A Reason for the Season

One of the reasons why I needed to get back from vacation was because of a Candidates Committee meeting. I'm the chair of the committee, so it doesn't look good when I skip it; and I'm not really sure if that's a possibility anyway. Anyhow, our committee oversees (the best we can) potential ministers who spend time developing their gifts in their respective churches for a season.

In addition to tough oral examinations which require extensive study (so that the minister can articulate difficult theological truths, not just know them), the candidate has to do an internship lasting the equivalent of a year. It is during this time when his gifts are developed, tested, discovered, etc....It may be that the candidate may find things he is not gifted in at all and that may affect his ministry direction. And vice versa.

That's why its so important to surround this candidate with people who can speak love and truth into his life. What gifts does he display? What are his weaknesses? How are those gifts being developed and tweaked? He can't do this on his own.

A self-evaluation misses tons of stuff. I mean you really don't know your weaknesses and strengths, nor can you tell what needs to be improved, perpetuated, dropped unless you have people involved in your life. Ignoring and seeking this feedback time is quite comfortable, but also quite irresponsible.

More than just having a 'feeling of calling' or folks who simply say, "You're our man," without a season of testing and developing, the candidate can say, "God's people have seen proof that He has indeed called and gifted me for ministry." Having this season benefits both the church and pastor, particularly in tough seasons that will certainly lay ahead.