COMMITTEE ON PREPARATION FOR MINISTRY
Report to Presbytery ~ February 7, 2006

The Committee has no items for action

Committee Information:

Ø  The Committee on Preparation for Ministry held it first meeting of the year on Tuesday, January 24th. 

Ø  Doug Dent continues to be our Liaison to the IDLM Task Force.  He has worked with the Task Force this year to clarify that role. 

Ø  Donna Buell and Jerry Olson attended Synod COM/CPM Training, January 31st-February 2nd at Christ the King in Buffalo, MN.  

Ø  Ruby Kleymann and Terrie Gulden will be reading ordination exams in Chicago March 5-8.

Ø  We will work with our Inquirers and Candidates to schedule annual consultations for this summer.

Updates on Inquirers and Candidates:

INQUIRERS:

Jeremiah Knabe was received as an Inquirer after meeting with the committee last June.  He is in his first year at Princeton Theological Seminary and is working as a student pastor at The Presbyterian Church on the Hill in Princeton. (Doug Dent worked at this same church with the same pastor while he was in seminary at Princeton).  Jeremiah loves seminary and his work at the church.  He is engaged to be married this summer.  Jeremiah planned to take the Bible Content Exam on February 3rd. 

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 met with the committee in June for his Annual Consultation and was encouraged to keep moving forward on his requirements.  The committee has given Chris permission to take a New Testament Greek online course through Luther Seminary.  He may apply for Candidacy this summer. 

CANDIDATES:

Sara Stegemann is in her second year at Austin Theological Seminary.  She continues to have a good experience.  Last Fall she was approved by the Presbytery as a Candidate.  She has applied for CPE programs this summer and is awaiting word on that.  She will be taking Ordination Exams August 25-6.

Ruth Goldthwaite was certified ready to receive a call by the committee last year.  She is currently doing another CPE Residency in Chicago through September.  She has been in conversation with Chicago Presbytery to discuss the possibility of ordination to that position.  She will be circulating her PIF and will also use the Pastoral Care Network as she searches for a call. 

Committee Members:

      Class of 2006              Virginia Galle and Donna Buell (chairperson)

      Class of 2007              Doug Dent and Ruby Kleymann

      Class of 2008              Clay Rosa, John Lindholm, Gerald Olson