Chiesa evangelica valdese
Unione delle Chiese Metodiste e Valdesi
All pastors who serve the Chiesa Valdese (Unione delle Chiese Metodiste e Valdesi) belong to the Corpo pastorale. The yearly meeting of the Corpo pastorale, which takes place during the synod in Torre Pellice, is chaired by the moderator.
Candidates for ministry are examined by the Corpo pastorale, which has the final say in the matter before they are ordained in the worship service that opens the synod.
The Corpo pastorale of the synod also proposes a candidate whenever there is a vacancy on the Waldensian theological faculty. It makes its choice from among applicants. The training and continuing education of pastors, as well as questions of catechism and liturgy, fall within its competence, with the aim of theological consultation.
Since 2015, pastors, deacons, and deaconesses together form the assembly of those employed in the service of the Waldensian Church. This assembly concerns itself with the training, continuing education, and support of its members.
The yearly assembly includes a thematic portion in its program. It is sovereign in determining its method of work and chooses its secretariat.
Permanent continuing education is checked every two years. In addition, a credit system for certification of obligatory continuing education has been introduced, and a project of training and supervision begun, in which all pastors, deacons, and deaconesses will take part.
In past years, a special program has enabled some pastors to spend two months in the United States and participate in congregational life and support of colleagues there. The assembly adopted an ethics code in 2019 that governs the profile and exercise of service, with special attention to the aspects of communication and maintaining relations.