Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM)
The Commission on Preparation for Ministry (CPM) is the entity in Pittsburgh Presbytery charged by the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA) “to facilitate the presbytery's oversight of inquirers and candidates, ...it may delegate its authority to designated entities within the presbytery. Such entities shall be composed of teaching elders and ruling elders in approximately equal numbers, bearing in mind the principles of unity in diversity in F-1.0403. All actions carried out as a result of delegated authority must be reported to the presbytery at its next regular meeting.” Book of Order G-3.0307 The CPM forms are to be used by those Presbyterians who:
are considering their call as teaching elder, or
have been recommended by their home congregation and accepted by the presbytery as an Inquirer to be ordained as a teaching elder, or
have been accepted by the presbytery as a Candidate for teaching elder, or
serve on the CPM of Pittsburgh Presbytery, or
are presbytery staff with the responsibility of providing services to CPM, or
are teaching and ruling elders of congregations with Inquirers and Candidates in the preparation for ministry process.
What can you find on this page?
GUIDELINES & RESOURCESApplication to Enroll as an Inquirer
Advance to Candidacy
Annual Consultations
Commission Planning
Ordination Examinations
PIF Instructions
Scholarships & Student Aid Funds
Application to the CPM Process/Enrollment as an Inquirer
- Form 1A: Application to be Enrolled by Presbytery as an Inquirer
- Form 1B: Questions for Reflection
- Form 1C: Financial Planning for Theological Education
- Form 1D: Session Evaluation & Recommendation
- Form 2B: Covenant Agreement & Inquirer Release
Applicants should contact their Session and Presbytery to make sure the forms have been forwarded (paperwork must be received by CPM at least two weeks prior to the CPM meeting the applicant wants to attend). See below for the meeting schedule.Advance to CandidacyIMPORTANT NOTE: Completion of ALL five forms listed below are required in the care process of Pittsburgh Presbytery in order to be considered advancement to Candidacy.
- Form 5A: Application to be Enrolled by Presbytery as a Candidate
- Form 5B: Session Evaluation & Recommendation for Candidate
- Form 5D: Covenant Agreement & Candidate Release
- Required Candidacy Questions & Personal Statement of Faith
Inquirers should contact their Session and Presbytery to make sure the forms have been forwarded (all paperwork, including answers to the candidacy questions, must be received by CPM at least two weeks prior to the CPM meeting the applicant wants to attend). See below for the meeting schedule.Annual Consultations Commission PlanningOrdination Examinations
- Planning Your Commission for Service of Reception as a Candidate
- Reception to Candidacy from the Book of Occasional Services
- Planning Your Commission for Service of Ordination as a Teaching Elder
- Ordination & Installation Service Resources
- Ordination Examinations Overview
- Ordination Examinations Handbook
- Ordination Examination Information & Registration (Bible Content & Standard Ordination Examinations)
- Ordination Examinations Schedule (Bible Content & Standard Ordination Examinations)
- Bible Content Preparation Resource
- Study Resources for Examinations
- Hints for Taking the Bible Exegsis Examination
You must receive permission from CPM to take the Standard Ordination examinations. If you need permission to take any of the ordination examinations, contact your Care Team at least two weeks prior to the next CPM meeting and let them know which exams you would like to take.Personal Information Forms & Instructions
Scholarships/Student Aid Funds
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February 5
April 22
June 24
September 2
November 11
All meetings are scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Pittsburgh Presbytery Center. * All paperwork must be received by CPM no later than two weeks prior to the CPM meeting you hope to attend.
If you have any questions, please email Cindy Miller (or call 412-697-9209).* * * * *