From Seminarian to Minister

“Final assessment” is a formal review by the presbytery’s committee to make a determination as to whether a candidate is “ready for examination for ordination, pending a call.” It is usually scheduled when a candidate has satisfied all the requirements of G-2.06, including both the time requirements of G-2.0602 and the educational and assessment requirements of G-2.0607b-d. Since those are usually easily verifiable, a major focus of the "final assessment" will be a consideration of "evidence" that the candidate possesses the qualities identified in G-2.0607a: “wisdom and maturity of faith, leadership skills, compassionate spirit, honest repute, and sound judgment.” In a very real sense, everything that has transpired in the relationship between the candidate, the session, and the presbytery during the preparation process is evidence for, or against, the person possessing these essential qualities of ministers of the Word and Sacrament. “Final assessment,” then, is where the presbytery makes its determination of the candidate’s “fitness and readiness” based on prayerful reflection, review of the covenanted goals negotiated with the candidate, and on their mutual discernment that God has called that person and that they have adequately prepared by developing personal gifts for ministry in response to that call.

A determination that a candidate is "certified ready" means that there are no requirements remaining to be fulfilled. Candidates, however, should not think of “certification of readiness” like a diploma received at the end of an academic course of study that conveys “all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto” (as many diplomas state) from then on, forever. Just as a presbytery has the ability to remove a person from its roll of inquirers and candidates “for sufficient reasons” (G-2.0609), it can also remove a candidate’s “certification of readiness” if it has reasons to believe that the person is in fact no longer ready to assume the responsibilities of ministry of the Word and Sacrament.

It is important, then, that candidates continue to remain in contact with their covenant partners in the preparation process--both presbytery and session--as they are seeking a call, and that they continue to be engaged in "supervised service to the church" (G-2.0606) to maintain and continue to develop their gifts for ministry as they seek their first call. Not only will the presbytery of care be looking for such practice, but so will any potential calling agencies or congregations.