In late May, Church of the Brethren leaders from the US and Haiti interviewed
a large group of people preparing for licensing to the ministry, to serve in
Eglise des Freres Haitiens (the Church of the Brethren in Haiti).
Nineteen men and women were interviewed by Jay Wittmeyer, executive director
of Global Mission and Service for the Church of the Brethren; Mary Jo
Flory-Steury, executive director of Ministry and the denomination’s associate
general secretary; Ludovic St. Fleur, coordinator of the Haiti mission and
pastor of Eglise des Freres Haitiens in Miami, Fla.; and members of the National
Committee of the Haitian Church of the Brethren including pastors Ives Jean,
Jean Bily Telfort, and Freny Elie.
The interviews took place in Croix des Bouquets, a neighborhood of the
capital city Port-au-Prince, at the Ministry Center of the Haitian Church of the
Brethren. Ilexene Alphonse, who helps staff the Ministry Center, served as
translator.
Interview questions related to the candidates’ family and background,
education, spiritual journey, role in the local church, and understanding of
Brethren beliefs and practices, reported Wittmeyer. Each of the 19 individuals
interviewed identifies with a specific member of the National Committee as a
mentor and spiritual leader and came with a recommendation for licensing from
that member of the National Committee.
“Each was deemed to be uniquely prepared to receive the set apart status that
licensing denotes and to be empowered to serve the denomination in this
capacity,” Wittmeyer said. “Each individual has demonstrated a strong commitment
to the local church and to the denomination. They have been very active in local
churches and serving as the backbone of the denomination.”
Those interviewed are already active in leading worship, starting preaching
points, ministry with children, outreach activities, and other ministries in
their communities. The group is now expected to examine their calling and work
toward ordination. Some are already qualified for ordination according to
national requirements, and one of the candidates is ordained in a different
denomination.
In 2009, a similar process occurred, when 10 people were interviewed for
licensing in Haiti. Of that group, seven have served the Haitian church on its
National Committee since then.
The 19 people interviewed in May include 4 women and 15 men, and come from
congregations located in various areas of Haiti including Bohoc, Cap Haitian,
Gonaíves, Grand Bois, Leogâne, Mont Boulage, as well as the Croix des Bouquets
and Delmas neighborhoods in the Port-au-Prince area, and other smaller towns and
villages.
Source:6/14/2012 Newsline
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