of Christian Denominations
Ministry Mentors
operates with complete confidentiality
and does not report to area denominational leaders.
As an independent organization, Ministry Mentors offers
pastors an opportunity to think out loud, search for resources that can aid the
striving for excellence, receive candid, non-threatening evaluations, or perhaps
just find a safe place to vent. Although mentoring for newly ordained clergy
exists in many denominations, some pastors have expressed concern about their
willingness to be totally candid among their denominational peers, for fear of comparison or
concerns about future pastoral calls or placements.
By being interdenominational in its approach, Ministry
Mentors is willing to work with either denominational or other resources that
may be appropriate to help pastors to strive for excellence. Mentors will
respect the theological, liturgical, and polity aspects of the pastor being
mentored, while being free to ask those questions that will encourage pastoral
and personal growth.
Ministry Mentors operates with complete confidentiality and
does not report to area denominational leaders. Because of the concern for the powerless
who may be abused, Ministry Mentors will inform all persons being served that
they consider themselves to be mandated reporters, subject to the same
guidelines as other mandated reporters.
Interdependent
with Christian Denominations
Ministry Mentors sees its role as a resource to both
area denominational leaders and individual pastors,
and respects the role and authority
of area denominational leaders
in the supervising of ordained ministry.
It is through the local congregation and the particular
denomination with its leadership and resources that the majority of all men and
women hear God’s call to the ordained ministry. The denomination provides
theological training, practical experience and evaluations needed before an
individual can be ordained. Through the denomination, acting through its
area denominational leaders in specific geographic areas, individuals are placed or recommended
to the local congregations and given the support of the denomination’s
resources.
Ministry Mentors sees its role as a resource to both
area denominational leaders and individual pastors, and respects the role and authority
of area denominational leaders in the supervising of ordained ministry.
Ministry Mentors is dependent upon the wisdom and
guidance of area denominational leaders and other pastors as it seeks exceptional
pastors to be Ministry Mentors Leaders and Mentors. Although
selection and training of Leaders and Mentors will be done by
Ministry Mentors, the nomination of exceptional pastors by their peers and the
blessing by area denominational leaders of those individuals is essential for the
integrity and validation of the program. Pastors being called to sustain
excellence in their pastoral ministry must respect the Mentor as one who is
recognized for excellence in his or her own ministry