Overview Of The Commissioned Pastor Program

Overview of the Commissioned Pastor Program – Introducing Commissioned Pastors – Application, Admission, and Assessment – Training Plan Development, Supervision, and Documentation – Commissioning

Commissioned Pastors: Defined and Described •

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Commissioned Pastors in the Reformed Church in America are individuals who have demonstrated spiritual giftedness and church leadership. Their calling and competencies have been confirmed so that they became credentialed as pastoral leaders in churches and church-related ministries. Commissioned Pastors are appointed to their positions after being ordained as Elders and demonstrating competency in the areas of – Maturity of faith and personal integrity, – Understanding of Old and New Testaments, biblical interpretation, Reformed theology, church history, – Knowledge of and adherence to the Constitution of the Reformed Church in America (the Government, the Standards, and the Liturgy), – Ability to preach, teach, and administer the sacraments, – Capability to provide organizational leadership that includes adherence to pastoral ethics and practices.

Commissioned Pastors: Training and Service •

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Commissioned Pastors are Elders who are trained, commissioned, and supervised by a classis (regional group of churches) for a specific ministry within that classis that includes the preaching of the Word and the celebration of the sacraments. Commissioned Pastors serve in positions such as worship leaders, youth pastors, church planters, ministers of congregational care, lead pastors, directors of discipleship, bivocational pastors who lead smaller churches, outreach coordinators and others. Commissioned Pastor complete a course of study that acknowledges existing competencies and enhances competencies that need strengthening.

Steps for Becoming a Commissioned Pastor – – – – –

Step One: Application Step Two: Admission and Assessment Step Three: Training Plan Development Step Four: Working the Training Plan Step Five: Commissioning

Step One: Application To begin the Commissioned Pastor process go to our web site. It includes: – Welcome letter – Application forms – Program standards – Commissioned Pastor Manual http://www.commissionedpastor.org/elgg/cpr/files/15/13/WlcmLttrCPP.doc

Step Two: Admission • An admission interview is scheduled after application documents are received • Assessment questions are discussed to provide a basis for training plan development

Step Two: Assessment Assessment Worksheet

Step Three: Training Plan Development • A training plan is developed according to: – The candidate’s qualifications and calling – Requirements stated in the Book of Church Order and Standards established by the General Synod Council – The individual candidates developmental and contextual learning needs and style – Agreement by members of the training plan meeting team – Catalog of representative learning projects

Training Plan Worksheet

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Representative Learning Projects

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TRAINING PLAN AND CONTRACT for Commissioned Pastor Candidate Robert Katinsky September 22, 2008

In recognition of Bob’s call to ministry and acceptance into the Commissioned Pastor program of the SGL, and under the authority of the Midwest Michigan Classis, we agree to this training plan, contract, and fee schedule.

Sample Training Plan – page 1

The components for Bob’s training plan are focused in general terms around the ten categories of competence that are described in the Book of Church Order (Chapter 1. The Government, Part II. The Classis, Article 14. Commissioned Pastors.) These are 1) maturity of faith, 2) personal integrity, 3) understanding of the Old and New Testaments and biblical interpretation, 4) Reformed theology, 5) church history, 6) knowledge of and adherence to the Constitution of the Reformed Church in America (the Government, the Standards, and the Liturgy), 7) nature and administration of the sacraments, 8) ability to preach, 9) capability to minister within the church, and 10) understanding of and adherence to pastoral ethics and practices. The approach taken to the documentation of competencies in this training plan is to identify processes for achieving competencies in areas recommended by the training plan team and to suggest ways to document the achieving of these needed competencies. Candidate Background Robert Katinsyy is a member of Woodtree Reformed Church (Eagle) where he has served as a Deacon (1995), Elder (2005), and in many other ministry areas including small group leader, adult Sunday School teacher, Ministry leader, and member of the Worship Ministry Design team. His current occupation is that of a social worker. His wife is a teacher. Bob summarizes his call to becoming a Commissioned Pastor in stating, “God led me to it. I know it is what he wants for me; therefore, I’m motivated to obey. I love challenges and I can see how being a Commissioned Pastor will equip me to answer the call.” His pastor, Thomas Wagoneer, commented, “In many ways Bob already functions as a pastor. He has been a spiritual mentor in my own life as he supports and encourages me and also challenges me with grace. For a long time I have sensed a peculiar call on Bob’s life.” Training Plan Process The training plan process may be characterized as a guided study approach that makes use of a variety of learning experiences such as individual study, distance learning, coaching, and ministry participation. As components of the training plan are completed, representative evidences (artifacts) and summary papers will be posted in e-folders that correspond to the ten areas of competency for Commissioned Pastors. These make up the candidate’s e-portfolio which is located at www.commissionedpastor.org. Upon satisfactory completion of training plan requirements (as evidenced in the e-portfolio), the candidate’s mentor and the Commissioned Pastor Coordinator write letters of recommendation to the Classis that attest to the achievement of competencies and readiness for commissioning. The commissioning is to meet the specific ministry need at Woodtree Church in the area of Discipleship.

Sample Training Plan – page 2

Step Four: Working the Training Plan As learning projects are completed, evidences of competency are uploaded to the candidate’s eportfolio to demonstrate the completion of each project and achieving competency. Folders are created by candidates in their e-portfolios in order to provide verifiable documentation. http://www.commissionedpastor.org/elgg/bdb/files/1

Applicant and candidate progress is tracked online.

http://docs.google.com/a/commissionedpastor.org/#folders/folder.0.7acc3165-3eb5-442c-9afa-02f65

Step Five: Commissioning • Upon successful completion of the training plan including – Posting of documents that give evidence of achieving competencies – Examination by one’s Classis – Recommendation by the candidate’s mentor and the Commissioned Pastor Coordinator

• The candidate is commissioned to a specific ministry under the authority of the Classis and serves under the supervision of the Classis

For More Information About The Commissioned Pastor Program Contact: Burt Braunius, Commissioned Pastor Coordinator – Cell phone: 616-745-6482 – Email: [email protected] Contact Alison Deboer, Commissioned Pastor Administration – Office phone: 616-698-7071 – Email: [email protected]