Anaheim District Ministerial Training Center
Help, I’m a Newbie!!!!!
Good news, this website is designed to answer most of the questions you will have concerning the recognition of God call on your life for fulltime ministry in the Church.
THE CALL TO MINISTRY
First and most important, you need to have a sense of God’s calling to a fulltime ministry in His Church and specifically within the Church of the Nazarene. Your calling may be as a Preacher, an Evangelist, Missionary or a Chaplin; God could call you to Education, Music, Children, or Youth ministry; the area of your calling is between God and you. But regardless of the field, you have to know that God has laid this on your heart and that now you need to be equipped.
Often it is helpful to solidify your call. Our general department of Clergy Development offers you an excellent tool to help you respond to your call. There are two parts, the first explaining what a “Call” to ministry is and the second how to respond to that “Call.”
http://nazarenepastor.org/clergyeducation/default.aspx?tabid=56
OTHER IMPORTANT RESOURCES
The Candidates Guide to the Ministerial Journey, is a quick overview of the process of the Church of the Nazarene recognizing your call to fulltime ministry
http://nazarenepastor.org/clergyeducation/portals/0/text_files/guidecandidate.pdf
The Handbook for Christian Ministry, walks you through the four stages of the journey towards ordination.
http://nazarenepastor.org/clergyeducation/portals/0/resources/USAHB.pdf
Sourcebook on Ordination is a very important resource that you will need to become familiar with. The Sourcebook on Ordination is the reference guideline for Church of the Nazarene, you will find very useful to the beginning stages of your journey.
You will be required to complete forms F-4 “My Call to Ministry,” F-5 “Call and Qualifications of the Minister,” F-6 “My Response to the Call and Qualification,” F-7 “Categories and Roles of Ministry,” F-8 “My Ministry Goals,” F-9 “Gifts and Graces,” and F-10 “Church Constitution and Special Rules,” from the Sourcebook. http://nazarenepastor.org/ClergyEducation/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mfodQjGaojo%3d&tabid=74&mid=500
I suggest you confirm your call, down load those forms and start on them right now before you proceed.
THE LOCAL MINISTERIAL LICENSE
So----you’ve checked out those publications, talked about what God has laid on your heart with your inner circle of spiritual confidants (maybe even your Pastor) and you feel encouraged to carry on—(You did write out your answers to Forms 1-10 in The Handbook for Christian Ministry, didn’t you?). You’ve read the material in the Candidates Guide to the Ministerial Journey and the Handbook for Christian Ministry so you are familiar with the Ordination process. What follows is an explanation of the steps you need to take to continue your journey.
Step ONE: to set up an interview with your Pastor, (bring those forms with you to your appointment) and tell him or her about God’s call on your life.
If your Pastor acknowledges God’s call on your life then together you will request a LOCAL LICENSE.
Following is all technical instructions for securing a LOCAL LICENSE,
Please note that these are guidelines for your Pastor to help you through the process.
Note To Senior Pastors: Pastors of all local churches should inform themselves of the presently accepted methods for licensing local ministers. The Sourcebook gives detailed guidance assisting you in guiding your first time applicants. http://nazarenepastor.org/ClergyEducation/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=mfodQjGaojo%3d&tabid=74&mid=500
When a person comes to you [the Senior Pastor] and informs you that he or she feels that God is calling them to full time Christian service, as soon as possible, schedule a time for an interview. As senior Pastor it is your responsibility to conduct an initial interview with this individual and direct them to complete forms F-4 “My Call to Ministry,” F-5 “Call and Qualifications of the Minister,” F-6 “My Response to the Call and Qualification,” F-7 “Categories and Roles of Ministry,” F-8 “My Ministry Goals,” F-9 “Gifts and Graces,” and F-10 “Church Constitution and Special Rules,” in the Sourcebook.
A second interview is to be conducted after the individual completes the above mentioned forms.
REGISTERING WITH CLERGY SERVICES
After reviewing the prospective ministerial candidate’s responses, if the Senior Pastor feels that it is the correct course of action a Local Ministerial Package (U-190 NPH) must be ordered from NPH.
In the Local Ministerial Package there is an “Application for Local Minister’s License which is to be completed by the candidate and submitted to the local pastor. There is also an “Interview Guidelines for the Local Minister’s License” which outlines the types of expectations your local church board and pastor have for a Local Minister. An interview with the Local Church Board should be scheduled utilizing the “Guidelines” to determine if a Local Ministerial License is to be granted. If the Local Church Board approves the granting of a Local Ministerial License then a formal request is made of the District Secretary to secure one. Upon the approval of the District Superintendent a Local Minister’s license is issued to the local church.
The local license must be renewed annually. The Senior Pastor should present a signed certificate to the licensee, either in the presence of the Local Church Board or in a public service, with a solemn charge about respect the meaning, privilege, and responsibility of the office.
The Senior Pastor now serves as the local minister’s mentor. The duties of the mentor/advisor are to guide the candidate through the Course of Study. This provides the Senior Pastor with a great opportunity to participate in their candidates ministerial development and expand their ministry through the training of other ministers. The mentor/advisor should encourage those in his or her care and back them with prayer and understanding. There are times when the candidate will be discouraged and need that extra handshake or pat on the back.
In those situations where the licensed minister is serving as the Senior Pastor the District Superintendent or the Superintendent’s authorized representative will serve as mentor/advisor.
REGISTRATION WITH THE ANAHEIM DISTRICT
BOARD OF MINISTERIAL STUDIES
The mentor/adviser (your Pastor) will enroll the licensee with the District Board of Ministerial Studies by utilizing the “Registration Of Your Call To Ministry” form that accompanies each Sourcebook. This form is to be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the Senior Pastor.
The District Superintendent then must give official written approval for this individual to be enrolled in the Course of Study.
The Licensee should receive a letter from the District Board of Ministerial Studies acknowledging the individual is now enrolled. The DMSB letter will also request that the Licensee state the educational training path they have decided to embark on to fulfill the “Course of Study” requirements.
The local minister is required to report to the church at the annual church meeting.
Renewal of a local license is subject to the provisions of Manual 426.3; the recommendation of the pastor; and approval of the district superintendent (Manual 426.3, 129.13, 208.10).
THE COURSE OF STUDY (COS)
If you read through all that you noticed something called the Course of Study. The Course of Study is the minimal educational requirements for ministry preparation. Once you have been granted a Local Ministerial License your next big question is to decide how to pursue the Course of Study.
Your choices as part the Anaheim District Church of the Nazarene are:
a. Attend Point Loma Nazarene University (or NNU, SNU, MAU, MVNU, TNU, ENU) http://www.pointloma.edu/home.htm
b. Attend Nazarene Bible College. (NBC offers both resident and online
courses) http://www.nbc.edu/
c. Attend Nazarene Theological Seminary (for those already with a Bachelor’s Degree) http://www.nts.edu/
d. Complete the Nazarene Bible College Ministry Preparation Program (NBC
MPP) in conjunction with courses from the Anaheim District Ministerial
Training Center (ADMTC).
Any one of these institutions offers a “validated course of study,” which means once you have graduated you have meet the minimal education requirements for ordination. But option d, does not guarantee you college credit for your work.
FOR COLLEGE CREDIT or NOT FOR COLLEGE CREDIT
You are going to take 24 courses that are instructed at a collegiate level, representing 72 Hours of College Credit towards a degree. If you are attending one of our Regional universities, NTS, or NBC (either as a resident or through NBC Online) you have nothing to concern yourself with if you are interested in earning a degree. If you decide to take the NBC MPP program, you will take the exact same classes but only be awarded 1 hour credit towards a degree. Courses through the ADMTC can earn 3 Hours college credit per course but only if you explicitly follow the guidelines in the Student Academic Portfolio http://alliance.nbc.edu/includes/files/student-portfolio.pdf. So you must decide if you want your course work to count towards a degree or not.
It should be noted that the best possible educational preparation for ministry will be at one of our Regional Universities, Seminary or through residency at Nazarene Bible College. NBC’s Online and MPP and ADMTC are options for those who are providentially hindered from attending a residence program.
TRANSCRIPTS
Regardless of the educational track you chose you will be accountable to the District Board of Ministerial Studies to show evidence that you are working toward the fulfillment of your educational requirements. Once enrolled in the Course of Study you are required to successfully complete a minimum of two classes each year. You will be required to annually submit the District Board of Ministerial Studies a transcript of the course work you have completed. Transcripts are to be submitted no later that January 15th of each year. You may send your transcripts to: The Anaheim District Board of Ministerial Studies 524 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866
You should now have enough information to get started.
If you have further questions ask Rev. Rollie Miller, Chairman of Ministerial Studies or Dr. Mike Boswith Director of ADMTC (mboswith@hbcc.org).
God bless you on your journey of fulfilling God’s calling on your life.