in the Hebrew Bible called the twelve is in the English Bible called:
a. History b. Poetry c. Pentateuch d.
Minor Prophets
16. The
Israelites spent most of 38 years around the Southern Palestinian oasis named:
a. Bethel b. March c. Nebo d.
Kadesh-barnea
17. To avoid
meaninglessness “remember and serve God” is the message of:
a. Psalms b. Job c. Daniel d.
Ecclesiastes
18. Which
servant of God was sent on a preaching mission he did not like and ended up
having to be thrown overboard?
a. Noah b. Elijah c. Jonah d. Jehu
19. Jeremiah
predicted that Judah would be a captive of Babylon for how many years?
a. 490 b. 3 1/2 c. 70 d. 1260
20. Which
prophet saw a valley of dry bones come to life?
a. Daniel b. Isaiah c. Jeremiah d.
Ezekiel
21. The first
five books of the Bible were written by Moses and are called books of:
a. wisdom b. blessings c. law d.
beginnings
22. Who
wrote the most books in the New Testament?
23. What book contains letters
to seven churches?
24. What Jewish feast was being
celebrated at the time of our Lord’s crucifixion?
25. Where do we find the “love”
chapter of the Bible?
26. Which chapter of which book
is often referred to as “God’s Hall of Faith” chapter?
27. Paul took how many
missionary journeys?
28. To whom did Jesus say, “and
on this rock I will build my church?”
29. Which book and chapter
begins with “no condemnation” and ends with “no separation”?
30. Which book of the New
Testament describes the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost?
31. Which disciple preached at
Pentecost?
32. Where in the Bible do you
find the “Great Commission”?
33. To whom did Jesus say, “You
must be born again”?
34. Where in the Bible do you
find the Sermon on the Mount?
Matching
37. Name the authors of the
following quotations in the New Testament?
“Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have
give I thee, in the name of Jesus, stand up and walk.”
“I am the way, the truth and the life.”
“So faith by itself, if it has no works is dead.”
“Therefore, if any man is in Christ he is a new
creation.”
“Get behind me, Satan.”
“I found also an altar with this inscription, to an
unknown god.”
“Almost you persuade me to be a Christian.”
“When you find him, bring me word again that I may
come and worship him also.”
“I am going away to prepare a place for you.”
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the
race, I have kept the faith.”
38. The Book of Esther tells the
story of Mordecai, whom God used to save his people from great
persecution. What was the name of the
man who was hung on the gallows he had built to hang Mordecai?
39. The angel Gabriel makes
three dramatic appearances in the Bible all linked to the coming Messiah. Name two of these appearances.
______________________________
______________________________
40. Who said of Jesus at the
time of His crucifixion, “Surely this was a righteous man”?
41. Which one of the judges of
Israel, after testing God’s power and presence with him, was told by God to
reduce the size of his army to 300 men so that all would know the victory came
from God and not from men?
42. Which disciples were
considered members of Jesus’ inner circle?
_______________ _______________ ________________
43. Armageddon is:
a. the name of a former king of Israel
b. one of the books of the apocrapha
c. the scene of a projected final conflict
44. Which Old Testament
character heard God call Him by name on at least 3 occasions while he slept?
45. Which twin of the Old
Testament is said to have been born clutching his brother’s heal?
46. Who were the “sons of
thunder”?
47. Which Old Testament queen is
considered to be an icon for worldliness and excessive evil?
48. Which Old Testament prophet
was know as the “weeping prophet”?
49. Name two Bible characters
who Satan is said to have asked God permission to test or sift as wheat.
50. Which Bible character was
sold for 20 pieces of silver?
51. What was the first of Jesus’
miracles recorded in scripture and what did it illustrate?
52. Which Bible character is
said to have lived longest?
53. Name the commander of the
Syrian army who was healed of leprosy after dipping 7 times in the Jordan river
as instructed by Elisha.
54. Which follower of Christ,
who was appointed a deacon in the book of Acts, later became an evangelist,
leading a foreigner to faith in Christ by explaining the book of the prophet
Isaiah?
55. Name the three parables
Jesus told in Luke 15 that illustrate what happens when a person becomes a
Christian.
56. What is the name of the
Bible character who hid two Israelite spies and was later saved when she tied a
scarlet cord in her window?
57. The mother who asked Jesus
to give her sons prominent places in the kingdom of heaven was:
a. Mary b.
Salome c. Arma d. Dorcas
58. Where did the angel tell
Joseph to flee with Baby Jesus and Mary after the visit of the wise men?
59. At the outset of Jesus’
ministry He was tempted 3 times by the devil?
What was the essence of the temptations?
1.____________________________________________
2.____________________________________________
3.____________________________________________
60. What great prayer promise
did Jesus give His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount?
61. What was the occupation of
Matthew when Jesus called him to be His disciple?
62. When Jesus told the
Pharisees who demanded a miraculous sign from Him, that no sign would be given
except the sign of the prophet Jonah, what was He prophesying?
63. Which of Jesus’ disciples
tried walking on the water?
64. Which of Jesus’ disciples is
said to have kept the “money bag”?
65. What is the name of the
place where Jesus retreated with His disciples for prayer after the “last
supper”?
66. How many of the 12 disciples
deserted Him and fled after He was arrested in the garden?
67. What action did Judas take
when he found out that Christ had been condemned to die?
68. How many different sayings
are attributed to Christ while hanging on the cross?
69. What is the name of the man
who had become a disciple of Jesus who went to the effort of having Jesus
buried in his own tomb?
70. What act of humility did
Jesus perform for His disciples on the occasion of the “last supper”?
71. Who comforted Mary when she
wept beside the tomb of Jesus on the day of His resurrection?
72. What is the name of the
disciple who was absent when Jesus first appeared to all His disciples
following the resurrection?
73. What is the name of the man
who replaced Judas as one of the 12?
74. What action did the church
take to get Peter released from prison?
75. What were the Bereans noted
for?
76. What was the theme of Jesus’
high priestly prayer recorded in John 17?
77. What part of a person’s
anatomy is likened to a great forest fire in respect to the harm it can cause?
Matching
Ephesus tolerating
of Jezebel
Syrma lukewarm
Pergamun teach
false doctrine
Theyatira lost
its first love
Sardis of
the synagogue of Satan
Philadelphia dead
Laodecia weak
but have kept Christ’s word
78. The woman at the well to
whom Jesus talked in John 4 was of which people group?
a. Edomite b. Jew c.
Samaritan d. Nazarene
79. Of whom is the following
spoken?
“You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to
carry out your father’s desire. He was a
murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in
him. When he lies, he speaks his native
language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” – John 8:44, NIV
80. Which disciples were present
with Christ on the Mount of Transfiguration?
81. Which
Biblical character spoke these words about the baby Jesus and what was the
occasion?
“Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast
prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles and the
glory of thy people Israel.”
82. The Biblical character
Solomon was noted for his:
a. strength b. musical ability c.
wisdom d. military genius
83. Who baptized Jesus and
where?
84. What kept the rich young
ruler who came to Jesus inquiring about eternal life, from following Jesus?
85. What was the name of the man
who climbed into a tree to see Jesus when He passed by?
86. What was the name of the man
to whom Jesus said, “you must be born again.”?
87. What synonym for death did
Jesus use when speaking of the death of Lazarus?
88. Which disciple’s name meant,
“the Lord is gracious”?
89. What Old Testament character
who had an unusual donkey is described in the New Testament as a turncoat and a
bad influence?
90. What was the name of the
political terrorist who Pilot released to the crowd on the occasion of Jesus’
crucifixion?
91. What was the name of the
blind man Jesus healed on the Jericho road?
92. What is the name of the city
where followers of Christ were first called Christians?
93. Of which Old Testament
character is it said; “and as for these four youths, God gave them knowledge
and intelligence in every branch of literature and wisdom; _________ even understood
all kinds of visions and dreams.”?
94. Which Bible characters name
means “beloved”?
95. Which Old Testament prophet
records this messianic statement? “For a
child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will
rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or the peace, on
the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with
justice and righteousness from then on the forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish
this.”
96. What was the name of the
prophet who confronted David about the sin in his life?
97. Which prophet of the Old
Testament raised a young boy to life after he prayed and laid his body over
that of the dead boy?
98. Which dead prophet’s body
imparted life to a corpse that was inadvertently thrown into his grave, just by
coming in contact with his body?
99. Who sold his birthright to
his brother in return for bread and lentil soup?
100.
Who uttered these words in one of the Old Testament’s most dramatic
stories? “If I perish, I perish.”
101.
Which Bible character was known for his unshakeable trust in God
through a series of adverse personal setbacks including the loss of his wife
and family?
a. Noah b.
Job c. Elijah d. Abraham
102.
Which Bible character is said to have been betrayed by his speech?
103.
Which Bible character’s name means “son of
encouragement”?
104.
Which two Bible characters brought back a faith report after being sent
on a spy mission to the Promised Land?
105.
What was the name of Moses’ brother who proved to be a valuable
assistant in Moses’ ministry?
106.
Abednego was:
a. a servant of Saul who
made guest beds for visiting dignitaries
b. a chariot driver for Jehu
c. one of three Hebrew
captives in Babylon who defied the king.
107.
Of whom was it said: “indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will
greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which
is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. And in your seed all the nations of the earth
shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”?
108.
Name the enemy nation that challenged Israel by confronting them with
Goliath.
109.
What was the name of the man who with his wife lied to the Holy Spirit
and was struck dead by God?
110.
Which of the Lord’s disciples was among the first to believe in Him by
telling his brother, “we have found the messiah.”?
111.
What gift did Apollos display when he was in Ephesus with Priscilla and
Aquilla and what concern did they raise?
True or False
T - F The torah was the hymnbook of the
Israelites.
T - F Ruth was the great grandmother of
King David.
T - F Joseph’s life was spared when he
was found in a basket in the water by Pharaoh’s daughter.
T - F Othniel was one of the 12 tribes
of Israel.
T - F Enoch did not experience death
having been translated
T - F Peter was once dragged out of the
city and left for dead.
T - F Satan told Jesus to turn the
stones into bread if He was really the Son of God.
T - F Eschatology is the study of
creation versus evolution
T - F The man who was healed by Jesus at
the pool of Bethesda suffered from demonic oppression.
T - F Only two of the lepers Jesus
healed returned to thank Him.
SECTION TWO
General Bible
Theological Questions
You may use whatever resources you need to answer
these questions.
Please use separate paper to
provide an essay type answer since space is not provided with each question for
your responses.
Be sure to number your responses to correspond to
the number of the question.
SECTION TWO
Theological/Essay Questions
Please
answer the following questions in essay style.
1. List as many of the
attributes of God as you can using Bible references.
2. Based on your knowledge of
the Bible how would you define the term, “trinity”? Please use Bible references where
appropriate.
3. Who is the King who had a
frightening dream of a metallic image?
Describe the image. Who
interpreted it for the King and what was the meaning given to it?
4. Name the servant of God who
was thrown into a den of lions and explain why.
5. List as many names of Jesus
used in scripture as you can recall.
Which one speaks most to you about His person? (try to do this from
memory)
6. What is meant by the term,
“incarnation”?
7. How would you answer a
person who asked, “what must I do to be saved?”
Give an outline of the plan of salvation.
8. What is your favorite verse
of scripture and why?
9. When we speak of the Bible as
being inerrant, what do we mean?
10. Why did God move Adam out of
the Garden of Eden following his sin?
11. What did Jesus mean when He
said, “Except a man be born again, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”?
12. What happens to a person
when he dies according to scripture?
Please support your position with references.
13. What did Jesus mean in
Matthew 24 when He said, “as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be in the
coming of the Son of Man.”?
14. List three typologies the
Bible uses for the Holy Spirit and comment on them. (try to do this from
memory)
15. How would you understand the
parable of the 10 virgins recorded in Matthew 25:1-13?
16. Jesus made several
statements when He declared “I am __________”.
List three of these great “I am’s” and explain what they mean to you.
17. How does the birth of Jesus
relate to God’s original purpose of forming a people who would live in
fellowship with Him in His kingdom paradise, forever?
18. What did Jesus mean when He
said to the Jewish leaders of His day, “before Abraham was born, I am.”? John 8:58
19. What meaning would you give
to the parable of the vine and branches recorded in John 15?
20. From your understanding of
scripture what does it mean to be baptized by immersion?
21. According to 1 Corinthians
15, why is resurrection so important?
22. Why is I John 1:9 important
to you?
23. In seeking to understand the
full meaning of a text of scripture, what resources other than the Bible would
be most helpful? Using these tools,
please write a paragraph or so on the following text of scripture: John 1:1-14
24. How does the fruit of the
Spirit (Galatians 5:22) differ from the Gifts of the Spirit (I Corinthians
12-14)?
25. Choose any 5 books of the
Bible (not more than 3 from any 1 testament) and write all you can about that
book from your general understanding including time book was written, author,
circumstances addressed in the book, people to whom written, message of the
book, etc. (try to do this from memory)
26. Explain the Biblical
doctrine of the church and the significance of the following: church
membership; church government (what do you believe is the Biblical model?);
church sacraments; church discipline.
27. What is your understanding
of the biblical teaching concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and
related developments?
28. What is your understanding
of Pastoral Ministry?
29. Please describe your
personal devotional practice.
30. Do you subscribe to the
Declaration of Principles of the Advent Christian Denomination (see appendix
form #5)? ________ Yes ________ No If no, please explain:
31. Have you read the pastoral
code of ethics and will you abide by these understandings as the Lord enables
you (see p. 21)?
SECTION THREE
CASE STUDIES
Three generic case studies are presented dealing
with different aspects of ministry.
Respond to each case as fully as you can describing
how you understand the problem and what steps you might take to address it.
Case Study #1 – Purpose of the Church
You are the pastor of a church located in a small
New England town of about 28,000 people.
The town is typical in that it has an adequate economic base, good
schools, and services.
There are 15 churches in this town including 4 Roman
Catholic, 1 Jewish Temple, 1 Church of Latter Day Saints, and 1 Kingdom Hall of
Jehovah’s Witnesses. The remaining
churches are protestant. The church you
pastor has 85 members with an average attendance on Sunday morning of 61. There is no Sunday evening service, 2
Children’s Sunday School classes, a sparsely attended mid-week Bible study, and
a small youth group. Leadership seems to
be lacking in that few people offer to help with any ministry. Five years ago, under the previous pastor,
the church was doing well with an attendance of 150 and also had several
dynamic ministries going.
Due to a personal problem, the pastor resigned and
over the next six months the church lost many of its constituents. An interim pastor ministered here for 2 years
before you arrived and seemed content to maintain the situation. People appear to have grown comfortable with
just meeting for worship and going through the motions.
As the new pastor of this church, how would you
approach the situation in light of what you believe is God’s purpose for the
Church?
Case
Study #2 – Counseling Model
You are the pastor of a small church and you are the
only paid staff member. Consequently,
all administrative and ministry responsibilities fall to you including
counseling.
A woman in her mid 30’s comes to you obviously upset
about things in her life, but is not a committed Christian. Her friend, who is a member of your church,
told her she needed to see a minister.
As she tells her story, you discover she has been
married twice, has 3 children, 2 by the first husband and 1 by the second. She is living with another man now who does
not like her children and is physically and verbally abusive to her at
times. She feels trapped because if she
leaves this man, who has supported her well, she fears he could become violent
and would also cut off support leaving her in an impossible situation.
Her situation is further complicated by the fact
that she admits to having had problems with alcohol in the past, but tries to
convince you that she has it under control.
As a minister of the gospel, what would be your
approach to counseling this person?
Case
Study #3 – Conflict Resolution in the Church
You are the pastor of a moderately strong church
with an average attendance of 125 on Sunday morning, 73 on Sunday evening, a
strong Sunday School program and a dynamic youth group. You have on your staff a part time youth
pastor who also is the worship leader.
He is seen as an up and coming leader with a great deal of personal
charisma. At times you wonder if he has
a different agenda, maybe even to build a following that could eventually
divide the church. You have been the
pastor here for 5 years during which time some growth has occurred, but it has
been a real struggle.
The congregation seems supportive of your ministry,
but your Leadership Board is always questioning what you are doing and
why. They make every decision a test of
power. They seem more interested in
making sure you understand who is in control.
The treasurer is fairly articulate and the
leadership looks to him for advice about funding certain programs you propose. He always presents a partial picture so that
people think the financial situation is worse than it is. It is obvious that he operates from a
position of power and control.
This conflict among the leadership and yourself has
a negative effect on everything else.
For instance, the president of the woman’s group, who just happens to be
the wife of the treasurer, scheduled a huge yard sale at the church on a
Saturday when you agreed to marry a young couple in a small ceremony at the
church. She never checked with you about
whether the date she selected was clear or not and now when you tell her you
have a conflict with a wedding you agreed to, she is in an uproar and demands
you be terminated. The whole church is talking about it.
Furthermore, you have just learned that a deacon in
the church has been accused of child molestation. When you talked to your diaconate about it
and asked for direction and support in applying spiritual discipline people got
angry with you because they did not think the church should get involved. This is a matter for the courts they
insisted.
Your ministry is creating a great deal of
frustration for you because of the attitudes of people often leading to open
conflict.
What are you going to do to help resolve this
matter?
APPENDIX
1. Form
for Church Evaluation of Candidate (to be filled out by elder or diaconate)
2. Form
for use with References
3. Agreement
for use with non-credentialed pastor
4. Regional
Commission on Christian Ministry
5. Advent
Christian Declaration of Principles
6. Role
of Conference Ministerial Committee in Regional Credential Process
7. Standard
Form for Ordination Council Action
CHURCH EVALUATION OF CANDIDATE FOR
ORDINATION
This form should be filled out by elders, deacons or
Pastoral Relations Committee of church, by checking any appropriate spaces
below. Please add any written comments
that will help us determine the readiness of the candidate.
Leadership
________ Makes no effort to lead
________ Tries, but lacks
confidence
________ Has leadership promise
________ Has good leadership
ability
Teamwork
________ Frequently causes
friction
________ Sometimes insists on
having own way
________ Tends to manipulate
others
________ Usually cooperative
________ Works very well with
others
Achievement
________ Usually does only what
is assigned
________ Often starts, but does
not finish
________ Generally follows
through to completion
________ Usually completes task
within reasonable time
________ Often shows resourceful
and creative characteristics
Responsiveness
________ Slow to sense how others
feel
________ Reasonably responsive to
the needs and feelings of others
________ Understanding,
thoughtful, and kind
Financial Responsibility
________ Demonstrates
materialistic attitude
________ Demonstrates poor money
management
________ Practices regular and
systematic giving to the Lord’s work
________ Manages well – lives
within income
Physical Condition
________ Frequently ill or
incapacitated
________ Fairly healthy
________ Generally healthy
________ Rugged and vigorous
________ Observes good eating,
sleeping and work/exercise habits
Attractiveness
________ Careless dress habits
________ Generally dresses neatly
________ Dresses extravagantly or
ostentatiously
________ Shows evidence of good
taste
________ Always neat and
appropriately dressed
Intelligence
________ Learns and thinks slowly
________ Average mental ability
________ Alert – has a good mind
– shows unusual common sense
________ Exceptionally alert – a
logical , clear thinker
Emotional stability
________ Overly emotional – tends
to extremes
________ Erratic – moody
________ Seldom shows emotion
________ Responds in
conventional, approved ways
________ Spontaneously expresses
appropriate feelings
Response to trying problems
________ Often withdraws
________ Becomes easily depressed
________ Often waits for others
to act
________ Sometimes gives way to
anger
________ Usually accepts
patiently
________ Meets constructively
Potential as pastor-teacher
________ Poor – endorsement
withheld
________ Fair – some prospect of
effective ministry
________ Good – should do well as
a pastor-teacher
________ Excellent – should make
an exceptionally fine pastor-teacher
Written Comments:
This form was filled out by:
________________________________________ Date: _________
Reference Form
Your name has been given to us by
__________________________________ as a reference. Please kindly share with us your
understanding of his preparedness for Christian ministry by filling out this
form. If you need extra space, please
use the back of this sheet or separate paper.
1. Please
share with us your observations of this candidate’s Christian character.
2. Do
you believe this person has the necessary gifts and qualifications for
Christian ministry and if so, why?
3. Do
you recommend he be ordained to the Christian ministry? Please comment.
Please fill out the following description of this person
as you know him to be.
1= usually or frequently 2
= sometimes 3 = never to the
best of your knowledge
________ reputable ________
hospitable ________
sensitive to others needs
________ easily hurt ________
sympathetic ________
responsible
________ domineering ________
stubborn ________ negative
attitude
________ sense of humor ________
self-confident ________ respectful
________ moody ________
faithful ________ good
leader
________ nervous ________
rebellious ________
responds well to criticism
________ self-controlled ________
gluttonous ________
vacillates on decisions
________ impulsive ________
quarrelsome ________ punctual
Name________________________________________
Date_______________
Pastoral Service Agreement
For use with
Non-Credentialed
Persons Serving Advent Christian Churches
Recognizing that the call of God for Christian Ministry
rests on different people with diverse theological understandings, and that
said call may lead one to pastor among a group of believers with whom he is not
totally compatible theologically, the following agreement is intended to
provide a basic understanding as to how that ministry may best be carried out
in an Advent Christian Church.
I agree that:
I will attempt to fulfill my
call to Christian Ministry to the best of my ability, exercising the gifts God
has given me while caring for those He has placed under my spiritual oversight;
Furthermore, I covenant and
agree to faithfully preach and teach the Word of God as He gives me
understanding while respecting the teachings of the Advent Christian
Church. I understand it is my
responsibility to inform new members of these teachings or at least have
someone qualified to instruct them as part of their preparation for church
membership;
I agree to not consciously
teach or preach against these doctrines believing that a purpose of my ministry
is to help believers become more mature in their Christlikeness and better
equipped to mount a united witness for Christ in a lost and dying world;
Also, I agree to encourage
those under my spiritual watchcare to be supportive of their own denominational
interests and ministries recognizing that my purpose is to advance the Kingdom
of God as represented by this Church;
In keeping with this
spirit, I agree to support the work of the Advent Christian Church so far as
possible by attending regular meetings of the Conference, Region and General
Conference, encouraging the participation of the membership of the Church and
otherwise cooperating with its programs and activities;
Furthermore, as a Minister of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ, I covenant to conduct myself in a manner consistent
with the highest standards of that office and in every way possible to bring
honor and glory to Jesus Christ, our Lord.
___________________________________________________ ________________
Name
Date
CET 5/9697
Commission on Christian
Ministry
The Regional Commission on Christian Ministry shall serve
as a Regional Ministerial Committee whose primary function shall be to deal
with issues of character, qualifications, ministerial ethics, and discipline of
Ordained and Commissioned Ministers as may be brought before it.
The Commission shall serve as a court of
appeal for any credentialed worker who has failed to find satisfactory
resolution of an issue related to his ministerial standing on the local
Conference level.
The Regional Commission on Christian
ministry may also serve as a resource group for the Regional Superintendent in
respect to pastoral placement and care.
The Commission on Christian Ministry shall be made
up of Ordained ministers as well as the Regional Superintendent who shall
convene and chair meetings of the Commission as a non-voting member. Appointment to the Commission shall be made
by the Regional Board of Directors on an annual basis at the recommendation of
the Superintendent. Chairpersons
appointed to Ordination and Commissioning Councils shall normally be members of
the Commission representing the Conference in which the candidate resides.
Declaration of
Principles
of Advent
Christian General Conference
I.
We believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God, being in its
entirety a revelation given to man under Divine inspiration and providence;
that its historic statements are correct, and that it is the only Divine and
infallible standard of faith and practice (Romans 15:4; 2 Timothy 3:15,16; John
17:17).
II. We believe, as revealed in
the Bible –
A. In one God, our Father,
eternal, and infinite in His wisdom, love and power, the Creator of all things,
“In whom we live and move, and have our being” (Genesis 1:1; Isaiah 40:28;
Matthew 6:6)
B. And in Jesus Christ, our
Lord, the only begotten Son of God conceived of the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary; who came into our world to seek and to save that which was lost;
who died for our sins, who was raised bodily from the dead for our
justification; who ascended into heaven as our High Priest and Mediator, and
who will come again in the end of this age, to judge the living and the dead,
and to reign forever and ever (1 Timothy 3:16).
C. And in the Holy Spirit, the
Comforter, sent from God to convince the world of sin, of righteousness and of
judgment, whereby we are sanctified and sealed unto the day of redemption (John
14:16, 26; 16:7-11; Ephesians 1:13).
III. We believe that man was
created for immortality, but that through sin he forfeited his Divine
birthright; that because of sin, death entered into the world, and passed upon
all men; and that only through faith in Jesus Christ, the divinely ordained
Life-giver, can men become “partakers of the divine nature,” and live forever
(2 Timothy 1:10; Romans 2:7; 1 Corinthians 15:22, 51-54).
IV. We believe that death is a
condition of unconsciousness to all persons, righteous and wicked; a condition
which will remain unchanged until the resurrection of Christ’s second coming,
at which time the righteous will receive everlasting life while the wicked will
be “punished with everlasting destruction”; suffering complete extinction of
being (Ecclesiastes 9:5; Job 14:14; John 5:28,29; Matthew 10:28).
V. We believe that salvation is
free to all those who, in this life and in this age, accept it on the
conditions imposed, which conditions are simple and inflexible; namely, turning
from sin, repentance toward God, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and a life of
consecration to the service of God; thus excluding all hope of a future
probation, or of universal salvation (John 3:16; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Luke
13:25-28).
VI. We believe that Jesus
Christ, according to His promise, will come again to this earth, even “in like
manner” as he went into heaven personally, visibly and gloriously - to reign
here forever; and that this coming is the hope of the Church, inasmuch as upon
that coming depend the resurrection and the reward of the righteous, the
abolition of sin and its consequences, and the renewal of the earth now marred
by sin - to become the eternal home of the redeemed, after which event the
earth will be forever free from sin and death (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians
4:16,17; Revelation 22:12,20).
VII. We believe that Bible
prophecy has indicted the approximate time of Christ’s return; and comparing
its testimony with the signs of our times, we are confident that He is near,
“even at the doors,” and we believe that the great duty of the hour is the
proclamation of this soon coming redemption, the defense of Bible authority,
inspiration and truth, and the salvation of lost men (2 Peter 1:19-21; Matthew
24:42-45; Revelation 22:17).
VIII.We believe the Church of
Christ is an institution of Divine origin, which includes all true Christians
of whatever name but that local church organizations should be independent of
outside control, congregational in government, and subject to no dictation of
priest, bishop or pope; although true fellowship and unity of action should
exist between all such organizations (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 5:25; Ephesians
4:15).
IX. We believe that the only
ordinances of the Church of Christ are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper; immersion
being the only true baptism (Matthew 28:19; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians
11:23-26).
X. We believe that the first
day of the week, as the day set apart by the early Church in commemoration of
Christ’s resurrection, should be observed as the Christian Sabbath, and used as
a day of rest and religious worship (Psalms 118:22-24; Luke 24:1-12; 1
Corinthians 16:2).
XI. We Believe that war is
contrary to the spirit and teachings of our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ; that
it is contrary to the spirit of true brotherhood; and that our influence should
be used against it. We believe the Bible
also teaches that properly constituted government is ordained of God and is a
divine instrument for man’s welfare and protection. When an Advent Christian decides on the basis
of Scripture and conscience, either to bear arms or to submit to penalties
imposed for his refusal to do so, local Advent Christian congregations should
extend continued fellowship and nurture.
Role of Conference Ministerial Committee
in Regional Credential Program
In cases where a participating Conference has an active
Ministerial Committee of at least 3 ordained ministers the following provisions
are made for the involvement of said committee in the credentialing
process. A Conference Ministerial
Committee may defer any or all of the steps outlined below to the Regional
Commission on Christian Ministry or to the Regional Superintendent if it so
desires. The following activities apply
to both the Commissioned Minister Credential and the Ordained Minister
Credential.
1. Upon
receipt of a letter of recommendation from a member church of the Conference
requesting a particular candidate be considered for a credential
the Conference Ministerial Committee may be asked to interview said candidate
to assess the person’s sense of call to ministry and need for the
credential. Following the interview the
Committee shall, if so deposed, recommend in writing to the Eastern
Regional Association that the candidate be issued an application and be
processed for a specific credential.
2. Once
the completed application has been received by the Eastern Regional
Association, the Conference will be asked to appoint 2 ordained ministers (in
the case of the Commissioned Minister Credential), or 3 ordained ministers (in
the case of an Ordained Minister Credential), to sit on an examining council to
determine the candidates sense of call, Biblical understanding, and
qualification for ministerial service.
The Conference will also be
represented in most cases by the chairperson of said Council who shall be appointed
by the Eastern Regional Association from the membership of the Regional
Commission on Christian Ministry.
3. A
Conference Ministerial Committee will also be expected to interview
credentialees at all credential transition points as outlined in the Regional
Manual of Ministerial Office and Procedure as well as exercise general
oversight of credentialed ministers residing in the Conference, making
appropriate recommendations to the Eastern Regional Association for action
regarding any ministers credential.
4. The
Conference Ministerial Committee will also be advised by the Eastern Regional
Association of any charges made against a credentialed minister residing in the
Conference. Said Ministerial Committee
shall prayerfully consider the merits of any written accusation and if deemed
appropriate, proceed with an investigation of the charges. Upon completion of an investigation, any
recommendation for disciplinary action should be formally presented to the
Eastern Regional Association with supporting documentation.
Additionally, the Conference shall continue to issue the
Annual Minister’s Report Forms in triplicate and respond to any information
received as deemed appropriate. The
completed Annual Minister’s Report Form is necessary for the maintenance of
every Regional Credential except in the case of retired ministers.
Standard
Form for Ordination Council Action
If the examination of a candidate for ordination goes
well and the Ordination Council is favorable to recommending the candidate for
ordination, the following statement should be signed by all members of the
Ordination Council as this statement will be a part of the permanent record of
the candidate. If there are areas of
perceived weakness that need to be addressed by the candidate even though he
may be recommended for ordination, they should be listed with recommended
actions to be taken.
We the undersigned, upon thorough examination, both
written and oral, hereby recommend that the status of Ordained Minister with
all the privileges and responsibilities pertaining thereto be conferred on
______________________________ at a special service dedicated to that purpose
with the laying on of hands and prayer.
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ date ____________
Recommended Follow-up Actions:
If in the mind of the Ordination Council the
candidate for ordination does not meet the qualifications for ordination, the
following action should be taken.
We the undersigned, upon thorough examination, both
written and oral, agree the candidate ______________________________ does not
meet the qualifications for ordination for the following reasons stated below:
Reasons not to ordain:
Recommended
Remedial Actions:
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ ______________________________
______________________________ date ____________
