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Questionnaire for Candidates for the Ministry Conservative Mennonite Conference

Forms Section 3070

Name of Candidate: __________________________

Address: _______________________________

Phone: _______________________________

E-Mail: _______________________________

Date of Birth: ________________________

Officiating Minister: ________________________

Congregation/Institution/Agency: ________________________

This questionnaire is designed for processing candidates for ministerial ordination or licensure and applicants for transfer of ministerial membership and credentials from other church bodies to CMC. The questionnaire is presented to the candidate by the officiating minister, who interacts with the candidate as needed for clarification in the process of completing the questionnaire. The candidate submits the completed and signed questionnaire to the officiating minister who signs it and submits it to the CMC general secretary for distribution to the Ministerial Committee and Executive Board.

This questionnaire is available (1) by photocopy from the CMC Ministerial Manual, (2) as hard copy from the CMC office, (3) by e-mail for computerized filling-out, or, (4) by disk if arrangeable for compatibility. Additional sheets may be used if more space is required. However, succinct answers usually are satisfactory.

Your Spiritual Experience
1. Briefly describe your personal conversion and spiritual pilgrimage.
2. Describe your current relationship with Christ including:
  1. Your assurance of Salvation
  2. Victorious Christian Living
  3. Your personal devotional life.
3. Do you know of any unresolved moral sins, social relationships or unethical business involvements which would be a liability to your ministry?
4. Describe your present relationship with your spouse and children.
5. Describe your personal relationship with members of your church and of people of the local community.
Your Doctrinal Beliefs
1. Explain your view of the Bible.
  1. Its inspiration
  2. Its authority
2. Describe your view of the Genesis record of creation and the fall of man.
3. Explain your understanding of the person and work of Christ:
  1. His deity
  2. His virgin birth
  3. His atoning death
  4. His bodily resurrection
  5. His present ministry
  6. His return
4. What is your understanding of the person and present work of the Holy Spirit?
5. What are the essentials for salvation?
6. What is your view of the security of the believer?
7. What is your understanding of the church?
  1. Its nature
  2. Its mission
  3. Its authority
8. What are your convictions concerning church/state relationships?
  1. Participation in war
  2. Political involvement
  3. Civil disobedience
9. Explain your understanding of the following:
  1. Spiritual authority as pertains to male-female relationships
    1. In the home
    2. In the church
  2. The woman's veiling
10. State your view of marriage, divorce and re-marriage.
11. Share your convictions regarding sexual behavior including:
  1. Pre-marital sex
  2. Extra-marital sex
  3. Homosexual behavior
12. What is your understanding of the meaning and significance of the following New Testament ordinances:
  1. Baptism
  2. Communion
  3. Feetwashing
  4. Anointing with oil?
13. What is your view of
  1. The imminent return of Christ
  2. The bodily resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous
  3. Eternal suffering of the wicked
  4. Eternal bliss of the righteous?
14. What is your view of the Conservative Mennonite Statement of Theology (1991)? Are there areas with which you disagree? If so, please explain.
15. What is your view of the Conservative Mennonite Statement of Practice (2007)? Are there areas with which you disagree? If so, please explain.
16. What is your understanding of and appreciation for our Anabaptist heritage.
17. Following is a list of Biblical qualifications for the ministry. As you look at them, are there any which would hinder you from accepting the call to the Christian ministry?
  1. Personal Life
    1. Sense of divine call - I Tim. 3:1
    2. Not a novice - I Tim. 3:6,10; Titus 1:7-8
    3. Blameless, just, holy - I Tim. 3:2, 10
    4. Stable in doctrine - Titus 1:9
  2. Family Life
    1. Fidelity to one's wife - I Tim. 3:2, 12
    2. A competent Father - I Tim. 3:4-5, 12
    3. A suitable, well-adjusted wife - I Tim. 3:7
  3. Community Relationships
    1. A good report of those without - I Tim. 3:7
    2. Not materialistic - I Tim 3:3
    3. Not covetous - I Tim. 3:3
  4. Communicative skills
    1. Ability to teach - I Tim. 3:2
    2. An effective reader - I Tim. 4:13
  5. Emotional Temperament
    1. Good behavior - I Tim. 3:2
    2. Temperate - I Tim. 3:2; Titus 1:7
    3. Sober - I Tim. 3:2
    4. Patient - I Tim. 3:2
    5. Loves people - Tit. 1:8
    6. Given to hospitality - I. Tim. 3:2
    7. Not quarrelsome - I Tim. 3:3; Titus 1:7
    8. Not self-willed - Titus 1:7
    9. Not soon angry - Titus 1:7
    10. Not given to wine - I Tim. 3:3,8
Your Readiness for the Christian Ministry
1. Have you sensed that God may be calling you to the Christian ministry? If so, please explain the development of that call.
2. In what areas do you consider yourself the most and least gifted?
3. Do you have any financial or business involvements which would be a liability to the Christian ministry?
4. Are you willing, in the future, to avoid all business entanglements and financial obligations which would mar the effectiveness of your ministry?
5. Do you believe that you are able to work harmoniously with the leadership of the local congregation?
6. What is your view
  1. of the work of Conference
  2. of the ministerial body of Conference
  3. various programs of Conference such as RMM and RBC
7. Are you committed to honoring and observing the positions of Conservative Mennonite Conference as a ministerial member of CMC?

The questions in IV and V below are addressed to the wife of the candidate.

Your Spiritual Experience
1. Briefly describe your personal conversion and spiritual pilgrimage.
2. Describe your current relationship with Christ including:
  1. Your assurance of Salvation
  2. Victorious Christian Living
  3. Your personal devotional life.
3. Do you know of any unresolved moral sins, social relationships or unethical business involvements which would be a liability to your ministry?
4. Describe your present relationship with your spouse and children.
5. Describe your personal relationship with members of your church and of people of the local community.
Preparation for role of companion to a minister
1. How do you perceive your function in the home, church and community as a ministers' wife?
2. Can you emotionally and prayerfully accept this role?
3. What spiritual gifts do you have that would complement your husband's ministry?
4. Do you believe that you are able to work harmoniously with the leadership of the local congregation?
5. Do you believe that you will be able to work impartially with the various kinds of people you find in the congregation and the community?
6. Do you believe that you can extend the hospitality of your home to those who may come to you from the congregation and the community?
7. What is your view:
  1. of the work of Conference
  2. of the ministerial body of Conference
  3. of the various programs of Conference such as RMM and RBC?

Comments:

Form completed by ____________________ (Ministerial Candidate) and _____________________ (Wife)

Date _______________

As officiating minister of the ordination or licensure of the above named candidate, I have examined this completed questionnaire and have reviewed it with the candidate as needed for clarification and adequacy. I submit this questionnaire for processing by the CMC Ministerial Committee and Executive Board.

Officiating Minister ____________________

Date _______________

Approved by CMC Feb. 1991; format revised Nov. 2000, approved by CMC Executive Board