COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
Report to Presbytery ~ May 7, 2005

The Committee on Preparation for Ministry is pleased to report that Candidate Ruth Goldthwaite has satisfactorily completed all Book of Order requirements for ordination.  On March 8, 2005 we met with Ruth to conduct her Final Assessment during which we certified Ruth Goldthwaite as “Ready to Receive a Call.”  

We also gave Ruth permission to circulate her Personal Information Form (PIF) pending CPM chair approval of her final draft. Ruth will be searching for a call on two tracks, local church ministry and hospital chaplaincy.  We encouraged her to consider MVP!

Updates on Inquirers/Candidates:

INQUIRERS: 

      Sara Stegemann is completing her first year at Austin Theological Seminary.  She is having a great experience and has passed her Bible Content exam.  She is scheduled to meet with the committee in August for her Annual Consultation.  Sara also plans to apply this summer to be endorsed as a Candidate by her Session and CPM and hopes to appear before Presbytery in September.           

      Chris Conlin, who has an M Div from Colgate Rochester Theological Seminary (1981), and has completed the Presbytery IDLM program, continues his work as a Professor of Microbiology at the State University of Minnesota at Mankato. He also serves as Commissioned Lay Pastor at the Kasota Presbyterian Church.  He is on a long term track to complete requirements for ordination in the PCUSA.   He will meet with the committee in June for his Annual Consultation.

CANDIDATES:

      Tim Shekleton plans to graduate from the SemPM program at Bethel Seminary this spring.  He met with CPM on March 8, 2005, and will be in conversation with us this summer in regards to his remaining requirements for ordination.

      Ruth Goldthwaite was certified ready to receive a call and given permission to circulate her PIF.

Other committee news:  

Ø  CPM celebrates the Ordination to Ministry of Word and Sacrament of John Lindholm on March 6, 2005. 

Ø  We have been working on revisions for the CPM entry in the Manual of Operations and other policy concerns. 

Ø  We have learned that there is a young person graduating from college this spring          who plans to attend seminary in the fall.  We plan to meet with the session this          spring and with him early this summer.

Ø  We have scheduled two dates for Annual Consultations this summer:

            June 21st and August 16th. 

Committee Members (7 members)

      Class of 2005              Jason Cunningham and Clay Rosa

      Class of 2006              Virginia Galle and Donna Buell (chairperson)

      Class of 2007              Doug Dent and Ruby Kleymann

      there is one open slot on the committee for a lay person