Provisional Membership Goals & Strategies Board of Ordained Ministry Quadrennial Training, 2016

Theology & Practice Integration Goals Methods Integrating theology & academics with practice Building partnership, trust, support, & accountability among clergy Building collaborative ministry relationships among deacons, elders, local pastors, lay Covenant Groups Mentoring Theological Reflection on Ordination Covenantal Relationship of the Order Fruitfulness Project The Provisional Membership period is a time for continued education and development in the context of appointed ministry and for provisional members to prepare to demonstrate to the BOM their fruitfulness in ministry. The Discipline requires a residency curriculum for deacons & elders with these aims: integrating theology and academic learnings with the practice of ministry Building clergy relationships of partnership, trust, support, accountability Building collaborative ministry relationships among deacons, elders, LPs   And these methods: Covenant Groups (they have an actual covenant); Mentoring (process guidance); Theological reflection on ordination; Clarifying and committing to the covenantal relationship of the order The Fruitfulness Project is required of provisional members. Resources can be found at bomlibrary.org. Covenant groups have covenants. What are the components of your covenant group covenants? How does the residency curriculum set up the expectation for continuation of use of covenant groups, mentoring, covenant renewal, and theological reflection on ordination into the future? (Need good order chairs to facilitate this in full membership.)  Mentoring is process guidance. It can be done in groups. What do mentors need to know? (group leadership, the process, the ministries of pastors and deacons; ABLC & EM). How do you train mentors? How do you provide continuing development for mentor leadership? (improve their skills) Covenantal Relationship of the Order. (draw on paras. 306-308) Theological Reflection on Ordination. [Draw on para. 303 and the ordinal.]

Form Leaders Who . . . Make Disciples Who Transform the World Lead into the Future Shape Conference Ministry Strategy into the Future Are Always Learning & Growing Form Leaders Who . . . Purpose of Provisional Curriculum: Continuing Formation of Deacons & Elders Preparing Leaders Who Make Disciples for the Transformation of the World Preparing Leaders who lead into the future Preparing leaders who shape the conference’s ministry strategy into the future practical knowledge Develop habits of always learning, growing, stretching knowledge and abilities   Things to consider: Does the conference have clarity about how it should be in ministry in the future? Is your provisional curriculum looking at future projections for the world in which your conference will be living? Demographics? Technology? Culture? Economics? Environment? Fear of anyone seen as an “other?” Intercultural competency? Other? Is your provisional curriculum teaching members how to lead strategic planning? (For ministry sites, for conference leadership) Do you invite your BOM chair to do a presentation on their expectation for licensed and ordained leaders; that is, what they are looking for in appointed leaders. Do you invite the bishop to present on what she or he perceives to be the skills and gifts needed in appointed leaders into the future?

Training in Practice Managerial Spiritual Self Renewal Working with Volunteers Budgeting Staff oversight Physical Plant Conflict Spiritual Faith formation leadership Worship leadership Special rites Compassion and justice Self Renewal Sabbath Daily spiritual maintenance Regular spiritual retreats Hobbies, interests Nuts and Bolts training For Leaders Leaders of existing churches, of new church starts, specialized ministers, elders in extension ministry, deacons appointed beyond the local church can all use training in: Working with volunteers Forming & Sending Disciples Disciplines in their own growth as a disciple United Methodist Worship leadership Budgeting, overseeing staff, strategic planning What experts do you bring in to lead these? How do you provide resources for future reference? How does your BOM develop a culture of self-care, humility, and continuing development as disciples and as leaders?

Don’t forget . . . Required of deacons and elders, regardless of appointment site Times, locations, frequency Intentional interaction Enhance understanding of the orders (new question for ordination) Introduces the provisional member to order life Don’t Forgets: Required of all members—deacons, elders, local pastors, deacons appointed beyond local church, elders in extension ministry Times, locations, frequency should accommodate the various ways our provisional members are in ministry Intentionally include all, interaction with all Enhance understanding of the orders (new question for ordination) Introduce the provisional member to order life (BOMS should encourage their order chairs to develop robust order life; see paras. 305-308)

How to find help Rev. Victoria Rebeck Director of Provisional Member Development BOM Library (bomlibrary.org): Provisional Membership link (last in the column) BOM Handbook, Chapter 14 vrebeck@gbhem.org; (615) 340-7371 BOD paragraphs 324-327