COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
Report to Presbytery ~ September 17, 2005

Committee members: 

Clay Rosa, Virginia Galle, Doug Dent, Ruby Kleymann, and Donna Buell (chair)

UPDATES ON CANDIDATES:

      Ruth Goldthwaite has been certified ready to receive a call.  No action at this time. 

      Tim Shekleton Upon graduation from Bethel Seminary’s SemPM program in June, Tim received and accepted a call to serve the Bethlehem Covenant Church in Wheaton, MN, and sent a letter requesting withdrawal.   The CPM recommends to Presbytery that Tim Shekelton be withdrawn as a candidate for ministry in the PC(USA) as per his request. 

UPDATES ON INQUIRERS: 

      Chris Conlin met with the CPM for his annual consultation on June 28th.  The CPM recommends to the Presbytery that we continue Chris as an Inquirer. 

      Jeremiah Knabe met with the CPM on June 28th.  He was endorsed by the Session of First Presbyterian Church, Jackson as an Inquirer.  Jeremiah is a graduate of Augsburg College and is beginning his first year at Princeton Theological Seminary.  His CPM Liaison will be Rev. Doug Dent.  The CPM endorsed Jeremiah as an Inquirer and requests the Presbytery to enroll him as an Inquirer for ministry.

      Sara Stegemann met with the CPM on August 16th for her annual consultation and for her interview to be endorsed as a Candidate for ministry in the PCUSA. The Session of the Luverne Presbyterian Church met with Sara on August 9th and endorsed her application to become a Candidate and CPM concurred with that endorsement. The committee asked Sara to enroll in a CPE program in the Summer of 2006 and gave approval for her to take standard ordination exams in August of 2006 as she enters her Senior year. The CPM recommends that the Presbytery vote, upon examination, to approve Sara Stegemann’s request to become a Candidate for ministry in the PC(USA) and to enroll her as a Candidate.  Information about Sara, and her statement of faith is attached.  

G – 14.0305 e.   The presbytery shall receive the report and recommendation of its committee and shall examine the inquirer in person with respect to his or her Christian faith, forms of Christian service undertaken, and motives for seeking the ministry.

OTHER COMMITTEE NEWS:

There are three openings on CPM in the class of 2008.  If you are interested in being part of the rewarding process of helping Inquirers and Candidates discern their call to ministry, please speak with Iris Stevens from the Nominating Committee.   

Respectfully submitted,

Donna Buell, CPM chairperson