Candidate Assessment
What is the Purpose of a Candidate Assessment?
. To increase the candidate’s self-awareness and self-understanding of strengths, limitations and vulnerabilities
. To increase the candidate’s realism about ministry and ministry contexts, as well as how they fit with candidate’s interests, aptitudes and skills
. To understand and accept recommendations for growth-supporting experiences
. To develop a foundation for healthy ministry attitudes and practices
What Happens During an Assessment?
. There is extensive pre-program preparation required of the candidate. He/she needs to allow enough time to prepare adequately and return required materials to program location by the deadline provided or risk losing appointment.
. The assessment is either a two-day individual process or a three-day group experience. Some judicatories have specific preferences for their candidates.
. During the assessment, the candidate may complete other inventories and may have “homework” to do in the evening.
. The candidate will meet primarily with a counselor and have one-hour consultation with a psychologist. The group assessment process includes one hour individually with each the counselor and the psychologist with structured group exercises for the remainder of the program.
. The candidate will receive feedback about what the key themes and recommendations of the report will be.
What Can You Expect in a Report?
. Key, formative elements of the candidate’s developmental history, with an indication as to their relevance to the candidate’s anticipated functioning in ministry.
. An integration of the counselor’s and the psychologist’s clinical impressions along with the results of the psychological testing.
. A clear portrait of the candidate, his/her issues and their relevance to/impact on possible pastoral functioning.
. Recommendations which are clearly related to areas of needed growth and our sense of the candidate’s capacity for this growth.