Training for Boards of Ordained Ministries (BOM)

Training for Boards of Ordained Ministries (BOM)

Eduard Khegay
Bishop’s assistant 
November 5, 2008

1. From October 22 to 24, 2008 in Moscow was held the training for Boards of Ordained Ministry (BOM). This year each of the five annual conferences elected new membership of BOM for their AC. In the most of AC this board is consisted of 5 people. In AC of Central Russia the BOM is consisted of 7 people. These people will carry responsibility together with our churches for recruiting, teaching, selection and support of the future and present ordained ordained ministers of UMC in Eurasia.  
In these three days each BOM elected it’s chair person, register and secretary. The teacher Bob Coler shared with members of BOM important aspects of ministry of BOM. What are criteria for ordained ministry? The founder of the Methodist movement John Wesley emphasized three main criteria: (1) grace of God, (2) gifts and (3) fruits of ministry. Without these things the person cannot be ordained minister. In the Bible it is expressed in the main commandment - love God and love your neighbor as yourself. This is the main thing that ordained minister of the church ought to do.  
The Bishop Hans Vaxby shared with listeners historical perspective of BOM. For example people learned that lay leaders were elected to BOM only from 1992. This is relatively recent history of our church and we are proud of it. Also BOM members studies paragraphs from the UMC Book of Discipline, dedicated to ordained ministry – paragraphs 634 and 304.  
Interesting was discussion by BOM members of four criteria for the candidate to ordained ministry: (1) personal characteristics, (2) abilities, (3) skills and (4) knowledge. Also all listeners were interested about issue of mentoring for candidates to ordained ministry, local pastors and ministers on probation. This area is not developed yet, but we hope that mentoring will start to develop in Eurasia in the nearest years.  
As the conclusion I would like to share with you the passage from UMC Book of Discipline, that reminds us about what our church awaits from her ministers:
P304. Qualifications for ordination
2. For the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness to the Christian Gospel, and in consideration of the influence of an ordained minister on the lives of other persons both within and outside the Church, the Church expects those who seek ordination to make a complete dedication of themselves to the highest ideals of the Christian life. To this end, they agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all personal relationships, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility, and growth in grace and in the knowledge and love of God. 
I pray that the Lord would send more selfless, competent and effective ministers for development of the Methodist churches in Eurasia.