Don't forget the fine print!

While there is a LOT of material to think about in everything you have to write, it's also important to notice that there are two questions that don't ask for written responses, but are still potential topics for your interviews. This isn't intended to trip you up, but rather to limit the written requirements as much as is feasible given the requirements of the Book of Discipline, while also leaving room for conversation on areas considered important for ministry.

Ethics and Ethical Dilemmas

There are many ways to define and delineate ethics, ranging from concrete codes of ethics adhered to by the various medical and psychological professions, to the nuances of theological and social ethics writ large. For the purposes of this interview, ethics are considered on a more personal level: how do you, as an individual and potential minister, discern between right and wrong? How do you make sense of the grey areas. where right and wrong are less clear? And, most importantly, how do you wade through situations where there are competing ethical demands (in other words, ethical dilemmas).

It is impossible to go through life without encountering situations where your ethical standard collide or compete with one another. These situations are called moral or ethical dilemmas. For example, psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg developed a theory of moral development by posing ethical dilemmas to his study participants. A famous dilemma asked whether it was ethical to steal life-saving medicine from a pharmacy if one was unable to afford to buy it, requiring one to weigh the ethics of stealing vs. saving a life.

While we may not experience that precise dilemma, we will certainly face other dilemmas where our ethical principles collide. You may or may not be asked something like this, depending on use of time during the interview, but be prepared to share an ethical dilemma you've experiences, and how you decided how to proceed.

Applying the Wesleyan Quadrilateral

The second question that is included in the application but does not require a written answer involves theological reflection. Specifically, can you apply the Wesleyan quadrilateral to a situation in your life or ministry? Again, your interview team may or may not cover this in your interview given the time limitations, but it behooves you to have an example ready to go.

Essentially, the purpose is to assess your capacity for theological reflection, and the Wesleyan quadrilateral is a commonly known tool for such reflection, especially within the UMC (C.F. the Book of Discipline). A good way to prepare for this possible question is to think about a situation, challenge, or question that you often encounter in your ministry (or imagine coming up in your desired ministry). Then write out for yourself some talking points for each area of the quadrilateral:

What does Scripture say about it?
What does tradition say about it?
What does reason say about it?
What does experience say about it?

If you can speak to each of these categories in some fashion, your answer will be a sufficient demonstration of theological reflection for provisional membership (more depth is expected at full membership/ordination).

Your best method of preparing for these kinds of questions is to practice! Regularly consider aspect of your daily life using the quadrilateral so that it becomes second nature. Using mentoring sessions to practice as well.