FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We understand that many pastors, churches and community members may have questions about the Methodist Collegiate Church (MCC). Our hope is that these commonly asked questions may have the answer you're looking for. If you don't see your question below, please feel free to reach out to us.
The authority to admit churches into connection with a College of the Methodist Collegiate Church (MCC) lies with the Dean of that College. The pastor and administrative board (or equivalent body) of the interested church must have a conversation with the Dean in order to fulfill admission requirements. Discussion topics will include but are not limited to the following: the MCC Book of Doctrine and Order; processes and requirements for the credentialing of clergy; and the candidate church’s financial status. For a more in-depth explanation of this process, refer to the Book of Doctrine and Order.
Since this is a coalition of the willing, any member church wishing to terminate its membership in the MCC may do so after a season of intentional discernment of not less than 30 days. In the case of a College initiating the disaffiliation of a member church, a three-fourths vote of the College delegates is required.
The action of licensing, commissioning, ordaining, or recognizing previously held credentials lies with the Dean. Prior to this final step, however, the clergyperson (or potential clergy candidate) must submit an application to and meet with the Commission on Ministry of the College where she/he will serve. A representative body of the College, this Commission oversees the processes for licensing, commissioning, ordaining, and recognition of credentials. Candidates will be expected to articulate a call to ministry, complete and pass a background check, and demonstrate a willingness to fulfill all requirements and recommendations of the Commission. Recommendation to the dean for credentialing requires a three-fourths vote of the Commission.
Training at the licensing level will be provided in the areas of: Administration, Leadership, and Pastoral Identity; Care and Support; Communications and Social Media; Evangelism and Involvement; Kids and Students; Missions and Outreach; Preaching and Worship; Teaching; and Wesleyan Theology.
For the ordination track, except for special cases, completion of a Master of Divinity (or its equivalent) will be required.
Clergy will experience accountability in doctrinal and professional standards at multiple levels.
The Dean of the College and the Commission on Ministry: The Dean, after consultation and with three-fourths approval from the Commission on Ministry, is authorized to remove clergy membership in the College.
Peer Accountability in the College: Lateral relationships among clergy in the College provide both encouragement and mutual accountability.
The Local Church: Since the local church has the final say on employment of clergy, each pastor is accountable to local church leadership.
In thinking about our faith, we put primary reliance on the Bible. It’s the unique testimony to God’s self-disclosure in the life of Israel; in the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ; and in the Spirit’s work in the early Church. It’s our sacred text and thus, the decisive source of our Christian witness, and the authoritative measure of the truth in our beliefs.
We study the Bible within the believing community. Even when we study it alone, we’re guided and corrected through dialogue with other Christians. We interpret individual texts in light of their place in the Bible as a whole. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we try to discern both the original intention of the text and the Scripture’s meaning for our own faith and life.
Clergy, if your retirement benefits have been managed by WesPath, you have the option of remaining with them; however, this is not mandated. As each local church is financially independent, the authority to make decisions on benefits lies at the level of the local church and its leadership.
There will be no apportionments (cost for membership, whether initial or ongoing) for local churches. If opportunities for collaborative work present themselves, the decision to partner financially in those opportunities is voluntary for each local church. The MCC does not have a trust clause. Each local church owns their property and assets outright. Each local church will be required to provide their own insurance.
For a fuller explanation, see the WHY JOIN page of the website.
Scripture and historic Christian tradition lift marriage between one man and one woman as the proper relationship for human sexuality. We reject all forms of sexual exploitation, including pornography, promiscuity, adultery, and human sex trafficking of any kind. For more information on the Social Witness of the MCC, refer to the Book of Doctrine and Order.
Absolutely. Both women and men are eligible to hold any office or leadership role in the MCC. We stand fully behind this commitment.
For churches and clergy interested in pursuing MCC membership, please refer to the CONTACT page.