Taking a Gap Year After Seminary?

[followerofchrist1120]

I'll try to sum up the background info as much as possible: my husband has been called to the ministry and is entering a Methodist seminary graduate school this fall. I am in graduate school, with plans to teach higher education French.

For my career, it is important that I spend time abroad, and besides that it has always been a dream of mine to teach overseas. I've lived in France and Germany as a student but never as a teacher, and never with my husband. My husband is very open and willing to moving abroad with me for a gap year after seminary in a teaching program, but we're worried -- well, I'm worried -- about how this would be possible, given the path to becoming a pastor. His dedication to the church is unwavering but I am afraid that taking a year off for a secular activity would be perceived negatively in the church, and make it difficult to find a congregation upon our return to the US. I'm not familiar with the process of becoming ordained through a methodist school, and to a certain extent, he's not yet, either. We're going to talk with someone in the church about it soon but I'm looking for answers asap...

Is anybody familiar enough with the process of becoming ordained to shed some light on this?

 

[RomansFiveEight]

The process of ordination requires un-broken years of service in a full time capacity. If he takes a 'year off', it won't stop the process, but it will delay it at least one year.

Where are you going? United Methodism is a global denomination. Your husband should speak with his District Superintendant and his Bishop. My own Bishop went to England the year after Seminary and served a church there. You may be able to work something out for your Husband to do some work while overseas. But again it generally (if I'm not mistaken) requires a set amount of time (2 or 3 years I think is the current policy) in one, full-time appointment.

So, basically, after seminary (or during seminary but after becoming a provisional Elder), your husband needs to spend 2 or 3 years, non-stop, at one single full time appointment (In addition to other requirements) before being ordained.

Sounds like he definitely needs to talk with his DS, and his Board of Ordained Ministry to let them know what the plans are. They aren't going to 'kick him out', but there's a good chance this could delay the process. But if it's planned for ahead of time, it's probably not the end of the world.

 

[followerofchrist1120]

This is great, thanks so much!

 

[circuitrider]

Good advice RomansFiveEight! The minimum time in a full-time appointment as a Provisional Elder is two years now though it used to be three.

In my and RomansFiveEight's answer is the assumption that your husband has already officially entered the UMC candicacy process, has been meeting with a District Committee on Ministry, etc. If he hasn't done that he needs to talk to his DS asap!

 

[RomansFiveEight]

Good advice RomansFiveEight! The minimum time in a full-time appointment as a Provisional Elder is two years now though it used to be three.

In my and RomansFiveEight's answer is the assumption that your husband has already officially entered the UMC candicacy process, has been meeting with a District Committee on Ministry, etc. If he hasn't done that he needs to talk to his DS asap!

Absolutely! I was making some assumptions there; but one should've been in contact with the DS and been on the Candidacy path if they are attending seminary. If they haven't done so; they need to ASAP!

 

[GraceSeeker]

It is entirely possible for a person serving as a deacon or elder in the UMC to take a leave of absence for a year. There are hoops to jump through with regard to returning, but unless there is some cause not to re-admit you it's generally a forgone conclusion.

If one has not yet reached that point along the path, then the issue would be that you may not be available for supervision during the year aboard. This is something you want to talk about with the D.S. he is connected with in advance. He might not enter the process and just delay the beginning of it for a year. Or, it may not be an issue at all.

There is also the very practical matter of supply and demand. In some conferences there is a surplus of individuals seeking to be placed. In others there are not enough. These factors can very well change the way a D.S. might be open or not open to such a request.

The other thing to be wary of is that there are a limited number of years to complete the process. If you take this year abroad not moving through the process, even though it is entirely permissible to do so, and later you have some other unforeseen circumstance arise that makes it difficult to finish on time, there may not be much that anyone can do short of re-writing the Discipline to help you out no matter how much they want to. I say this not to tell you not to do that, but just something to be aware of. So, be sure to talk these things out with your counseling elder and D.S.