Recording

Believing that God ordains individuals for ministry, Evangelical Friends participate in the process of recording God’s anointing. Below is an outline of the Recording Process for Evangelical Friends – Mid America.

Procedures for the Recording of Ministers

Responsibilities of the LOCAL CHURCH in the Recording Process:

• Recognizing the gift

  When a member, man or woman, has established a consistent pattern of serving Christ to the edification and spiritual help of the congregation, the local Elders Board shall carefully consider whether the person has received from Christ a gift for public ministry.

• Reporting to the congregation

  If the local Elders Board determines that the candidate has a gift for public ministry that would be enhanced through recording, the clerk prepares a report to the local business meeting recommending that the recording process be initiated.

• Recommendation

  If the congregation acts favorably, the clerk sends a copy of the church’s recording recommendation to the General Superintendent, who reviews this information and forwards a copy to the Area Superintendent and Yearly Meeting Elders Board.

Responsibilities of the AREA in the Recording Process:

• Coordination

  Upon receipt of the recommendation for recording, the Area Superintendent and Area Elders Board will work with the candidate to select a qualified mentor who will meet with the candidate on a regular basis to provide personal support and supervision throughout the
  recording process.

• Oversight

  Under the oversight of the Area Elders Board, the candidate and his/her mentor will engage in an intensive, two-year apprenticeship, during which time the mentor will assist the candidate in formulating a sustainable strategy for personal and professional growth,
  establishing a personal pathway towards biblical and theological proficiency, and articulating a statement of faith and philosophy of ministry.

• Recommendation

  At the end of the two-year period, the candidate and mentor will be interviewed by the Area Elders Board. (This two-year requirement may be modified for those candidates with extensive ministry experience and education with the concurrence of the Local Church, Area Elders and Yearly Meeting Elders.) The Area Elders Board may ask the candidate to continue the mentoring relationship for additional observation, development, and training. If the Area Elders Board agrees the candidate is ready for recording, they will commend the candidate to the Yearly Meeting Elders Board for approval.

Responsibilities of the YEARLY MEETING in the Recording Process:

• Review

  Upon receiving the endorsement of the Area Elders Board, the Yearly Meeting Elders Board reviews the recommendation during the course of a regular board session. If it approves the Area Board’s action, it recommends the candidate for recording to the Yearly Meeting representatives during the annual sessions.

• Recording

  The Yearly Meeting, no obstacle appearing, acts in accordance with the favorable report of the Yearly Meeting Elders Board to record the candidate as a minister of the gospel. It authorizes the presiding clerk to issue a certificate of recording and notifies the local church of this action.

• Recognition

  The Yearly Meeting Elders Board, in cooperation with the General Superintendent, arranges a recognition service for newly recorded ministers as an integral part of the Yearly Meeting sessions. The local church may also wish to recognize its newly recorded pastor.