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2020AssociateMembershipCandidatesWesternNorthCarolinaConferenceBoardofOrdainedMinistry

Answerallofthefollowingquestionsthoughtfullyandcarefully.BefaithfultotheScriptures.ReviewCourseofStudyworkandreadings.ReadThe2016UnitedMethodistDisciplinethoroughly(especiallyTheMinistryoftheOrdained,¶301ffand¶¶321-323).Explainyouranswerstogivedepthtoyourthoughts,feelingsandconvictions.Theinterviewdiscernmentteamwilluseyouranswersasthestartingpointinyourconversationswiththem.

WrittenPapers:

o Yourentirewrittensubmissionwillbeonelargefile(WordorPDF)submittedelectronicallytotheChairoftheDiscernmentTeamwhichwillbeassignedinthefall(notKimIngram).Include:

o Ageneralcoverpageforallofyourworkstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateandinclude“CandidateforAssociateMember–2020.”

o Numberallyourpages-eitherconsecutivelythroughoutthedocumentoreachsectioncanbenumbered individually.Thepagecountforeachsectiondoesnotincludethecoverpageforeachsection.

o Addafooteroneachpagethatincludesyournameand“AssociateMember.”

o Createindividualcoverpagesforeachsection.Instructionsforeachsectionareincludedwithin.Include:Vocation,DisciplinedLife,Theology,Proclamation,BibleStudy,andMakingDisciplesProject.

o Abibliographywhichisnotincludedinanyofthepagecounts.

o Throughoutyourpaper,restatetheentirequestionbeforeprovidingyouranswer.

o Noquestionmaybeansweredsimply“Yes”or“No.”

o Acceptablefonttypesare12pointTimesNewRomanor12pointCambriawith1-inchmargins.

o Doublespaceallofyourwrittenworkwithexceptionofyourfootnotes.

o Footnotes(notendnotes)shouldbeinaclearstylethatclearlyprovidesyoursources.

o Candidatessubmittinglateorincompletepaperswillnotbegrantedaninterview.

Ifyouarereturningtotheboard,youshouldonlydotheassignmentsindicated inyourfollow-upletter.Ifyouhaveanyquestions,contactKimIngramorAdriBullard-RogersintheOfficeofMinisterialServices.

AssignmentsareduebyMonday,January6,2020.Youwillbenotifiedinthefalltowhomyoushouldsendyourmaterials.TheinterviewswillbeheldinGastonia,NConFeb.18-20,2020.

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AssociateMemberCandidates-2020Vocation

Forthissection,yourtotalanswersshouldbeatleast12butnomorethan15pages.Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMembership–2020–Vocation.”

1. Describeyourcallintoordainedministry.Include:ExperiencesasaChristianpriortoyourcallGod’sinfluenceandinspirationinhowyouexperiencedGod’scallInfluentialrelationshipsthatshapedyourcallPastandpresentchurchinvolvementthataffirmedyourcall

2. Describeyourstrengthsforministry.Howdoyouperceiveyourself,yourgifts,andyourcommitmenttoTheUnitedMethodistChurch?Elaborateonareasinwhichyouneedfurthermaturation.

3. HowwillourpolityaffectyourlifeasanAssociateMember?Whatdoyouanticipatetobetherisks,sacrifices,andrewardsinservingintheUnitedMethodistministryforyou?Howhasthepracticeofministryasalocalpastoraffectedyourunderstandingoftheexpectationsandobligationsoftheitinerantsystem?Doyouofferyourselfwithoutreservetobeappointedandserveasthebishopmaydetermine?

4. Changeandconflictarearealityinministry.Describeaninstancewhereyouledthroughchangeinyourministrysetting.Howdidyourespond?Howdidyoumanageanyconflictthatarose?Reflectonyourleadershipduringthisperiodofchange.Whatwereyourleadershipstrengthsandchallenges?

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AssociateMemberCandidates-2020DisciplinedLife

Forthissection,yourtotalanswersshouldbeatleast6butnomorethan8pages.Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMembership–2020–DisciplinedLife.”

1. YouarecalledtodedicateyourselftothehighestidealsoftheChristianlife.Discussyourpersonalhabitsanddisciplinestofulfillthesehighestideals.Include:

a. Physicalhealth(exercise,diet,physicalexams)b. Intellectual,emotional,andmentalhealth(reading,continuingeducation,counseling)c. Socialjusticed. Spiritualdisciplinesandmeansofgracee. Integrityinpastoralandpersonalrelationships

i. Confidentialityincounselingii. Appropriateboundariesinfamilyandworkiii. Celibacyinsinglenessandfidelityinmarriage

2. Discussyourpersonalfinancialstewardship,includingyourindebtedness,investmentsandgiving.Howhaveyoutaughtfinancialstewardshipandgenerousfinancialgivinginyourministrysetting?

3. Discusshowyouaresettinganexampleandprovidingleadershipforconnectingyourworshipingcommunitywiththeworldthroughengagingyourcongregationinservantministryinyourcommunity.

4. Describeyourunderstandingofaninclusivechurchandministry.Howdoyourelatetoandserveallpersonswithoutregardtorace,color,ethnicity,nationalorigin,socialstatus,gender,sexualorientation,age,economiccondition,ordisability?Howhaveyouinyourministry,taughtandencouragedyourcongregation/ministrysettingtobewelcomingandinclusivetoallpeople?Howwouldyoupreparethecongregation/ministrysettingtoreceiveyoursuccessorinthesameways?

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AssociateMemberCandidates-2020Theology

Forthissection,youranswersshouldbeofsufficientlengthtostateyourpositionclearlyandrepresentyourbesttheologicalthinking.Youranswersreflectyouracademicstudiesinhistoricalandsystematictheology,scripture,yourunderstandingofTheUnitedMethodistBookofDiscipline,andyourownperspectives.CarefullyreviewallsectionsofTheUnitedMethodistBookofDisciplinethatarerelatedtothesetopics.

Thelengthofthissectionshouldbenomorethan28double-spacedpagesutilizingfootnotesappropriately.Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMembership–2020–Theology.”

1. Describeyourbasictheologicalideasincluding:TheTriuneGodNatureofhumanitySinandevilTheroleofJesusChristTheactivityoftheHolySpiritGraceThemeansofgraceThesacramentsThekingdomofGod,theresurrection,andeternallife

2. HowdoyouunderstandthefollowingtraditionalevangelicaldoctrinesbasedonthewritingsofJohnWesley?

RepentanceJustificationRegenerationSanctificationMarksoftheChristianlife

3. ReflectinwritingonGod’sjusticeandloveinthepresenceofevilintheworld.

4. DiscussprimarycharacteristicsofUnitedMethodistpolityandthetheologytheyreflect.

5. DescribetheWesleyanquadrilateral.Illustratehowitmaybeusedtoaddressacurrentethicalissue/debateinyourpracticeofministry.

6. NameanddiscusstheUnitedMethodistwayofsalvation.Howhaveyouexperienceditinyourownspiritualjourney?

7. Howdoyouunderstandyourtasktoaffirm,teach,andapplyPartIIIofTheUnitedMethodistBookofDiscipline(DoctrinalStandardsandOurTheologicalTask)inyourworkasaUnitedMethodistminister?

8. Howhasthepracticeofministryinformedyourunderstandingofthenatureandmissionofthechurch?ReflecttheologicallyontheprimarychallengestodayfacingtheuniversalChurchandourUnitedMethodistChurch?Howdoyourespondtothosechallenges?

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AssociateMemberCandidates-2020

Practice

Therearemany“Practices”thatyouareexpectedtomasterasaleaderinthechurch.Youareaskedtofulfillthefollowingthreerequirements:

ProclamationBibleStudy“MakingDisciplesProject”

Followtheinstructionscarefullyandsubmityourworkforthesethreeassignmentsforevaluation.

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AssociateMemberCandidates–2020Proclamation

SubmitaSermonandWorshipService.Plan,design,lead,evaluate,andvideorecordoneentireserviceofworshipinyourministrysetting.

Forthissection,yourtotalanswersshouldbeatleast8butnomorethan10pages(notincludingyoursermon).Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMemberinFullConnection–2020–Proclamation.”The video recorded worship service will be submitted using a YouTube account. IncludethelinktotheYouTubevideoonthecoverpage. Sendtheworshipbulletinaspartoftheattachment.

• ChooseoneScripturetextasyoursermonfocusfromagivenSundaybetweenthedatesofJuly1andDecember31,2019 fromtheRevisedCommonLectionary.YoudonotneedtopreachtheselectedtextontheassignedSundaybutyoudoneedtopreachthesermonbetweenJuly1andDecember31,2019.Includeacopyofthescripturetext,notingitsdayintheRevisedCommonLectionary.

• Workwithatleastonenon-musicallaypersoninplanningandimplementingyourworshipservice.• Workwithyourchurchmusician(s)toplanthemusic.

1. Listanddescribeanytraining,courses,workshops,andpracticalexperienceyouhavehadintheareaofpreachingandworship(1/2page).

2. Describethesettingofyourservicesuchasthenatureofthecongregationandwhyyouchosetheprimarythemeaddressed(1/2page).

3. Stateandexplainthecentralemphasisofthetext.

4. Inonesentence,whatisthemessageyouseektoconveyinthissermon?

5. Plan,recordandsubmittheworshipservice(2pages).Selectand/orwritetheliturgy:readings,responses,prayers,hymns,songs.Youareencouragedtoutilizeyourcreativityandtousemulti-sensorymaterials.TheBoardofOrdainedMinistryintendstoevaluateyourworshipplanningandleadership.Itisessentialthatyouplanworshipandpreachtheservicethatyourecord.Includeacopyoftheworshiporder/bulletininthepdf.Recordtheentireworshipservice.

6. Preparea15-30minutesermontobedeliveredandvideorecordedinyourplannedworshipservice.Donotsubmitafuneraleulogyorcommunionmeditationorshorthomilyforaspecialday.Sharea‘regular’Sundaysermonandorderofworship.IncludeamanuscriptORtranscriptofyoursermon.Themanuscript/transcriptdoesnotcountinthetotalpaginationforthissection,butmustbe12pointfont,doublespaced.

7. Preach.Thereisnoonesermonmodel.Ifyoupreachfromamanuscript,includeit.Ifyoudonotuseafullmanuscript,includeatranscriptofwhatyouactuallypreached.Youmaypreachbehindthepulpit,ordownamongthepeople,withorwithoutmanuscript,aslongasitisamongalocalchurchcongregationduringaregularworshipservice.DeliverthesermoninthewaythatyounormallywouldonatypicalSunday.

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8. Aftertheservice,evaluatetheworshipservice(2pages),providingcongregationmembersawaytogivefeedback.Reflectonplanning,designing,andleadingtheservice;howthethemeandgoalsofthesermonandworshipwereorwerenotrealized;theexperienceoftheotherleadersandparticipants;andhoweffectivelyyourworshiphelpedtoshapethemembersofthecongregation.

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AssociateMemberCandidates–2020BibleStudy

TeachanoriginalBibleStudytogiveevidenceofyourtrainingtoresearchbiblicalbooksandpassagesandyourabilityasateacherofscripture.ThefocusofthestudyistheBible.Create,plan,design,lead,evaluate,andvideorecordaBibleStudyinyourministrysetting.Evidenceofexegesisisexpected.

Forthissection,yourtotalanswersshouldbeatleast8butnomorethan10pages.Aspossible,scanandincludeanyhandoutsandothermaterials.Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMemberinFullConnection–2020–BibleStudy.”IncludethelinktotheYouTubevideo onthecoverpage.

1. Listandbrieflydescribeanytraining,courses,workshops,andpracticalexperienceyouhavehadintheareaofteaching/Biblestudy(1/2page).

2. Stateyourpersonalviewoftheimportanceofteaching/Biblestudy(1/2page).

3. CreateaBiblestudythatdemonstratesyourabilitytoteach.

4. Describethesettingsuchasthenatureofthecongregationandwhyyouchosetheprimarythemeaddressed(1page).Ifthestudyispartofaseriesoflessons,describetheseries.

5. Inonesentence,whatisthemessageyouseektoconveyinthisstudy?

6. DiscussthevariousBiblestudymethodsyouconsideredandwhyyouchoseaparticularmethodinyourteaching.TheBiblestudymustessentiallybeyourownoriginalwork(1page).

7. PreparetheBiblestudytobetaughtandvideorecorded.Weencouragecreativityanduseofmulti-sensorymaterials.WorkwithatleastonelaypersoninplanningandimplementingyourBiblestudy.Includecopiesofanyhandoutsdistributed(notincludedinthenumberofpagesallowed).

8. LessonPlan.Includelessongoals,materiallist,activities,suggestedquestions,andhandouts.Ifthelessonispartofaseries,onlyincludethewrittenlessonplanthatcoincideswiththevideorecordedlesson(2pages).

9. Teach.Thereisnooneteachingmodeltofollow.Videorecordtheclass.Submit30minutesofvideoincluding5minutesatthebeginning,5minutesattheend,and20consecutiveminutesduringthestudy.Submitnotesoroutlineyouuse(notincludedinthenumberofpagesallowed).

10. AftertheBiblestudy,evaluatetheclass.Reflectonplanning,designing,andleading;howthethemeandgoalsofthestudywereorwerenotrealized;theexperienceofotherleadersandparticipants;andhoweffectivelyyourstudyhelpedtoshapethemembersofyourcongregationorministrysetting(2pages).

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AssociateMemberCandidates–2020MakingDisciplesProject

Submitaministryproject,event,orexperience,createdandledbyyouthatdemonstratesfruitfulnessincarryingoutthechurch’smission:“MakingDisciplesofJesusChristfortheTransformationoftheWorld.”Beascreativeasnecessarytodemonstrateyourministryandtheequippingofotherstofulfillourconference’sanddenomination’smissiontomakedisciples.Youmayutilizeresourcesfromanothersource,butnotanothercompletecurriculum.

Thepurposeofthisprojectistodemonstrateyourleadershipabilitytoaddresscoreissuesfacingyourcongregation,ourconference,and/orTheUnitedMethodistChurchinlightofourprimarymissionofmakingdisciplesforthetransformationoftheworld.HowdoesthisprojectmakedisciplesofJesusChristforthetransformationoftheworldinspecificwaysthatcreateabasisoffuturedisciplemaking?

Forthissection,yourtotalanswersshouldbeatleast8butnomorethan10pages.Includeanyaccompanyingmaterialsaspdfswherepossible.Createacoverpageforthissectionstatingyourname,address,contactphonenumber,emailaddress,dateand“CandidateforAssociateMemberinFullConnection– 2020–MakingDisciplesProject.”

• The“MakingDisciplesProject”mustbeimplementedbetweenthedatesofJanuary1andDecember31, 2019.

• Workwithatleastonelaypersoninplanningandimplementingthisproject.• Include,asappropriate,picturesandothersupportingdocumentationsuchasflyers,handouts,and brochures(notincludedinthenumberofpagesallowed).

1. Writeadetailedexplanationandrationaleoftheprojectthatincludesitsgenesis,scope,outline,and reflectionsabouttheproject(4-5pages).

2. Inonesentence,explainhowthisprojectseekstomakedisciplesandtransformtheworld.

3. Describethesettingofyourproject,suchasthenatureofthecongregation/participants/constituents ofyourministryandwhyyouchosetheprimarythemeaddressed(1page).

4. Conducttheproject. Whatwerethemeasurableresults?

5. Writeafinalevaluationoftheproject(2-3pages).Reflectontheeffectivenessoftheministryproject withtheleadershipandtheparticipants,includingwhatwentwellandwhatyouwoulddodifferently. Reflectinwritingonhowthisprojecthelpedtoshapethediscipleshipandministryofthechurch, explainingwhatyouwoulddonext.