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The Louisiana Conference Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM) is responsible for supporting persons who respond to God's call to professional ministry as an elder in full connection, deacon in full connection, licensed local pastor, diaconal minister, or certified lay professional in Christian education, music, youth, evangelism, camping/retreat ministries, spiritual formation, and older adult ministry.
The Board, working with District Committees on Ordained Ministry, reviews the educational and personal qualifications of candidates, including personal interviews, through each step of the candidacy process, from certified candidacy to ordination or licensing. The Board then makes a recommendation to the Clergy Session and also reviews and makes recommendations on all changes in Conference Relationship, whether voluntary or involuntary. The Board works collaboratively with the Cabinet in a number of areas to assist in advancing the vision and ministry of the Louisiana Conference.
The Board of Ordained Ministry offers support to candidates for ministry and clergy in the following ways:
- Service loans , funded through the Ministerial Education Fund for certified candidates who are in seminary.
- Awards Scholarships for seminary degree-seeking students, based on merit and need.
- Supports clergy, diaconal ministers, and certified professionals who are fulfilling the requirement of 1 CEU per year, or at least 8 CEU's per quadrennium.
- Care and Nurturing Program , which offers confidential financial assistance for counseling for clergy and their families.
- The Order of Deacon and the Order of Elder , which offer opportunities for covenant relationships, mutual accountability, and continuing spiritual formation.
- The Fellowship of Local Pastors and Associate Members , which includes all local pastors and associate members, whose purpose is to provide support, love, and encouragement to local pastors and serve as a voice for local pastors and associate members in the Louisiana Conference.
- Probationary Process , a system of continued growth and learning for probationers in the Louisiana Conference. The purpose is to establish lifelong patterns that will create effective clergy leaders for the church. This process has three dimensions: coaching/mentoring in a covenant group, participating in the Center for Pastoral Effectiveness - Soul Journey II, and supervision. It is required for all probationers.
- Seminary visitation to the major seminaries attended by candidates in the Louisiana Conference.
- Enlistment for ordained and licensed ministry , including sponsoring a “Discerning the Call” event each year for 17 to 24 year olds to consider God's call to ordained or licensed ministry.
- Professional Certification in Christian education, youth ministry, older adult ministry, spiritual formation, music, evangelism, older adult ministry and camping-retreat ministries.
- Licensing School for Local Pastors, offered annually each January to April.
- Review the recommendation of all requests for Transfers to the Louisiana Conference.
- Training and support for District Committees on Ordained Ministry .
- Training and support for candidacy mentors (they must attend a new training event every 4 years to remain active in candidacy mentoring.)
- Work with candidates preparing for interviews with the Divisions of Elders and the Division of Deacons and Diaconal Ministers in the Fall and Spring.
- Works with Local Pastors preparing for interviews with the Division of Local Pastors and Associate Members in the Spring.
- Relates to all clergy on location , various leaves of absence (personal, family, sabbatical), incapacity leave , and transitional leave .
- Relates to all retired clergy .
- Relates to all clergy in Extension Ministries and those serving in an Agency or Setting beyond the Local Church .
For More Information, Contact:
Rev. John Williams
Chair, Board of Ordained Ministry
360 Robert Road
Slidell, LA 70458
Office: 985-641-5829
john@aldersgate-slidell.org
Rev. John Edd Harper
Coordinator, BOM
527 North Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Office: 225-346-1646
johnedd@bellsouth.net
BOM Forms can be found at our main website.
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