Opportunities and Obligations
Assessment Events
Many districts require those who hold or who are making their first application for a District Minister’s License also attend an assessment event. An assessment event is a gathering designed to help each ministerial candidate increase her or his self-awareness and insight for the purpose of building healthy relationships and establishing essential spiritual formation practices. Most often, spouses are included in these events that may be held on a single day or over an entire weekend.
Normally, there is some preparation required beforehand and the event itself includes times of conversation with resource personnel (such as qualified counselors) as well as sessions that instruct and inspire. These events not only equip you for life and ministry but also give your District Board of Ministry greater understanding of how to come alongside you as you continue your preparation for ordination and a lifetime of ministry.
Normally, there is some preparation required beforehand and the event itself includes times of conversation with resource personnel (such as qualified counselors) as well as sessions that instruct and inspire. These events not only equip you for life and ministry but also give your District Board of Ministry greater understanding of how to come alongside you as you continue your preparation for ordination and a lifetime of ministry.
Reporting annually
Every person who has begun the process of preparing for ministry in the Church of the Nazarene is required to report annually. Those with a Local Minister’s License are to report to their local church (529.1). However, those who hold a District Minister’s License or who are ordained are members of the clergy and must report to their district assembly each and every year. Your very first report as a district licensed minister is given to the district assembly to which you are recommended for the first renewal of your district license. You will receive a report form from the district secretary. The district secretary is responsible for collecting reports from all members of the clergy on her or his district. Failure to report could jeopardize your standing as a member of the clergy (Manual 530.9)
Communicating with your District Board of Ministry
It is your responsibility to stay in communication with your District Board of Ministry throughout the process leading to ordination and as long as you have a ministry credential in the Church of the Nazarene (Manual 524.8). Be sure to update your District Board as soon as possible if
• You change your contact information (email, phone, home address);
• Your marital status changes;
• You accept or change an assigned ministry role (for example, if you accept a position as a part-time youth pastor).
Roles of ministry are discussed in Manual 505-519;
• You change your local church membership;
• You relocate to a new district.
If you are district licensed and move to a new district, you will want to transfer your local church membership to a Nazarene church on that district. Exceptions to this guideline may include (1) if the move is considered temporary (such as moving to attend a Nazarene university), or (2) if there is no Nazarene congregation within a reasonable distance of your new place of residence. In this case, the guidance of your district superintendent will be helpful. Be advised that you are required to update your District Board of Ministry with any change of your contact information (physical address, mailing address, phone number, email address).
When transferring your local church membership, it is very important to inform your District Board of Ministry of this change as soon as possible. If you are transferring your membership to a local church on another district, you must also request your Board of Ministry to transfer jurisdiction of your ministerial credential (your district license) to your new district. In addition, you are required to provide your contact information to your new district and to let them know you have requested the transfer of your credential.
While the credentialing process is generally the same from district to district, each district is unique in how it carries out that process. So if you move to a new district, ask about the credentialing process on the new district and inquire about important dates such as when license renewal
applications are due and when and where the annual credentialing interviews are held. Of course, you will want to establish a strong relationship with your pastor who can provide guidance and support
• You change your contact information (email, phone, home address);
• Your marital status changes;
• You accept or change an assigned ministry role (for example, if you accept a position as a part-time youth pastor).
Roles of ministry are discussed in Manual 505-519;
• You change your local church membership;
• You relocate to a new district.
If you are district licensed and move to a new district, you will want to transfer your local church membership to a Nazarene church on that district. Exceptions to this guideline may include (1) if the move is considered temporary (such as moving to attend a Nazarene university), or (2) if there is no Nazarene congregation within a reasonable distance of your new place of residence. In this case, the guidance of your district superintendent will be helpful. Be advised that you are required to update your District Board of Ministry with any change of your contact information (physical address, mailing address, phone number, email address).
When transferring your local church membership, it is very important to inform your District Board of Ministry of this change as soon as possible. If you are transferring your membership to a local church on another district, you must also request your Board of Ministry to transfer jurisdiction of your ministerial credential (your district license) to your new district. In addition, you are required to provide your contact information to your new district and to let them know you have requested the transfer of your credential.
While the credentialing process is generally the same from district to district, each district is unique in how it carries out that process. So if you move to a new district, ask about the credentialing process on the new district and inquire about important dates such as when license renewal
applications are due and when and where the annual credentialing interviews are held. Of course, you will want to establish a strong relationship with your pastor who can provide guidance and support
Ministry Experience
In addition to the educational requirements, experience in ministry is an important aspect of the credentialing process. In fact, ordination in the Church of the Nazarene requires experience in ministry that involves a specific, supervised, accountable ministry position. This ministry position
does not need to be a paid position though it must be recognized as assigned ministry. This means there must be a documentable level of assigned ministry responsibilities and accountability above and beyond lay ministry in a local congregation. The time will be evaluated based on the number of hours per week given to the ministry assignment. This time of assigned ministry can begin while you are completing the Course of Study.
To be eligible for ordination, you must have been an assigned minister on a full-time basis for not less than three years and, at the time of ordination, you must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In the case of part-time assignment, you should understand that the years of in-service time required will be extended, depending on the part-time nature of your ministry assignment (Manual 526.3).
Your district leadership can help you determine how to best connect your ministry involvement to the experience requirements for ordination. Some districts will provide a Ministry Log which can help you track your assigned ministry, but either way, you are encouraged to keep a record of your years of service in assigned ministry and to document that it qualifies as assigned ministry.
does not need to be a paid position though it must be recognized as assigned ministry. This means there must be a documentable level of assigned ministry responsibilities and accountability above and beyond lay ministry in a local congregation. The time will be evaluated based on the number of hours per week given to the ministry assignment. This time of assigned ministry can begin while you are completing the Course of Study.
To be eligible for ordination, you must have been an assigned minister on a full-time basis for not less than three years and, at the time of ordination, you must currently be serving in an assigned ministry. In the case of part-time assignment, you should understand that the years of in-service time required will be extended, depending on the part-time nature of your ministry assignment (Manual 526.3).
Your district leadership can help you determine how to best connect your ministry involvement to the experience requirements for ordination. Some districts will provide a Ministry Log which can help you track your assigned ministry, but either way, you are encouraged to keep a record of your years of service in assigned ministry and to document that it qualifies as assigned ministry.
Mentoring
Once you are in a ministry position and tracking your experience requirements, you will need mentoring and accountability as you learn the practical aspects of ministry. If your district does not appoint a spiritual/pastoral mentor or mentoring committee for you, you should seek one on your own. It would be best if you could acquire a group of three persons who would meet with you at least once every three months, and at least one of whom would make phone contact with you at least twice monthly. It would be most helpful for you if at least one of the persons was a member of the District Board who would understand the issues of development and formation under consideration at this stage of your ministry preparation.
You should discuss with your mentor or mentoring committee issues of spirituality, spiritual development, transitioning from the idealism of education to the realism of ministry practice, establishing and pursuing a program of lifelong learning, and other matters related to your formation as a minister of the gospel. One arena of development that almost always is overlooked is that of developing a personal financial stewardship plan. This not only involves practicing the habit of tithing but also creating a plan to address any consumer or educational debt as well as take responsible action in planning for retirement.
Learn all you can from conversation with your mentor or mentoring committee during this stage of your development as a minister. Invite the members of your mentoring committee to visit you unannounced at the church where you are serving, during both service and non-service times. Develop a covenantal foundation for feedback, accountability, and evaluation with them. They can be your best advocates in becoming the minister God has called you to be.
You should discuss with your mentor or mentoring committee issues of spirituality, spiritual development, transitioning from the idealism of education to the realism of ministry practice, establishing and pursuing a program of lifelong learning, and other matters related to your formation as a minister of the gospel. One arena of development that almost always is overlooked is that of developing a personal financial stewardship plan. This not only involves practicing the habit of tithing but also creating a plan to address any consumer or educational debt as well as take responsible action in planning for retirement.
Learn all you can from conversation with your mentor or mentoring committee during this stage of your development as a minister. Invite the members of your mentoring committee to visit you unannounced at the church where you are serving, during both service and non-service times. Develop a covenantal foundation for feedback, accountability, and evaluation with them. They can be your best advocates in becoming the minister God has called you to be.