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Free Church of ScotlandBoard of Ministry

Application for Recognition as a Candidate for the Ministry

PLEASE COMPLETE THIS FORM CLEARLY IN BLACK INK. YOU MAY COMPLETE THE FORM ELECTRONICALLY. SUBMIT AS A WORD FILE. DO NOT FOLD THE FORM.

All questions should be answered. To comply with legislation we require a clear photocopy of your current passport (which may be attached as a digital file).

We also require 2 copies of your photograph. These may be supplied in colour or black and white (approx. 6” x 4”). Alternatively you may supply a digital image file and attach the file along with your application. If you supply printed photographs affixed one copy in the box below.

Surname: __________________

First Names: _________________________

Form updated: February 2016

PART A - To be completed by the Applicant

1. Name and Address

Surname:

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First names:

Email:

Telephone (landline & mobile):

Correspondence address:

2. Personal details

Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY):

Nationality:

If not a UK or EU citizen, what isyour UK immigration status?

Country of Origin:

Present Occupation:

What is your First Language?

List any other languages you speak and indicate your level of fluency.

Do you have a driving licence?

Next of Kin:

Address (if different):

Relationship:

Telephone (landline & mobile):

Email:

3. Family Life

What is your marital status?

If married, give date of marriage:

Wife’s name:

Wife’s occupation:

Give details of any dependent children:

Have you / your spouse ever been divorced?

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Are there any areas of major theological disagreement with your spouse?

Please give details of any Disability/ Special Needs/ Dietary requirements that affect you / your spouse or a dependent.

How have you shared with yourfamily (e.g., fiancée, wife,children, parents, as appropriate)your sense of call to the Ministry?

What degree of support or otherwisedo you expect from them?

EDUCATION & WORK

4. Pre-University examination results (e.g Highers / A levels)

Examining body Date Subject Level Grade or Band

5. If you are a student or Graduate of a University, College etc., please give details of your educational attainments below

University/College, etc. Date of Entry Faculty

Degree or other qualifications aimed at:

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Subjects already passed or Degrees already obtained (give year and qualification):

List any subjects yet to be taken:

Expected date of graduation or completion of studies (Month and Year):

6. Please list work experience to date and list any professional or vocational examinations or qualifications passed or professional qualifications:

7. Give the names and address, email, and telephone numbers for TWO former or current employers (or other unrelated persons) who would be willing to supply you with a character reference. State your connection with them and advise them that they will be contacted for a reference. (Presbytery/Kirk Session should take up these references, consider them, and forward them to the Board of Ministry along with the application):

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CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE

8. Please give a brief account of your Christian conversion and testimony (up to 500 words):

9. Church Affiliation

1) How long have you been connected with the Free Church of Scotland?

2) How long have you been a member in the Free Church of Scotland?

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3) Have you been a member of another denomination? Give dates in each instance.

4) Of which Free Church congregation are you now a member?

5) How long have you been a communicant member in your congregation?

6) Have you ever been an office-bearer in the Free Church of Scotland or any other denomination? If so, please give details (office, denomination, congregation and dates):

10. Doctrine

1) Do you accept the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the infallible and inerrant Word of God?

2) Have you read the Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy (1978), which may be read at http://www.bible-researcher.com/chicago1.html? Do you agree with the statement?

3) Do you accept the teachings of the (1647) Westminster Confession of Faith as being in harmony with the written Word of God?

4) Do you consider this Confession to be a statement of your own faith?

5) Are there any parts of the Westminster Confession of Faith on which you require further clarification or about which you have questions?

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6) Sung Praise in the Free Church of Scotland is regulated by Act 1 (Plenary General Assembly, November 2010). What are your views on sung praise in public worship?

7) As a candidate for the ministry you will visit and take part in the worship of a variety of Free Church congregations. The local practice in sung praise may be different from your own views. Would you be happy to participate in worship in such a setting?

8) In May 2000 the General Assembly approved of the Danvers Statement (drafted in 1988), which sets out a “complementarian” theological understanding of the roles of women and men. (The Statement may be read at: http://cbmw.org/core-beliefs/).

Have you read the Danvers Statement?

Do you agree with it?

9) The appendix to this application contains the questions put to candidates at their ordination.

a. Do you have any questions about them?

b. Could you answer them in the affirmative?

11. Christian Ministry

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1. Please give a simple explanation of the gospel message in less than 500 words.

2. Please give a written account of your vision of Christian ministry in less than 500 words.

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3. Please give a written account of any Christian work in which you have recently been engaged in less than 500 words.

12. Grounds of Application

1) What is your motive in seeking ordination to enter the ministry?

2) Have you at any previous time applied for recognition as a student for the ministry of the Free Church of Scotland?

3) If so, please give details (date, as a member of which congregation, which Presbytery and with what results?)

4) Have you ever applied for recognition as a student for the ministry of any other denomination?

5) If so, please give details (date, denomination and with what results?)

13. Disclosure: Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG)

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Because the position of Student Minister involves “regulated work” with children and protected adults, the Free Church of Scotland will require you to complete a Self-Declaration form and will also require a satisfactory PVG Scheme Record Disclosure prior to appointing you to this position.

Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offence?

Is there any reason why you may not be considered suitable for working with children or protected groups?

Appendix – Questions to be put to probationers before they are licensed to preach the gospel (see question 10(6)):

1. Do you believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, and the only rule of faith and manners?

2. Do you sincerely own and believe the whole doctrine of the Confession of Faith, approven by the General Assemblies of this Church, to be the truths of God, contained in Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments; and do you own the whole doctrine therein contained as the confession of your faith?

3. Do you sincerely own the purity of worship presently authorised and practised in this Church, and also own the Presbyterian government and discipline; and are you persuaded that the said doctrine, worship, and discipline, and Church government, are founded upon the Holy Scriptures, and agreeable thereto?

4. Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ, as King and Head of the Church, has therein appointed a government In the hands of the Church officers, distinct from, and not subordinate In its own province to, civil government, and that the Civil magistrate does not possess jurisdiction or authoritative control over the regulation of the affairs of Christ’s Church?

5. And do you approve of the general principles embodied in the Claim, Declaration and Protest, adopted by the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1842, and in the Protest of Ministers and Elders, commissioners from Presbyteries to the General Assembly, read in the presence of the Royal Commissioner on 18th May 1843, as declaring the views that are sanctioned by the Word of God, and as the standards of this Church, with respect to the spirituality and freedom of the Church of Christ, and her subjection to Him as her only Head, and to His Word as her only standard?

6. Do you promise that, through the grace of God, you will firmly and constantly adhere to, and in your station, to the utmost of your power, assert, maintain, and defend the said doctrine, worship and discipline, and the government of this Church by Kirk Sessions, Presbyteries, Provincial Synods, and General Assemblies?

7. Do you promise that in your practice you will conform yourself to the said worship, and submit yourself to the said discipline and government of this Church, and not endeavour, directly or indirectly, the prejudice or subversion of the same?

8. Do you promise that you shall follow no divisive courses from the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church?

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9. Do you renounce all doctrines, tenets, or opinions whatsoever, contrary to, or inconsistent with, the said doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of this Church?

10. Do you promise that you shall submit yourself to the several judicatories of this Church?

DECLARATION (TO BE SIGNED BY ALL APPLICANTS)

I hereby certify that to the best of my knowledge all the particulars given above are correct and in the knowledge that I must, if accepted, pursue my studies under the supervision of the Board of Ministry. I hereby make application for Recognition as a student for the Ministry of the Free Church of Scotland.

Signed.............................................................

After carefully checking that all questions have been answered you should now hand this form to the Minister or Session Clerk of the Free Church in which you are a

communicant member. Enclose two photographs and a photocopy of your Passport Information page. Electronic files may be supplied in place of these paper documents

if you complete this document electronically.

PART B – THIS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION FORMIS FOR THE USE OF THE KIRK SESSION & PRESBYTERY

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Guidance for Kirk Sessions / Presbyteries on procedure

Normally an applicant will have obtained advice from his minister before completing a Candidate Application Form. When an applicant submits a form it is perfectly in order for the Kirk Session to discuss the matter and take a decision about the best way to proceed. However the Kirk Session should not formally interview the applicant or give their formal approval to the application without first involving the Presbytery in the recognition process. Most Presbyteries will have a Students Committee or they may appoint a special Committee as the need arises. The whole Presbytery may be involved or a representative committee may deal with the application as most appropriate in each case.

The Kirk Session is responsible to ensure that the applicant has fully completed Section A, that he has enclosed photographs and a copy of his passport information page, and that details of two referees have been supplied. In processing the application the Session are confirming that the applicant is a member in full communion with their congregation and that he participates fully in the life and worship of the church.

The Session should invite the Presbytery or its Students Committee to meet conjointly with the Kirk Session in order to complete Section B of the application, to interview the applicant, to advise the applicant and to made a recommendation as to how the candidate should proceed.

Great care should be taken at every stage in the application and interview process. The interview meeting is a meeting of a Presbytery appointed committee meeting conjointly with representatives of the candidate’s home Kirk Session. The Kirk Session will determine if all the members of the Session or a representative number attend. The Presbytery provides the chairman of the conjoint meeting and the Presbytery takes ownership of the application process if the application is approved for transmission to the Board.

The Board reminds presbyteries to take great care when processing an application. The Presbytery should take up the references and should ensure that referees have the skills and knowledge to make judgements on an applicant’s character and skills. References should be followed up where necessary if there is any matter of concern. Giftedness for teaching and preaching and inter-personal skills should be properly assessed as part of the application process. Presbyteries may need to consider an applicant’s Christian character and temperament and they should be prepared to probe areas of personal weakness and deficiency. The Kirk Session members will know the candidate well and their input will be particularly valuable in assessing the character of the applicant.

The Board of Ministry will be happy to assist ministers, kirk-sessions and presbyteries as they process applications. Contact the Clerk or Convener of the Board with any query.

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CANDIDATE EVALUATION - To be completed by the Kirk Session in consultation with Presbytery representatives

(1) If the applicant’s association with the congregation or with the Free Church of Scotland is less than three years, what information does the Kirk Session/Presbytery representatives have about the applicant from his previous congregation(s) or denomination?

PREACHING/TEACHING SKILLS

(2) How often, and in what circumstances, have members of the Kirk Session or Presbytery representatives heard the applicant preach?

(3) What evidence do the Kirk Session/Presbytery representatives see of the applicant’s potential as a preacher and teacher?

PERSONAL CHARACTER AND GIFTS

The following questions are given to assist in evaluating the candidate’s character and gifts. The conjoint meeting is free to examine other areas as appropriate and space is provided to give additional information. Recording a brief response from the candidate for these questions will assist the Board in their assessment of the candidate. You may also wish to comment on the response. Please comment in brackets to make it clear that this is your comment on the candidate’s response.

(4) What experience do you have of teaching God’s word to others?

(5) How well do you work with others?

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(6) Ministry involves both leadership and service – what is your assessment of your gifts and abilities as a leader and as a servant of others?

(7) What areas in your moral and spiritual life are spiritually weak or need special attention to guard against sin?

(8) Why should you not simply continue serving God in your present / past calling,

living as a witness and to the glory of God in your present calling?

(9) How often have you been urged or advised to consider the ministry? By whom?

(10) Have you seen evidence of fruit from your Christian witness?

(11) What is your understanding of a Call to the Ministry?

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(12) Jesus said “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. How does that apply to the work of the ministry?

(13) What are the distinctive aspects of the Free Church of Scotland testimony that motivate you to enter the ministry of this church?

EVALUATION OF CHARACTER AND GIFTS

The following questions are for the Kirk-Session and Presbytery representatives.

(14) Comment on the applicant’s motives for seeking to study for the ministry:

(15) Comment on the applicant’s understanding of the call to ministry and its self-denying lifestyle and service:

(16) Comment on any areas of concern with the candidate, or areas relating to his character, home life, relationships, teachability or spiritual gifting that make you hesitate to support the application wholeheartedly:

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(17) Provide any additional information that you gathered during interview which the Board should be made aware of:

(18) Comment on the applicant’s grasp and appreciation of the testimony of the Free Church of Scotland:

(19) What conjoint view has the Kirk Session in consultation with Presbytery representatives formed of the applicant’s gifts and character on areas such as those listed below, on a scale of 1-5. 1 = very weak; 5 = very strong. If you do not know put a dash (-) through the box.

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Evidence of conversion and developing maturity as a Christian

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Public prayers are reverent and appropriateArticulates a good understanding of the gospelEvidence of effective public communicationEvidence of a pastoral heart, empathy and understandingEvidence of leadership skillsWorks well in a small group settingEvidence of evangelistic giftsAbility to handle conflict and disagreement with humility and maturityGood at working on a one to one basisAwareness of own weaknesses and areas of temptationShows initiative and visionIntellectual abilityOrganisational skillsWillingness to learn and be discipledGood interpersonal skillsEvidence of respect from others in church and outwith the churchInvolvement in mercy ministryWorks well with others in a team context

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

(1) Does the Kirk Session in consultation with Presbytery representatives believe that the applicant has the intellectual aptitude to undertake the rigorous course of study for the ministry?

(2) If the applicant does not now have, and cannot be reasonably expected to obtain before entering Edinburgh Theological Seminary (ETS), formal academic qualifications, to what gifts, graces, experience and record of Christian usefulness does the Kirk Session in consultation with Presbytery representatives wish to draw attention, as compensating for the lack of formal academic qualifications, and as giving promise of:

(a) Ability to benefit from the ETS course?

(b) Future ministerial usefulness?

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(3) Do the Kirk Session and Presbytery representatives consider that the candidate would benefit from further assessment and training such as a Ministry Apprenticeship prior to entering ETS?

(4) Do the Kirk Session and Presbytery representatives consider that the candidate would benefit from a non-standard course of training, for example a training leading to a specific type of specialist ministry? Give reasons for any proposed modification.

(5) Do the Kirk Session and Presbytery representatives consider that the candidate would benefit from serving as an Assistant Minister on completion of studies at ETS.

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PART C - CERTIFICATE BY THE KIRK SESSION IN CONSULTATION WITH PRESBYTERY REPRESENTATIVES

This Certificate need not be completed on the same day as the interview with the candidate takes place. Time for reflection, consideration, discussion and prayer is

quite appropriate.

At ………………………………………………. the………………..day of……………………20.

…. the Kirk Session of ……………………………………………………………… Free

Church met and was constituted. The following Presbytery representatives were

present:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………

Inter Alia: The Kirk Session had before them an Application for Recognition as a

student for the Ministry on behalf of Mr …..………………………………….

……………………..…

who was also interviewed by the Kirk Session and Presbytery representatives.

The Kirk Session (in consultation with Presbytery representatives) have to come a

conjoint view of the candidate’s gifts, character and qualification for the purpose

of advising the applicant as to the most suitable course of action in response to

his application.

The Kirk Session (in consultation with Presbytery representatives) recommend the

following course of action to Presbytery:

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A. That the applicant is not encouraged to consider any form of ‘official’ ministry at this stage;

B. That the applicant would benefit from a formal ministry apprenticeship prior to recognition as a candidate for the ministry and admission to ETS. An apprenticeship can help a very strong candidate who lacks experience or who remains largely untested. It can also help the Kirk Session and Presbytery to further assess the character, gifts and teaching skills of an applicant. If a formal ministry apprenticeship is unavailable the applicant should be given opportunity within the Presbytery to test his preaching/teaching gifts and character under the oversight of his Minister and Kirk Session for a period of one year when the application should be reconsidered in full.

C. That the applicant is clearly suited for another form of service which does not require full-time teaching skills (e.g., local eldership, diaconate, youth-work, work among the elderly, social care, administration) They recommend that Presbytery take action as appropriate (in consultation with the Kirk Session) to offer the applicant suitable training through local /ETS training in the relevant areas such as the following (please tick):

Eldership

Diaconate

Youth work

Social care

Church administration

D. That the applicant be recommended by Presbytery to the Board of Ministry for entrance into full-time theological training at ETS.

That the course at ETS should/should not (delete as appropriate) be preceded by some other formal course in higher education (e.g., University, College).

That the course at ETS should/should not (delete as appropriate) be preceded by a formal apprenticeship of at least one year.

That, while acknowledging that the applicant’s competence and confidence may yet change, they believe the applicant demonstrates the character, gifts and qualifications that suggest his suitability for the following areas of service:

Rural or semi-rural ministry of a more general sort

Urban reaching/teaching ministry of a more general sort

Urban reaching/teaching ministry among the young

Urban reaching/teaching ministry among specialist group

Church planting/Evangelism

International mission

Tent-making ministry (i.e., serve as pastors of congregations and derive income from other employment to support their ministry)

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………………………………………………… Kirk Session

Moderator

…..….………………………………………………… Kirk Session Clerk

If the conjoint view of the Kirk Session and Presbytery is ‘D’ above, the Presbytery should forward the completed form and the signed certificate below to the Clerk to the Board of Ministry.

PART D - CERTIFICATE BY THE PRESBYTERY

At ……………………………………the………………day

of…………………………..20…………. the Free

Presbytery of ………………………………………….. met and was constituted.

Inter Alia: There was submitted a Schedule of Application for Recognition as a

student for the Ministry on behalf of Mr ……………………….……………………..

…………

The Presbytery, having found the application in order, with the Kirk Session

Certificate duly signed, and being fully satisfied with the conjoint knowledge it

now has along with the Kirk Session of the applicant’s religion, theological

views, character, background and gifts, recommend the applicant to the

Board of Ministry for entrance into full-time theological training at Edinburgh

Theological Seminary, preceded, if appropriate, by a course in higher

education at a University or College.

………………………………………………… Presbytery Moderator

..…..….………………………………………………… Presbytery Clerk

The completed application form, together with the required photographs or photographic data file, a copy of the applicant’s passport, and two references

should be sent to the Clerk of the Board of Ministry. Documents may be submitted electronically:

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Clerk: Rev. Dr. David Ford 7 Foxes Grove, Lenzie, Kirkintilloch, G66 5BN

Tel: 0141 578 6748. Email: davidecford@hotmail.com.