Ministry Reports
What is the nature of the Church and Ministry?
Over the years the Methodist Church has had a lot to say about ministry. Here we list some of the major conference reports and working documents.
What are ministers expected to do/be?
- The ordinal (see The Methodist Worship Book, pp. 297-328)
- Clause 4 of the Deed of Union (see CPD Vol 2 pp. 213-214)
- Criteria for the selection of candidates for ordained ministry (2003) also revised version 2016
- Expected competencies at the point of stationing and ordination
- Expected competencies for Superintendents and District Chairs
- Ordination (1974) (beginning on p. 108)
- The Ministry of the People of God (1988) (beginning on p. 229)
- Releasing Ministers for Ministry (2002)
- The Nature of Oversight (2005)
- The Covenant Relationship for those who are Ordained and in Full Connexion (2008)
- The Covenant Relationship between the Church and its Ministers: Commitments and Expectations (2022)
Specific to Presbyters
Specific to Deacons
- The Methodist Diaconal Order Rule of Life (see CPD Vol 2 Book IV, part 5))
- The Methodist Diaconal Order (1993) (beginning on p. 291)
- What is a Deacon? (2004)
The Theology and Ecclesiology Underpinning the Diaconate and the Methodist Diaconal Order (2019)
How are they expected to do / be this?
- With regard to ways of working: Flexible Patterns of Ministry (1999)
- With regard to confidentiality: With Integrity and Skill (2008)
- With regard to development: Ministerial Development Review
- With regard to conflict and positive working together: Positive Working Together (2015)
- With regard to online presence and behaviour: Social media guidelines
- With regard to Safeguarding: Safeguarding Policy plus the learning and recommendations from the Past Cases Review (2015)
Guidelines and standards regulating the life of the Church as a whole
- Legislation (eg the Equality Act 2010 – see EDI Legislation
- Standing Orders (see SOs 700 and 701 for ordained presbyteral and diaconal ministry) CPD Vol 2