CPM:Steps to Becoming an Inquirer

A person seeking to become a teaching elder of the PC(USA) in the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area enters into a covenant relationship with God, with the Session of his or her home church and the Committee on Preparation for Ministry of the Presbytery of the Twin Cities Area.

The person who feels a call to teaching elder is called a Seekerand is required to attend a Seeker Seminar before moving on.    The Seeker is responsible for the initiating the following meetings in order to make application to be taken under care of the PTCA as an Inquirer

Seeker Phase Checklist

• Contact the CPM Seeker Advisor

○    A person who believes he or she may have a call to ministry of the Word and Sacrament should first contact the Seeker Advisor of the CPM.  This contact information is on the Presbytery’s website (www.ptcaweb.org) in the Committee on Preparation for Ministry section.

• CPM Seeker Advisor will contact the individual’s home pastor:

○    Confirms the individual has been a rostered member of the congregation for at least six months

○    Confirms the individual is active in the work and life of the congregation

○    Inquires of any reasons why the pastor would not support the individual’s application to come under care of the session.

○    encourages the pastor to begin (or continue) discussions with the individual

○    informs the pastor the CPM will move forward with obtaining the pre-application assessment tools for consideration of this individual’s request

• Individual and Pastor meet

○    discuss the individual’s sense of call, professional ministry, ministry experiences and gifts

• CPM representatives and Session meet

○    discuss the process and assist the session to define its responsibilities.

• CPM Seeker Advisor and Individual – required pre-application assessment tools 

○    Attend the PTCA’s seeker seminar*

○    Complete the PTCA’s background check*

○    Complete psychological assessment through North Central Ministry Development Center (or other pre-approved assessment center)*

○    Meet with a financial planner*

○    CPM Seeker Advisor will notify individual and pastor when all pre-application assessments are completed and on file in the PTCA office

• Individual completes application forms and additional documents

○    Forms 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D (see forms section)

○    Forms 2A (page 1)

○    Reference request forms

○    Obtains all required documents as noted in the forms

• Individual meets with home church session to come under their care

○    If endorsed, individual and session will enter into a covenant relationship of support throughout the individual’s discernment and preparation process

○    The individual, pastor and the clerk of Session must complete appropriate sections of enrollment forms: 1D, 2A (page 1) and 2B (see forms section) and send to CPM.

• CPM Seeker Advisor requests time on the CPM Calendar

○    for applicant interview with CPM

○    All forms and documentation must be received before time on the docket will be requested.

○    CPM Advisor will be assigned and will contact applicant for initial meeting

• CPM meeting

○    Applicant, their pastor and session liaison meet with CPM for conversation about the seeker’s vision for ministry, process of discernment, etc.

○    CPM votes whether to recommend the seeker to Presbytery to be enrolled as an inquirer.

• If affirmative – goals for the year will be planned and discussed and CPM will recommend to Presbytery to receive applicant as an inquirer at the next stated Presbytery meeting and Form 2C is completed.

• If not affirmative – will discuss concerns and additional steps the applicant might take to prepare for inquiry or other options for ministry.

• Presbytery meeting

○    Applicant is encouraged to attend the Presbytery meeting for introductions

○    Applicant will not speak or answer questions.

○    Attendance is not mandatory.

○    If the Presbytery affirms the recommendation, the individual is officially enrolled as an inquirer and begins the inquirer phase.

 

*Further information

Seeker Seminar

The CPM has developed a day-long seminar to introduce the seeker to the process of discernment, the role of CPM, sessions, seminaries, to discuss the application to inquirer and the developmental competencies required for movement through the process.

 

Background Check

The PTCA requires that all inquirers, candidates and ministers seeking membership in this presbytery will undergo a third party background check.  The individual will receive a letter from an outside organization that will contain the instructions and forms necessary for them to complete this background check.

 

Psychological Assessment through NCMDC

The cost is usually shared between the Presbytery, the applicant and the applicant’s home church (generally speaking – 1/3 each) If the applicant or the church are unable to meet their 1/3 obligation, financial assistance from the Presbytery may be available. Following the completion of the assessment, the seeker must give approval for NCMDC to send a (confidential) written report of the consultation to the Presbytery for review by the CPM.

 

Financial Planning Session

This is in order to review the individual’s current financial situation, to discuss ways to prepare financially for the likely decrease in income and the additional expenses of seminary.  A written plan will be developed and provided to the CPM that outlines the review of current finances, debt reduction needs, plan for education and living expenses.

 

Forms for Seekers:

Form 1A – Background Information for Session and Committee on Preparation for Ministry

Form 1B – Questions for Reflection

Form 1C – Financial Planning for Theological Education

Form 1D – Session Evaluation and Recommendation

Reference Request Form – individual identifies 3 people to complete reference forms

Form 2A- Application to be enrolled by Presbytery as an Inquirer

Form 2B – Covenant Agreement and Inquirer Release

Form 2C – Report of initial consultation

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