This seminar is required for the North Central District ordination & consecration candidate preparation. If you are NOT in the ordination or consecration process with our district, please connect with Lisa Scarrow before attending.
The North Central District has set up a cycle for ordinands & consecrands to prepare the required six (6) position papers and attend four (4) seminars on a two-year cycle. All C&MA reading and written requirements for ordination/consecration can be met within a two-year cycle. Additional details will be given to attendees at the seminar. Meeting as a group, ordinands/consecrands interact with peers and LO&CC members.
Seminar Objectives
To inform candidates about the ordination process and answer questions they may have.
To provide a forum for candidates to discuss their position papers.
To stimulate candidates to sharpen their theological positions.
To promote Christ-centered church ministry that exalts Christ in His glory and power.
An obvious benefit of a cyclical schedule is the accountability to complete the work on time.
New and recently licensed workers who desire to be ordained enter the cycle and participate at the next scheduled Seminar. As a recipient of this memo, please make plans to attend and to prepare as outlined below.
Required Readings
Two of the books on the required ordination reading list should be read in advance of this Seminar and used as sources for a position paper:
“Children’s Bread” by Keith Bailey OR “Gospel of Healing” by A.B. Simpson.
For each of these books, please send a statement verifying that you read the book(s) to Lisa Scarrow (scarrowl@ncdcma.org)
Helpful Readings
“Four-fold Gospel” by A.B. Simpson
Write 1 Position Paper
Christ Our Healer
Write an 8-page paper (double spaced, 12-point font, standard margins) covering the following topics:
Explain the relationship of the atonement and divine healing in Old and New Testaments
Describe the Lord’s Use of Healing to authenticate His message, messiahship & kingdom
Note: be sure to write your paper regarding Christ as Healer as supported in Scripture, not as an academic study of healing from various points of view.Explain the significance of prayer and anointing by the elders with scriptural basis
Discuss problems with Divine Healing
Describe a ministry of healing in the local church—what, how, who, etc.
Your personal experience of Christ as our Healer (one page minimum)
Share applications to Ministry
Your paper is due at the beginning of the seminar via email to (scarrowl@ncdcma.org). Position papers are graded by LO&CC members on a pass/fail basis. If a paper is not “passable”, you will receive an explanation of the reason on the paper or attached note, along with instructions for needed improvements.
Discussion
Be prepared to make a five-minute presentation on each of the above points if called upon to do so and be ready to participate in discussion led by the facilitator.
The facilitator will select at random an ordination candidate to make a five-minute presentation on each of the four main points of the paper.
That candidate will then involve the group in discussing any questions or issues he/she has raised.
The facilitator will provide feedback on the presentations and discussion, leading a brief Q & A session on the topic.
Other LO&CC members may ask questions of any participant and may offer comments in the discussion.
Small Group Meeting & Prayer Time
As time permits, participants will meet in groups of four or five. Facilitators will lead a time of sharing and praying for one another.
Important Note: This is not a “graded” discussion, like in a college or seminary class. However, credit depends on turning in a satisfactory paper on-time, and involvement in the discussion. If credit is forfeited, you will be required to re-attend the next time, prior to being ordained. Our LO&CC team urges you to make this a priority, as we ourselves are doing, since the goal is to come alongside you as equippers who strengthen your ministry. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.
Position papers are graded by LO&CC members on a pass/fail basis. If a paper is not “passable,” you will receive an explanation of the reason on the paper or attached note along with instructions for needed improvements.
The desired outcome for ordinands is not just to “pass.” It’s to explore and express one’s convictions about what Scripture teaches on Christ as our Healer, so that the ordinand can teach a church body well on the subject and establish a biblical practice of encouraging the sick to trust Christ by faith.