Asbury Resigns

Dear Friends:

Since I am now a bi-vocational pastor, I have resigned from the IDMCB.

Please contact the Iowa District office directly when questions arise about Nazarene ministerial credentials in Iowa.

It’s been an honor to serve you.

Best regards,

Monte Asbury

Feds announce new student loan payment plan

Today’s New York Times includes a story detailing a new payment plan available to people with lower incomes who are paying off student loans.

Perhaps it would be a help to you, or to someone you know.  Here are a few excerpts and links:

clipped from www.nytimes.com New Plan Ties Reduced College Loan Payments to Income For the first time in years, there is good news for college students who borrow to pay for their education. Starting Wednesday, the federal Education Department will begin offering a repayment plan that lets graduates reduce their loan payments, based on their income. While the interest rate cut applies to new loans, the new repayment option is available to borrowers who took out federal loans or who used a federal consolidation loan to combine their higher-education debts. The extended payment program, called “income-based repayment,” limits what borrowers have to pay to 15 percent of the difference between their gross income and 150 percent of federal poverty guidelines. After borrowers make payments on loans for 25 years, the balance is forgiven. (The Education Department already offered an “income-contingent” repayment plan, which was similar, but less generous.) the Education Department has set up a Web site with a calculator

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• New Plan Ties Reduced College Loan Payments to Income (nytimes.com)
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Annual recommendations to the District Assembly

Preliminary copy, subject to revision:

Ministerial Credentials Board

Partial Report No. 1

We, your Board of Ministerial Credentials, submit the following:

We recommend that the following ministers be received by transfer: elders―John Mark Eigsti from Minnesota, Robert D. Syerson from Minnesota, Marvin Thrasher from Northeast Indiana; licensed ministers―John Allen Roberts from Kansas City, Kenneth F. Tidwell, Jr., from Kansas City.

We recommend that the following transfers be granted: elders―Jacob (Jake) Watson Blankenship to Missouri, Danny Hines to NW Indiana, Benjamin Troy Moore to Intermountain, William Sutton to Mississippi.

Partial Report No. 2

We recommend that the following be elected to elders’ orders: Chad W. Eichorn, Brent Michael Myers, Celeste Fern Norman, Kenneth F. Tidwell, Jr.

We recommend that the following be elected to deacons’ orders: Scott A. Landon.

We recommend that the following be granted ministers’ licenses: Guy W. Almon, Andrew Michael Watts, Shane David Wilson, Kevin Wiskus.

We recommend that the following be granted renewal of ministers’ licenses: Dick Allen, Debra Darlene Anesi, Ronald George Bergin, Jr., Benjamin C. DeLong, Chad W. Eichorn, Paul Gabbard, James Robert Gauer, Jr., Tammy Roxanne Gauer, Victoria Annette Hagedorn, Daniel V. Hardcastle, Adam Jantz, Scott A. Landon, Elizabeth Renae Messamer, Brent Michael Myers, Zachary James Pogemiller, Jose Ambrocio Segura, Brandon Dale Shotten, Chapain Bolenga Tosingilo, Joshua P. Vance.

We recommend that the following be dropped from the roll of elders,

—having not reported for more than two years: Richard Driggers.

—having joined the membership and ministry of another denomination: Sharon A. Isley.

—having requested filing of credentials: M. Dean Sires.

We recommend the following be dropped from the roll of licensed ministers, having not applied: Sharon Irene Armstrong.

We recommend that the following be granted evangelist’s commission: Delbert L. Rittgers.

We recommend that the following be granted minister of music commission: Scott Landon, Tim John McIntire, Stephen R. Sickles.

We recommend that the following be granted retired status: Robert Max Hamman II, S.T. Taylor.

We recommend that the following be granted evangelism service, retired: J. C. Leonard.

We note the following elders are deceased: Brandt F. Freeburg, Peter R. Schuler, Ralph William Tucker.

Respectfully submitted,

GAREY A. MILLER, Chairman

MONTE G. ASBURY, Secretary

Status of Applications as of May 13, 2009

We’re making progress—thanks!

Candidate	contact made?	dml app rec’d?	dml app signed?	rec rec’d?	rec signed?	ord app rec’d?	ord app signed?	apmt set?	comments	DMCB motion
Allen, Dick	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
Almon, Guy	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
Anesi, Darlene	yes					n/n	n/n	n/n	interviews at NBC
Armstrong, Sharon				yes	Monte	n/n	n/n
Bergin, Ron	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
DeLong, Ben	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Eichorn, Chad	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	yes	yes	yes
Gabbard, Paul	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Gauer, James	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Gauer, Tammy	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Hagedorn, Victoria	yes	yes	yes	yes	Monte	n/n	n/n	yes	with letter
Hardcastle, Dan	yes	yes		yes	yes	n/n	n/n
Jantz, Adam	yes	yes		yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes	in S. Korea
Landon, Scott	yes	yes	yes			yes	yes	yes
Messamer, Elizabeth	yes	yes		yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes	needs last page
Myers, Brent	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Norman, Celeste	yes					yes	yes	yes
Pogemiller, Zachary	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Roberts, John	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes	w letter
Segura, Jose	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
Shotten, Brandon	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Tosingilo, Chapain	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
Vance, Joshua	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Watts, Andrew	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes
Wilson, Shane	yes	yes	yes	DAB	DAB	n/n	n/n	yes
Wiskus, Kevin	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	n/n	n/n	yes

DAB=Advisory Board; dml = district minister’s license; n/n = not needed; ord = ordination; rec= pastor/board recommendation

Interview topics

Our District Superintendent has provided the following questions, which will form the core of our dialog during this year’s interviews.

1. Briefly describe the circumstances of your conversion.

2. How did your life change, what was the transformation that took place?

3. Briefly describe the circumstances of your being entirely sanctified.

4. How and when did you sense God’s call?

Candidates, I suggest you think through good, concise answers in advance.

I’m reminded of the scripture that says:  Always be ready to give an answer when asked the reason for the hope that is in you. Fair enough questions, don’t you think?

Best wishes,

Monte Asbury, secretary
Iowa District Ministerial Credentials Board

PS:  Naturally, first-time candidates and ordinands talk with us about quite a lot broader set of issues.

2009 Interview Schedule

Hello, Iowa District ministers and candidates!

This page is for Step 3, scheduling your annual interview with the Iowa Credentials and Studies Boards.  Please be familiar with the information page first, then request your meeting time by leaving a comment below. I will confirm your time by return email and enter your name onto the chart.

If you are applying for:

• your first Iowa District License, please request two 20-minute white blocks, making a single 40-minute appointment.
• annual renewal of your Iowa District License, please request one 20-minute white block.
• ordination (and you have discussed it with the District Superintendent), please request one of the 60-minute blocks so marked.

	1	2	3	4	5
9:00	Board Members’ Meeting
9:30	Ordination candidate: Brent Myers
10:30	James Gauer	Tammy Gauer	Andy Watts	Adam Jantz	Dick Allen
10:50	Kevin Wiskus	V. Hagedorn	A.W. (cont.)	C. Tosingilo	Shane Wilson
11:10	K.W. (cont.)	Guy Almon	Ben Delong	Paul Gabbard	S.W. (cont.)
11:30	Z. Pogemiller	G. A. (cont.)	D. Hardcastle	Ron Bergin	John Roberts
11:50	E. Messamer	Joshua Vance	B. Shotten	R.B. (cont.)	J.R. (cont.)
12:30	Ordination candidate:  Celeste Norman
1:30	Ordination candidate:  Scott Landon
2:30	Ordination candidate:  Chad Eichorn

Remember, the 2009 info letter is available here.  Email me if you have any questions.

It’s an honor to serve you, and we’re looking forward to sharing in your journey.

Rev. Monte Asbury, Secretary

Iowa District Board of Ministerial Credentials

Church of the Nazarene

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Tags: Iowa+District, Church+of+the+Nazarene, Ministerial+Studies+Board, Ministerial+Credentials+Board, , Monte Asbury

2009 Information Page

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Annual Iowa District Ministerial Credentials Board and Ministerial Studies Board Interviews

Saturday, May 16, 2009
Eastside Church of the Nazarene
1541 E. 25th St.
Des Moines, IA

This is the main information page for application for ministers’ licenses and ordination. To renew your license or make a first-time application, follow these steps:

1. Ask for recommendation by May 1 [See revision of May 13 under #1 below]

2. Send transcripts.

3. Schedule interview by May 1.

4. Mail application by May 1.

5. Meet us in Des Moines at your interview time on May 16.

Click “read the rest of this entry” for detailed directions.

How to fill out the forms

Please print and sign your forms, and mail them to me before May 1 at this address:

Monte Asbury, Secretary
Board of Ministerial Credentials
405 E 14th St
Washington, IA 52353

Here are the form fill-out directions from the General Secretary’s Office:

Most of these forms are in Adobe Acrobat [or] Word format. You will need one of these programs.

Image via Wikipedia

If you are going to use Adobe Acrobat Reader, the Reader and updates are free to download from www.adobe.com. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 8 at least; version 9 is the latest. You will be able to fill out the forms on the computer and print them from Adobe [...] You will not be able to save the files in Adobe. You will only be able to print the form (You must use the action buttons [“Print”], if they appear at the top of the page, to print Adobe forms).  Please proof the form before you close the file.

If you choose to use the Word format you will be able to fill in, print, and save these files. But please remember to change the name of the file or you will lose the original form. [...]

Navigation in the forms:

• Use the tab key or mouse to move from one field to another. (Adobe/Word)
• Please click in the Yes/No, Male/Female etc. check boxes. (Adobe/Word)
• Only Print by using the “action” buttons on the top of the page (Adobe only)
• There are currently lines in case someone wishes to fill out the form by hand,. Once you type in the form the lines go away. (Word only)
[...]
• The applications [...] and recommendation forms must be signed. DO NOT type your name on the Signature line. (Adobe/Word) [...]

E-mail me if you have any trouble.

Best wishes,

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Tags: Iowa+District, Ministerial+Credentials+Board, Monte Asbury

Nazarene ‘Manual’ readings for applicants

Applicants for license or ordination are required to read Manual sections 426-435.8.

Reprinted below are the parts of that chapter that bear most directly on the license and ordination process before us.

Being familiar with these sections can save one a great deal of confusion!

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CHAPTER IV
CREDENTIALS AND MINISTERIAL REGULATIONS

A. The Local Minister

426. A local minister is a lay member of the Church of the Nazarene whom the local church board has licensed for ministry, under the pastor’s direction, and as opportunity affords, thus providing for the demonstration, employment, and development of ministerial gifts and usefulness. He or she is entering into a process of lifelong learning.

2008 Ministerial Credentials Report

Ministerial Credentials Board

Partial Report No. 1

We, your Board of Ministerial Credentials, submit the following:

We recommend that the following ministers be received by transfer:

Elders-Arlan Hoskins from Dakota, J. Brian Shubert from South Arkansas, Ralph William Tucker from Missouri, Donald Rae Thurman from Southern California, William Sutton from South Texas, Judy M. Wigren from Michigan, Timothy D. Dawson from Kansas City; Licensed ministers-John Roberts from Kansas City.