Ministry Resources
Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry
Winter 2003
Section I: Ministry in the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Section II: Candidacy for
the Order of Ministry
Section III: The Office of
Ordained Minister
Section IV: The Office of
Licensed Minister
Section V: Ministerial Standing
Section VI: Ministerial Search
and Call
Section VII: Sexual Misconduct
Section VIII: Amendment Process
II. Candidacy for the Order of Ministry
A. A Definition: Candidacy. Candidacy is
the initial step for entrance into the Order of Ministry in
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Candidacy is entered
into when a man or woman declares the intention to fulfill the
requirements for entrance into the Order of Ministry, and the
church affirms that intention.
B. The Criteria for Candidacy. The applicant
shall be a member of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
congregation and shall make application for candidacy to the
region of the candidate's choice through the Official Board
of that congregation. The applicant shall have acceptance, approval
and support of the congregation. In unusual circumstances, the
person may make direct application to the region.
It is advisable that the candidate be at least a junior in
college or university, or have demonstrated sufficient maturity
and competency for potential leadership. Candidacy shall be
applied for at least one year prior to ordination and ordinarily
at least one year prior to licensing.
Upon receipt of the application, the region will begin the
process of assessing (through avenues such as personal interviews,
consultation with congregations, appropriate regions and educational
institutions), the spiritual, emotional, moral, intellectual
and educational capacities of the applicant for the practice
of ministry. Upon approval of the application, the region shall
admit the applicant to candidacy.
C. The Procedures During Candidacy. The
candidate shall seek admission to the Order of Ministry by preparing
for ordination or licensing. The candidate shall seek to be
responsive to the opportunities for personal and spiritual growth
provided during the period of nurture and care by regional and
general units of the church. Where possible these opportunities
will be developed in consultation and cooperation with either
or both the congregation(s) and educational institution(s) to
which the candidate is related.
In the exercise of its responsibility, the region shall give
continuing counsel and guidance to the candidate's preparation
for ministry, and shall provide assistance to the candidate
in discovering avenues for continued personal and spiritual
growth. This may involve experiences such as supervised field
education, internships, apprenticeships and individual or group
career assessment.
The candidate who has not yet fulfilled all the qualifications
for ordination or licensing as a congregational minister or
commissioned minister may be granted license as a student minister.
When a candidate seeks licensing for the practice of ministry
in a region other than where the person is a candidate, the
licensing region shall consult with the region of candidacy.
In the event a candidate from one region seeks ordination or
licensing in a region other than the one in which the person
is a candidate, that region shall consult with the region of
candidacy regarding endorsement and transfer of candidacy.
The region shall advise the theological seminaries and, when
appropriate, the undergraduate institutions of higher education
in which it has candidates of the standards relating to candidacy,
ordination and licensing.
Institutions of higher education related to the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) shall:
- share with the region in the nurture and guidance of enrolled
candidates;
- assist potential candidates to relate to a region; and
- be aware of standards for licensing and ordination applicable
to students in that institution.
In non-Disciple-related institutions, the Division of Higher
Education shall seek to discover potential candidates, inform
the institutions and students of procedures for candidacy in
the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and shall seek to
relate the students to a region for care.
Candidacy is terminated by:
- ordination or licensing
- withdrawal by the candidate; or
- decision of the region to remove the candidate from candidacy.
Section 3 >
