PASTORAL MINISTRY HANDBOOK | CHAPTER 14
Questions Asked of Candidates for Ordination
In their answers, candidates shall include Scripture references and personal examples.
¶161 Section 1: Commitment to the Christian Faith and Call to Ministry
1. Outcome: Ministers should be able to clearly and confidently articulate their journey of faith and offer a convincing testimony of God’s current activity and direction. Because the United Brethren Church believes strongly in a ministerial call, ministers should further be able to clearly articulate their reasons for seeking a ministerial license.
2. Questions:
a. Describe your conversion experience and journey of faith.
b. Describe your call to ministry, including your reason for desiring ordination and your future plans regarding ministry.
c. Describe the spiritual walks of your spouse and children. How have they demonstrated support for your call to ministry?
¶162 Section 2: Theology
1. Outcome: Ministers should be able to articulate the uniqueness (in polity and history) of the United Brethren Church.
2. Questions:
We believe that the issues contained in our Confession of Faith are the fundamental issues of Christian orthodoxy which are consistent across theological perspectives in the evangelical church. Thus, for each section of the Confession of Faith, the candidate should be asked the following questions:
a. Do you agree with this position of the United Brethren Church?
b. From your own biblical and theological perspective, how would you defend this position?
c. Summary question (to be asked at the conclusion of the review of the Confession of Faith): How will you respond to those whose theological positions may differ from yours in any of these areas?
¶163 Section 3: Membership, Family, and Social Standards
1. Outcome: Ministers should be able to articulate the uniqueness (in polity and history) of the United Brethren Church.
2. Questions:
For each of the membership, family, and social standards of the United Brethren Church (Discipline, chapters 4-6), the candidate should be asked the following questions:
a. Do you agree with this position of the United Brethren Church?
b. From a biblical and theological perspective, how would you defend this position?
c. Will you support, teach, and model the position of the church in your ministry?
¶164 Section 4: Spiritual Maturity
1. Outcome: Scripture teaches that the responsibilities of the ministry are not to be entrusted to those whose faith is still new. Thus, ministers should be able to demonstrate spiritual maturity.
2. Questions:
a. Describe your personal practice with regard to the spiritual disciplines.
b. What are your spiritual gifts, and how do you see them being used in your ministry?
c. Demonstrate proficiency with a plan of salvation, and identify individuals with whom you have intentionally shared your faith.
¶165 Section 5: Relationships with Others
1. Outcome: Because effective ministry is relational in nature, ministers must have a history of healthy relationships with people, including those of the opposite sex.
2. Questions:
a. Describe the strengths and weaknesses of your personality.
b. Describe your leadership style.
c. Describe your conflict management style.
d. Describe how you build relationships with unbelievers.
e. Do you currently have broken relationships with any other individual, and what steps are you taking (or have you taken) to restore these?
¶166 Section 6: Personal Integrity
1. Outcome: Ministers are expected to be persons of the highest integrity. Their names and reputations are to generate respect and admiration from those inside and outside their congregations.
2. Questions:
a. What current debts do you have? Are you managing this debt responsibly?
b. Do you tell the truth?
c. Do you manage your time well?
d. Have you ever pled guilty to or been convicted of any crime?
e. Have you ever been charged with child neglect or abuse?
f. Has your driver’s license ever been suspended or revoked?
g. Is your use of alcohol, tobacco and drugs consistent with the standards detailed in Discipline, Chapter 6, Paragraph 143? If not, please explain.
h. What is your accountability system?
i. Describe your work ethic.
j. Are your marriage and family relationships in harmony with the teachings of Scripture as interpreted by this denomination?
