Text of: 1247-633

The Committee recommends concurrence as amended as follows:

See last line in first paragraph. The amended phrase "who are elders" is indicated in quotation marks.

Amend 633:

Conference Board of Ordained Ministry--1. Each annual conference, at the first session following the General Conference, shall elect for a term of four years a board of ordained ministry consisting of not fewer than six ordained elders and deacons in full connection.[1 ] During the 1997-2000 quadrennium, one fifth of the members of the board, insofar as possible, shall be diaconal ministers or persons who have previously served on the board of diaconal ministry. Each annual conference shall elect at least one-fifth laypersons, which may include diaconal ministers, and may at its discretion elect further lay members, up to one third of the membership of the board. Lay members shall have a vote, except on matters prohibited by ¶31, Article II, in the Constitution. An ordained minister in retired relationship may be included as a member of the board. At least one member of the board will be engaged in extension ministry and will represent to the board all other clergy so assigned. The board membership shall include women and ethnic persons, at least one ordained clergyperson in the retired relationship, at least one ordained clergyperson in extension ministry and a district superintendent named by the bishop to represent the cabinet. Two thirds of the members "who are elders" shall be graduates of seminaries listed by the University Senate.

a. Members shall be nominated by the presiding bishop after consultation with the chairperson of the board, the executive committee, or a committee elected by the board of the previous quadrennium, and with the cabinet. To ensure adequate board membership, consultation shall include an evaluation of the workload of the board in meeting disciplinary and annual conference responsibilities. Vacancies shall be filled by the bishop after consultation with the chairperson of the board. An elected board member may serve a maximum of three consecutive four-year terms. The chairpersons of the Orders of Deacons and of Elders shall be members of the board of ordained ministry (633.1.c) and its executive committee.

a)b.This board shall be directly amenable to the annual conference, notwithstanding its organizational relationship within any other program or administrative unit of the annual conference. At least two thirds of the members shall be graduates of seminaries listed by the University Senate. Members shall be nominated by the presiding bishop after consultation with the chairperson of the board, the executive committee, or a committee elected by the board of the previous quadrennium, and with the cabinet. To ensure adequate board membership, consultation shall include an evaluation of the workload of the board in meeting disciplinary and annual conference responsibilities. The annual conference council on finance and administration shall recommend adequate administrative funds for the board and its staff in light of its workload.

b) It is recommended that each district be represented by a member of the board. The board may invite at least one member of the cabinet to serve as a member of the board if the cabinet is not already represented in its membership. Vacancies shall be filled by the bishop after consultation with the chairperson or a committee of the board.

c) The board shall organize by electing from its membership a chairperson, registrars, and such other officers as it may deem necessary. The board shall designate its executive committee, which shall include the chairpersons of the divisions of elders, and deacons, and laity. The board shall organize in such manner as to care for its responsibilities, including the needs of certified persons, diaconal ministers, local pastors, deacons, and elders. The organization of the board shall include a committee shall continue to fulfill the governance responsibilities for diaconal ministers and those in process of becoming diaconal ministers, (1992 Book of Discipline, para. 301-317 and 734) and shall provide for including their certification, care, and continuing formation; and it shall further ensure professional certification in specialized ministry careers the areas of Christian education, evangelism, music, and youth ministry as stipulated in ¶¶301-317 and ¶734 of the 1992 Book of Discipline) and under the guidelines of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (see ¶1424). The board shall, as a part of its organization, provide for a may include in its organization a division of deacons and a division of elders.

f) The board shall select from its own membership an official representative to serve on as a member of each district committee on ordained ministry, preferably from within said district, which shall function as sub-committees of the board.

2. The duties of the annual conference board of ordained ministry shall be:

n) To provide support services for the ordained minister's career development, including personal and career counseling, continuing education,formation in servant leadership and continuing spiritual growth in Christ, assistance in preparation for retirement, and all matters pertaining to clergy morale. In providing such support, the board, in cooperation with the cabinet, shall give training and guidance to each local committee on pastor-parish relations regarding its work and role.

t) To care for the administration of professional certification established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry through (1) enlisting and recruiting clergy and laity to become certified in Christian education, music, youth, evangelism and other areas established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; (2) determining whether applicants meet the standards established by the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; (3) to recommend to the annual conference board and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry; (4) to renew or discontinue professional certification bi- annually based on a review of their ministry; and (5) to report annually to the annual conference for publication in the conference journal a

roster of all persons certified in professional careers for which they have received certification, including places of service address.

t u) To administer the portion of the Ministerial Education Fund for use by the annual conference in its programs of enlistment, basic professional educational aid, continuing formation, ethnic ministry and language training, and professional growth of ordained ministers. Priority shall be given to scholarships for seminary students preparing for ordination.

u v) To cooperate with the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and assist in: (1) the interpretation of current legislation concerning ordained ministry; (2) the interpretation and promotion of the Ministerial Education Fund; (3) the promotion and observance of Ministry Sunday; and (4) the supplying of a record of all information, recommendations, and action on each candidate for ordained ministry after each session of the annual conference; (5) the promotion and addition of standards required for certification in specialized ministry careers.

v w) To promote in the annual conference and/or jurisdictional conference a system of financial aid to ministerial students. A conference transferring a person with less than three years of active service into another conference may require reimbursement either from the person or from the receiving conference for outstanding obligations for theological education financed through conference funds.

w) To work in cooperation with the board of diaconal ministry as long as such board is organized in the conference to enhance the total ministry of the Church.

x) To approve, train, and assign mentors recommended by the cabinet (¶346).

 

 

 

 

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