To Pastors

When the Alfred School of Theology closed in 1963, the SDB General Conference created the Council on Ministerial Education to create and supervise the Center on Ministerial Education. Training Pastors has always been a priority for the Council (now titled the Council on Ministry). Below are educational opportunities for SDB Pastors through the SDB Center on Ministry.

Pastor's Conference

Every two years a Pastor's Conference is held to train pastors, and to promote communication between pastors. Pastor's Conference 2011 was held April 26-30, 2011, at Camp Wakonda in Milton, WI, focusing on LEADING THROUGH OUTREACH CHANGE. Dr. Howard Bixby was the guest speaker.

Pictures of Pastors Conference 2011: Click on each image to enlarge.

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In-Service Education

To help continue the education of pastors who are currently serving SDB Churches, financial aid is available for (click on any link below to see description, will open in new window):

Continuing Education
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Doctor of Ministry
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Pastoral Sabbaticals
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Pastor's Study Leave
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Bi-Vocational Training Support

Ordination

Ordination has been practiced by Christians since New Testament times. In different eras and in different churches, it has assumed different characteristics. Seventh Day Baptists practice ordination as a formal dedication, a setting apart for service. It is ordination to a task. It is putting the church's stamp of approval on the inward call of God which the candidate professes and of trust in him as a servant. Since ordination is for life and may in time involve the life and work of several churches and the reputation of the Church of Jesus Christ, haste should be avoided in planning for ordination.

The authority for ordination lies in the local congregation. It is the congregation which calls one of its members to service and leadership. It is the congregation which ordains. However, each local church has a responsibility not only to the candidate and itself, but also to the other churches in the Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, USA and Canada Ltd., and to the reputation of all Christians.

For further information on the ordination process click here. These are the appropriate pages extracted from A Manual of Procedures For Seventh Day Baptist Churches. The full Manual is available from the American Sabbath Tract and Communication Councilor from the online store at www.seventhdaybaptist.org.

Accreditation

Accreditation means:

That a local church has seen evidence in a person of a calling to and gifts for pastoral ministry involving the sincerity, faith, character, morality, ability, doctrinal understanding, understanding of Seventh Day Baptist polity, and training to call this person to ordination,
That an Ordination Council, including delegates from sister churches as well as official representatives of the General Conference, has agreed with that determination, and found the candidate's beliefs in accord with the beliefs expressed in the Seventh Day Baptist Statement of Belief and discovered the person fit for the ordained ministry, and
That General Conference has reviewed the actions of the local church and ordination council and recognizes that the person meets the requirements of education and service.

For further information on Accreditation's Purpose, Requirements and Procedures click here. These are the appropriate pages extracted from A Manual of Procedures For Seventh Day Baptist Churches. The full Manual is available from the American Sabbath Tract and Communication Councilor from the online store at www.seventhdaybaptist.org.

Orientation of New Leaders and Pastors New to Seventh Day Baptists

When a Pastor not trained by or familiar with SDBs begins to serve an SDB church it is hoped that that church will seek training for their new pastor. The Center on Ministry has two programs to help in this process. These programs are 1) New Worker Orientation and 2) Transfer Pastor Guidelines.

New Worker Orientation
The purpose of New Worker Orientation is to provide an introduction into Seventh Day Baptist life and ministry for extension workers in church planting situations. Contact the Dean for further information about this program.
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Transfer Pastor Guidelines
These procedures are intended to orient any pastor coming to Seventh Day Baptists so that he or she can become an effective Seventh Day Baptist pastor. These procedures are also intended to assist churches in the process of calling a pastor from outside the denomination.
Transfer Pastor Guidelines were approved at the 2003 SDB General Conference Session. They are to be included in the Manual of Procedure. Contact the Dean for further information about this program
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Expenses to Conference

Pastors currently serving SDB churches may be eligible for funding that will cover up to 1/2 the expenses of both the pastor and the spouse. Click here for more information about this program for current pastors (opens in new window).

Retired pastors are eligible for funds to cover expenses to General Conference EVERY OTHER YEAR. In addition, there is provision for ONE TIME ONLY funds for travel expenses to Conference for retired pastors. Click here for more information about this program for retired pastors (opens in new window).

HELP FROM COSAR

If you need help financially in some of the following areas please contact the Director of Pastoral Services for more information.

SALARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PASTORS
Each year salary recommendations are provided based on the national average for starting teachers with a bachelor's degree. It is important to note that these are only suggested guidelines, and each church may or may not be in a position to pay the pastor according to these suggestions. Click here to see Guidelines for 2012 (opens in new window).
The Committee on Support and Retirement (COSAR) of the SDB General Conference provides Long Term Disability Insurance for Pastors and Conference Workers who are employed at least 30 hours per week by their Church or Agency of the General Conference.
If your Pastor meets the 30 hours per week threshold stated above please Click here to complete the information Form and return it by email attachment, Fax or mail so that our records may be brought up to date. If your Pastor is currently being covered by this insurance we need to have current information about the income you as a Church provide for your Pastor. Income from other sources cannot be insured by this disability policy. Any claim will be based on your information which we pass on to the insurance company.
VACATION GUIDELINES FOR PASTORS
The COSAR recommendations to churches for pastor's vacation time are available. Click here to see the current recommendations(opens in new window).
COUNSELING
Help with the cost of counseling is available for Pastors and their families.
EMERGENCY RELIEF FUNDS
Limited help with emergency needs is available.
MOVING EXPENSES FOR PASTORS AT RETIRMENT
This is a once in your life possibility. There are rules and limits.
403b RETIREMENT PLAN
This 403b retirement plan's payouts at retirement can be designated as 'Parsonage Allowance' for as long as the Pastor lives. The amount actually used to provide a home will be free from federal income tax. Designating an IRA as 'Parsonage Allowance' probably will not be possible at retirement. To participate, the employing church needs to adopt the Plan as a 'Participating Employer.' Click here to read the Plan Description; click here to read the entire Plan Document with 401k and Roth IRA amendments. You will need to enter the password to read the documents; if you have misplaced the password contact the Director of Pastoral Services.