Committee on Ministry
A Member in Discernment is a member of a local church of the United Church of Christ who has been called by God and who, under the care of the member’s Association/Conference, is preparing for the ordained Christian ministry. The Member in Discernment process is intended to engage all discernment partners – The Member in Discernment, their local church, their mentor and adviser, their pier network and more, may together engage in discernment and reflection so that the need of the Church for excellent and faithful ministers may be met through wise decisions of Committees on Ministry, informed by all partners in the discernment process.
Dual Standing: Ordained ministers of another denomination, precluding the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who wish to retain ordained ministerial standing in that denomination and who serve as pastor of a Local UCC Church, or in a Covenanted, Affiliated, or Associated Ministry of the UCC, may apply to the Association/Conference for dual ordained ministerial standing which is limited to the duration of that pastorate or responsibility, and during that period may have all the rights and privileges of such membership.
Privilege of Call: An ordained minister of another denomination who feels called to enter the ordained ministry of the United Church of Christ applies for Privilege of Call to the Association/Conference within whose bounds they reside. If Privilege of Call is granted, it will be for a period of one year and may be renewed. Following acceptance of a call in the United Church of Christ, the ordained minister applies for ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ to the Association/Conference of which the Local Church extending the call is located.
Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing is authorization granted to all United Church of Christ Ordained Ministers who maintain their ministerial standing are Ordained Ministerial Partners with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and The United Church of Canada. Being an Ordained Ministerial Partner is an expression of the close relationship and full communion agreements between these denominations. Ordained ministers in good standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or in The United Church of Canada may apply to the United Church of Christ for Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing (OMPS) in the Association/Conference where they are geographically located. Ordained ministers in The United Church of Canada should apply for OMPS to a United Church of Christ Association where they anticipate seeking a call.
Lay Ministerial Standing, (licensing) is the act whereby the United Church of Christ through an Association/Conference, recognizes the calling and the gifts of a lay person, and in cooperation with that person and a Local Church of the United Church of Christ, authorizes that member whom God has called to perform specific duties in a designated Local Church or within that Association/Conference. A person seeking authorization as a Lay with ministerial standing applies through their Local Church to the Association/Conference in which that church is a member.
Transfer of Standing: When ordained ministers move from the bounds of one Association/Conference to another, they are required to transfer their ordained ministerial standing to the new Association/Conference. The ordained minister who has received a call within another Association/Conference applies to the new Association/Conference for their ordained ministerial standing to be recognized, accepted, and transferred.