The CCCC Ministry of Conference Care exists to come alongside our member pastors, students and churches for the purposes of care and mentoring. There are many facets to this ministry:
Students Under Conference Care
Ministry Students who have decided to pursue (or already have) standing with the CCCC are invited to enter into a special mentoring relationship with us called Student Under Conference Care. Students under Conference Care will be assigned a ministry mentor who will provide wise counsel during their schooling, will be able to take the CCCC Congregational Standards Course (on their campus where provided or through our IMPACT Distance Education Program), will be eligible for CCCC scholarships, and will have their registration fees waived at all CCCC Annual Family Conferences. For more information about Students Under Conference Care, please call our office at (651) 739-1474 or use the Contact Us tab on th menu to the left.
Christian Conciliation
Jesus said, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divded against itself will not stand" (Matthew 12:25). Conflict within the church family has become a serious problem in many local congregations today. Church members and pastors alike say, "If we can just get past this conflict, then we can get on with the Lord's business!" But what they don't realize is that the conflict itself IS the Lord's business. If a local body does not learn to live out the reconciliation of the gospel within her own church family, then her witness to the world is compromised -- sometimes fatally. The CCCC Ministry of Conference Care, upon invitation, can come along side the local CCCC church to assist in Christian conciliation, leading the church back toward biblical peace and unity.
Crisis Intervention
There are times when member pastors, pastoral families, and churches find themselves in crisis. Such crises can be from family dysfunction, bereavement, or other factors. The CCCC Ministry of Conference Care is available to provide pastoral care in these situations. This can be particularly important for pastoral families in crisis -- as pastors need pastors too!
Minister Under Care
There are circumstances under which a minister with standing in the CCCC will have those credentials removed and will be automatically dismissed from membership in the Conference. Such circumstances would include a change in doctrinal position that is in opposition to the CCCC Statement of Faith, a permanent change in one’s view of Congregational polity, the commitment of a criminal offense, and other patterns of violations where no repentance is evident. For all other circumstances that require Credential Committee action, the minister’s credentials will be temporarily suspended with an invitation to enter into the Minister Under Care Program.
Established by the Credentials Committee, the Minister Under Care Program is a voluntary process that provides accountability and steps toward restoration. Overseen by the Director of Conference Care, and led by a Ministry Care Team of the minister's peers, it is designed to foster true confession and repentance, structured healing and counseling, restoration and open the possibility of the return to full time ministry.
For Mor Information...
For more information about the CCCC Ministry of Conference Care, please contact John Kimball at (651) 739-1474 or use the Contact Us tab on the menu to the right. And keep checking back for additional information on resources, ministry partnerships, and specific Conference Care services.
