Commission on Ministry (COM)
The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland, Chair (mjoakland@msn.com)
The Commission on Ministry assists the Bishop and the Standing Committee under the provisions of Title III of the Canons of the General Convention and the Canons of the Diocese of Iowa.
Discernment Manual
Continuing Education
Commission Membership
View/download sections of the document:
Nominee Questionnaire:
Based on the Title III MINISTRY CANONS
Of the Life and Work of Priests and Deacons
The Bishop and Commission shall require and provide for the continuing education of Priests and Deacons and keep a record of such education.
Title III Ministry Canons related to continuing education will be implemented in the Diocese of Iowa as follows:
Requirement
All members of the clergy and commissioned members of ministry development teams shall pursue continuing education. The first report for activities occurring in 2011 must be sent to the Bishop during the first set of Ember Days occurring in 2012 (during the week following Lent I). Reports will be filed at this time each year. The report will include a description of continuing education and/or ministry development activities during the preceding year, and an evaluation of personal growth during the reporting period.
Congregations will have the responsibility of paying for the cost of continuing education. This fact should be included in Priests’ and Deacons’ contracts and/or letters of agreement. Congregations should pay continuing education expenses for non-stipendiary Priests, Deacons and commissioned MDT members.
Content
Clergy will make decisions on continuing education based on self-assessment, Vestry input and advice from the Bishop. Continuing education activities shall be distributed over time among three broad competency areas. It is not necessary to include activities related to all three areas each year:
• Theological/Biblical/Academic
• Professional/Pastoral Leadership
• Spiritual/Personal Development
Examples of appropriate continuing education activities include, but are not limited to:
• Theological studies
• Clergy reading groups
• Curriculum development (e.g., a Lenten Study)
• Education for Ministry training for trainers
• Hospice training
• Grief training
• Interpersonal skill development
• Multicultural training
• Conflict management
• Interfaith education
• Volunteer management
August 2010
Chair
The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland mjoakland@msn.com
Term Expiring 2011
The Rev. Sue Ann Raymond (St. James' Church, Independence)
The Rev. Melvin Schlachter (Trinity Church, Iowa City)
The Rev. Mitchell Smith (Trinity Church, Waterloo)
Ms. Margaret Hansen (Christ Church, Burlington)
Ms. Georgiana Meadows (St. Mark's Church, Fort Dodge)
Mr. Kevin Sanders (St. Luke's Church, Cedar Falls)
Term Expiring 2012
The Rev. John Doherty (Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Des Moines)
The Rev. Martha Kester (St. Luke's Church, Des Moines)
The Rev. Mary Jane Oakland (St. Paul's Church, Marshalltown)
Ms. Aileen Chang-Matus (Grace Church, Cedar Rapids)
Mr. Tom Early (St. Paul's Church, Harlan / UNI, Cedar Falls)
Mr. Brian Jones (St. Andrew's Church, Waverly)
Term Expiring 2013
The Rev. Kathleen Milligan (St. John's Church, Dubuque)
The Rev. Merle Smith (St. Stephen's Church, Newton)
The Rev. Barbara Easley (St. Luke's Church, Fort Madison)
Mr. William "Bill" Early (St. Paul's Church, Harlan)
Ms. Cindy Morton (Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Des Moines)
Ex officio
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe (Diocese of Iowa, Des Moines)
Ms. Ellen Bruckner (Christ Church, Cedar Rapids)
The Rev. Margaret Weiner (Retired)
