Commission on Preparation for Ministry
Commission on Preparation for Ministry
Presbytery Staff Liaisons – Rev. Brian Wallace, Associate Minister, and Jenny Tarrant, Administrative Assistant
Chair Rev. Gavin Walton (Grace Memorial), Vice Chair Elder Blanche Bennett (Valley View)
What We Do
Expectations of Commission Members
CPM Ministry Notebook
Guidelines & Resources
CPM Care Team Resources
CPM Forms
CPM Meeting Dates
What We Do
The Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) is the entity in Pittsburgh Presbytery charged by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) “to facilitate the presbytery’s oversight of inquirers and candidates, …it may delegate its authority to designated entities within the presbytery. Such entities shall be composed of teaching elders and ruling elders in approximately equal numbers, bearing in mind the principles of unity in diversity in F-1.0403. All actions carried out as a result of delegated authority must be reported to the presbytery at its next regular meeting.” Book of Order G-3.0307 The CPM forms are to be used by those Presbyterians who:
- are considering their call as teaching elder, or
- have been recommended by their home congregation and accepted by the presbytery as an Inquirer to be ordained as a teaching elder, or
- have been accepted by the presbytery as a Candidate for teaching elder, or
- serve on the CPM of Pittsburgh Presbytery, or
- are presbytery staff with the responsibility of providing services to CPM, or
- are teaching and ruling elders of congregations with Inquirers and Candidates in the preparation for ministry process.
Expectations of Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) members
- Understand and support the mission and strategies of Pittsburgh Presbytery.
- Work in a team spirit to carry out the directives and mission of Pittsburgh Presbytery in compliance with national policies regarding the care of Inquirers and Candidates for ministry and as guided by the Book of Order.
- Serve on a Care Team. Care Teams are assigned up to three or four students who are “under care” of Pittsburgh Presbytery. Care Teams give guidance to Inquirers and Candidates who are seeking to serve in an ordained ministry.
- Pray for, support, and assist those under care in discerning their call.
- Meet with persons under care at least once per year.
- Attend a CPM orientation and training typically held in December or January prior to the first meeting of a new year.
- Attend all CPM meetings. Meetings are held five times a year on Monday evenings. Periodically a special meeting will be called when the docket is too full to accomplish in one meeting. Meetings begin at 4:00 PM and normally last anywhere from 2 to 3 1/2 hours.
- Read CPM meeting documents thoroughly and in advance to be prepared to participate in discussions and to make decisions regarding the care of the students seeking ordination.
- Read the CPM notebook.
- Periodically serve as a reader of ordination exams.
CPM 2023 Meeting Dates – now on Mondays
- January 30, 2023
- May 1, 2023
- June 12, 2023
- August 28, 2023
- November 6, 2023
All meetings are scheduled for 4:00 PM
All paperwork must be received by CPM no later than two weeks prior to the CPM meeting you hope to attend.
