Theology & Doctrine Responses for Provisional Membership

Note: Because of plagiarism concerns I have included only the opening sentences of each answer. Good luck with your paperwork.

I've seen a huge increase in traffic over the last few weeks. I guess it's that time of year again. Provisional membership paperwork time! I was commissioned as a Provisional Elder in the North Alabama Conference this past June. In the months between being approved by the BOOM and being commissioned, I posted the answers to the Theology & Doctrine questions on this blog. Those posts seem to be generating quite a few hits. I decided to add this post with links to all of the other posts to make it easier to find them.

Also, it gives me the chance to add this disclaimer (pasted from my first posted answer): Feel free to read the answers and use them for guidance. Please don't plagiarize. It's likely your BOOM knows how to use Google. That's the basic amoral reason to not copy. The moral reason is that plagiarism is lying. The more important reason is you need to answer these questions. The Board needs to know what you believe. Even more so, you need to know what you believe. 

The last few questions are specific to the North Alabama Conference. The rest are straight from The Book of Discipline. 
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1. Describe your personal experience of God and the understanding of God you derive from Biblical, theological, and historical sources.

2. What is your understanding of evil as it exists in the world?

3. What is your understanding of humanity, and the human need for divine grace?

4. What is your understanding of the incarnation?

5. How do you interpret the statement,“Jesus Christ is Lord”?

6. What is your conception of the Holy Spirit in personal faith, in the community of believers, and in responsible living in the world?

7. What is your understanding of the Kingdom of God, the Resurrection, and Eternal Life?

8. How do you intend to affirm, teach and apply Part II of the Discipline (Doctrinal Standards and our Theological Task) in your work and in the ministry to which you have been called?

9. The United Methodist Church holds that the living core of the Christian faith was revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition,vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason. What is your understanding of this theological position of the Church?

10. Describe the nature and mission of the Church. What are its primary tasks today?

11. Discuss your understanding of the primary characteristics of United Methodist polity.

12. How do you perceive yourself, your gifts, your motives, your role, and your commitment as a Provisional Member in the United Methodist Church?

13. Describe your understanding of the diakonia, the servant ministry of the church, and the ministry of the Provisional Member and commissioned minister.

14. What is the meaning of ordination, in the context of the general ministry of the Church?

15. Describe your understanding of an inclusive church and ministry.

16. You have agreed as a candidate for the sake of the mission of Jesus Christ in the world and the most effective witness of the gospel, and in consideration of their influence as ministers, to make a complete dedication of yourself to the highest ideals of the Christian life as set forth in Para. 304.2, and to this end agree to exercise responsible self-control by personal habits conducive to bodily health, mental and emotional maturity, integrity in all persona relationships, fidelity in marriage and celibacy in singleness, social responsibility and growth in grace and the knowledge and love of God (Para.304.2,3) What is your understanding of this agreement?

17. Whatis the role of the Sacraments in the ministry to which you have been called?

18. Summarize your understanding of Wesleyan Theology.