Residency in Ministry (RIM)

Residency in Ministry is a program designed by the Conference Board of Ministry to provide provisional members of the Mississippi Annual Conference with support and guidance that will nourish continued theological development, spiritual formation and skill acquisition. As the 2008 Discipline indicates, “Provisional members are on trial in preparation for membership in full connection in the annual conference as deacons or elders. They are on probation as to character, servant leadership and effectiveness in ministry” (¶ 327). The RIM Program helps to prepare residents for membership in full connection. As noted in ¶326 of the 2008 Discipline, RIM has three broad goals:

1.       Extending theological education by using covenant groups and mentoring to support the practice and work of residents’ ministry as servant leaders
2.       Contemplating the grounding of ordained ministry
3.       Understanding covenant ministry in the life of the conference
 

Philosophy of the RIM Program

We are accountable to one another as a covenant community. Each resident is preparing for ordination into an order. So that the benefits of life within this order and the larger church may be realized, every effort shall be made to develop the holy habits of the disciplined life of mutual accountability through peer groups, mentoring and the practice of spiritual disciplines including daily prayer, meditation, Bible reading and regular retreats.

Who participates in the RIM Program?

  1. Provisional members of the Annual Conference who have met the requirements of ¶ 324 of the 2008 Discipline participate in the RIM program.
  2. Provisional members who transfer into the Mississippi Annual Conference from other annual conferences of the United Methodist Church are part of the RIM program.
  3. Ordained clergy from other denominations who have been received by the Annual Conference as provisional members participate in the RIM program.

How long do people participate in the RIM Program?

  1. Persons who are commissioned ministers prior to 2011 will participate in the RIM Program for a minimum of three years (2008 Discipline, ¶326; additional year required by MS Conference BOM).
  2. Persons who are commissioned ministers in 2011 or later will participate in the RIM Program for a minimum of two years or a maximum of eight years prior to applying for ordination and full connection (2008 Discipline, ¶326).
  3. Persons who are commissioned ministers upon completion of one half of their graduate studies will participate in RIM upon completion of graduate studies and full-time appointment.
  4.  Ordained clergy from other denominations who have been received by the Annual Conference as provisional members will participate in the RIM program for a minimum of two years.

Additional Resources: 

Manual for Residency in Ministry

Lay On-Site Visit Questionnaire (Deacon)

Lay On-Site Visit Questionnaire (Elder)