In February each year the Board of Ordained Ministry examines candidates for Full Connection and Associate Membership in the Annual Conference. It is a long process that involves considerable research, writing and preparation on the part of the candidates. It also involves a great deal of reading, evaluating and preparing on the part of the Board prior to making recommendations for approval, delay or denial.
It is most inspiring to see the seriousness with which the Board takes its responsibility and the extent to which the candidates prepare for the interviews. Those who are candidates for Full Connection are evaluated based upon how the practice of ministry has influenced their understanding of the church and its mission and message. The Board considers the significance of the candidates’ call to ministry and the candidates’ skills in preaching and teaching. This process of evaluation did not begin with the Annual Conferences in North Carolina.
According to Wesley historian Luke Tyerman, John Wesley was concerned about George Bell and his readiness for ministry. On November 24, 1762, Wesley wrote: “Being determined to hear for myself, I stood where I could hear and see, without being seen. George Bell prayed, in the whole, pretty near an hour. His fervour of spirit I could not but admire. I afterwards told him what I did not admire; namely, his screaming, every now and then, in so strange a manner, that one could scarce tell what he said; his thinking he had the miraculous discernment of spirits; and his sharply condemning his opposers.”
            The London society was thrown into great confusion by George Bell and his followers. Wesley chastised them for many of their actions. Among them were not keeping the rules of the Society; having meetings at such a time the people could not attend public worship; spending so much time in meetings their work suffered; several people speaking and praying at the same time; praying only to the Son of God, or more than to the Father and their screaming in an unintelligible manner, and on and on.
Based on Tyerman’s report, I doubt that George Bell would be approved today by the Board of Ordained Ministry. Clearly Wesley had concerns for his manner and style of ministry and the results it had on his parish. Chances are Mr. Bell would be given some suggestions for improvements, perhaps some reading guides and maybe a preaching mentor. I do know the Board would do everything it could to prepare him for ministry.