洛杉矶改革宗·恩约教会

教牧实习

恩约华人改革宗教会教牧实习项目（English Version see below）

一、引言

教牧实习传道项目分为两个子阶段，覆盖一整年：
暑期密集阶段，通常在神学院暑假期间进行（六月至八月）；
长期阶段，自九月至翌年五月。

本项目旨在为立志进入“圣道事奉”（ministry of the Word）的男性提供训练与评估。该项目设立的根本动机是顺服圣经的教导。正如使徒保罗对提摩太所说：“你在许多见证人面前从我所听见的，也要交托那忠心、能教导别人的人。”（提后 2:2）

此外，URCNA《教会章程》第三条规定：

应当劝勉有能力的男子为服侍圣道而学习。此人若为本联合会所属教会的成员，且立志追求此服侍，应向其所属牧长会显明真实的敬虔。其所属牧长会应承担此人接受训练期间各方面的监督工作，包括其讲道资格考核，并确保其接受一套完整的改革宗神学教育。其所属教会议会应当帮助确保其经济需求。

本实习项目在以下方面对潜在的圣道事奉候选人进行训练与评估：
个人生命、讲道、礼仪、牧养关怀与辅导、青年要理教导，以及教会治理（法规）。

实习生将由本教会牧长会直接督导与栽培，获得展示并发展其恩赐的机会；其是否适合进入圣道事奉，将由牧长会作出判断。通常情况下，凡经议会批准，其劳务将获得每月津贴。

为确保高质量的督导与评估，并提供充分的发展机会，牧长会通常每年只接纳一名实习生。

二、申请资格

  1. 申请人必须具备良好的中文普通话能力。
  2. 申请人须为认信改革宗或长老会教会（NAPARC 成员）中完全交通、品行良好的男性成员；URCNA 成员优先。
  3. 若非改革宗教会成员，其会籍是否被接受，由牧长会个别审议决定。
  4. 申请人须为全职道学硕士（M.Div.）在读生或毕业生，就读于符合 URCNA《教会章程》附录一所规定之、提供彻底改革宗神学教育的神学院。
  5. 申请人须已完成至少一门讲道课程及一门辅导课程，且神学院 GPA 不低于 2.8。
  6. 申请人须清楚表明其进入圣道事奉的志向。
  7. 申请人须依 URCNA《教会章程》附录二，通过其所属牧长会的讲道许可考试；若尚未通过，须在实习录取前完成等同考试。
  8. 申请人进入本项目，须经牧长会正式批准。

三、训练内容

  1. 个人与公共生活

实习生将在牧长会的劝勉与引导下，在敬虔与属神生活方式上持续成长。他在言语行为上须端庄敬虔；在教会、神学院或任何正式服事场合，须着装得体、举止专业。

  1. 讲道（Exhorting）

实习生将获得讲道机会，以展示并发展其宣讲神话语的恩赐。牧长会将提供建设性的反馈，并判断其是否具备进入圣道事奉所需的恩赐。

鼓励实习生在其他教会（尤其是 URCNA 教会，但不限于此）讲道；但此类安排不得与其在恩约教会的讲道或服事冲突。

  1. 礼仪（Liturgy）

实习生将有机会部分或全程主持敬拜，包括公共祷告、信仰宣告、诗歌选择等。这将帮助其实际学习敬拜礼仪的规划与带领，同时也让牧长会评估其在此方面的恩赐并给予反馈。

  1. 青年要理教导

实习生将在牧长会监督下，被指派教授或协助教授要理课程，使其学习如何清楚、有效地向青年讲解复杂的教义内容。

  1. 牧养关怀

实习生将被分派参与特定牧养工作，包括但不限于：探访行动不便者、医院探访、与长老或牧师一同进行家庭探访、与执事一同服事、个别会友会谈、传福音、门徒训练、辅导等。
通常情况下，每项任务结束后，实习生须提交简短反思报告，供牧长会审阅。

  1. 教会治理（Church Polity）

实习生须出席每月的牧长会与议会会议，并至少出席一次执事会议。这将使其实际了解教会治理与监督的运作，同时也让牧长会评估其在教会会议中的举止与判断能力。

四、实习大纲

实习生一般职责安排如下：

  1. 暑期第一月（6月）：逐步参与主日敬拜（上午礼拜与要理礼拜），同时进行研究，确定其讲道系列；开始出席所有教会会议，并不定期参与长老探访及牧养事工。
  2. 暑期第二月（7月）：按牧长会安排，在指定崇拜中讲道至少两次。
  3. 暑期第三月（8月）：按牧长会安排，在指定崇拜中讲道至少四次。
  4. 长期阶段：每月讲道至少一次。
  5. 长期阶段：如适用，教授一门儿童/青少年主日学课程。

五、评估

牧长会将对实习生进行正式评估，并在牧长会会议中当面进行。评估内容包括：

  • 个人生命与品格（态度、行为、人际关系、家庭关系、完成任务的忠心程度）
  • 讲道能力
  • 敬拜带领
  • 青年教导
  • 牧养关怀
  • 对教会治理的理解

在正式评估中，牧长会将指出实习生的优势，并提出改进建议，同时告知其是否被推荐进入圣道事奉。

六、申请方式

有意申请者须在申请年度的 4 月 30 日之前向牧长会提交以下材料，以便牧长会有充足时间审阅、面谈并安排讲道许可考试。4 月 30 日之后提交的申请一律不予受理。

申请材料包括：

  1. 简要的个人信仰与认信承诺声明，说明其事奉志向，并自我评估其在圣道事奉方面的恩赐与能力；
  2. 神学院全部成绩单；
  3. 一封神学院教授推荐信；
  4. 两篇书面讲章供审阅；
  5. 若尚未取得讲道许可，须在进入项目之前接受考试。

所有申请文件须于 4 月 30 日前发送至：clerk@ccreformed.org，逾期不候。

Covenant Chinese Reformed Church Internship Program

  1. INTRODUCTION

The Pastoral Internship Program contains two sub phases which cover the whole year: The Summer Intensive phase, typically runs from June to August during the summer break of seminary education; and the long-term phase, runs from September to May.

This program is created for training and evaluation for men who aspire to the ministry of the Word. It is developed out of a desire to be obedient to Scripture. As the apostle Paul told Timothy “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2.2). Moreover, Article 3 of the URCNA Church Order states:

Competent men should be urged to study for the ministry of the Word. A man who is a member of a church of the federation and who aspires to the ministry must evidence genuine godliness to his Consistory, which shall assume supervision of all aspects of his training, including his licensure to exhort, and assure that he receives a thoroughly reformed theological education. The council of his church should help him ensure that his financial needs are met.

The Internship provides a potential candidate for the ministry training and evaluation in following areas: Personal life, Preaching, Liturgics, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Catechizing the youth, and Church Polity. The intern will be mentored by our Consistory, given the opportunity to display and develop his gifts, and overseen by the Consistory, which will determine his suitability for the ministry of the Word. Ordinarily, he will receive a monthly stipend for his labors approved by the Council.

In order to provide the intern with quality mentorship and evaluation, as well as an adequate amount of opportunity to display and develop his gifts, the Consistory will ordinarily admit only one man per year.

  1. PREREQUISITES
  2. The applicant must be competent in Mandarin Chinese language.
  3. The applicant must be a good-standing male member in full communion of a confessional Reformed or Presbyterian church (NAPARC). The preference is given to URCNA members.
  4. If he is not, his non-Reformed church membership might be accounted acceptable by our Consistory on an individual basis.
  5. The applicant must be full-time student enrolled at or a graduate of Master of Divinity program at a theological seminary that provides a thoroughly Reformed theological education in accordance with URCNA Church Order Appendix 1.
  6. The applicant must demonstrate his competence of theological study, having completed at least 1 preaching course and 1 counseling course at seminary prior to internship application, and maintaining a GPA at least 2.8 in seminary.
  7. The applicant must demonstrate a desire to enter the ministry of the Word.
  8. The applicant must sustain a licensure examination by his Consistory in accordance with URCNA Church Order Appendix 2. If not, an equivalent exam must be given prior to admission to internship.
  9. The application must be approved by the Consistory for the entrance of this program.
  • TRAINING
  1. Personal and Public Life

The intern will receive encouragement and guidance from our Consistory to grow in piety and godly way of life. He needs to carry himself in a godly and dignified manner in words and deeds, dress professionally and look presentable when at church, seminary, or on any official assignments.

  1. Exhorting (Preaching)

The intern will receive opportunities to exhort (preach), to demonstrate and develop his gifts for preaching the Word of God. The Consistory will offer constructive feedback, and determine whether or not he possesses the necessary gifts for the ministry of the Word.

The intern is encouraged to take advantage of opportunities to exhort in other congregations, especially but not limited to those in the URCNA. This, however, is not to conflict with his assignment of exhorting or leading worship at this church.

  1. Liturgy

The intern will have opportunities to lead worship service, partially or entirely. This shall include leading in public prayer, confession of faith, choosing songs, etc. This will give the intern vital experience in planning and leading different parts of the liturgy, as well as opportunity to demonstrate his ability to lead the congregation in worship. This will also provide the Consistory with the opportunity to evaluate the intern’s gifts in this area and offer him constructive feedback.

  1. Catechizing the Youth

The intern will be assigned a catechism class to teach and/or assist in teaching under the oversight of Consistory. This will provide the intern with an opportunity to instruct the youth of the church, learning how to make complicated subjects of doctrine easily understood.

  1. Pastoral Care

The intern will be given assignments in particular areas of pastoral care. This may include tasks such as visitation of shut-ins, members in the hospital, family visitation with the elders or pastor, visitation with the deacons, meeting with individual members of the congregation, evangelism, discipleship, counseling, etc. Ordinarily, all assignments will require a short reflection paper from the intern on what he learned, which will be reviewed by the Consistory.

  1. Church Polity

The intern will attend the monthly meetings of Consistory and Council. This will provide the intern with some experience in church polity and proper oversight of the congregation. This also provides the Consistory with the opportunity to evaluate the intern’s ability to conduct himself well at ecclesiastical meetings. The intern must attend at least one meeting of the deacons.

  1. OUTLINE

The general outline of an intern’s duties is the following:

  1. During the first month of the Summer phase, the intern will gradually take part of worship services (both morning and catechetical services). At the same time, he is to conduct research to decide the sermons series he will be doing. He will begin to attend all ecclesiastical meetings. He will be asked to participate in elder visits, pastoral visits, and other pastoral care occasionally.
  2. In the second month, he will preach at least two sermons at the services chosen by the Consistory.
  3. In the third month, he will preach at least four sermons at the services chosen by the Consistory.
  4. During the long-term phase, he will be scheduled to preach at least once a month (9 months in total).
  5. During the long-term phase, he will teach one children Sunday school if applicable.
  1. EVALUATION

The intern will receive a formal evaluation by the Consistory. They will be conducted in person, during a meeting of the Consistory.

These evaluations will include:

  • personal life and character (general attitude, conduct, interpersonal skills, family relations, faithfulness in completing assignments)
  • competence in preaching,
  • leading worship,
  • teaching the youth,
  • pastoral care,
  • understanding of church polity.

During the formal evaluation, the Consistory will identify the intern’s strengths as well as offer recommendations on needed improvement, and will inform the intern of whether or not they recommend him for the ministry of the Word.

  1. APPLYING TO THE PROGRAM

The following credentials should be presented to the Consistory before April 30 of the year the prospective intern desires to enter the program. This allows the Consistory adequate time to review the prospective intern’s application, interview him, and schedule a licensure examination. Applications received after April 30 will not be accepted. An application must contain the following:

  1. A brief personal Statement of Faith and Confessional Commitment, expressing desire for the ministry, as well as a personal assessment of perceived gifts and abilities for the ministry of the Word.
  2. A transcript of all seminary grades.
  3. A seminary faculty recommendation letter.
  4. Two written sermons for review.
  5. If the applicant is not licensed to preach, he must be examined prior to entering the program.

*All Documents must be sent to: clerk@ccreformed.org, prior to April 30 for consideration.