CHICAGO (May 29, 2020)—Candidates who were scheduled to finalize their ordination, commissioning, consecration, and transfer of credentials at Gather 2020 will delay until June 2021, the Board of the Ordered Ministry announced this week. Those who were scheduled to finalize credentials in June 2020 will have their licenses extended automatically for the 2020-2021 licensing year.
“The delay of finalization is a significant loss in a season already marked by great loss,” Lance Davis, executive minister of Develop Leaders, wrote to the Ministerium. “As colleagues, we grieve the loss of the opportunity to affirm and celebrate these candidates in person as a collective body.”
Although other options, such as postponing the ordination service until the fall, were considered, the board determined that a delayed service was not viable. For more information on this decision or the cancellation of Gather 2020, please see Gather FAQs here.