Outcomes-Based Ordination
Head, Heart, Hands
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11-13).
Through pastoral formation in the Free Methodist Church USA, we seek to develop the heart, head, and hands of women and men called into ministry through a process involving mentoring relationships, academic courses, and practical hands-on ministry leading toward the following outcomes:
Heart |
Head |
Hands |
| Characterized by spiritual maturity and a strong sense of a call to ministry.
Shaped by the spiritual disciplines Roots identity and calling firmly in Christ Models a Spirit-led life of holiness. |
Demonstrates biblical understanding.
Possesses holistic, biblical knowledge Has a Wesleyan hermeneutic that accepts the authority of Scripture Demonstrates ability to root their Wesleyan worldview in the Bible |
Demonstrates fruitfulness in ministry.
Has a track record of transformational preaching/teaching/leading Personally and corporately engages in evangelism Able to build and maintain healthy and diverse faith communities |
| Demonstrates a high level of self-awareness.
Understands and articulates their strengths and weaknesses Builds teams around blind spots Knows how their leadership/communication style impacts others both positively and negatively |
Demonstrates a Wesleyan Theological Integration.
Knows and embraces the history, polity, Articles of Religion, and core values of the Free Methodist Church Articulates Wesleyand distinctives compellingly Understands and embraces Wesleyan relational theology |
Embraces ministry of justice and compassion
Challenges injustice and discrimination wherever it is found Engages local and global needs of the broken and poor Continually focuses ministry on the margin, seeking to emancipate all who exist within enslaving systems |
| Lives a well-balanced life that can sustain the demands of ministry.
Attends adequately to physical, emotional, and mental needs Schedules regular time for play and recreation Lives a simple life, free of unhealthy addiction and compulsion |
Has a theological education commensurate with ordained ministry
Has completed an undergraduate degree Has completed some graduate work in theology Models and promotes lifelong learning |
Operates as a servant-leader
Promotes the development of others Serves the local and global church, demonstrating cross-cultural competency Creates healthy ministry environments characterized by safety and non-judgment |
| Lives a life shaped by love for others.
Prioritizes spouse and children (if applicable) Builds and maintains close, healthy relationships with people inside and outside of the church Cultivates relationships of confession and accountability |
Has an ecumenical posture toward the Church and the world
Actively seeks to build and maintain bridges among fellow Christian groups Demonstrates an appreciation for the contribution of other Christian traditions while wholeheartedly embracing our own Demonstrates a growing appreciation for humanity and value for all people regardless of their belief system |
Empowers others to discover and function within their God-given design
Demonstrates wholehearted support for women in ministry Facilitates and promotes multicultural community and staff Actively helps others discover their brilliance |
| Models humility
Remains teachable and accepts corrections when given Maintains a non-defensive posture toward leaders, followers, and peers Willingly seeks the perspective of others |
Possesses the ability to practically apply learning
Demonstrates an ability to make complex theology understandable to all Demonstrates an ability to find God’s redemptive activity in daily life Demonstrates an ability to deepen faith through real-life experiences |
Leads with creativity and vision
Seeks best practices of contextual and culturally relevant ministry Envisions alternatives and successfully leads others toward more creative and effective outcomes Casts compelling vision and develops strategic plans to accomplish it |