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There are a
number of exciting changes in the way the Order of On Call Clergy is
developing and this page is just by way of keeping members and
friends of On Call informed of developments.
Applications
procedure for
clergy and ministry support team members: the
current applications packs for clergy are now quite lengthy
documents and have a number of new inclussions. There is the basic
application form, a duty of care assessment, a formal assent to the
principles and guidelines/governance form, the mandatory child
protection forms and declarations, a professional conduct agreement
and a 'vision check'. Applicants are also asked to acknowledge the
authority of the Executive Bishop in matters relating to the Order if accepted.
Clergy
applicants are required to obtain a current CRB form and those
intending to or working with children must obtain an enhanced CRB.
The current pack is a 27 page document and should help new applicants
to the Order discern whether they are truly called to serve God in
this form of ministry. Acceptance into the Order is never automatic,
is based on existing ministry, spiritual gifting, discernment and
prayer, and not on academic achievement or other qualification alone.
Any new
applicants who needs help or assistance in completing the
applications form will be assigned a member who will support and
advise them throughtout the applications procedure.
Applications
procedure for
Ministry Support Team membership:
those wishing to apply for ministry support team membership will be
pleased to know that an easier and much shorter application form is
available.
Age and membership:
following agreement by all members present at the Order's A.G.M. on
22/10/2006, ordained applicants or those seeking ordination as
Associate Members should ideally be aged 25 years old or more. There
is no upper age restriction but members reaching 75 years of age
should undertake an informal yearly review of their ministry loading
with the Executive Bishop or other appointed person as part of the
Order's 'Duty of Care' towards all its members. This is a supportive
process which fully recognises the right to ministry and may be
requested by any member of the Order at any time by any.
A new
member's handbook
is now available for newly accepted members and it contains a number
of useful resources and documents which will help them as they begin
their ministry in On Call.
Continued
formation and training: a
large number of tried and tested distance learning courses/learning
packages from various churches within the Christian family have been
put together for all
members to access. For those seeking ordination many of these will
form the basis of a full vocational training package.
Already
available are courses on church planting, personal renewal, healing
ministry, prayer ministry, intercessory prayer, discipleship, church
building, leadership, Old and New Testament theology, counselling,
leadership, team ministry and early church history. There is a also
growing bank of resources for members to access. Many of these
resources are available in pdf. format on CD or are available by
e-mail to keep running costs as low as possible.
Within the
Order there a many members who are highly qualified and experienced
in specialist fields of ministry and they are encouraged to run
courses for members. Information about these courses is made
available through the Order's monthly newsletter 'Sowing the seed'.
Information
about useful courses and materials developed and used by other
churches and groups is always welcomed by the Order.
Charitable
status: one of
the benefits will be to enable the Order to extend its charitable
giving through the use of Gift Aid. Members can obtain Gift Aid forms
from the Order in pdf.format ready for printing.
Area offices:
following the recent abuse of information held on the Order's web
site, it was decided that individual member's contact information
would not be made directly available on the web site but through area offices.
Area offices
will hopefully deal with most enquiries by members of the public. The
area offices are manned by volunteers who carry no additional duties,
titles or responsibilities in line with On Call practice.
To each is
given a gift of service and in that our joy is complete - nothing
else is needed.
The Rule of Simplicity: is
now available on the web site. The rule is the Order's 'operational
handbook' and covers the basic philosophy/theology the Order is built
on (see Rule).
Membership
and recruitment: is
currently under review and will be the focus for the coming months.
Members should prayerfully consider how this issue should best be
responded to by both the Order and at an individual level.
Membership
and ID cards: a
cost effective method of producing plastic, credit card size
membership and ID cards has now been found and a joint membership and
ID card will be made available to all members. These will be valid
for 12 months only.
Cards will be
provided free of charge. |
