Application Packet for
The Chicago Plan
The Chicago Plan is a church-based, residential, training scheme
for growing pastors, church planters and full-time Christian workers
The Nature of Pastoral Internships
At
HolyTrinityChurch
I.Scriptural Warrant
Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands… 1 Timothy 5:22
O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you.1 Timothy 6:20
You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.2 Timothy 2:1-2
II.Constitutional Rationale
Pastoral Internship
§16-6. The Holy Scriptures require that some trial be previously made of those who are to be ordained to the ministry of the Word, both concerning their gifts and concerning their ability to rule as Elders, in order that this sacred office may not be degraded by being committed to weak or unworthy men, and so that Holy Trinity Church may have an opportunity to form a better judgment respecting the gifts of those to whom this sacred office is to be committed. To provide for such a period of trial, a candidate for ordination must serve an internship. This period of internship shall be at least one year in length, and may be longer at the discretion of the Session so as to give sufficient time for the Session to judge the candidate's qualifications and service. The nature of the internship shall be determined by the Session, but it should involve the candidate in full scope of the duties of any regular ministerial calling approved by the Session. It is to be both a time of practical instruction and testing by the Session, and may be in any work, which the Session deems to be a suitable ministry to test the intern's gifts. The intern should be closely supervised by the Session throughout this trial period.
Upon the acceptance of an application for internship, a ministry-training plan shall be established under the supervision of the Session.This plan will include:
- An area of specific ministry involvement
- A suitable range of Biblical instruction
- An appropriate course of reading
- A length of service not less than one year
The Nature of General Internships
At
HolyTrinityChurch
I.Scriptural Warrant
For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.Romans 12:3-8
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.Ephesians 4:11-16
II.Constitutional Rationale
General Internship
§16-15 A general internship is for testing of spiritual gifts, and specific instruction and experience in Christian service.Every applicant for a general internship shall be a member or associate member of the congregation except in those cases deemed extraordinary by the Session.Each applicant must file an application with the clerk of the Session.
Upon the acceptance of an application for internship, a ministry-training plan shall be established under the supervision of the Session.This plan will include:
- An area of specific ministry involvement
- A suitable range of Biblical instruction
- An appropriate course of reading
- A length of service not less than three months
HolyTrinityChurch
Chicago plan
Application
Please type all information and answers and return as an attachment to .
I. Personal History
Name______
E-mail ______
Address______
______
______
Phone(w)(h)______
Birth Date___/_____/______
Marital Status______
Children's Names (if any)______/______
______/______
Education______
______
II. Spiritual History
Please give a brief history of your personal Christian experience.
How would you describe your character and Christian maturity? (I Timothy 3 and Titus 1)
If someone asked you, "What is the gospel?" how would you respond?
What books have influenced you most over the past one or two years?
III. Ministry History
At present, do you have a clear sense that God is leading you toward pastoral ministry or toward full-time Christian service?(If not, what do you sense as your probable long-term future?)
Why are you seeking involvement in The Chicago Plan?
Please highlight your previous ministry experience.
Theologically, what differences do you have with the Constitution of Holy Trinity Church?
______
Office Use Only
Application sent out on ____/_____/____and received on ____/_____/____
Timeline and Process
The Chicago Plan generally follows the academic calendar.Each year begins in September and ends in May.
There are three training phases of the Plan: Candidate, Intern and Resident.Each phase is comprised of two years of training.Typically new participants enter in as Candidates during which time their gifts, calling and character are observed and tested.At the end of each year each participant is re-evaluated by the Session in order to determine if they should move on in their training.As participants move from Candidates to Interns and then on to Residency, their ministry responsibilities steadily increase.
During the year participants in the Chicago Plan meet weekly for prayer, biblical instruction and ministry planning.
We believe that effective ministry training is comprised of three basic elements:
- Mentoring
- Ministry Exposure
- Theological Training
During weekly meetings time is given to each of these elements by members of the pastoral staff.We believe the integration of these three elements, within the dynamic life of the church, provides necessary experience and understanding to effectively shepherd God’s flock.
Prior to beginning the year, each individual meets with a member of the pastoral staff to discuss the particulars of their ministry description.The ministry description outlines what the individual will be responsible for in the coming year of their training.Each description takes into account the passion, giftedness and training needs of the individual.