One of the most confusing terms to those outside of the Christian United Church and inside to some members is the concept of Probationary Elder. I will give you the definition and share some of the history, theology and ministerial understanding of what it means to be on probation in the church.
Definition:
Probationary Elder : A clergy member of the Annual Conference who is on trial while preparing for full membership. A probationary member is on trial as to character, preaching ability, and pastoral effectiveness
The genius of Wesleyan/Methodist polity is the way it organizes and prepares others for ministry. In the beginning when John Wesley would licensed local preachers(lay pastors) they would be on trail or probation for at least two years before they granted full membership in the Annual Conference. This was time for the candidate and the conference to test the suitability of the candidate for the ministry.
It would also grant the candidate an opportunity to discern if this is their calling without taking ordination vows and then changing their minds. The candidate would be licensed for at least two years, and could be appointed to a pastoral charge (society or congregation) after which they would be ordained a deacon for two years and finally admitted into full connection and ordained an Itinerant Elder in Full Connection.
Since the founding of Methodism this model has changed in name, the concept has remained the same in all of its different formats. Also in the Wesleyan Movement, ministers from denominations outside of Methodism were placed on trail for a period of time before being voted into full connection in the Annual Conference. This action was not done, because the ordination of the person was in question, but to give the candidate and the annual conference time to discern if this was a place for the person to exercise ministry and to learn the polity and theology of the church.
In the Christian United Church we have adopted the term probationary elder to recognize those members who are on trial or probation whether candidates for ordination or those seeking to transfer ordination credentials to the Christian United Church: ( The Christian United Church only recognizes ordinations that follow the scripture and tradition of the Church, the laying on of hands by a bishop or other clergy) Probationary Elders can be appointed pastors, celebrate sacraments , received appointments to serve the wider church. It is not a concern that one is role is better than the other, but they hold different responsibilities in the Annual Conference.
Those serving as Probationary Elders or Deacons are in a time of discernment, discovery, testing and learning to embrace how the CUC lives out its ecclesial identity.
In either case when one is voted into full connection, there are certain rights and obligations that come with that responsibility.
First, one has made a commitment to the covenant connectional community that is the annual conference.
Second, one can hold certain offices in the denomination. Only Elders in Full Connection can be elected to the office of bishop or appointed Presiding Elder and District Minister.
Third, only members in Full Connection can vote members into full membership in the Annual Conference. This step occurs before one can be ordained deacon or elder at the Annual Conference.
We are not only following the Wesleyan tradition, but we are building a new faith community in which we need to create a stable mission and ministry, by having our clergy formed and trained for ministry. The model of ministry which is very different than those who come from more traditional liturgical background, but our emphasis on not letting the lack of ordination hold us back from building faith communities.
The role of probationary elders is critical to our mission success!
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