Are Pastoral Candidates That Are Credentialed Undergo A Background Check?

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                                              State Credentials Committee
                        Greetings in the proper name of Jesus Christ! The Credentials Manual of the Church of God requests all ordained ministers to undertake a 5-Year Ministry building Update to determine if the sense of calling and delivery remain current, to establish whether there is active accountability to the Church building of God and if an appropriate relationship to the standards and expectations of ministers of the Church of God is withal in place. This is washed for the health of the minister and the health of the movement and is non a performance review. This coming twelvemonth volition be the anniversary of your ordination. Please accept the fourth dimension to read the accompanying material, and the very careful steps laid out for performing your self-guided 5 Yr Ministry Update. Recommended dates are included to help y'all perform this Update over the next year. This Five Yr Update is not a performance review. Yous will need to return to your District Credentials Committee the completed and signed Update course, your Written Reflections based on the questions included in this packet, and the completed and signed Background Bank check permission course. The process may seem quite burdensome at outset glance. However, with careful review, we believe yous will find that this self-guided process is reasonable, fairly painless, beneficial to yous, and shows that we believe in a partnership for mutual ministerial fitness as we seek to honour our Lord, together. Although non required of retired ministers, the utilize of this V Twelvemonth Ministry Update is strongly encouraged because information technology is an effective mode for the district, country, and national ministry to maintain a good for you, helpful connection with retired ministers. If yous are a retired minister and do non wish to complete this Ministry Update, please inform your Commune Credentials Committee. When your self-guided Update process has been completed (no after than July one of adjacent year), please send your completed and signed Update form, your Written Reflections, your Covenant Agreement reaffirming your Ordination, and your properly filled out Groundwork Bank check form to your Commune Credentials Committee. If you have questions, delight experience free to contact your District's Credentials Commission, who will give guidance and assist every bit needed. Your State Credentials Committee
                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Instructions on Completing Your-Guided Ministry Update
                      
                                              Pace 1
                        Choose 3 ordained ministers in skilful continuing with the Church building of God to serve as your "Ministry Update Team." These cannot exist family members. Timeline Recommendation: Select and invite the Update Team no later than October of the upcoming year.
                      
                                              Pace 2
                        Read through and consummate the Update Grade, so ship a completed re-create to each member of your Update Team. (A copy of the Update Form volition be signed by the Update Squad as part of Footstep 6 below.) Timeline Recommendation: Complete and send the Update grade to the Squad no later than Dec of this year.
                      
                                              Step 3
                        Compose (write or type) brief, clear reflections on your current ministry, addressing areas of greatest challenge, potential growth, and greatest strengths. (Yous should consult the "Standards for Vocational Christian Ministry" in Section 2.00 of the Credentials Manual of the Church of God for data on these written reflections.) A series of x questions, based on the Standards, has been included in this packet for you lot to utilise equally guides for the reflections. When y'all're finished, transport a copy of the reflections to the members of your Update Team. (Note: these written reflections will be submitted to the District Credentials Committee and volition be filed in the District and State.) Timeline Recommendation: Begin writing in July of this year; do i or two reflections per calendar week; complete the reflections no later than February of next year; send copies to the Update Team no later than March of next year.
                      
                                              Step 4
                        Arrange a sometime meeting of 60-ninety minutes in length with your Update Team, in person or nearly, to hash out the status of your ministerial call and delivery, and your electric current relationship to the standards for vocational ministry. Again, the Five-Year Ministry Update is not a functioning evaluation. It is an opportunity to reflect on your ministerial practice, current position, professional development, spiritual formation, personal and professional relationships, and future goals for ministry. This is an opportunity to engage in thought-provoking dialog virtually personal, professional, and spiritual health, and to strengthen collegial partnership and accountability in ministry building. Timeline Recommendation: Remind your Update Squad of the appointment of the coming together; hold the meeting no after than Apr of next twelvemonth.
                      
                                              Stride v
                        Invite the members of the Ministry Update Team to offering appropriate insights, to challenge thoughts or practices they discover questionable, to offer guidance, and to give you encouragement. Provide them with the "Instructions to the Ministry Update Team."
                      
                                              Step 6
                        A copy of the Update Form should be signed past you and all members of your Team. If a member of your squad cannot be present to sign, identify their proper name, and contact information on the line for them, and then send to your District Credentials Committee, no subsequently than June thirty. (Reminder: your written reflections should besides exist sent to the Commune Credentials Commission.) Timeline Recommendation: The Update Team signs the Update grade no later than Apr; mail the Update Course, the Written Reflections, your Covenant Agreement reaffirming your Ordination, and the Background Check course no later than May.
                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Ministry Update Course
                      
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                                              Proper name                                                                                                          First                                                                                                            Last                                                  
                      
                                              Commune                                                                                                                                          CE                            
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                                              1. To assist determine your connexion to the Church of God and to other ministers, cheque all that apply and include the number of times and the year(s) you have attended in the last v years:                                                                                                                                          North American Convention/Regional Conventions                            
                                                                                        Fall Full general Assembly of Church of God Ohio Ministries                            
                                                                                        District Full general Assembly meetings                            
                          
                        
                      
                                              Year(southward) attended North American Convention                      
                                              Year(s) attended Autumn General Associates                      
                                              Year(due south) attended Commune General Assembly                      
                                              How many District meetings have you attended in the concluding year?                      
                                              Church of God Sponsored events (please list with dates attended)                      
                                              Workshops (please list with dates attended)                      
                                              Please list what offices or positions, if any, that you concur/have held in the national church, in Church of God Ohio Ministries, and/or in your district in the last 5 years?                      
                                              Which ones in the last three years?                      
                                              Are you currently registered with the Church of God-Anderson IN?                                                                                                                                          Yes                            
                                                                                        No                            
                          
                        
                      
                                              Are yous aware that failure to maintain proper contact and registration for two years will effect in credentials being revoked? (Encounter Section 7.00 of the Credentials Transmission.)                                                                                                                                          Yes                            
                                                                                        No                            
                          
                        
                      
                                              In what ministry positions or appointment in ministry have you lot been involved in the last five years? Delight designate which position(s) are Church of God—Anderson IN.                      
                                              Why practice you believe ordination is needed in your electric current ministry?                      
                                              Enter proper noun and email addresses of the members of the Update Team: #1                                                                                                          First                                                                                                            Last                                                  
                      
                                              Email                      
                                              #two                                                                                                          First                                                                                                            Last                                                  
                      
                                              Email                      
                                              #3                                                                                                          First                                                                                                            Last                                                  
                      
                                              Email                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Questions to Guide Your Written Reflections
                      
                                              How has God confirmed your calling to vocational ministry?                      
                                              Describe the changes God has fabricated to your calling (if whatsoever).                      
                                              How are your devotional practices adequate or inadequate to sustain your spiritual health during the demands of ministry building?                      
                                              What needs to happen to make your devotional practices more constructive?                      
                                              Paul wrote that nosotros should "walk as children of the light" (Ephesians 5: 8). How would you describe how your relationship with Christ promotes in y'all a daily demonstration of an authentic Christian life?                      
                                              Describe how yous balance your vocation with your family and with your physical and emotional well-existence. (Areas to consider: Practise you engagement your spouse? Do yous give adequate time to your children? What family events or activities have you missed? Are you overweight? Do you have emotional outbursts? What do you do to relieve stress? How often do yous have vacation? How often practice you spend extended time with God alone or on retreat?)                      
                                              Theology is the study of God, His give-and-take, and His work in the globe. How has your understanding of theology inverse in the last five years, if at all?                      
                                              How would y'all depict how you remain prepared to do God'southward piece of work? Areas to consider could be continuing educational activity; non-ministry related activities; changes that God is making in your life; new insights God is revealing to you nigh His word and His work; and books y'all are currently reading.                      
                                              Draw your current accountability, encouragement, and friendships in ministry                      
                                              When your ministry is completed, what would yous like to have said about your years of service?                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Convenant Agreement for Ordination
                      
                                              Covenant Agreement for Ordination
                        I, the undersigned, do hereby acknowledge my understanding that both the granting and maintaining of ordination credentials is a privilege and a responsibility. In so receiving the granting of ordination, I enter into covenant with all assemblies in the Church building of God where I may serve throughout my years of ministry. This covenant is to exist recognized every bit my understanding that I will live my private and public life in keeping with the Word of God, the Credentials Manual of the Church of God, and in harmony and active participation with the assembly in which I am ministering. Information technology is further understood that should I fail to live upward to this covenant or should I terminate from actively participating in the ministry of the Church of God, Anderson, IN, I shall cooperate with the assembly in the region where I am living in surrendering my ordination.
                      
                                              This Ordination Covenant will be reaffirmed every five years.
                      
                                              Printed Proper name of Ordainee                      
                                              Signature of Ordainee                      
                                              Assembly Bestowing Credentials                      
                                              Date                      
                                              Credentials Chair Bestowing Ordination                      
                                              Recorded at Church of God Ministries, Inc. Credentials Services
                      
                                              Credentials Service Coordinator                      
                                              Date                      
                                              This covenant is to be maintained in this government minister'southward permanent file and fastened with each transfer should he/she change assemblies during the life of his/her ministry building.
                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Background Bank check Release
                        Past signing beneath, yous, the minister undergoing a Five-Year Ministry Update, give Church of God Ohio Ministries (COGO), or whatever other firm as shall be determined at the sole discretion of COGO on behalf of COGO, permission to procure a consumer report, as well known as a background check (known as an investigative consumer report in California), which may include personal information, criminal activity, courtroom proceedings, tickets, fines, information about the grapheme, full general reputation, characteristics, or manner of living. This report may be compiled with information from tape bureaus, court record repositories, departments of motor vehicles, past or nowadays employers, landlords, and/or educational institutions, governmental occupational licensing or registration entities, business or personal references, and whatever other sources required to verify your personal information, character, and suitability for ministry. Yous may request a complete and accurate disclosure of the nature and telescopic of the background verification, to the extent that such investigation includes information bearing on your grapheme, reputation, manner of living, or suitability for ministry.
                      
                                              Signed:                        (Signature of minister undergoing V-Year Ministry Update)
                      
                                              Date                      
                                              Total Legal Name                      
                                              Electric current Address                                                                                                                                          Street Address                                                                                                                    Accost Line two                                                                                                                    City                                                                                                                    Land / Province / Region                                                                                                                    ZIP / Postal Code                                                                                                                    Country                                                      
                        
                      
                                              Phone                      
                                              Email                      
                                              Driver's License Number                      
                                              State of Outcome                      
                                              Below, delight list all previous addresses and aliases used over the last five years.
                      
                                              Full Proper noun                      
                                              Address                                                                                                                                          Street Address                                                                                                                    Address Line 2                                                                                                                    City                                                                                                                    Country / Province / Region                                                                                                                    ZIP / Postal Code                                                                                                                    Country                                                      
                        
                      
                                              Total Proper noun                      
                                              Address                                                                                                                                          Street Address                                                                                                                    Address Line 2                                                                                                                    Metropolis                                                                                                                    State / Province / Region                                                                                                                    ZIP / Postal Lawmaking                                                                                                                    Land                                                      
                        
                      
                    
                  
                                                                                    Instructions to the Ministry Update Team
                        (This should be mailed to your Update Team at to the lowest degree one calendar week earlier the scheduled Update meeting.)
                      
                                              Greetings in the proper name of Jesus Christ.
                        Thanks for agreeing to serve on a Ministry Update Squad as part of an ongoing, five-yr update process for all ordained ministers in the Church of God—Anderson. The Credentials Manual of the Church of God stipulates that all ordained ministers consummate a Ministry Update every five years to decide if the sense of calling and commitment remain electric current, and whether there is active accountability and appropriate human relationship to the standards and expectations of ministers of the Church of God. Information technology should be noted that this V-Year Update is not a operation evaluation. Information technology is an opportunity to reflect on 1's ministerial practice, current position, professional development, spiritual formation, personal and professional relationships, and future goals for ministry building. This is an opportunity for the individual minister to engage in idea-provoking dialog nigh personal, professional, and spiritual health, and to strengthen collegial partnership and accountability in ministry. You are asked to attend a one-time meeting with the unabridged three-member Update Team for merely threescore-90 minutes to talk over the government minister's ministerial call and delivery, and the electric current relationship to the standards for vocational ministry. During this meeting, you are invited to offering appropriate insights, to challenge the minister on questionable thoughts or practices (carefully and charitably), to offer guidance, and to give encouragement. The minister volition send you a completed Update Grade and some Written Reflections prior to the coming together. Please read and review these helpful documents as you prepare to dialog about their call, commitment, accountability, connection, and more than. You lot will be asked to sign a completed Update Grade which, along with a re-create of the Written Reflections, volition be sent to the District Credentials Commission. If you take any questions, the minister should exist able to provide answers, or to put you in contact with the appropriate District or State Credentials personnel. Thank you, again. Your assistance in this Ministry Update is vital and appreciated. In Him, The Ohio Land Credentials Committee