The purpose of the Commission on Preparation for Ministry is to help all church members discern and fulfill their Christian vocation and to provide the best possible leadership for the church by assuring that persons who feel called to be teaching elders (ministers of the Word and Sacrament) receive the fullest personal and professional preparation for this office.
Our goals are to facilitate the care process for pre-inquirers, inquirers, and candidates in the most caring and efficient manner possible, to be sensitive to the many issues confronting persons under care, and to provide continuity of service to members of the commission and those under care.
The commission is responsible for following the designated processes associated with pre-inquirers, inquirers and candidates. The Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church (USA) is the authority under which the Commission on Preparation for Ministry functions. All requirements and procedures of the current Book of Order must be followed in the Inquiry and Candidacy process, (G-2.06).
The CPM Process
All persons in the care process must submit their paperwork for each CPM meeting at least two weeks prior to the meeting for which they are scheduled to meet with the commission. Please email paperwork to the Chicago Presbytery office at ministry@chicagopresbytery.org.
Please note: the receipt of paperwork in this timely manner allows each member of CPM to read your forms and be fully prepared to discern with you during the meeting. If forms are not received by the due date, inquirers / candidates / Commissioned Ruling Elders will be rescheduled to a future meeting.
Resources
CPM Manual
Discerning Your Call: Preparing for the Ministry of the Word and Sacrament
Commissioned Pastor Manual
This manual has been prepared to guide Ruling Elders seeking to become Commissioned Pastors and to be a resource for the various committees of the Presbytery in the administration of the CP program.