Officiation of Ordination or License
Policy Section 1090
The officiating minister (officiant) should be designated early in the process. He is the minister who gives the ordination charge or issues the license. The officiating minister shall be a ministerial member of CMC and shall be a bishop, an overseer, or an experienced senior pastor. In the case of a senior pastor who is not a bishop or overseer, he shall be an ordained minister with considerable experience and shall officiate only in the congregation which he pastors. Overseers and bishops are not restricted to the congregations of their responsibility. Designating the congregation's overseer or the bishop in charge to serve as officiant is encouraged, especially in view of follow-up effectiveness.
The officiating minister is responsible for (1) preparing the congregation for the ordination or licensure, (2) processing the selection of the candidate, either in leading the process or in being satisfied of its adequacy, (3) processing the candidate's Questionnaire, including presenting the Questionnaire to the candidate, receiving and reviewing the Questionnaire, and submitting the Questionnaire to the CMC office by a timely schedule, (4) examining the candidate to determine qualifications in terms of character, life style, gifts, and beliefs, (5) arranging, in collaboration with local leadership, the program and details related to the ordination or licensing event, (6) officiating the ordination or license, and (7) doing a follow-up ministry with the newly ordained or licensed minister.
Follow-up with the newly ordained or licensed minister includes a minimum of semi-annual contacts with the new minister and the congregational leadership during the two years following the ordination or licensure. The purpose of these contacts is to counsel with the newly ordained or licensed minister for the purpose of establishing him in his new role, informing him of CMC polity, to encourage attendance at CMC events, and to share and clarify principles of interpersonal relationships, ministerial teamwork, and congregational administration.