Complete 2012 Journal - 2012 NC Conference Journal

198 The North Carolina Annual Conference – 2012 Journal
Monitoring Continuing Education Units:
1. The district superintendent, in annual consultation, may suggest to the clergy or diaconal
minister the area of continuing education he or she should take to facilitate his or her
professional growth. The pastor’s annual Continuing Education Report will be given to the
district superintendent at the annual consultation or other appropriate time.
2. Clergy shall have the responsibility for securing from the institution granting Continuing
Education credit a record of earned credit and providing a copy of this record to the Office of
Ministerial Relations.
3. It is the responsibility of each participant to determine, in consultation with the
Committee on Continuing Education, if a proposed program meets the criteria prior to
participation and funding.
Enlistment, Committee on
The primary concern of the Committee on Enlistment is to raise the awareness of our
constituency within the bounds of the North Carolina Conference so that identification and
enlistment of ordained ministers is an ongoing concern that touches every dimension of the body of
Christ. In keeping with this goal the Committee on Enlistment is ready to provide direction
and encouragement in the process of clergy enlistment. More importantly, the primary
responsibility for identifying youth, young adults, and second career individuals who are ready
to answer God’s call, falls upon local church pastors, laity in the local churches, and campus
ministers.
The Call to Action Committee has reported to the Council of Bishops that:
The adaptive challenge for The United Methodist Church is: To redirect the flow of attention, energy,
and resources to an intense concentration on fostering and sustaining an increase in the number of
vital congregations effective in making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
One of the Call to Action Committee recommendations is:
The quality of clergy and lay leadership is essential for effectiveness, and we must retool our
culture and systems of clergy recruitment, training, credentialing, and support with renewed
emphasis on greater accountability for outcomes, giving appropriate, but much less, focus to
intentions.
In response to this challenge and recommendation, the Committee on Enlistment will continue to
work closely with Bishop Gwinn and his Cabinet to find creative ways to help people explore
God’s calling in their lives. Through the office of the Assistant to the Bishop/Director of
Ministerial Relations there will be a person employed as the Associate Director of Ministerial
Relations. The Reverend Laura Fine Ledford has been appointed the Associate Director of
Ministerial Relations and serves in collaboration with the Director of Ministerial Relations
to affirm, support, and to encourage clergy; to assist in the development and maintenance of
processes, systems, and resources clergy need to excel professionally and spiritually; and to
recruit young, gifted, diverse candidates for ministry.
The Committee on Enlistment will continue to make appeals at conference youth events,
conference camps, campus ministries and other ministries especially to youth and young adults.