Ministries Office

Program and Budget

Transition (Deployment) Ministry

Working with the bishop, the Ministries Office assists parishes during the transition between settled clergy, in the search for new clergy leadership. Services provided to parishes include assisting the wardens and vestry in planning the interim period; providing interim consultants and names of potential interim clergy; coordinating with the national Church Transitions Office; publicizing openings in various venues; referencing and consulting with the bishop about prospective candidates; providing resources and training for interim consultants and interim pastors; providing resources for the search committee, vestry and wardens; keeping the bishop informed of the progress of all searches; assisting in the final call and in the negotiation of a letter of agreement with the clergy person; and finally assisting in the start up of the new ministry.

Commission on Ministry

The primary purposes of the Commission on Ministry are to advise and assist the bishop in the work of discernment, formation and support for persons in Holy Orders and to support the ministries of lay professionals in the Diocese of Ohio. The primary tasks of the Commission include determining, together with the bishop, the present and future needs in the diocese’s ministry; recruiting and assisting in the selection of personnel for Holy Orders; providing for the guidance, pastoral care, and continuing education of clergy and lay professionals; determining clergy compensation standards; and attending to the professional and personal needs of the clergy and lay professionals and their families.

Clergy Formation

Scholarship Assistance: The Diocese of Ohio has been fortunate to be able to provide substantial financial assistance to individuals who are in the process of education and formation for ordained ministry. The Diocese’s ability to offer scholarships for theological education is a result of the generosity of a number of benefactors over the years that have made provisions in their wills for such endowments. Due to the reduced income from endowments and a desire to shift the use of educational endowment funds to internships for newly ordained clergy in coming years, the seminarians receive support in the range of $3,000 - $7,500. The Diocese of Ohio is providing scholarships for eight seminarians during the 2009-2010 academic year.

Deacon Formation Program: A key piece in our diocesan priority to develop servant leaders is have a strong network of deacons who are able to both call members of the diocese to develop their own diaconal ministry and assist individuals in understanding how their actions are spiritually formative. Individuals in this process gather twice a month for classes taught by members of the diocese and via on-line courses through a variety of seminaries. In 2010, $15,000 is allocated towards this process.

Special Ministries: 2010 is the fourth year to “Develop and Employ Creative Models for Congregational Ministry” into three ministries. Money is generated through donations to the bishop’s Annual Appeal and interest earned on the Miller Endowment Fund. These funds are used to underwrite the salary of a college chaplain at Bowling Green State University. Funds are also being applied towards the salary of a full-time clergy person in a new shared ministry with St. Stephen’s, East Liverpool and St. Stephen’s, Steubenville. Internship expenditures such as these are essential for providing resources to deploy clergy who have gone through our formation process and to initiate critical and strategic new ministries.

Summer Internships: Money in special funds is also being allocated for summer internships for seminarians to be given a full time summer experience.

Clergy & Lay Professional Support

Supporting and strengthening the clergy for leadership is one of the primary emphases of the ministries of the Diocese of Ohio. Believing that the health of congregations is directly influenced by the health of the clergy serving them, the Commission on Ministry offers and oversees programs for clergy and their families. Programs and offerings include: the Fresh Start program for systematic support for clergy in new positions be they newly ordained or experienced; and funding for a chaplain for clergy spouses and partners. The bishop’s Winter Gathering (a conference for clergy and their spouses or partners) offers 3 days and 2 nights of fellowship and education; and a subsidy is provided for a percentage of the cost of confidential counseling by professional counselors for clergy and members of their families. Other events have been planned in the past to provide support for lay professionals and for the children of clergy and lay professionals.

Clergy Development

In an effort to assist in the ongoing development of clergy, a variety of programs are offered. Clergy days provide opportunities for clergy to gather with the bishop. The annual Clergy Conference in May provided significant continuing education opportunities in addition to time for worship and building collegial relationships. This year the poet Marie Howe and the Right Rev. Michael Curry offered a wonderful mixture of spiritual and practical guidance. Clergy Development also includes continuing education and sabbatical grants for clergy and lay professionals which are funded from two endowment funds. Partnerships to provide continuing education programs on an ecumenical basis have allowed continuing education funds to be used more effectively in recent years.