Becoming a candidate for the Moravian Ministry
A candidate for the Ministry of the Moravian Church must be a Communicant member of the Church and should have a definite experience of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. The individual should not be forced into or told that the Ministry fits him or her. The individual should receive a definite CALL from God. It is this CALL and total reliance upon God that will sustain and keep the individual through all the changing scenes of life. Without the CALL, the individual has no right applying or to seek to enter the Ministry of the Moravian Church.
What is the process? A candidate must apply by letter addressed to the PEC (Provincial Elders Conference) through the Superintendent of his or her Conference. The application must be accompanied by letters of recommendation from his or her Pastor, Board of Elders and Island Conference, which show his or her standing in our Church, his or her character, his or her fitness for the work of the Ministry and his or her educational attainments. Contents of letters of recommendation concerning applicants for ministerial training should be made available to Island Conference. The candidate ought to be thoroughly examined and persons in the process should be honest and forthright. Many times when problems develop with a particular candidate or Minister, members are quick to blame the PEC for accepting such an individual for the Ministry. However, one cannot get to the PEC without passing through the channel and so responsibility or lack of it has to be shared.
Once an application has been received, the Pastor is duty bound to take the matter before the Board of Elders. It is the Board of Elders with whom the candidate is well acquainted, who gets the first opportunity to examine and scrutinize the suitability of the candidate for Ministry. The Board gets the opportunity to ask questions, to clarify issues, to point out faults and to make suggestions and recommendations with regard to the candidate. This should be done in an honest, frank and loving manner with the long time goal of Ministry in mind. Both the Board and Pastor must see this as a sacred responsibility entrusted to them and must therefore act accordingly. While the Church rejoices when a young man or young woman give themselves to the full time Ministry, one must be willing to point out flaws, Pray for and encourage the individual in a loving way.
Once there is approval from the Board of Elders, then the matter is presented to Island Conference through the Executive Board, with recommendations from both the Pastor and the Board of Elders. If the candidate is approved by the Island Conference, then the Island Conference through the Superintendent makes recommendation to the PEC. More often than not, once the matter passes the local congregation level where the candidate is well known, then the way is clear for his or her acceptance to be prepared for the Ministry of the Moravian Church.
Before the candidate is accepted for the Ministry, a health certificate and psychological evaluation from a doctor whom the PEC or the PEC’s representative in the Island recognizes or designates. The Church takes full responsibility for the training of the candidate for Ministry. The candidate is expected to show full allegiance to Jesus Christ. In addition, he or she ought to show full allegiance to the Moravian Church. Each candidate for service shall be bonded to serve the Church two (2) years for each year of education provided by the Church. After that period, the individual is free to remain or to go. Are you ready? Have you responded to the call of God on your life?
