CRUCIBLE is a 2-year academic program in which provisional elders and deacons meet to learn, grow, and challenge one another and their churches to become communities of faith for the 21st Century.
Your participation in Crucible should be understood as a mandatory requirement per The United Methodist Book of Discipline and the Board of Ordained Ministry. Your local church / place of ministry will be expected to support you in every way possible, including honoring the dates of retreats, one-day seminars, and cohort meetings as a top priority.
You will participate in a cohort group for the next two years. The groups are arranged geographically to minimize travel time for the cohort meetings, should you decide to gather in person. Electronic means for meetings are acceptable.
Participation in the Crucible Program will meet the annual Continuing Education Unit (CEU) requirement in full.
Crucible provides you with a Cohort of colleagues whom you will get to know as you learn together, share experiences, and depend on one another for strengthening as you develop and prepare for Ordained Ministry. Each cohort is assigned at least one cohort leader who will help shepherd your conversations, listen to your questions and assist you in preparing for your next steps.
Your cohort will meet monthly September through May of each year.
Some of those months will include required trainings. The schedule for your two-year Crucible journey is attached. When you have a required training scheduled, time is built in for your Cohort to meet so you will not need to schedule a separate gathering for that month unless the cohort desires to do so.
Please save these dates on your calendar and do not schedule anything else for these dates.
The expectation is that everyone will stay at the selected hotel during the retreat events. Those who live within a thirty-minute drive from the Conference Center can elect to commute. Please keep in mind that we will not be able to make schedule adjustments to accommodate long evenings and early mornings. Also, there is no price break for choosing this option.
Crucible Class 14- Schedule
September 27-29, 2023 - Introduction to Crucible, Self-Care, and Process Communication
November 16-17, 2023 - Process Communication
March 18-19, 2024 - Leading Out of Drama
September 25-27, 2024 - Wesleyan Practical Theology
November 14-15, 2024 - Staying Well in Ministry
March 2025 - IDI and Cultural Competency, Discipleship & Financial Wellness
East Ohio Conference Episcopal Conversation, to be determined by the East Ohio Conference
April 2025 - to be determined by the West Ohio Conference, Newly Commissioned and Ordinand Retreat
Event Preparation
Approximately two weeks prior to each event, please look for an email from the Office of Ministry. It will contain the content for the upcoming training and the Registration link to connect. You will be expected to read through the content in its entirety prior to the start of the event. Usually, this can be done within an hour. We are planning to gather in person for your Events. You will need to register for each event to secure your hotel room, provide any dietary restrictions, and confirm receipt of your assignments for the event. Your cohort may meet in person or virtually.
Event Cost
The cost for Crucible is $600.00 for two years. The first payment of $300.00 is due by 12/1/2023. The second payment of $300.00 is due by 12/1/2024. Your Educational Allowance from your church can be used to assist with this payment.
A scripture to encourage you through this season that we find helpful is,
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Creator will give you.” - John 15:16
Be Encouraged!