Standards of Ministry, Process and Polity of the Church

The Ordered Ministry of the Clergy Support Memorial Church shall consist of Appointed or Ordained Ministers.

The order of Ministry shall be open to both men and women.

The unit of organization for the Clergy Support Memorial Church shall be the Pastoral Charge, Mission, Outreach Ministry, or an Appointed Lay Chaplain.

Each minister serving in one of these four units of organization shall qualify and be nominated to the respective Provincial authorities to receive permission to solemnize marriage in their province of residence and service. This will be at the discretion of the Chief Governing Official.

1) A Pastoral Charge:  means one or more Congregations constituted by the Church into a pastoral unit according to the polity of the Clergy Support Memorial Church.

2) A Mission:  means one (1) or more groups of people meeting for worship, recognized by the National Church Board, but not fully organized or constituted as a Pastoral Charge or a Congregation by the Clergy Support Memorial Church. One example of such a mission would be House Church etc.

3) An Outreach Ministry:  means a ministry other than a Pastoral Charge or Mission, recognized it is an expression of enabling ministry and which receives financial assistance or supervision. Examples of Outreach Ministries are: Various types of Chaplaincies. Hospital chaplains, nursing home chaplains, University or Penal Institution chaplains. Outreach to various ethnic minorities, involvement in homeless shelters and various social service centers, community projects, other chaplaincies, street ministries of social justice etc.

4) Appointed Chaplain:  Notwithstanding the normal requirements for service, a well qualified lay person may be permitted on the recommendation of the Board of Governors to be appointed a Chaplain. The office of Appointed Chaplain will hold the same legal status as one Ordained . In the polity of the church Appointed or Ordained persons hold the office of clergy. This person could be functioning in a variety of Pastoral Care ministries such as assisting in the liturgical and administration ministry of a local Pastoral Charge, or be involved in an Out Reach Ministry of the Church on their own.

Ordained Minister:  A candidate shall normally enroll in and graduate from a theological school recognized by the Board of Governors of the Clergy Support Memorial Church. Education shall normally consist of Bachelor's degree in a University followed by a three (3) year program leading to a Master of Divinity degree recognized by the Clergy Support Memorial Church.

Appointed Minister- Shorter Courses - Notwithstanding the normal requirements, a well qualified candidate for the Ministry may be permitted on the recommendation of the Board of Governors to be appointed or ordained. The Church will take into account previous life and academic experiences, family and financial responsibilities, and age. (Normally but not restricted to persons thirty-five (35) years of age or older)

Admission from other Denominations:  Candidates from another Denomination applying for admission to the Order of Ministry may present their credentials to the Board of Governors through their Ministry and Personnel Committee, for their consideration. These applicants shall be examined on the statement of doctrine (faith) of the Clergy Support Memorial Church. Successful applicants shall be incardinated on a motion of the Board of Governors of the Clergy Support Memorial Church.

Interviews:  All interviews of candidates conducted by the Ministry and Personnel Committee shall determine their genuine call to Ministry, personal character, motives, academic record, doctoral beliefs, and general fitness for Ministry

Service of Welcoming.

Service of Ordination, Commissioning, and Reception

In the service to ordain, appoint, commission, or receive persons into the order of Ministry, those presenting themselves shall, after hearing the following preamble, answer the questions that follow:

"Jesus Christ came into the world to be the servant of God and all people. As servant Lord, Jesus calls his Church to the ministry of worship, witness, and reconciliation. In baptism we were received as members of his Church and at confirmation we committed ourselves to its ministry. In order that this ministry of the whole Church may be fulfilled, God has given the ordained ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care. It is the responsibility of the Church to seek, train, and set apart those whom God calls so to serve.

1.(to each Candidate) Do you believe in God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and do you commit yourself anew to God?

2.(to each Candidate being ordained) Do you believe that God is calling you to the ordained ministry of Word, Sacrament, and Pastoral Care, and do you accept this call?

(to each Candidate being commissioned or appointed ) Do you believe that God is calling you to the diaconal ministry of Education, Service, and Pastoral Care, and do you accept this call?

3.(to each Candidate) Are you willing to exercise your ministry in accordance with the Christian Scriptures, in continuity with the faith of the Church, and subject to the oversight and discipline of the Clergy Support Memorial Church?"

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