Have you been asked to be a mentor? Clergy Mentor? Candidacy Mentor? Supervising Elder?
Do you need some help and clarification?
You’ve come to the right place!
Types of Mentors:
Candidacy Mentors: Candidacy mentors are mentors who have received training in the beginning candidacy process and are assigned to help persons from the point of inquiring about candidacy to their final discernment of God’s call on their life – which may be to move toward licensing and/or ordination by seeking to become a Certified Candidate. The Candidacy Mentor writes a report/recommendation to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry. Once certified, a Clergy mentor is assigned (and it can be the same person). Candidacy mentors may meet with their candidate as mutually determined. It could be weekly or monthly – the candidate determines the pace. Please click on the Candidacy tab under Mentors for more information.
Clergy Mentors: Clergy mentors are those who walk alongside, advise, encourage and hold accountable the person who is being mentored. Clergy mentors are assigned to certified candidates, provisional members and local pastors who have not completed Course of Study. The clergy mentor maintains a confidential relationship with the mentee checkout the Clergy Mentor Policy).
• Certified candidates should meet at least monthly with their mentor if they are local, especially if attending licensing school and seeking an appointment. Candidates who are attending college or seminary will want to check in with their mentor via email, text, Skype or whatever means is agreeable. It is the candidate who should initiate the meetings. Mentors should email the District office quarterly to indicate how often the
mentor and mentee have met.
• Provisional members (elders or deacons who have been commissioned) are under the supervision of the Board of Ordained ministry. They must meet with their mentor every other month. It is the provisional member’s responsibility to initiate the meetings. As mentor, you will be asked to read the material that is submitted to the Board and send an email to the registrar indicating that you have done so. You are permitted to give general comments on the material written and help the provisional member to do his/her best work. Quarterly emails to the registrar indicating how often you have met are required. Contact as needed or desired other than face to face meetings is encouraged.
• Local Pastors who have not yet completed course of study are also assigned a mentor. Again, the initiation of meetings is the responsibility of the mentee. Local pastors should meet at least every other month but are encouraged to meet more often and/or stay in touch via other methods. Mentors should email the District office quarterly to indicate how often the mentor and mentee have met.
Supervising Elders – Supervising Elders are assigned to Certified Lay Ministers and candidates for Certified Lay Ministry who are assigned to a church. While there is much similarity to mentoring – and it is hoped that the relationship is mentoring in nature – it differs in that the elder is supervising the CLM and is not in a role of confidential mentor. The supervising elder may make reports and discuss the work of the CLM with the District Superintendent. The CLM covenant should include frequency of meetings with the supervising elder.
What do we talk about?
Mentors and those they mentor may talk about a wide variety of ministry related subjects. There is no “required” conversation. The needs of the mentee should be addressed – questions about charge conference, weddings, funerals and practical day to day ministry are important. Vision and strategic planning may need to be addressed. It’s always appropriate to ask John Wesley’s question, “How is it with your soul?” It should be a time of mutual sharing remembering that both mentor and mentee can learn and grow from the relationship. It’s highly recommended that you pray together and pray for each other daily.
Documents:
• Clergy Mentor Policy (PDF)
• Ministerial Code of Ethics (PDF)
• Course of Study Policy (PDF)
• Provisional Members Handbook (PDF)
• Service Requirements (2012-2016) (PDF)
• Educational Requirement (PDF)