From the Pen of Rev Steve
Recent copies of the minister's letters from Rev Steve.
These are reproduced from the monthly Newsletter.
March 2025: In short I would question whether I would get through minister testing today.
As some of you may be aware, as a Methodist minister, there are various roles that we have to fulfil. In addition to being the minister at Sidmouth Methodist church, there are five other congregations that I stand alongside. Within the circuit I serve on the Mission and Ministry sub committee guiding the circuit meeting on policy choices, and I also chair the support/management meeting of the Pioneer minister in Tedburn St Mary. Each of which are rewarding responsibilities but they do take up a portion of my time. At a District level I supervise a number of people who are involved in ministry, and use trained techniques to help them reflect on aspects of their own ministry both good, and also challenging. Finally since September I serve as the District Probationers Secretary, and so support any new ministers coming into the area.
This last responsibility is very much on my mind as tomorrow I have one of the key committees discerning what level of support the current probationary minister needs. It is a responsibility which I take seriously convening the group of twelve who will help understand their skills, but also their areas for development. I take it seriously because the sections covered in the “conversation” tomorrow are huge and we have to evidence some level of skill in each area. In short I would question whether I or many of my colleagues would get through if tested today. I list the 9 sections of competences that ministers need to fulfil today.
In short the process is not there for them to feel like they are an imposter, but should be affirming, recognising all their abilities and how far they have grown. The conclusion of this process is the ordination service, which a significant part of is when the congregation proclaims, “you are worthy”. It becomes a powerful statement at the end of a very long testing process. It doesn’t mean they are perfect, it doesn’t mean that every competence will always be right, but that the church has tested your calling and you are ready to be a representative for the church.
You may not want to know all this detail, but I believe it is important to know something of the workings of the church, and the diligence we take in making significant decisions. Once the formal conversation comes to an end tomorrow, we will pray with the individual that we see, for them as an individual, and for the ministry that they are involved in. I invite you to pray for those involved in the process, and for anyone involved in ministry as each strives to follow in the footsteps of our Lord.
Blessings to you all,
Steve
This last responsibility is very much on my mind as tomorrow I have one of the key committees discerning what level of support the current probationary minister needs. It is a responsibility which I take seriously convening the group of twelve who will help understand their skills, but also their areas for development. I take it seriously because the sections covered in the “conversation” tomorrow are huge and we have to evidence some level of skill in each area. In short I would question whether I or many of my colleagues would get through if tested today. I list the 9 sections of competences that ministers need to fulfil today.
- 1. Vocation (Call and Commitment)
- 2. Vocation (Ministry in the Methodist Church in Britain)
- 3. Relationship with God
- 4. Personality and Character
- 5. Being in Relationship with Others
- 6. The Church’s Ministry in God’s World
- 7. Leadership and Collaboration
- 8 Learning and Understanding
- 9 Communication
In short the process is not there for them to feel like they are an imposter, but should be affirming, recognising all their abilities and how far they have grown. The conclusion of this process is the ordination service, which a significant part of is when the congregation proclaims, “you are worthy”. It becomes a powerful statement at the end of a very long testing process. It doesn’t mean they are perfect, it doesn’t mean that every competence will always be right, but that the church has tested your calling and you are ready to be a representative for the church.
You may not want to know all this detail, but I believe it is important to know something of the workings of the church, and the diligence we take in making significant decisions. Once the formal conversation comes to an end tomorrow, we will pray with the individual that we see, for them as an individual, and for the ministry that they are involved in. I invite you to pray for those involved in the process, and for anyone involved in ministry as each strives to follow in the footsteps of our Lord.
Steve
From the Pen of Rev Steve
The 9 sections of competences that ministers need to fulfil today