The Ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Educational Status and Numerical Strength (Classic Reprint) PDF Download

Author: Margaret Bennett
Publisher: Forgotten Books
ISBN: 9780484651530
Category : Reference
Languages : en
Pages : 68

Get Book Here

Book Description
Excerpt from The Ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Educational Status and Numerical Strength The Methodist Episcopal Church, recognizing the vital importance of adequate leadership for the church, at the last General Conference authorized the establishment of the Commission on Life Service, in order to make possible "One unified system of recruiting, guidance, and selection of candidates for Christian service in the church." (Discipline, 1920, Paragraph 579.) In the personnel problem, that of ministerial supply is first in importance. The church had no adequate information as to the number of ministers needed or the training of those already members of her Conferences. For a long time church leaders had realized the importance of securing authentic data on the ministry. Some limited studies had been made but they were not comprehensive. The Commission on Life Service undertook the investigation. It believed that an understanding of the present situation would be a valuable aid in presenting the claims of the Christian ministry and in emphasizing the education required. There were 14,072 effective members and probationers of Annual and Mission Conferences in the United States as listed in the General Minutes for the Conference year 1922. Of these, 11,275, or 80%, made return on a questionnaire as to their educational status. The statistics in Section One of this study are based thereon. Elsewhere in this report, use is also made of material derived from this questionnaire. The records of supernumerary and retired members of Conferences were not sought, except for the limited number who were acting as "supplies." All members of Foreign Conferences were omitted. "Supply" pastors were also asked to give their educational records, and 2,480 or 67% of the 3,675 responded. Other facts regarding the "supply" problem were obtained from district superintendents, 395 or 86% of whom furnished data requested pertaining to the "supply" charges in their districts. This high proportion of answers from questionnaires indicates a widespread interest in the subject, and adds much to the value of the study. Grateful acknowledgment is made to the thousands of Methodist preachers who furnished the information that has made the investigation possible. For the most part the investigation aims to state facts only. The determining of causes, conclusions, and remedies has, in most instances, been left for those making use of the material. The work in connection with this study has been directly in charge of Miss Margaret Bennett, Research Secretary of the Commission on Life Service.To Miss Bennett who has worked energetically and efficiently for more than a year to complete the survey, the entire Church will be indebted through the years. In the opinion of several of the best minds in the Church which have analyzed the manuscript, it is one of the best and most authoritative studies put forth in recent years. It, therefore, commends itself to the earnest consideration of every thoughtful person who has in his mind and on his heart a high standard of educated leadership for our Church. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.