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Ministry Mentors’ design uses readily available resources:
exceptionally qualified active, retired, and part-time clergy. Selected Leaders and Mentors are those clergy who have demonstrated excellence in their
own ministry, have the respect of their peers, the
approval of their area denominational leaders, and an understanding of the local climate.
Our ministry, Serving Those Who Serve, can be a welcome antidote to the experience
of loneliness expressed by many clergy.
As a grassroots organization, Ministry Mentors asks congregational pastors and area denominational
leaders to nominate colleagues that they believe have excelled in parish ministry and have potential
mentoring gifts to become Ministry Mentors Leaders and Mentors.
Leaders,
retired or part-time pastors, need both a mentor's spirit and
organizational skills. Area denominational leaders,
such as bishops, conference ministers, district
superintendents, executive ministers, moderators and the like will be asked to
review all nominations of Leaders and Mentors prior to their approval by
the president of Ministry Mentors. This step is viewed as
critical in receiving not only the wisdom of the denominational representatives, but his
or her approval of potential Leaders and Mentors in order for them
to participate in this program.
Initially, each Mentor will be asked to mentor two pastors. Since the Mentors are serving congregations, mentoring two pastors seems to be a reasonable initial expectation.
Modeling the mentoring role, Leaders will be available to Mentors in the Mentors’ own parish ministry as well as oversee the Mentors role of serving other clergy. Leaders will schedule monthly opportunities for clusters of Mentors to gather for ongoing training, sharing insights, mutual encouragement, fellowship, and supervision.
The Mentors will commit to an average of four hours per month, including mentoring, training, and monthly cluster meetings. Leaders will commit to an average of eight hours per week, including mentoring, overseeing Mentors, training, Leaders meetings, monthly cluster meetings, and contacts with the president of Ministry Mentors.