Journey Phase 3 · Declared Candidate

S/PPRC Candidacy Approval and Recommendation

The conference's letter to your church leadership, the S/PPRC interview guide, and the Candidacy Approval and Recommendation form. On-screen fill comes later.

Dear Church Leadership,

_____________________________ is requesting an interview with the S/PPRC because they are seeking certification for licensed or ordained ministry in the United Methodist Church. The District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) needs your perceptions of this person and his/her fitness for ministry.

By nature of our baptism, we are all called into ministry. We are incorporated into the Body of Christ, where we are to utilize our God given gifts and talents for the furtherance of the Gospel and God’s kingdom. It is within the community of faith that persons are identified as having gifts for set apart ministry to lead and provide spiritual nurture to the Body of Christ and be bridge builders between the Church and the world.

A call to set apart ministry involves a discernment process in which a person not only senses a call from God but is also affirmed in that call by the Body of Christ. You, as leadership within the church, are an important part of calling forth and recommending persons for licensed or ordained ministry.

Please have the Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee or other specified committee interview the candidate in regard to their call to ministry and provide your recommendations in written form after proper deliberation. Approval of the candidate must be by two-thirds written ballot.

Prior to the interview you should receive the following from the candidate and provide copies for your interview team:

Letter of Recommendation from the Senior Pastor
Written Statement of Call
Ministry Involvement Statement
Reflection on Wesley's Historic questions outlined in The Book of Discipline ¶310.1d;
Written agreement to highest ideals as outlined in The Book of Discipline ¶304 and ¶310.2d

Please use the attached Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (or Equivalent Body) Candidacy Approval and Recommendation Form to guide your interview and to provide written answers to questions used in determining your recommendations. This form may also be downloaded at www.riotexas.org/candidacy-summit. If you choose to recommend this person, you or the Senior Pastor will present their recommendation during the Charge Conference and provide this completed form to the Presiding Elder to turn into the District contact person.

Thank you, again, for your investment and diligence in calling forth gifted and graced future leaders for our Church and for the Kingdom of God.

In Christ,

Rev. Adrienne Zermeno Vocational Discernment Coordinator Rio Texas Conference Board of Ordained Ministry azermeno@riotx.org (512) 566-2570

Details on S/PPRC Interview

The person is requesting certification as a candidate for licensed or ordained ministry in The United Methodist Church. The District Committee on Ordained Ministry (DCOM) needs your perceptions of this person and his/her fitness for ministry.

Please note:

A candidate for ministry must be a professing member of the United Methodist Church or UM Campus ministry/setting for at least a year prior to beginning the candidacy process.
The candidate must have graduated from high school or received equivalency
Date of S/PPRC approval must be within one (1) year prior to the date of the District Committee on Ordained Ministry Interview for Certification as a Candidate
If you choose to recommend this person, the S/PPRC Chair or Senior Pastor will present this recommendation to a Charge Conference.
Copies of the completed and signed form including answers to the questions on the back side of the form should be given to the candidate to turn into the District Committee on Ordained Ministry.

Use the following questions to guide your conversation:

Give a brief description of your call to ministry.
What is your understanding of ordained or licensed ministry?
What are your beliefs as a Christian? How do you understand God’s work in your life and in the life of the church?
What do you believe are your gifts for ministry?
How have you exhibited these gifts in this congregation?
What are your plans in terms of next steps towards fulfilling your call?
How can we be of support to you as you continue this journey?

Your recommendation will be based on your confidence in affirming Wesley’s Historic Questions found in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church ¶310.1d in regard to the person being interviewed. These questions reflect the long tradition of examination of those who would be called as ordained persons in the Church.

Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire nothing but God? Are they holy in all manner of conversation?
Have they gifts, as well as evidence of God’s grace, for the work? Have they a clear, sound understanding; a right judgment in the things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly?
Have they fruit? Have any been truly convinced of sin and converted to God, and are believers edified by their service?

Each year this person is a certified candidate within the United Methodist Church your congregation should submit a copy of Church Support for Candidacy Form 117 to the District Superintendent / District Committee on Ministry.

Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (or Equivalent Body) Candidacy Approval and Recommendation

Part l Candidate Information (Filled out by the Candidate)

Candidate Name: ________________________

Email address: ________________________

District: ______________ Church Name: ______________________

I request the approval and recommendation of the Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (or equivalent body) to the Charge Conference (or equivalent) for certification as a candidate for:

_____ Order of Deacons _____ Order of Elders _____ License as Local Pastor

Signature of Candidate Date

Part II: Approval of and Recommendation

The members of the Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee (or the equivalent body __________________) interviewed candidate on date: _________.

The candidate has been a member of this local church (or United Methodist ministry) for _____ years, and a member of The United Methodist Church for _____ years.

We have interviewed this candidate in light of Wesley's historic found in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church ¶310.1d. Since these marks occur in them, we believe they are called of God to serve through the United Methodist Church. These we receive as sufficient proof that they are moved by the Holy Spirit.

We recommend this Candidate to the charge conference as one who has the potential for ministry in the United Methodist Church.
We cannot at this time recommend this Candidate for ministry.

The church pledges to support this candidate both financially/spiritually throughout this process in the following ways: ____________________________

Signature of Pastor Signature of Chairperson

Please include summary of interview as outlined on the back of this page.

Your recommendation will be based on your confidence in affirming Wesley's Historic Questions found in the 2020/2024 Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church ¶310.1d in regard to the person being interviewed. These questions reflect the long tradition of examination of those who would be called as ordained persons in the Church.

Do they know God as a pardoning God? Have they the love of God abiding in them? Do they desire nothing but God? Are they holy in all manner of conversation?
Have they gifts, as well as evidence of God's grace, for the work? Have they a clear, sound understanding; a right judgment in the things of God; a just conception of salvation by faith? Do they speak justly, readily, clearly?
Have they fruit? Have any been truly convinced of sin and converted to God, and are believers edified by their service?

In light of those questions please provide written answers to the following questions. You may use space provided or attach additional pages. Please include the candidate's name on any additional pages you may use.

Is this a person trust-worthy, honest and of good character?
Does the candidate have a grasp of their general beliefs of God, Jesus, the Spirit and the Church?
Describe the evidence which the committee has seen that this person has experienced God's grace and has the love of God abiding in them?
Describe the gifts and abilities which this person will bring to ordained or licensed ministry.
Describe the areas in which this person has given leadership in the ministry of the United Methodist Church and/or in other settings and the fruit that has come from their ministry.
What are the candidate's plans for the future (school, type of ministry, etc.)