Commission on Ministry Annual Report

Members of the Commission on Ministry (Terms end October 31 of the year indicated)

COM Membership (* indicates someone filling out a vacant term) Class of 2022: L: Dianne Salisbury, Lauran Bryan* C: Andy Guffey*, Tim Spannaus Class of 2023: L: Matt Evett, David Volker C: Josh Hoover, Chris Johnson Class of 2024: L: Elaine Belz, Joseph Thompson C: Andrea Morrow, Jeanne Hansknecht* Class of 2025: L: Jo Hartwell, Meida Ollivierra C: Bill Danaher, Clare Hickman (chair) Class of 2026: L: Anthony Cartagena, Gwyn Dugliss C: Paul LeClair, Beth Taylor

The principal role of the Commission on Ministry (COM) is to act as an advisory committee to the Bishop and assist in the discernment and raising up of leaders for ministry. When the Bishop welcomes individuals into the formal COM discernment process, the COM assigns an advisor to each individual. This advisor meets with the advisee to assist, observe, offer suggestions, review the formation plan and give support to the advisee until ordination. Advisors report back to the commission on the progress of their advisee. Additionally, in 2021, we created the role of Chaplain to the Ordination Process and are grateful to the Revs. Ron Spann and Sister Veronica Dunbar for serving as our current chaplains. The COM also works with the Total Ministry program, to support the mission to affirm and develop of the ministry of all baptized persons.

Since the last convention, we have commissioned five Community Discernment Committees (CDCs); as well as working with the Standing Committee to assist the bishop in granting postulancy to Felicity Thompson, Erica Benson, and Daniel Martin; granting candidacy to Gerardo Aponte-Safe, Mike Stutso and Zach Baker; ordaining Gerardo Aponte-Safe to the (transitional) diaconate; and ordaining Amy Maffeo, Chip Dischinger, Terri Montgomery, Donna Lockhart, Eric Braun, Katherine Beck-Ei, and Tom Ferguson to the priesthood.

During 2022, the COM also continued to develop our revised process to ordination. New this year were a detailed expansion of the formation process; clarified expectations and contracts for field education; a plan for licensed lay ministry; and a re-vamped understanding of McElroy funds, to deepen their potential for teaching and forming congregations, interns, and curates.

If you wish to learn more about the core values and vision for the heart of ordained ministry, we invite you to visit the diocesan website at www.edomi.org/com and suggest you begin with the Competencies for the Ordination Process.

Many thanks to all who open their hearts to God’s call to ministry for them. Thank you to each member of the COM for offering their time, effort, and prayers for the work of building up God’s Church. We also gratefully acknowledge the support and guidance of Crystal Ramirez and Susan Mason; and (the Revs.) Ellen Ekevag and Susie Shaefer; and we give thanks for the leadership of Bishop Perry.

Respectfully submitted,

The Rev. Clare L. Hickman, Chair