Lifelong BIC Learning Expectation

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God” is the familiar King James translation of II Timothy 2:15 while the more recent New King James version says: “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

In the spirit of that mandate, whatever the translation, most congregational budgets include a line for continuing education. Hopefully each person in ministry will develop a personal continuing education program, taking advantage of the many helpful seminars and conferences offered each year locally and nationally; e.g. Willow Creek Leadership Summit, National Pastors Conference, Wesleyan Holiness Women’s Clergy Conference. This is an important way to keep up with trends and learn how others are responding to the needs of contemporary culture.

In addition to such continuing education, the Commission on Ministry and Doctrine (CMD) believes that it is important to keep nurturing our Brethren in Christ perspective . Currently more than 60% of our pastors come to the Brethren in Christ from other denominations bringing a wealth of strengths and some divergent viewpoints.  This diversity is added to a denomination informed by Wesleyan, Anabaptist, Pietist, and Evangelical theology, though we are none of them completely. Thus, it is important that the church provide for ongoing conversations among our pastors to nurture the blend that is BIC and nurturing our sense of brotherhood based on the Brethren in Christ understanding of the nature of the church.

In response to that need the CMD has developed Equipping for Ministry.  This is the umbrella which coordinates the pastoral education programs to nurture the blend of theological traditions that inform our mission and identity.  Equipping for Ministry houses three different programs: the Directed Study Program, Core Courses, and Impact Seminars/Courses.

• The Directed Study Program (DSP) is an on-line program designed as an alternative for those who do not have a Bible or seminary degree. Completion of the program meets the BIC educational requirement for ordination.
• The Core Courses are four intensive courses designed to introduce the doctrinal convictions and applied values of the Brethren in Christ. All credentialed persons are required to complete these as part of their credentialing process.
• The Impact Courses and Seminars are essentially BIC conversations related to our mission, vision and values as a living, growing, and changing community of faith.  Designed to address current issues from a BIC theological perspective, these Impact offerings are developed primarily for persons in active ministry.

As part of their lifelong BIC learning, credentialed persons in assigned ministry are expected to participate in two Equipping for Ministry sponsored offerings within each quadrennial review period. The Impact offerings will serve as the primary means to meet the lifelong BIC learning expectation. However, it is also possible to take or retake any of the Core Courses or to complete any of the on-line Directed Study Courses.

Each quadrennium one of the two BIC Lifelong Learning credits may be from an Equipping for Ministry sponsored, co-sponsored or approved program. These are BIC-sponsored and conducted, content-focused learning events which engage a Brethren in Christ theological perspective and are a minimum of six hours in length.  The promotional material for such programs notes that participants will receive Impact credit.

Persons who are retired are welcome to participate in an Impact offering but they are exempt from the quadrennial lifelong learning expectation.

Updated information about future seminars is available at www.bic-church.org  The bishops’ newsletters and Momentum  also announce upcoming Equipping for Ministry offerings.

Revised 9/07