| Admin history: |
At the inception of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 its 'Laws and Regulations' gave clear guidance for the process of the selection of missionaries. Lay candidates for ordained missionary work had to be recommended by the Superintendent of their home circuit and approved by the annual district meeting or, where this was not possible, by three superintendents of neighbouring circuits. These candidates would then go before a special committee at Wesleyan Methodist Conference or, where more expedient, before the 'Preachers of the London District', where they would be examined on their opinions of missionary work and their qualifications. Ministers who wished to undertake overseas work would need only to be examined by one of the two committees above. Those successful would be placed on the 'List of Received Missionaries' and placed in overseas missions at the discretion of the General Committee. If the list became exhausted and there was a 'pressing necessity' for missionaries the 'Preachers of the London District' could act directly on behalf of Conference to select appropriate individuals.
In 1905 the Qualification of Lay Candidates' Committee was formed and in May 1906 the process required for examining candidates to be lay missionaries was clarified. Two letters (one being from a minister) were required regarding the character, Christian usefulness and missionary spirit of the candidate; a statement from the candidate on his or her 'religious experience and belief, experience in Christian work, and missionary call'; to provide a book list of theological and general reading. Candidates would then have to sit a paper on scripture and Christian doctrine and have any professional skills assessed accordingly. All candidates would then be expected to attend an interview.
As part of the restructuring of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society's committees in 1912 a Candidates' Committee was created. In part it assumed the duties of the Qualification of Lay Candidates' Committee and it administered the recruitment of ministerial and lay missionary staff. Other duties included arranging specialised training for specific mission fields, suggestions for appointment of lay staff and the allocation of ministers to missions.
In September 1968 the Candidates' Committee was replaced by the Overseas Service Committee. |
At the inception of the Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Society in 1818 its 'Laws and Regulations' gave clear guidance for the process of the selection of missionaries. Lay candidates for ordained missionary work had to be recommended by the Superintendent of their home circuit and approved by the annual district meeting or, where this was not possible, by three superintendents of neighbouring circuits. These candidates would then go before a special committee at Wesleyan Methodist Conference or, where more expedient, before the 'P ... View more |
