CPM Responsibilities

1. The Commission on Preparation for Ministry shall consist of nine teaching elders and ruling elders in numbers as equal as possible. The quorum of the Commission shall be five members when interviewing potential Inquirers and recommending to Presbytery that they be enrolled and when doing annual consultations with inquirers and candidates (G-2.0605.)

2. Responsibilities shall be to follow the Book of Order G-2.06 concerning the care and oversight of inquirers and candidates for the gospel ministry and G-2.10 concerning commissioned ruling elders.

Steps for Inquirers and Candidates for the Gospel Ministry:

(a) An interested person begins conversation with the commission by contacting the current chair. An advocate from the commission then guides the person through the application procedure, including being approved by the commission as an inquirer. When the inquirer has completed the requirements of the inquiry phase, he or she is examined by the presbytery to become a candidate. The process requires a minimum of two years, at least one of which must be as a candidate.

(b)In addition to the Book of Order requirements career counseling is required. The expense will ordinarily be shared by the applicant, his/her local church, and the commission. The commission will maintain a list of qualified counselors.

(c) An annual consultation is required of all inquirers and candidates. Between consultations, the inquirer/candidate is responsible to maintain communication with the commission through her/his advocate

(d) The commission monitors the inquirer/candidates' progress through the ordination requirements and is available for guidance and counsel at all times.

(e) When a candidate has fulfilled all requirements for ordination, including a call, he/she will defend a statement of faith before the commission and preach a sermon. Upon successful completion of the examination, the candidate will be presented to the presbytery, along with her/his statement of faith for further examination and the vote concerning ordination.

(f) Approve Commissions to Ordain candidates being examined for ordination by another calling presbytery, whenever the Presbytery of Olympia's stated meeting schedule would impede a timely ordination response to a call, with a report of said commissions being sent to the Stated Clerk of that Presbytery.

(g) Candidates from other presbyteries, called to serve churches in Olympia Presbytery, shall enter the process at (c) above.

Steps for Commissioning Ruling Elders:

(a) Recruit and supervise training of church members to serve as commissioned ruling elders.

(b) Examine those who have just completed a prescribed CRE training program and review those having had previous training, and inform Presbytery of those who are eligible to be commissioned.

(c) Be a resource to the COM concerning the placement of CRE’s.

(d) Provide appropriate continuing education for commissioned ruling Elders.

Steps for Candidates for Certification as Christian Educators:

Persons interested in working toward certification as Christian educators may apply through this committee. Initial contact should be made through the current chair. In cooperation with the Vocation Agency's Certification Board, the committee will provide information and assistance regarding procedures and requirements.

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