With the transition from the lay ministry in the General Conference Men­nonite Church to the trained and professional min­istry, a need arose for the mediation between churches and prospective candidates for pulpits that had become vacant. In the 1929 session of Conference a temporary committee of five members was created, known as the Placement Committee. For some time this committee was continued by special resolution from session to session.

To begin with, this committee was charged with the sole responsibility of finding available qualified ministers and recommending them to congrega­tions looking for a minister. The committee sought to meet the needs of the particular congregation with the qualifications of the man recommended. By 1945 the functions and responsibilities of the committee had been enlarged and widened so that it recognized the following areas:   (a) The placement of ministers; (b) Recruiting young ministers; (c) The training of ministers; (d) Keeping in touch with ministerial students; (e) Ministerial intern­ships; (f) Responsibility to Mennonite students in non-Mennonite schools; (g) Guidance of young ministers; and (h) Obtaining facts and information regarding candidates and congregations.

With the adoption of the new constitution in 1950 the Placement Committee was replaced by the Committee on the Ministry, with greatly enlarged functions. Some of the additional responsibilities with which this new committee was charged are the ordination of ministers and the preparation of an all-conference ordination questionnaire, an ethical code for ministers and congregations, ministers' salaries, ministerial certification, scholarships for ministers, the orientation of new ministers, standards for the ministry, and keeping in touch with ministerial students. The Committee on the Ministry was also responsible for setting up and promoting retreats for ministers and other Christian workers. It was responsible to the Board of Missions, and the members of the Committee were appointed by this board.

Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Waterloo, Ontario, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, p. 183. All rights reserved. For information on ordering the encyclopedia visit the Herald Press website.

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