Mentors in the ALP/CLP Program

Commissioned Lay Pastors work in a team with their Mentor (who is usually also the moderator of the churches) where the CLP is serving). Mentors assist CLPs as they make the transition from the academic classroom setting to actual service in local churches. The role of the Mentor is to provide an objective "listening ear," to act as a source of information and encouragement, to provide professional and spiritual nurture, and to be a part of the Commissioned Lay Pastor's Continuing Education and Development.

Mentors should be active minister members of the Presbytery of Kiskiminetas. Mentors for Commissioned Lay Pastors will be assigned by the Committee on Ministry.

Mentors will be assigned for a period of one year, in conjunction with the annual assignments of Commissioned Lay Pastors. Mentors and CLPs will be oriented when the CLP begins a commission to a congregation.

CHARACTERISTICS OF MENTORS

The Mentor is a good Role Model

The way the Mentor relates to the CLP should demonstrate the same kind of openness and caring which Authorized Lay Preachers and Commissioned Lay Pastors are expected to demonstrate.

The Mentor should be committed to his or her own professional, personal, and spiritual growth and should encourage the CLP to be committed as well.

The Mentor is Approachable and Non Judgmental

The Mentor should seek to listen empathetically to the concerns of the CLP before giving advice and to present critiques in a positive manner.

The Mentor is Accessible

The Mentor should be willing to make time available for phone conversations and meetings.

THE CLP/MENTOR COVENANT PROCESS

The CLP is responsible to initiate and maintain contact with the Mentor as outlined below.

The CLP/Mentor Covenant for Reflection Upon Ministry

1. The CLP will submit a monthly report to the mentor each month.  The report should include documentation of how time has been divided and any pastoral care/ministry issues which need attention. 

2. The CLP will arrange a monthly hour-long meeting with Mentors to discuss their ministry. This meeting should include discussion of worship/sermons, pastoral care issues, and will include discussion of the paper, coursework, and any other issues deemed appropriate by the mentor or the CLP.

3. COM may arrange for more comprehensive mentoring of a CLP to include more frequent supervision.

The CLP/Mentor Covenant for Growth in Preaching

1. Once per year CLPs will submit one exegetical paper and one sermon (and sermon tape as available) to the Mentor for feedback and discussion.

2. The Mentor should provide honest, loving, helpful critiques of exegesis and sermons.

3. The Mentor should urge the CLP to give high priority to sermon preparation. Mentors should share generously their experience of preparing and preaching sermons. CLPs should be encouraged to study tapes and read sermons of outstanding preachers.

The CLP/Mentor Covenant for Spiritual Formation

1 The Mentor should seek to be a source of support, encouragement, and enthusiasm for the CLP, both within scheduled reflection sessions and in other interactions. Mentors and CLPs should pray for one another between meetings.

2. Mentors should be prepared to share the CLP's challenges, growth, concerns, and joys. Mentors should seek to be attentive to the presence of God in the CLP. Meetings should begin and end in prayer, and should be conducted as conversations between friends in Christ.

3. Mentors should regard their role as one of "equipping the saints for the work of ministry, for the upbuilding of the body of Christ" (Eph. 4:12). The Mentor/CLP relationship should be a model of community building and the conduct of covenant relationship.

The CLP/Trainee Covenant to Report upon Service as a Commissioned Lay Pastor

1. The CLP is responsible to schedule all meetings and to submit all required papers to the Mentor.

2. The Mentor is responsible to submit a brief report every other month to the COM District Coordinators. This report is due one week before the Coordinators meet. It may be submitted online or in writing. It may be integrated with the moderator's report when the mentor is the moderator of the church in which the CLP is serving. Particular attention should be paid to whether the CLP is addressing the issues posed by each of the questions above, and whether the CLP has been faithful in maintaining contact. Mentors are encouraged to share these evaluations with CLPs.

3. Both CLP and Mentor are responsible to submit an annual report to COM.

4. COM may seek additional input for evaluative purposes from CLPs or Mentors at any time.

  The CLP Covenant for Continuing Education and Development

1.  CLPs are encouraged to attend CLP/ALP support gatherings sponsored by the presbytery.

2. CLPs may attend District Pastor gatherings and are encouraged to be involved in local ministeriums when appropriate.

3. In order to be eligible for recommissioning, CLPs must engage in a significant continuing education event each year.  Eligible Continuing Education includes attendance at the 3 Presbytery Developmental events (Fall Enrichment, Leader Development, Presbytery Day), a ministry/preaching conference such as a Montreat event, Wee Kirk or other event approved by mentor, an online CLP course through the Dubuque training program, or other skill development event.  Continuing Education Events should be selected with sufficient lead time for the COM District Coordinators to review selections at their bimonthly meeting. $400 for Continuing Education is included as part of the CLP contract.

4. When indicated, the CLP may undertake independent study in a growth area as negotiated with the Mentor. The Presbytery Resource Center has helpful video courses available on pastoral care and preaching/worship.