Photo of new 2007-2010 Certified Lay Pastors class which began in August. Class participants include: 6 Presbyterians (Bob Bowers, Lori Kasberg, Kae Merold, Bob Moore, Bob Potts and Zegeye Moroda) and 4 United Church of Christ (Kim Carter, Daniel Dempsey, Michael Garrison and Rise Schneeider).
(Note: the 2007 CLP Brochure is available in PDF, formatted for printing.)
The Presbytery of Scioto Valley Certified Lay Pastor Program (CLP) In Partnership with The Central Southeast Ohio Association of the United Church of Christ (CSEOA)
CLP Program 2007-2010 Courses
• Old Testament Survey
• New Testament Survey
• Preaching
• Theology
• Worship And Sacraments
• Presbyterian Polity
• Church Administration
• History Of The Reformed Faith
• Pastoral Care
• Christian Education
• Spirituality
• Ethics
The certified lay professional program also includes mentor relationships, an annual consultation with the clp committee, a summer program on homiletics and education in the small membership church and final exams.
Purpose and Authority
Every Christian is called to ministry. The Reformed tradition holds that all baptized Christians are called to be active participants in the church’s total ministry. The total ministry is nothing less that the exercise of the church’s vocation to continue the ministry of Jesus Christ; we are called to embody that reconciliation in our own time and in our own place through worship, service to others and by proclamation of God’s word to all people.
The Presbytery of Scioto Valley is aware of the growing need to provide competent ministerial leadership in churches which do not have the resources, but have the need, for regular pastoral leadership. In view of this need and in keeping with the Reformed tradition the Presbytery has adopted the Certified Lay Professionals Program in accordance with the Book of Order, G-14.0801.
The purpose of the program is to recruit, equip, place and supervise persons who will serve in churches qualifying for the ministry of a Certified Lay Pastor (hereafter as CLP). The Certified Lay Pastor shall not be viewed by the congregation (church) as a replacement for ordained clergy, nor shall the CLP program be viewed as an alternative track of preparation for, or function as, ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament. The CLP will not normally be commissioned to serve in multiple staff congregations.
Administration
Oversight and administration of the Certified Lay Pastor training program shall be the responsibility of the Certified Lay Professionals Committee.
Qualifications The applicant for Lay Pastor must be an ordained elder within the PCUSA and will ordinarily have served as an elder for at least two years.
Applicants shall ordinarily have finished a college degree program. Post high school course work and life experience may also be considered sufficient for meeting this requirement. Applicants must demonstrate ability to meet the academic requirements of the educational program.
Cost
Cost of the program is $150 per quarter, which includes the textbooks. The summer class cost will be $75, and the retreat costs are $75. It is the hope of the CLP Committee that the church and the individual enrolled in the training will share the cost of participation. In addition, the ministry program is being supported by the budget of the Presbytery of Scioto Valley. The evaluation at Midwest Development Center is $375, of which the Presbytery will pay $125, and asks that the individual and his/her church share in paying the balance.
Classes
Over a period of three years, meeting once a month, candidates for the CLP program receive instruction in “Bible, Reformed Theology and Sacraments, Presbyterian Polity, preaching, leading worship, pastoral care, and teaching” (G-14.0801. The emphasis in the CLP preparation shall be on the practice and understanding of ministry, theological reflection, and spiritual growth. The purpose of these classes in a group setting shall be to provide instruction in the various concerns outlined in the Book of Order, to provide for an experience of Christian community in learning, and to provide an additional environment for the spiritual formation of the CLP.
Resources
Resources for training include teaching Pastor, lay or ordained, seminary professors and staff, governing body staff (Presbytery, Synod, and GA), program staff, and staff from ecumenical programs and bodies. Persons identified to teach in this program shall have demonstrated clear qualification in their field of expertise.
For more information contact the chair of the Certified Lay Professionals Committee, Dick Mickley at home: 937-642-1403, or e-mail: rmickley@columbus.rr.com. If you would like to have current lay pastors speak to your session about the program, also contact the chair of the Committee.
