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DCOM Tips and Tricks

The weekly "DCOM Tips and Tricks" emails are stored here for your reference. Need something that's not covered here? Email bom@umoi.org.

#80: 9/20/2023 Know when to go:

If you’re trying to remember the date of your next DCOM meeting, you should be able to find it on the shared BOM/DCOM google calendar. And the bonus is that we can all see the dates for each other’s meetings, as well as other BOM-related meetings and trainings (you can also see in advance when the BOM Admin will be out-of-town for training or vacation). If your Committee’s meeting is not listed, please send the date/time to bom@umoi.org.

#79: 9/13/2023 The GNW DCOM Handbook:

It’s possible that this Handbook does not contain everything you need to know about serving on the DCOM, but it’s pretty darn close! This was designed by both the Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest BOMs, with input from DCOM leadership. Tip-Within-A-Tip: jump to the section marked “interviews” and open up the Interview Guides. There are separate pages for everything from voting for certified candidacy to recommending a candidate for provisional membership, with step-by-step instructions for what the candidate needs to provide, what questions to ask at the interview, and how to handle the motion and voting. Check it out here (you can also find it on the DCOM Resources webpage).

#78: 9/6/2023 Who's on the DCOM?:

There are two really easy ways to see the membership of your DCOM.

This link shows the current members of each district committee, separated by district. You’ll see the chair, registrar, and BOM/DCOM liaison as well as the other members: https://www.umoi.org/dcoms

This link takes you to a page with all the current DCOM members along with email addresses, but it’s not separated by district. If there’s a business phone number, that is also listed: https://www.umoi.org/leadershiplist/171755

In both cases, the lists are only as accurate as the information that is given to the Ministerial Services Manager. Contact bom@umoi.org if you see something that needs to be updated.

#77: 8/30/2023 Confidentiality Covenant:

One of the most important values for both the Board and the District Committees on Ordained Ministry is confidentiality. In our work of vetting and credentialing clergy, we deal with significant amounts of very personal information, and we are called to treat this information with the utmost care and respect. If you’ve been a DCOM member for at least a year, you’ve probably already signed the annual Confidentiality Covenant–and it’s time to do so again. Please take a moment now to affirm your willingness to hold firm to this commitment of confidentiality over this coming year. (If you also serve on the BOM, you’ll need to sign the DCOM covenant as well as a separate BOM covenant.)

#76: 8/23/2023 DCOM Training:

The Board of Ordained Ministry offered an online DCOM training event last fall, and happily, the recording is still available. This session is a great way to get your new DCOM members on board–from the comfort of their own computer screen! If you really want to maximize the learning, be sure to do the asynchronous DCOM lesson ahead of time (contact bom@umoi.org for the link and the password for both resources).

#75: 8/16/2023 Orders of Ministry Grid:

Wouldn’t you love to have a simple visual to help new DCOM members dig into all the different expressions of set-apart ministry in the UMC? Maybe a grid that outlines the differences…. Good news! We have a tool exactly like that. It was designed to help candidates understand the variety of forms of ministry as they explore their call, but it also works great for getting new DCOM members up-to-speed before their first meeting. You can find it on the DCOM resources page on our website: https://www.umoi.org/DCOMresources

#74: 8/9/2023 DCOM 101:

Whether you’re brand-new to the DCOM, or you’ve been doing this for awhile, a little DCOM Boot Camp is not a bad idea. This DCOM training course was created for us last fall, but it’s still relevant. The link below will take you to a series of lessons that you can do on your own time. There’s plenty of information, along with some exercises designed to test your knowledge. Give it a try! [Note: DCOM members can access the link and password for the course through the BOM Admin]

#73: 8/2/2023 Welcome Back:

For the DCOM old-timers it’s welcome back after a bit of a summer break for Tips & Tricks, but for those new to the District Committee on Ordained Ministry, welcome to this weekly resource! Supplied by the Board of Ordained Ministry, Tips & Tricks is focused on helping DCOM members get the information and tools needed to do this important work of supporting persons in discerning and preparing for professional ministry.

The email is usually pretty short: think of it as a silent soundbite that’s quick but powerful. Over the next few weeks, we’ll be highlighting some of the basics, to help get newer DCOM members equipped and ready for fall interviews. If you have specific questions or topics you’d like to see addressed, just send an email to bom@umoi.org.

#72: 6/21/2023 Summer Break:

DCOM Tips and Tricks is taking a bit of a break for part of the summer, but we’ll be back on August 2 to welcome new DCOM members with some tips for getting started. Our next quarterly DCOM/BOM conversation will be August 9 (12:30 PT | 1:30 MT). It’s designed for DCOM chairs, registrars, and BOM liaisons, but if any other DCOM members want to attend, just drop a note to bom@umoi.org. It could be a great opportunity to get some onboarding before the Fall DCOM meetings.

And just because Tips and Tricks is taking a break doesn’t mean you’re without resources! Please contact bom@umoi.orgwith any questions or needs that arise over the next few weeks. Enjoy some summer relaxation!

#71: 6/14/2023 COS Options:

Today (June 14) is the deadline to register for Summer Term Western Jurisdiction Course of Study classes. This is likely the last time that in-person classes will be held at the WJ School. And although many folks will miss the in-person element, for most OR-ID LLPs, this is good news! Starting in the fall, the WJ’s COS classes will be offered via zoom–synchronous learning without the cost of travel, food, and lodging.

Another option this summer is the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s online offerings. The August Term runs Aug. 7 to Oct. 15, and registration is open until July 20 (although some classes fill quickly). There is a good selection of courses, and most of the work is asynchronous.

MEF monies are available. If you have questions about how to best support your LLPs with their education requirements, contact bom@umoi.org.

#70: 5/31/2023 Absence makes the heart grow fonder?:

Next week we’ll be taking a break from Tips & Tricks due to the 2023 Annual Conference session, but just in case you’ll be pining away for more, here’s a reminder that you can always find the entire collection (all 70 of them!) on the DCOM Resources page of our website. Just scroll down the list to find the tip you’re looking for. We’ll be back in two weeks!

#69: 5/24/2023 Congratulations!:

This week’s tip is to take a moment to give yourself a high five! Clergy Session concluded yesterday, and all of the Business of the Annual Conference (BAC) questions were affirmed. That means that the results of your hard work were on display for all our clergy to see: you have nurtured candidates, discerned calls to ministry, kept LLPs connected, supported CLMs, exited those who needed to go a different direction…and you’ve done it with passion and commitment. So congratulations! The summer is often a slower time for DCOM work and meetings, so please be sure to take some time to take a deep breath and know that your good work is appreciated by the annual conference.

#68: 5/17/2023 Check out the BAC:

The BAC is the Business of the Annual Conference report, which outlines the names of persons in our annual conference whose status (or “conference relationship”) is covered in specific paragraphs of the Book of Discipline. A series of Disciplinary Questions are laid out each year in the BAC, and voted on by the Clergy Session.

That Session occurs on May 23, so now is the perfect time for you to literally check out the BAC, since many of the Questions deal with actions taken by the DCOM. Although the 2023 BAC won’t be published until the Clergy Session makes it final, DCOM members received a link to check out the Questions as they’ll be presented on the 23rd. If you see something that doesn’t match up with what your DCOM did, please contact the BOM right away (bom@umoi.org)

#67: 5/10/2023 What is "full connection"?:

As the Annual Conference and Clergy Sessions draw near (Clergy Session is less than two weeks away), a distinctly United Methodist term is often tossed around. What does it mean to be in “full connection”? This is an important phrase for DCOM members to understand, since many of your candidates are working towards full connection–even though they may not yet comprehend what that means.

In UM policy, only ordained elders and deacons are in full connection–meaning that they are full members of the annual conference. Licensed local pastors are members of the AC, but only as long as they are appointed, and they must continue to be approved by the clergy session each year; thus they are members, but not full members. Likewise, neither associate nor provisional members are full members, and therefore are not in full connection.

#66: 5/3/2023 COS Online Options:

The tip: it’s easier to ensure your LLP’s make good progress on their educational requirements if you give them plenty of support and options for taking COS classes. The trick: here’s a great tracking tool to keep track of progress (note: only BOM leaders will be able to access this link).

And there’s more: Garrett is offering online COS classes this summer (deadline to register is May 5, so move fast). And the Western Jurisdictional COS at Claremont is doing all its fall term classes online. One last bonus tip: make sure your LLPs know how to apply for MEF monies to cover their COS fees (online courses only cost $400, with no transportation, lodging, or meals to worry about).

#65: 4/26/2023 Need a date?:

It’s been awhile since we gave you a tip about finding a good date–a date on the DCOM/BOM calendar, that is! If you’re trying to remember the date of your next DCOM meeting, you should be able to find it on the shared BOM/DCOM google calendar. And the bonus is that we can all see the dates for each other’s meetings, as well as other BOM-related meetings and trainings (you can also see in advance when the BOM Admin will be out-of-town for training or vacation). If your Committee’s meeting is not listed, please send the date/time to bom@umoi.org.

#64: 4/19/2023 The All-New Candidacy Summit:

This required event (also known as Orientation to Ministry) is sponsored by the BOM, and designed especially for folks who are in the beginning stages of working toward certified candidacy. The BOM is currently in the process of completely reimagining the Summit to be more attuned to the needs of candidates who are exploring ministry in the 21st century. The first brand-new Summit will be this summer, likely on July 30-31, in person. The BOM relies on the DCOMs for the names of persons who may be discerning a call into ministry. Please email bom@umoi.org with your suggestions.

#63: 4/12/2023 It's all about timing:

One of the hopes that has been expressed in our quarterly BOM/DCOM zoom conversations is to achieve better consistency with the timing of actions taken by all our DCOMs through the year. Here’s a basic time frame that seems to make sense for most of us:

Fall meeting: recertification for CLMs
Winter meeting: recommend renewal of license for LLPs
Spring meeting: candidates who need to be recommended to the BOM (provisional or associate membership)

Throughout the year: new certified candidates, introductory conversations with exploring candidates, catch-up for those who were missed during their “normal” timeframe.

#62: 4/5/2023 DCOM Handbook tips:

As you know from last week’s tip, the new GNW DCOM Handbook is now available! But there’s a lot there, and it may be possible that (gasp!) you haven’t read the entire thing yet. Here are a few highlights:

The landing page includes a table of contents–be alert for listings that begin with a triangle. You can click that to the down position to find more listings on that topic.
Under the topic “Interviews,” click the triangle next to “Interview Guides.” These give you step-by-step instructions for preparing for each type of interview/DCOM action.
Materials needed for interviews: These are either listed or linked in the Interview Guides. These are the minimum Disciplinary requirements. If your DCOM has additional requirements, you’ll need to factor those in.
Contact info: for OR-ID, the Handbook directs that all BOM-related questions go through one email (bom@umoi.org) to make it easier for DCOMs and candidates to get their questions directed to the right person.

#61: 3/29/2023 The All-New DCOM Handbook is here!:

At long last, the successor to last fall’s draft of Oregon-Idaho’s online DCOM Handbook is finally ready for use. The new version is for the entire Greater Northwest Area, and it includes tons of information and resources to help streamline processes for all the DCOMs in OR-ID and PNW. Better consistency will help us all, as candidates as well as LLPs and other clergy move around the Area. Plus the online platform makes it easy to keep updated. Check it out here! You can also link to it from the DCOM resources page on the OR-ID website.

#60: 3/22/2023 When's the next DCOM meeting?:

Having trouble remembering the date of your next DCOM meeting? You should be able to find it on the shared BOM/DCOM google calendar. And the bonus is that we can all see the dates for each other’s meetings, as well as other BOM-related meetings and trainings (you can also see in advance when the BOM Admin will be out-of-town for training or vacation). If you see something missing or incorrect, just send an email to bom@umoi.org.

#59: 3/15/2023 MEF monies for DCOMs:

Did you know that the persons you interact with as a DCOM are typically eligible for financial support through the Ministerial Education Fund? Here’s a list of DCOM-related persons who can apply:

Certified candidates can get money for seminary classes
Certified candidates approved for licensing can get money for Licensing School
LLPs can get money for COS and ACOS classes
Laity working toward Certified Lay Ministry status can get money for required classes
CLMs can get money for required continuing education courses

In general, our candidates and CLMs are not aware of this resource. Please let them know about the MEF each year when you see them. The application form is online here.

#58: 3/8/2023 How to get things started:

Since DCOMs often don’t interact with a candidate until they’re nearly ready to apply for certified candidacy, they may not be clear on how to get someone started in the process. There are four initial steps:

The person needs to spend time with a pastor or other clergy leader, reading and discussing The Christian as Minister together.
The person writes to their DS to request entrance into the candidacy process (there’s some other information needed, as well–see the candidacy checklist).
The DS informs the BOM’s administrative coordinator, who gets the person registered in the candidacy system.
The BOM Admin schedules a zoom meeting with the person to go over the logistics of the candidacy process.

The process can be a bit overwhelming, even for experienced DCOM members, and each candidate tends to have different needs and different timelines. But those first four steps are essential for launching the candidate into the process with good guidance and communication.

#57: 3/1/2023 Closing the door on the EM360:

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) has just announced that they are sunsetting the EM360 evaluation tool that has been used for candidates. Part of the reason for their decision is the realization that only a small amount of research on the tool was performed with multi-ethnic and non-white contexts for ministry. Discontinuing the tool won’t have a huge impact on OR-ID candidates, since we haven’t been fully using it. Our candidates undergo both a self-evaluation and an evaluation with references in the Ministerial Psychological Assessment process.

#56: 2/22/2023 DCOM Quick Minutes are Here!:

DCOM Quick Minutes are here!: It’s an all-new, step-by-step online form designed to make it as easy as possible to take minutes at the DCOM meeting. For every action your committee needs to take (recommend an LLP renewal; vote on certified candidacy; recommend an LLP for associate membership, etc), the appropriate fields automatically open to guide you through the process of interviewing, making the motion, recording the vote, and determining follow-up actions. Thank you to the Columbia DCOM for testing this out! Here’s the link to the form. The DCOM secretary is welcome (even encouraged!) to schedule a zoom with the BOM admin to try it out ahead of your next meeting.

#55: 2/15/2023 Fully online MDiv approved!:

Fully online MDiv approved!: The United Methodist University Senate (the body that sets academic standards for the denomination) voted in late January to allow the 13 UM seminaries (and Asbury) to offer a fully online MDiv degree. This likely impacts the work of the DCOM in two ways: first, as you work with candidates who are on an ordination track, you’ll be able to direct them to an online MDiv, if that’s most helpful for their context (remember: it must be at a UM seminary). The second impact will be in the future: now that an online MDiv has been approved, it seems reasonable to expect that the limitations on online Course of Study and Advanced Course of Study will soon be lifted. It hasn’t happened yet, but it would be a wonderful boost to LLPs in our annual conference.

#54: 2/8/2023 Quarterly BOM/DCOM Conversations:

Quarterly DCOM/BOM Conversations: Did you know that DCOM and BOM leadership meet together on zoom every three months for 90 minutes of conversation, and the next one is…today! This is a great channel for keeping the lines of communication open, and we’ve come up with some wonderful ideas together. If you’re not currently part of this discussion and would like to be, contact the BOM admin.

#53: 2/1/2023 DCOM Registrars:

DCOM Registrars: Have you said “thank you” to your DCOM registrar lately? It’s a huge and (usually) thankless job with no pay and numerous details to juggle. But help is on the way! The BOM has approved a shift in responsibilities so that the BOM Administrative Coordinator will now be providing support for each DCOM registrar, handling more of the administrative tasks to make the position a bit more humane. Registrars will be hearing more in the coming weeks. DCOM chairs, please be sure to include bom@umoi.org in your DCOM communications. Oh, and remember to say “thanks” to your registrar for the amazing work they do!

#52: 1/25/2023 DCOM Resources:

DCOM Resources: This webpage has links to a robust list of resources for your DCOM. It includes the new OR-ID DCOM handbook, the DCOM/BOM calendar of events and meetings, the Action Report template, all the Action Outlines, an archive of all the Tips and Tricks, and more. How to remember this?

Bookmark the link
Remember the URL: www.umoi.org/dcomresources
Remember this even shorter URL: www.umoi.org/dcoms and link to the resources page from there
Use the searchbox on the homepage to search “dcom” or “resources” (or anything else you’re looking for!)

#51: 1/18/2023 One-Stop Shopping:

One-Stop Shopping: This week’s tip is quick and easy–and it’s designed to make it quick and easy for you to get the information you need. No matter what the question is, if it’s related in any way to the Board of Ordained Ministry (which includes the BOM’s sub-committees, the DCOMs), you only need to remember one email address: bom@umoi.org. That email goes directly to the BOM Admin, who will forward it on to the appropriate person, so you don’t have to figure out who has the answer. Just send all your questions to bom@umoi.org and they’ll automatically get to the right place!

#50: 1/11/2023 Professional Formation Leave:

Professional Formation Leave: Confession: this tip has been written early, because the BOM Admin is on personal retreat at Camp Magruder this week for the Discipline-mandated annual “professional formation leave” (¶350.2). MEF monies are available for such retreats, and most of our camps are happy to work with clergy to arrange accommodations for personal retreats. DCOMs can get involved by encouraging their LLPS who have completed their educational requirements to apply for MEF support for their professional formation/spiritual renewal week. And CLMs are eligible for MEF monies for recertification coursework (which might free up church professional funds for a personal retreat). If you want help strategizing about how to use the MEF to support your candidates, LLPs, and CLMs, contact the BOM Admin (after she returns from her spiritual renewal retreat!).

#49: 1/4/2023 "Quick Minutes" for DCOMs:

“Quick Minutes” for DCOMs: If you participated in a charge conference meeting this past fall, you may know that there’s a new form called “Quick Minutes” to easily record the basics about the standard required business. Something similar is coming next month for DCOMs! You’ll be able to select what action the DCOM intends to consider (for instance, vote on certified candidacy or recommend continuation of an LLP license), and the form will automatically tell you what’s needed for that action, including the appropriate motion and the voting standards. By the end of your meeting, the minutes are already completed in the form! If you have a meeting coming up this month and would like to test the beta version, let us know (bom@umoi.org).

#48: 12/21/2022 The COS Grid:

The COS Grid: If you’re a visual learner, this tool may be just what you’re LOOKING for (see what we did there?). COS = Course of Study, the set of 20 classes required for all licensed local pastors (unless they have an MDiv from a University Senate-approved seminary). But most LLPs take the COS classes over the course of several years, plus there’s the added challenge of those who have COS equivalency for non-UMC coursework elsewhere. The COS Grid makes it easier to see all the requirements at a glance, and if you have an LLP who has been through the educational equivalency process with the BOM, the COS Grid will be customized to that particular LLP’s situation. Do you have an LLP who needs an educational equivalency consult? Just contact the BOM to set that up.

#47: 12/14/2022 Confidentiality and the MPA!:

Confidentiality and the MPA: If you’re a DCOM member, then you know the importance of confidentiality in all our work with candidates; in fact, you’ve signed a confidentiality covenant to highlight the significance of this practice. In line with that value, we’re making a change in the way we handle the MAS Report, which comes from the Ministerial Assessment Specialist (MAS), the psychologist who oversees the Ministerial Psychological Assessment (MPA). This report will be viewed in its entirely only by the Board’s MPA Coordinator, who will then write a brief summary to be used by the DCOM in its discernment work with the candidate; the same process will be followed by the BOM. Any questions about the report can be funneled through the MPA Coordinator to the appropriate MAS. By the way, the candidate will continue to receive a copy of the full MAS Report, which they look over together with a specially trained “debriefer.”

#46: 11/30/2022 Plan ahead!:

Plan ahead!: Do you know when your next DCOM meeting is scheduled? If your meeting isn’t on the shared BOM/DCOM calendar, it’s difficult for the BOM to know when you’re meeting. Since DCOMs are sub-committees of the Board of Ordained Ministry, it’s important to communicate with one another–and it helps all DCOM members to know there’s a central place to find the meeting schedule. Please support this effort by getting your meeting on this calendar (email bom@umoi.org to make it happen).

#45: 11/21/2022 Educational progress for licensed local pastors:

Did you know we've been doing these DCOM tips and tricks for a full year now?! In celebration, we're re-running the tip from a year ago. And one more thing: starting next week, Tips & Tricks will switch to Wednesdays. Happy Thanksgiving!

Educational progress for licensed local pastors: It's everyone's favorite topic, right? OK, maybe not. But we've got a tool to help, which is available to the chair, registrar, and BOM liaison of each DCOM. This tracking sheet lists each LLP, sorted by district, along with their education to-date, and there's a handy color-coded column to indicate whether or not they're making appropriate progress*.

* The tracking sheet is kept up-to-date by the BOM, but if you see an error, please alert us right away.

#44: 11/14/2022 Online COS Options

Online COS Options: As your LLPs are working on educational requirements, here are some quick tips.

Up to half of COS classes can be taken fully online (¶1421.3d)
Typically, only the GBHEM is authorized to offer fully online COS classes, which they do throughout the year (see the schedule here).
GBHEM has recently extended its pandemic-related exception, allowing regional COS Schools (including the WJC School) to offer fully online COS classes through June of 2024.
There is a good possibility that the WJC COS School will be offering fully online courses in 2023; continue checking the website for updates to the COS schedule.
Garrett and Perkins both offer Spanish-language COS and Licensing School classes. For help accessing these options, email bom@umoi.org.
MEF monies are available for LLPs taking COS classes, as well as for Licensing School for certified candidates who have their DCOM’s recommendation for licensing. The application form is here.
Registration for both Licensing School and COS classes requires a signature from the BOM’s LLP Coordinator. Contact bom@umoi.org to connect with that process.
Reminder: the BOM has a education tracking sheet for all LLPs, which is available to DCOM leadership. If you see something on the sheet that needs to be updated, contact bom@umoi.org.

#43: 10/31/2022 These tricks are really treats!

These tricks are really treats!: Here’s a scary statistic for Halloween: only about 60-70% of DCOM members open these weekly tips and tricks, which are chock-full of helpful information. Most of us on a committee tend to assume that someone else will be tracking information or remembering tasks and procedures, but the committee functions best when everyone is helping to keep the group accountable, which means that all members need to be knowledgeable about DCOM processes. But the good news is that all the weekly tips are accessible here. You can also simply open the conference website (www.umoi.org) and use the search box (upper right-hand corner) to type in a word or phrase related to what you’re looking for. Try it out right now!

#42: 10/17/2022 CLM Renewal

CLM Renewal: Certified Lay Ministers (CLMs) must be recertified every two years, and the DCOM is responsible for collecting the paperwork, interviewing the CLM, and voting on whether to recommend the CLM to the Board of Lay Ministry for recertification. Happily, each step of the renewal process is outlined on our website. Make sure your DCOM is aware of which CLMs are up for renewal this year, and get them on your schedule for paperwork and interviews. The Action Report at the end of the process goes to both the Board of Lay Ministry and the Board of Ordained Ministry.

#41: 10/10/2022 Mentor Training

Mentor Training: The BOM’s mentor training coordinator is offering two mentor training sessions next month: Thursday, Nov. 3 at 2pm Pacific | 3pm Mountain and Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6pm Pacific | 7pm Mountain. If you know of clergy who might be good mentors, contact your DS. And be sure to take a fresh look at the mentor tracking sheet after the training, to see the names of the newly trained folks who will be added to the sheet. By the way, you could look at the tracking sheet now to make sure your DCOM candidates all have the correct mentors on the list (if not, contact bom@umoi.org). And if you hear of potential mentors who are worried about having to explain the complicated candidacy process, don’t worry! Mentors only need to focus on discernment and spiritual formation; our BOM Admin takes care of guiding candidates through the logistical part of the process.

#40: 10/03/2022 Appendix to the DCOM Training

Appendix to the DCOM Training: Due to this week’s meeting of the Board of Ordained Ministry, today’s email is just a “tip-let”! But it’s an essential one: it turns out that the video recording of the Sept. 14 DCOM training requires a password: !M2hZj4Z. Please share this with your new DCOM members, or with anyone who was not able to be on the zoom last month.

#39: 09/26/2022 Confidentiality Covenant

Confidentiality Covenant: As you already know, confidentiality is a big deal for both the Board and the District Committees on Ordained Ministry. We’ve always taken that seriously, but this year we’re emphasizing our intentionality in this important aspect of treating our candidates with the utmost respect. If you haven’t yet signed the online Confidentiality Covenant, please do so as soon as possible.

#38: 09/19/2022 DCOM Training

DCOM Training: Thanks to all who were able to participate in last Wednesday's DCOM training! It was great to see so many faces around the Zoom screen. This week's tip is to bookmark this recording of the Sept. 14 DCOM training (and you'll also need this password: !M2hZj4Z). Members of your committee who were not able to attend can get some helpful information from the recording--ditto for any new members you bring in over the next several months.

#37: 09/12/2022 Anti-Plagiarism Tool

Anti-Plagiarism Tool: Did you know that the BOM and its DCOMs have an anti-plagiarism tool? We use it not only to detect cases of plagiarism, but also to help educate our candidates and local pastors about how to avoid unintentionally passing off someone else’s work as their own. iThenticate is a software platform used by many academic institutions, which some of your candidates may have already used in college or seminary. Make sure your candidates and DCOM members are familiar with the Board’s plagiarism policy, and follow this process to get your candidates connected with iThenticate. If you are requiring written work from candidates or licensed pastors this fall, now is the time to get this process started.

#36: 09/06/2022 Candidacy Checklist

Candidacy Checklist: We’re still hoping that the new Passage UMC (the denomination’s online candidacy system) will turn out to be an excellent step-by-step tool for our candidates to use as they navigate the process. But while we’re waiting for some final bugs to be worked out, our OR-ID candidacy checklist has been completely revamped. It’s available on our website, and it’s much cleaner and simpler than the old version. Make sure your folks who are working on certified candidacy have the most recent version: www.umoi.org/candidacy1.

#35: 08/29/2022 Training is coming!

Training is coming!: Here’s a no-brainer tip: it’s usually a lot easier to do your job if you’ve actually received some training in that work. The Board of Ordained Ministry is responsible for providing training to its district committees, and we finally have a date for that to happen. On Wednesday, Sept. 14, from 6-8pm Pacific (7-9pm Mountain) we’ll gather via zoom to be led by Meg Lassiat, the consultant who has been working with us on redesigning our candidacy process. There will also be an asynchronous lesson ahead of time, to allow for more and better time together for case studies, discussion, and questions….all designed to make it easier for you to do your job!

#34: 08/22/2022 We've got tips!

We've got tips!: Did you know that all of the Weekly Tips and Tricks can be found on the conference website? This is helpful insider knowledge for folks who are new to the DCOM this summer–or even for veteran members who might have (inadvertently, of course!) missed a tip or two along the way. Scroll through the list to find the topic you’re looking for: https://www.umoi.org/dcom-tips

#33: 08/15/2022 Need to contact a BOM member?

Need to contact a BOM member?: We’re rerunning this tip from several months ago; with the summer membership transitions on both the BOM and the DCOMs, it’s a timely one to revisit. It can be challenging to keep track of which person on the BOM is handling candidacy or retirements or RIM or MEF applications or LLPs or…..! But there is a very easy way to make sure your question or information gets to exactly the right person. Just email bom@umoi.org and our BOM admin will direct your email to where it needs to go. (Bonus tip: you can also call 503-802-9215 if you prefer phone calls to emails.).

#32: 08/08/2022 What’s the date of that DCOM meeting?

What’s the date of that DCOM meeting?: Having trouble remembering the date of your next DCOM meeting? You should be able to find it on the shared BOM/DCOM google calendar. And the bonus is that we can all see the dates for each other’s meetings, as well as other BOM-related meetings and trainings (you can also see in advance when the BOM Admin will be out-of-town for training or vacation). If your Committee’s meeting is not listed, please send the date/time to bom@umoi.org. Fall meetings are coming up, and it’s helpful to get those meeting dates posted right away.

#31: 08/01/2022 What's up with COS? (Part 2!)

What's up with COS? (Part 2): See last week’s tip for some context. Here’s the reality about what’s happening with COS right now:

All COS schools are moving to a hybrid model, now that online restrictions (lifted during the pandemic) are back in place.
- By University Senate standards, GBHEM is the only entity allowed to offer COS classes fully online.
The Western Jurisdiction’s COS school is committed to working with LLPs to find a schedule that works.
- Faith Conklin, the WJ COS director, is planning to offer a zoom conversation with all current/potential COS students in mid-August.
- When COS offers 2-4 classes in one time frame, they get significant pushback that it’s too intense.
  - The old model was 4 classes in 4 weeks–students complained that they couldn’t be away that long, and the cost of meals and lodging was a burden.
- For 2023, the WJ COS will be doing hybrid classes that include one long weekend on campus for each class.
  - The downside is the cost of traveling to Claremont from Oregon or Idaho for just one class.
All COS directors across the country will be meeting with the GBHEM in September. The directors want to advocate for more flexibility around online options, including the ability to differentiate between asynchronous learning and real-time zoom classes. If DCOMs would like to write a letter supporting this advocacy, send it to bom@umoi.org to be passed along to Faith as she works to help the denomination understand (and accommodate) the unique challenges of training for ministry in the Western Jurisdiction.

#30: 07/25/2022 What's up with COS?

What's up with COS?: Course of Study (COS) is a set of 20 classes that are required for licensed local pastors, who have 8-12 years (depending of whether they’re FL or PL) to complete the courses in order to maintain their license (unless they already have an MDiv). The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) oversees the COS, which can only be taught at regional COS Schools attached to UMC seminaries.

During the pandemic, all COS classes were taught online, but normally, only the GBHEM can offer online COS (which they do regularly). Currently, COS regional schools –including Claremont, the official COS school for the Western Jurisdiction–are moving back to in-person, although most are actually moving to hybrid COS.

There are several important issues about all this that DCOMs will want to be aware of…but this tip is already overly long, so stay tuned for the rest of the story next week! (by the way, if you have immediate COS questions that just can’t wait a week, feel free to contact bom@umoi.org).

#29: 07/18/2022 The CLM Process

The CLM Process: The Board of Lay Ministry has partnered with the Board of Ordained Ministry to clarify Oregon-Idaho’s process for becoming a CLM (Certified Lay Minister), as well as the process for renewing certification every two years. The process will be outlined on the conference website soon, but meantime, here’s a step-by-step checklist, with links to more information.

#28: 07/11/2022 Figuring Out Mentors

Figuring out mentors: All candidates for ministry are to be assigned a trained mentor by the DCOM in consultation with the BOM’s Vocational Discernment Coordinator (VDC) and the District Superintendent (¶348.1a). Wouldn’t it be great if each DCOM had access to an up-to-date list of all trained mentors? There is one! You can find that list here, and it also includes links to contact info for each mentor. Plus there’s a separate sheet where all the mentees are listed with their assigned mentors. The BOM would love to have each DCOM check this list regularly to make sure all candidates are listed accurately (email bom@umoi.org with any corrections).

#27: 06/27/2022 Online Coursework for Mdiv

Online coursework for Mdiv: The University Senate is the denominational body for the UMC that sets the standards for academic institutions and coursework for persons working on licensing or ordination. During the pandemic, restrictions were lifted governing whether or not classes need to be in-person. Now, the Senate has announced that the only “distance learning” (i.e. online) courses allowed for an MDiv must be taught by one of the 13 UM seminaries (and Asbury). Two-thirds of the MDiv can be taken online, but only through the 13 UM seminaries/Asbury. Read the entire announcement here.

#26: 06/13/2022 What is "Full Connection"?

What is "Full Connection"?: As the Annual Conference Session nears, a distinctly United Methodist term is often tossed around. What does it mean to be in “full connection”? This is an important phrase for DCOM members to understand, since many of your candidates are working towards full connection–even though they may not yet comprehend what that means.

In UM policy, only ordained elders and deacons are in full connection–meaning that they are full members of the annual conference. Licensed local pastors are members of the AC, but only as long as they are appointed, and they must continue to be approved by the clergy session each year; thus they are members, but not full members. Likewise, neither associate nor provisional members are full members, and therefore are not in full connection.

#25: 06/06/2022 Ministerial Psychological Assessment

Ministerial Psychological Assessment: Do you have the MAS report for your DCOM candidate’s MPA? We Methodists do love our acronyms! The MPA is the Ministerial Psychological Assessment, which is conducted by a qualified psychologist known as the Ministerial Assessment Specialist (MAS), and is a requirement for anyone to be elected as a certified candidate, or approved to be a Certified Lay Minister (CLM). The process for taking the MPA has changed over the last two years, and is now guided by the Board of Ordained Ministry (BOM). To begin the assessment process, a candidate must be approved by the district superintendent (DS) to begin the candidacy journey, and then register with the BOM online. TAFN (that’s all for now)!

#24: 05/30/2022 The BAC (again!)

Today's tip is coming a day late, due to yesterday's holiday. And since Oregon-Idaho's Clergy Session will be held today, it seems like an appropriate time to re-run this tip about the BAC.

The BAC: The Business of the Annual Conference report, fondly (??) known as the BAC, offers a listing of all the conference relations actions taken by the clergy session at annual conference each year. Many of these actions originate in the DCOMs. Certified candidates and licensed local pastors are all listed here, as are CLMs. The BAC is a great place to check to make sure that your lists correspond with the official annual conference lists. And if there’s a discrepancy, be sure to contact the Board at bom@umoi.org.

You can find this year’s BAC in the conference journal, or online on the conference website. Pro tip: the conference relations actions are in Part II of the BAC, beginning on page 138 of the 2021 Journal. The 2022 Journal and BAC will be posted later this summer.

#23: 05/23/2022 It's all about communication!

It's all about communication: As Clergy Session approaches, this is the time of year when it’s easy for a candidate or local pastor to fall through the cracks. With DCOMs, BOM, and Clergy Session in the mix, it’s a challenge to make sure we’re voting on an accurate Business of the Annual Conference (BAC) Report! Here are some communication tips to help:

Throughout the year, make sure your next DCOM meeting is posted on the BOM/DCOM calendar.
Double-check the BAC or the LLP tracking sheet to ensure that all your local pastors are voted on each year.
Ask your registrar if the Action Reports for each candidate and LLP are being uploaded immediately following the meeting.
Use your BOM/DCOM Liaisons to keep the information flowing both ways.
If you need help or have questions, bom@umoi.org is a great place to start!

#22: 04/25/2022 Are you up-to-date?

Are you up-to-date?: Did you know that all DCOM members are listed on the conference website? As the annual conference session approaches (and with it a vote on the Nominations Report), it’s important to make sure your committee list is up-to-date. Please send any corrections to the Conference Secretary. And if you’re wondering how to replace members who may be rotating off, check out this tip about getting new DCOM members.

#21: 04/18/2022 DCOM meeting resources

DCOM meeting resources: Most of our DCOMs will be meeting between now and the end of the month, so here’s a quick reminder about resources to help:

Use your DCOM “internal sharing” dropbox folder to securely share documents with members or interview teams ahead of time (never send confidential materials via email).
Use the anti-plagiarism process to help educate your candidates and LLPs about plagiarism.
Use the DCOM Minutes template to make sure all information is recorded correctly and clearly.
Use the LLP tracking sheet to help determine if an LLP is making appropriate educational progress.
Use these Action Outlines as a guide for how to make motions and vote for a variety of typical DCOM actions.
Use the Action Report to report your voting (every LLP from your district who is listed on the BAC must be acted on–even if they will no longer be appointed).
Use your DCOM “internal sharing” dropbox folder to securely share the completed minutes with the DCOM members.
Use the BOM Admin (bom@umoi.org) if you encounter any questions along the way.

#20: 04/11/2022 How do we get new members?

How do we get new members?: The conference Nominations Team is currently engaged in its work of nominating persons to serve on conference boards; the entire nominating report will be voted on at Annual Conference in June. DCOM members are listed on this report, and will also be elected to their service by the vote of the AC. But DCOM members get nominated “...annually by the district superintendent in consultation with the chairperson or executive committee of the Board of Ordained Ministry.” (¶666.1) If your DCOM is in need of new members this spring, make sure your DS is collaborating with the BOM–let’s work together to find good nominees to join in your important work.

#19: 04/04/2022 Action on LLPs

Action on LLPs: All licensed local pastors under your DCOM’s care must be voted on every year, even if (especially if!) they will not be continuing in their current status. Check the BAC, Questions 20 and 21 for the list (note: on the 2022 BAC, these questions have been renumbered to 16 and 17). For each LLP, the potential actions are:

Recommend to continue licensing
Recommend for approval for licensing (this action is for an LLP who is no longer appointed, but the DCOM wants them to be ready if/when an appointment comes open)
Recommend to discontinue licensing (this action must be take even if it’s the LLP’s request to step away)
Recommend to the BOM for another status (associate membership or provisional membership)
Recognize as Retired Local Pastor (must have made satisfactory educational progress – ¶320.5)

Each of these actions must be reported to the BOM on the Action Report form. The only exception is for a retired local pastor who has been serving an appointment in retirement, and then stops. There is no action necessary, but it is helpful to make note of that change in the DCOM minutes.

#18: 03/28/2022 Need to contact a BOM member?

Need to contact a BOM member?: It can be challenging to keep track of which person on the BOM is handling candidacy or retirements or RIM or MEF applications or LLPs or…..! But there is a very easy way to make sure your question or information gets to exactly the right person. Just email bom@umoi.org and our BOM admin will direct your email to where it needs to go. (Bonus tip: you can also call 503-802-9215 if you prefer phone calls to emails.)

#17: 03/21/2022 UMCARES Becomes PASSAGE[UMC]

UMCARES Becomes PASSAGE[UMC]: On April 4, the denomination’s online candidacy registry, UMCARES, will become Passage UMC. This is more than a name change or even a cosmetic upgrade–this is a complete re-do of the entire system. It’s designed to be user-friendly (a huge change from the old program!). Candidates will be able to upload documents into Passage, which can then be securely stored (it has HIPAA-level protection) and accessed by authorized DCOM members. Tracks can be customized. And the system can extend through much more than just the initial process into candidacy–DCOMs can track certified candidates as they prepare to apply for provisional membership; keep tabs on educational progress for LLPs; and guide CLMs. DCOM leaders will be hearing much more about Passage (along with training opportunities) in the coming weeks.

But today’s tip is actually this: Both UMCARES and Passage UMC will be “dark” from March 29 until April 4, as the rollover of data takes place from the old to the new. If you have candidates who are actively using their UMCARES track right now, please make sure they know that no new information can be entered after 11:59pm Central time on March 28. As always, feel free to direct questions to bom@umoi.org.

#16: 03/14/2022 Candidacy Summit

Candidacy Summit: This event is a requirement for certified candidacy…and yet it has only been offered once a year in Oregon-Idaho. Happily, that has now changed! The “winter cohort” of candidates is meeting now for group mentoring every six weeks, following their Summit in January. And the next Summit will happen this summer. It’s most helpful if a candidate attends the Summit (also known as “Orientation to Ministry”) early in their discernment process. DCOMs are encouraged to pass along names of potential candidates to the BOM (bom@umoi.org) as soon as possible, so that the Board can get them hooked up with information about the next Summit.

#15: 03/07/2022 Where was that tip?

Where was that tip?: Did you know that not everyone reads each email carefully, including the fine print at the bottom? Shocking, I know! On the off chance that you have a DCOM friend in this category, this week’s tip features the fine print at the bottom: all of the Weekly Tips and Tricks can be found on the conference website. Scroll through the list to find the topic you’re looking for: https://www.umoi.org/dcom-tips

#14: 02/28/2022 Preventing Plagiarism

Preventing Plagiarism: Passing off someone else’s work as your own–whether intentionally or unintentionally–is a significant breach of trust. We have a tool to help educate candidates about plagiarism, and to find it if it occurs: iThenticate, a software platform used by many academic institutions (some of your candidates may have already used iThenticate in college or seminary). Make sure your candidates and DCOM members are familiar with the Board’s plagiarism policy, and follow this process to get your candidates connected with iThenticate. If you are requiring written work from candidates or licensed pastors this spring, you’ll want to get this process started now.

#13: 02/21/2022 OK. OK. What's next?

System Redesign: The Feb. 9 DCOM/BOM gathering was a wide-ranging conversation about how to make our candidacy process and support system better. The BOM’s winter meeting last week included extensive work with Meg Lassiat (who met with DCOM leadership in November) to generate ideas about redesigning the entire process. So what’s next?

Two things you can do:

Read through the ideas, questions, and comments generated by your DCOM colleagues (see links above)
Send an email to the BOM with your own suggestions and ideas.

Together, we can make this better!

#12: 02/14/2022 Vote counts count Part 2

Vote counts count Part 2: As we discussed last week, it’s important to report the exact number of votes cast (yes/no) on each DCOM ballot. But note that this is internal reporting, on the DCOM minutes and in the Action Report that goes to the BOM. The candidate should not be told the vote count, even if it’s unanimous. We never want to be in a position where the candidate is trying to guess which DCOM members voted which way. The candidate should only be told, for example: “The committee voted to recommend you for….” This is part of caring for our candidates by maintaining confidentiality.

#11: 02/07/2022 Vote counts count!

Vote counts count!: Or, to put it much more clearly, the number of votes matters each time the DCOM takes a ballot (written or not). Here’s the rundown on the percentage requirements:

Election to certified candidacy: three-fourths majority vote
Renewal of certified candidacy: majority vote
Recommend for licensing: three-fourths majority vote
Recommend continuation of license: three-fourths majority vote
Recommend to the BOM a local pastor for associate membership: three-fourths majority vote
Recommend to the BOM a candidate for election to provisional membership: three-fourths majority vote

Make sure your DCOM minutes and Action Reports record the number of votes (do not simply say, “unanimous”). Your votes counts count!

#10: 01/31/2022 DCOM minutes template

DCOM minutes template: Taking minutes for a meeting is an often thankless yet incredibly important task. After a DCOM meeting, the minutes are an essential piece of the puzzle when tracking the progress and status of candidates. So it's especially important to get that information recorded correctly. Happily, there is a tool to help with that! The DCOM minutes template is available to use as a guide for each DCOM. And just like last week's tool this one also lives on the conference website in the DCOM resources section: https://www.umoi.org/resourcesfordistrictcommitteesonordainedministry.

#9: 01/24/2022 Orders of Ministry Grid

Orders of Ministry grid: Ever wish there was an easy way to give candidates a snapshot comparison of the various types of ministry? Well, there is! This grid comparison offers a very quick summary of issues such as educational requirements, sacramental authority, ministry focus, and AC voting rights, and many others. Check it out, and feel free to share it with your candidates! By the way, it lives on the conference website in the DCOM resources section: https://www.umoi.org/resourcesfordistrictcommitteesonordainedministry.

#8: 01/18/2022 Capacities of an ideal candidate

Capacities of an ideal candidate: Working together with the DCOMs and the district superintendents, the Board of Ordained Ministry has created a draft document titled, “Capacities of an Ideal Candidate for Ministry in the United Methodist Church of Oregon-Idaho.” Although this is still a work-in-progress, it promises to be an incredibly useful resource for all of us who are working to recruit and nurture new ministerial leaders in our annual conference. As you talk with candidates, evaluate written work, and craft interview questions, be sure to take a look at this document for guidance.

#7: 01/10/2022 Vote to discontinue

Vote to discontinue: If a candidate or a licensed local pastor decides not to continue in their status, the DCOM needs to take action, i.e. the committee must vote to officially discontinue the person from that status. The term "discontinue" can be misleading; we often think it only refers to persons who are being unwillingly exited from the process. But even persons who make their own choice to leave the process, for whatever reason, must be officially discontinued by the DCOM. An action report should be sent to that BOM following the vote. In addition, when discontinuing a certified candidate, the DCOM needs to file a letter with the BOM explaining the circumstances of the discontinuance (¶314.1). For a licensed local pastor, the Board will need to file such a letter in the bishop's office (¶320.1).

#6: 01/03/2022 Action Outlines

Action outlines: Wondering how to phrase your motion for action (for instance, recommending that a license be continued, voting to certify a candidate, voting to recommend a candidate to the BOM)? Action Outlines can be a big help. Note that these are not forms to be submitted to someone; they are for your own use, and are simply outlines to help guide you through a particular action with the correct motion and even information about what type of vote you'll need. Action outlines are also helpful to get the correct wording for the minutes of the meeting. You can find them online here.

#5: 12/13/2021 Educational Equivalency Team

Educational equivalency team: One of the resources available through the Board of Ordained Ministry is the board's educational equivalency team. DCOM's who would like assistance looking through a candidate's transcript, or understanding a licensed local pastor's educational progress, are welcome to consult with the team or ask specific questions. Just write to bom@umoi.org.

#4: 12/06/2021 The BAC

The Business of the Annual Conference report, fondly (??) known as the BAC, offers a listing of all the conference relations actions taken by the clergy session at annual conference each year. Many of these actions originate in the DCOM’s. Certified candidates and licensed local pastors are all listed here, as are CLMs. The BAC is a great place to check to make sure that your lists correspond with the official annual conference lists. And if there’s a discrepancy, be sure to contact the Board at bom@umoi.org.

#3: 11/29/2021 Shared Google Calendar for BOM and DCOMs

When is the next [fill in the blank]? The BOM and all four DCOMs have a shared google calendar to keep track of DCOM meetings, BOM meetings, DCOM/BOM quarterly conversations, and other important dates related to our ministry together. If you see something on the calendar that should be changed or added, just send an email to bom@umoi.org .

#2: 11/22/2021 Educational Progress tracking tool for LLPs

Educational progress for licensed local pastors! It's everyone's favorite topic, right? OK, maybe not. But we've got a tool to help. This tracking sheet lists each LLP, sorted by district, along with their education to-date, and there's a handy color-coded column to indicate whether or not they're making appropriate progress*.

* The tracking sheet is kept up-to-date by the BOM, but if you see an error, please alert us right away.

#1: 11/15/2021 DS Membership on DCOM

Welcome to the first of our weekly quick emails with ideas and resources for your DCOM work. These are designed to be super-short, so let's get to it!

Did you know that the District Superintendent is a voting member of the DCOM? From ¶666.1*: "The committee shall be composed of...the district superintendent....All persons named to the district committee on ordained ministry shall be members with vote." Be sure to include your DS's vote in all your action reports.

* If you don't have a Book of Discipline handy, you can find it for free online, then search on "666" (believe it or not, that's the paragraph number for DCOMs!)