wfn.org | Local Pastors' Schools To Grow

[NewsDesk <NewsDesk@UMCOM.UMC.ORG>]

Contact: 	Joretta Purdue 				  (10-71B){182}
		Washington, D.C. (202) 546-722 	 March 25, 1998

Course of study for local pastors
will be available in Ohio in 2000

ATLANTA (UMNS) -- The United Methodist Division of Ordained Ministry has
approved development of an eighth campus for the course of study for
local pastors.
The addition of the campus will take effect in the year 2000, when a new
curriculum for the schools will be put into use. The decision was made
by the division's voting members at their March 16-20 meeting here. The
division is part of the Board of Higher Education and Ministry.
	The campus of Methodist Theological School in Ohio, near
Columbus, will provide the facility for the eighth campus at least
initially. Resources will be drawn from nearby United Theological School
in Dayton as well.
Local pastors are licensed annually by the bishop to perform the
pastoral duties in a particular church or circuit, including sacraments
and marriages. A local pastor may be full time, part time or student.
The United Methodist schools for local pastors, which offer a required
course of study, have expanded from six only 20 years ago to a
soon-to-be 17. The eight regional courses of study are for full-time and
part-time pastors. The nine extension locations are for part-time
pastors only.
Division members also finalized plans for "Exploration '98," a
convocation on ministry that will be held in the fall. Such events in
the past have been vehicles for recruiting people for the ordained
ministry. However, for the first time, this year's convocation will
recruit people to become deacons, elders and chaplains. 
Also in the fall, the division will sponsor a gathering of deacons and
diaconal ministers. "In Celebration and Anticipation" will be Oct. 22-25
in Houston.
In other business, the division:

*	decided that its clergywomen retention study -- which is now
available from the board -- will need follow-up action.
		*	discussed seeking ways to do an across-the-board
study of clergy retention of both genders -- a need highlighted in the
clergywomen study.
		*	planned to collect data on how the orders of
deacons and elders are convened at annual conferences. The division
plans to provide resource materials for those meetings.
		*	heard a report on the preparation of two
resources on mentoring ministry "probationers" -- people who are working
toward ordination -- and local pastors. One is a guide for the
administration of the program at the annual conference level. The other
is a workbook for the mentor and the person being mentored to use
together.
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