Report of the Committee on Ministerial Candidates
The Ministerial Candidate Committee met nine times in scheduled meetings during the conference year. Other meetings were held as necessary.
The following men were interviewed during the year: Gene W. Smith, Donald R. Hibbs, John C. Studenroth, Jerry L. Moyer, Ralph E. Ritter, Allan R. Vivona, Mark DiNunzio, Robert Patterson Jr., John Mark McCreary, Ronald R. Vining, Carl J. Fischer, Jr., Dennis J. Lawrence, Walter M. Johnston, Richard B. Ravis, and W. Neil Harding.
The following were approved to be probationers eligible to receive a call: Donald R. Hibbs, Ralph E. Ritter, Gene W. Smith, John C. Studenroth.
The following were licensed during the year: Ralph E. Ritter, Gene W. Smith, and John C. Studenroth.
Brent E. Robinson was granted a one year leave of absence. The license of Thomas G. Barshinger was revoked because of his withdrawal from the Bible Fellowship ministry.
Carl J. Fischer, Jr., Walter M. Johnston, and Richard B. Ravis were recommended for ordination examination.
This year’s Orientation Seminar was held June 3-6. W. Richard Solberg led a seminar entitled, “Effective Pastoral Ministry in the 1990’s.” Six men completed the entire seminar.
The Orientation Seminar for next year will be held June 1-4, 1992. The preaching clinic will be held Tuesday, June 2, 1992. The pastors of the Bible Fellowship Church are invited to help in the evaluation of the preaching of the candidates.
RESOLVED, that the men under the care of the Ministerial Candidate Committee be accepted as listed below:
Probationers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .(Year of licensing in parenthesis)
Clifford B. Boone. . . . . . . . . . . . Tanzania, East Africa (1989)
Douglas D. Bowne. . . . . . . . . . . .Spring City, PA
R. Jerome Brush. . . . . . . . . . . . . Fleetwood, PA (1988)
Carl J. Fischer, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . . . Nazareth, PA (1990)
Arthur J. Frisbie*. . . . . . . . . . . . .Newark, DE (1976)
W. Neil Harding, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . .Philadelphia, PA (1983)
Donald R. Hibbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . Sciota, PA
Walter M. Johnston. . . . . . . . . . . The Philippines (1987)
Barnabas Marshall. . . . . . . . . . . .Staten Island, NJ
Christopher J. Morrison. . . . . . . .Spencer, MA (1988)
Richard B. Ravis. . . . . . . . . . . . . Edison, NJ (1990)
Ralph E. Ritter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Staten Island, NY (1991)
Brent E. Robinson**. . . . . . . . . . Baltimore, MD (1988)
Gene W. Smith. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Catasaqua, PA (1991)
David H. C. Sng**. . . . . . . . . . . .Hatfield, PA (1987)
Dennis W. Spinney. . . . . . . . . . . Dudley, MA (1984)
John C. Studenroth. . . . . . . . . . . .Kutztown, PA (1991)
David R. Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pleasant Valley, NY (1989)
Howard N. Wells. . . . . . . . . . . . .Hatfield, PA (1990)
Candidates
William N. Crowell. . . . . . . . . . .Limerick, PA
Wayne A. Davidson. . . . . . . . . . .Spring Mount, PA
Daniel F. DeLozier. . . . . . . . . . . Lancaster, PA
Ronald A. Honeywell. . . . . . . . . .Montrose, PA
Dennis J. Lawrence. . . . . . . . . . . Souderton, PA
Philip J. Mitchell. . . . . . . . . . . . . Allentown, PA
Duane E. Moyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Quadeloupe, West Indies
Jerry L. Moyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Wallingford, PA
Robert Patterson, Jr.. . . . . . . . . . .Cumberland House, Canada
Thomas A. Pollock. . . . . . . . . . . Puposky, MN
Thomas F. Templeton. . . . . . . . . Somers Point, NJ
Ronald R. Vining. . . . . . . . . . . . .Allentown, PA
Daniel J. Vitalo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Reading, PA
Allan R. Vivona. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Columbia, PA
Richard J. Vroman. . . . . . . . . . . .Edison, NJ
Applicants
Clyde D. Bomgardner, Jr.. . . . . . Graterford, PA
David C. Butler. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Shamokin, PA
Peter A. Fessler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lebanon, PA
Scott Fetterolf. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mt. Carmel, PA
Kevin A. Gehman. . . . . . . . . . . . Lancaster, PA
Jimmy D. Head. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bethlehem, PA
Richard P. Jones, Sr.. . . . . . . . . . Emmaus, PA
J. Mark McCreary. . . . . . . . . . . . E. Stroudsburg, PA
Harold F. Noyes. . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cambridgeport, VT
(* Now retired. ** On leave of absence.)
RESOLVED, That the By-Laws for Annual Conference, Article II: Procedure for the Recognition of a Minister, Men Entering the Ministry. (Faith and Order pages 119-120), be revised as follows:
Men Entering the Ministry
The Ministerial Candidate Committee divides those under its care into three groups: Applicants, Candidates, and Probationers. An Applicant is a man who offers himself to this committee for service in the Bible Fellowship Church; young men are encouraged to seek this recognition as early in their educational program as they sense the call of God to the ministry. A Candidate is a man whose application is accepted and who remains under the guidance of this Committee; men move to this group when they near the completion of their educational preparation for the ministry. A Probationer is a man who has been approved by this Committee, has passed examinations on the Faith and Order of the Bible Fellowship Church, and is working in the Bible Fellowship Church (a particular church or agency) or other ministry approved by the Ministerial Candidate Committee in consultation with the Credentials Committee. Such other ministry does not include service on the pastoral staff of a church other than a Bible Fellowship Church. Men who meet all stated requirements for probationers are eligible to be licensed as probationers by the Ministerial Candidate Committee.
Probationary Service in a Particular Church Or Mission
Normally, a probationer serves in a full-time capacity. After a probationer has served at least two years, he may be recommended to the Credentials Committee for ordination examination. The minimum period of probationary service may be extended; having served as a probationer does not guarantee ordination.
A man serving his probationary period on a part-time basis may do so with the following requirements: a. He shall serve the equivalent of at least two years full-time service as determined by the Ministerial Candidate Committee, in consultation with the Credentials Committee. b. He shall serve at least one year under the supervision of a Board of Elders and/or another evaluating body approved by the Ministerial Candidate Committee and the Credentials Committee.
Probationary Service in Other Ministry
If a man seeks ordination in the Bible Fellowship Church and is not serving as the pastor of a particular church or mission, he may do so with the following requirements: a. He shall be a member of a Bible Fellowship Church. b. He shall follow the same procedure for ordination as other probationers. c. He shall comply with the Faith and Order in the course of his service, d. He shall be supervised by the Board of Elders of the church in which he holds membership, the governing board of the ministry under which he serves, and any other evaluating agencies the Ministerial Candidate Committee may require during the probationary period of service. The time of the probationary service may be in full or part-time capacity. [FIRST READING]
The Ministerial Candidate Committee: Carl C. Cassel (Chairman); Richard E. Taylor (Secretary); Alva C. Cassel, Randall A. Grossman, Daniel G. Ziegler.