Mississippi Conference of the UMC
Associate Membership
Written Material and Sermon Specifications
Specifications are provided for these sections:
I. Bible Study
II. Theological Questions
III. Sermon Manuscript and Digital Video
Documents should be named in the following format:
· Bible Study_First Name Middle Name Last Name (e.g., Bible Study_John Mark Doe)
· Theological Questions_First Name Middle Name Last Name (e.g., Theological Questions_John Mark Doe)
· Sermon Manuscript_First Name Middle Name Last Name (e.g., Sermon Manuscript_John Mark Doe)
Document should include the following page formatting:
· Each page header of your document should include: Your Full Name (First, Middle, and Last)
· Each page footer of your document should include pagination, showing page number of total pages (e.g., Page 1 of 20).
Using eBridge File Import
1. Click IMPORT (nex to Retrieve and Scan).
2. Click on BROWSE to find the document you would like to import into eBridge.
3. Once you have selected your item to upload, verity that the path is filled out to the left of the Browse button.
4. Index your document or image.
Your Last Name, Your First Name ONLY
Preferred Name – Skip
Conference Status (Use drop down and select track)
Document Type (Use drop down and select form)
District (Use drop down and select district)
Document Date mm/dd/yyyy (8 digits)
Confidential (Use drop down)
5. Click the IMPORT button at the bottom of the page.
6. A green confirmation message will appear at the top of the window.
Additional Information
Ø ONLY a pdf file is to be uploaded.
Ø Upload COMPLETED documents only.
I. Bible Study Requirements
1. Prepare an outline for a 4-6 week Bible study for a specific group or class on the Gospel of Luke. You may use single-spacing.
2. Describe the group for whom the study is prepared. Who are they? What do you know about their Biblical and theological understandings? What questions do you anticipate their bringing to this study? How does who they are affect the teaching/learning process you will choose?
3. List your expectations and goals in leading the study. What do you expect participants (including yourself) to learn? What might you learn from the group? How do you expect participants to grow or change? What might happen to you?
4. Develop a manuscript and in-depth lesson plan for one session of the study.
a. What are your hopes and expectation for this session?
b. What will be the physical setting for the session? How will the meeting place be arranged? Why?
c. What teaching methods will you use?
d. What theological themes will be covered? What place will critical study of the Bible have in the group session?
e. What opportunities will be provided for participants to connect the insights of the study to their lives?
5. List the references/sources you have used in developing the Bible study. What resources will you recommend to the participants?
II. Theological Questions (The Book of Discipline 2016)
Please answer thoroughly the following questions. (Include the complete question, then the answer in submitted manuscript. Answers should be double-spaced.)
1. Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derive from biblical, theological, and historical sources.
2. What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world?
3. What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace?
4. How do you interpret the statement Jesus Christ is Lord?
5. What is your conception of the activity of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?
6. What is your understanding of the kingdom of God; the Resurrection; and eternal life?
7. How do you intend to affirm, teach and apply Part III of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and Our Theological Task) in your work in the ministry to which you have been called?
8. The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church?
9. Describe the nature and mission of the church. What are its primary tasks today?
10. Discuss your understanding of the primary characteristics of United Methodist polity.
11. How do you perceive yourself, your gifts, your motives, your role, and your comment as an associate member in The United Methodist Church?
12. Describe your understanding of diakonia, the servant ministry of the church, and the servant ministry of the associate membership.
13. What is the meaning of ordination in the context of the general ministry of the Church?
14. Describe your understanding of an inclusive church and ministry.
15. You have agreed as a candidate for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness of the gospel, and in consideration of their influence as ministers, to make a complete dedication of yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life, and to this end agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all personal relationships, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility, and growth in grace and the knowledge and love of God. What is your understanding of the agreement?
16. Explain the role and significance of the sacraments in the ministry to which you have been called.
III. Sermon Instructions
1. Complete the Sermon Background Information Sheet.
2. Import your sermon manuscript into eBridge (www.eBridge.com).
3. Upload a church bulletin in ebridge. Note: Pay attention to copyright laws.
4. Provide a digital recording in YouTube format of your sermon during a worship service before a live congregation. Please include the entire service on YouTube.
a. Go to YouTube.com
b. Sign into your YouTube account.
Username:
Password: WordsofJesus
c. Click onUploadat the top of the page.
d. Before you start uploading the video you can chose thevideo privacy settings.
e. Select the video you'd like to upload from your computer. You can alsocreate a
video slideshow or import a video from Google Photos.
f. As the video is uploading you can edit both the basic information and the advanced
settings of the video, and decide if you want to notify subscribers (if you
uncheckthis option no communication will be shared with your subscribers).
Partners will also be able to adjust their Monetization settings.
g. ClickPublishto finish uploading a public video to YouTube. If you set the video
privacy setting to Private or Unlisted, just clickDoneto finish the upload or clickShareto privately share your video.
h. If you haven’t clickedPublish, your video won’t be viewable by other people. You
can always publish your video at a later time in your Video Manager.
Once the upload is completed we will send you an email to notify you that your video is done uploading and processing. You can then forward that email to friends or family for easy sharing. If you prefer not to receive notification, you can opt out by visiting youremail settings.
You can see video for uploading a video to Youtube by going to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hlxqk0iHp5w.
5. The sermon’s Scriptural text should come from the lectionary texts scheduled for
November 26,2017, Christ The King/Reign of Christ Sunday or December 31, 2017, the First Sunday after Christmas Day.
6. The sermon will be evaluated on content and delivery. Attention will be given to Scriptural exegesis, theological development, logical flow of ideas, vivid illustrations, eye contact, animation, grammar, and more. The sermon should reflect your best effort.
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