MY CDC Legacy and Heritage Institute for Ministry Preparation

By order of the Diocesan Bishop

This brief places OUR CDC Legacy and Heritage Institute for Ministry Preparation in proper context. Previously authorized in the bylaws as the Council’s Ministers’ and Leaders’ Institute, it is now being given formal structure, official recognition, implementation guidance, and operational guidelines so its work may proceed decently, orderly, and under proper episcopal direction. The Council Chairperson will assist the Diocesan Bishop by providing an initial structure and administrative framework for review, including draft materials, practical implementation needs, administrative responsibilities, and a recommended investigative committee to study how and when the Institute should be organized, enacted, and introduced to the Council. This recommendation supports orderly formation only; final authority, approval, appointment, and activation remain with the Diocesan Bishop and the appropriate Council process.

Purpose, Vision, and Mission

The purpose of the Institute is to provide a preparatory, district-level pathway for recognizing, encouraging, mentoring, training, and developing young ministerial candidates and emerging leaders with ministerial or servant-leadership potential. Its work is intended to strengthen spiritual formation, doctrinal grounding, personal discipline, pastoral accountability, preaching readiness, leadership decorum, and responsible service before participants advance into further credentialing, public ministry, or formal leadership responsibilities.

The vision of the Institute is to help raise a prepared, Spirit-filled, doctrinally grounded, and service-minded generation of Apostolic ministers and leaders who honor the legacy of the Church, preserve the heritage of the Gospel, and serve the Kingdom of God with humility, holiness, excellence, and love for the people of God. The mission of the Institute is to guide each participant along an intentional path of development: to recognize the call, prepare the person, equip the servant, and send the participant into faithful service under pastoral, episcopal, and Council accountability.

FIVE FOUNDATIONAL PILLARS

The Institute’s five foundational pillars are (1) Legacy, preserving the faith, sacrifice, and witness entrusted to this Council; (2) Heritage, grounding participants in Apostolic identity, doctrine, holiness, and respect for the fathers and mothers of the faith; (3) Formation, shaping character, discipline, spiritual maturity, and ministerial readiness; (4) Service, teaching humility, accountability, excellence, and practical care for the Church; and (5) Succession, preparing the next generation to carry the work forward with faithfulness, continuity, and order.

FOURFOLD GUIDING DIRECTION

The fourfold mission and guiding direction for each participant is (1) Called affirms that ministry begins with God’s summons and must be discerned through prayer, pastoral counsel, and proven character. (2) Prepared emphasizes spiritual discipline, doctrinal instruction, accountability, and personal readiness. (3) Equipped provides practical training in preaching, leadership, service, administration, ethics, and church order. (4) Sent reminds each participant that preparation must lead to faithful service, not self-promotion, and that all ministry should proceed under proper covering and assignment.

Formation Responsibilities and Implementation Guidance

Because the Institute is preparatory in nature, it should not be understood as replacing local pastoral formation, the Council’s credentialing process, PAW requirements, Aenon Bible College expectations, or any lawful authority of the Diocesan Bishop. Rather, it should serve as a structured support system that helps pastors, candidates, families, and Council leaders identify promise early, encourage young people responsibly, provide development before public advancement, and reduce confusion by placing expectations in writing.

Best practices for the initial formation should include clear eligibility guidelines, pastoral recommendation or awareness, parent or guardian involvement where minors or young participants are concerned, written expectations for conduct and attendance, a basic participant record, safe and appropriate supervision, clear communication with pastors, and periodic review by designated leadership. The investigative committee should be asked to consider proposed tracks, training subjects, meeting times, instructor qualifications, mentoring arrangements, reporting procedures, and the point at which the Institute should be formally launched for Council participation.

Recommended Next Steps and Reserved Authority

The Council Chairperson has submitted the proposed administrative framework to the Diocesan Bishop for review and, with the Bishop’s consent, is recommending an investigative committee to study and refine the Institute’s organization, timing, scope, and operational guidelines. The committee may report back with recommendations concerning formal recognition, leadership roles, curriculum outline, candidate intake, mentoring structure, youth safeguards, and alignment with Council, PAW, Aenon, and local church expectations.

No title, assignment, committee recommendation, instructional plan, service opportunity, or Institute guideline should be treated as final unless and until approved by the Diocesan Bishop and, where required, by the proper Council process. If developed in this spirit, the MY CDC Legacy and Heritage Institute for Ministry Preparation will help the Council affirm calling without haste, encourage young people without pressure, honor our Apostolic heritage without rigidity, and prepare emerging servants with wisdom, compassion, and order for the work God may place in their hands.