Report of the
Ministerial Candidate Committee
The Ministerial Candidate Committee has among its duties to “safeguard the doctrinal purity of the church by exercising vigilance when examining prospective ministers concerning their beliefs and practices, endeavoring to approve only those who are committed without reservation to the authority of the Scriptures and the doctrines and practices of our church as the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures.” To carry out this responsibility, the Ministerial Candidate Committee meets regularly and seeks to give quality interviews and examination to men who would serve among us.
In the past year, the Committee met ten times and conducted thirteen interviews with the following men: Shan D. Cleck, Timothy J. Schmoyer, Ronald L. Kohl, Mark E. Barninger, Davis E. Duggins, Philip G. Norris, Glenn R. Felty, Raymond R. Bertolet, Scott B. Evans, Timothy J. Bertolet, Aaron J. Susek, Mark R. Evans, and Joshua P. Miller.
The following men were approved for ordination examination: Timothy J. Schmoyer, Ronald L. Kohl, Mark E. Barninger, Philip G. Norris, Raymond R. Bertolet, Scott B. Evans, and Timothy Bertolet.
The following men were approved for examination for recognition of previous ordination: Davis E. Duggins and Glenn R. Felty.
The following men were issued licenses: Daniel L. Williams, Shan D. Cleck, Robert B. Kramer, David E. Brandt, Ferdie R. Madara, and Steven J. DelDuco.
The following men were approved as probationers eligible to receive a call: Shan D. Cleck, Colby A. Weinhofer, Ferdie R. Madara, and Aaron J. Susek
The Annual Orientation Seminar will be held June 26-28, 2007, at Calvary Bible Fellowship Church in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania.
1. Resolved, that the list of men under the care of the Ministerial Candidate Committee as of February 28, 2007, is as follows:
Probationers
Mark E. Barninger (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Harrisburg PA
Raymond R. Bertolet (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Millsboro DE
Timothy J. Bertolet (2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pocono Summit PA
David E. Brandt (2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lebanon PA
Shan D. Cleck (2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Strasburg PA
Steven J. DelDuco (2007). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reading PA
Davis E. Duggins (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stroudsburg PA
Scott B. Evans (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oley PA
Glenn R. Felty (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Allentown PA
Jonathan D. Forsythe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Brigantine NJ
Ronald L. Kohl (2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quakertown PA
Robert B. Kramer (2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ephrata PA
Frank E. Lenahan (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . Cape May Court House NJ
Ferdie R. Madara (2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Benton PA
Thomas H. Morrison (2005). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Las Cruces NM
Philip G. Norris (2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Mt. Carmel PA
David W. Peters (2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Killeen TX
Timothy J. Schmoyer (2004). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Dover DE
Colby A. Weinhofer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Akron PA
Daniel L. Williams (2006). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Parkside PA
Candidates
Mark R. Evans. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Coopersburg PA
Shad A. Gilbert. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Stockertown PA
James D. MacArthur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Oley PA
Joshua P. Miller. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Quakertown PA
David K. Schlonecker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emmaus PA
Alphaus D. Stoltzfus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Downingtown PA
Aaron J. Susek. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Royersford PA
Applicants
Joshua M. Allen. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . East Stroudsburg PA
Timothy G. Clark. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Sinking Spring PA
Samuel Claudio, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bethlehem PA
Raymond L. Cole. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Newark DE
John C. Elias. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bethlehem PA
Kurt P. Francis. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Northumberland PA
David J. Gettel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Graterford, PA
Joshua P. Gibson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Northumberland PA
Troy S. Good. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Boyertown PA
Robert W. Green. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Newark DE
Peter J. Gunderson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Spring City PA
Ronald C. Hagy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Corning NY
Fred J. Hoffman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lewisburg PA
Jonathan H. King. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Schnecksville PA
John LoRusso. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alburtis PA
Marcos G. Ramirez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Merida Yucatan Mexico
Carlos G. Rodriguez. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reading PA
Mark A. Schaeffer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Kinnelon NJ
Andrew J. Stapleton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Reading, PA
2. Resolved, that the following amendments to Article 513-13 be approved at first reading:
512-13.1 Purpose – The objective of the Ministerial Candidate Committee shall be to provide the BFC with ministers that are called of God, faithful to the Word, dedicated wholeheartedly to Jesus Christ, and committed to the doctrines and practices of the BFC.
512-13.2 Composition and Election
(1) It shall be composed of seven ordained ministers elected on a rotating basis to serve terms of three years.
Class I Three ministers
Class II Two ministers
Class III Two ministers
512-13.3 Duties
(1) It shall receive applications from all who offer themselves to be ministers in the BFC.
(2) It shall be available to the candidates and probationers for consultation when requested.
(3) It shall examine those who offer themselves for service in our Church, determine as far as possible the sincerity and genuineness of their call to the ministry.
(4) It shall ascertain as far as possible whether the candidates and probationers have the Scriptural qualifications to be a pastor in the BFC.
(5) It shall safeguard the doctrinal purity of the church by exercising vigilance when examining prospective pastors concerning their beliefs and practices, endeavoring to approve only those who are committed without reservation to the authority of the Scriptures and the doctrines and practices of our church as the system of doctrine taught in the Scriptures.
(6) It shall license probationers for Annual Conference prior to ordination.
(7) It shall recommend qualified probationers to the Credentials Committee for ordination examination.
(8) It shall furnish prior to Annual Conference to the Registrar a list of those probationers who are eligible to be members of Annual Conference.
(9) It shall submit a written report to Annual Conference.
3. Resolved, that the following amendment to Article 505-1 of the Faith & Order be approved at first reading:
505-1. Voting Members.
(5) probationers who have been licensed by the Ministerial Candidate Committee
4. Resolved, that the following amendment to Article 204-1.4 of the Faith & Order be approved for first reading:
Physical Qualifications. The minister must be a mature man who is physically and mentally fit, being free from impairments that would vitiate the effectiveness of his ministry. His physical and mental fitness should give promise that he will be able to bear the demands of the ministry.
Ministerial Candidate Committee: Calvin T. Reed, Chairman; Richard E. Taylor Secretary; Jonathan W. Arnold, Sr, Howard N. Wells, David E. Gundrum.