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

V. Ministerial Standing

A. Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1. Standing affirms that the ordained or licensed minister is currently engaged in the practice of ministry, whether on an occasional part-time or full-time basis, with continuous accountability maintained with a congregation, organization, related institution or regional or general unit of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Such ministers are listed in the Year Book and Directory of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and may call upon the church for services and support such as search and call assistance, ecclesiastical endorsement, scholarship aid; and have voting privileges in the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   
   
2. Responsibility for certification of standing of ministers and for periodic review of that standing within these policies and criteria is lodged with the regions where the minister is currently engaged in the practice of ministry, except in the case of those engaged in non-regional ministries for which these responsibilities concerning standing are lodged with the General Commission on Ministry.
   
   For purposes of this policy statement, non-regional ministries are defined as all ministries outside the United States and Canada and those ministries engaged by and accountable to one of the general administrative units of the church. All other ministries are hereby defined as regional as determined by the primary work location of the minister.

B. Standing of those Ordained or Licensed by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

1. By virtue of ordination or licensing according to the criteria and procedures of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the minister becomes eligible for standing in the Order of Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   
   
2. Standing is granted initially by the region in which the minister's service begins or by the General Commission on Ministry.
   
   
3. Standing continues so long as the minister does the following:
   
   a. Performs faithfully the duties of a minister as authorized by ordination or licensing, either in an occupation recognized by the church as ministerial in purpose or in service recognized by the church as ministerial in purpose. A person will not be continued in standing who is neither employed by, nor actively seeking employment in, nor accountable to a congregation, organization, related institution or regional or general unit of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   b. Participates in programs of study, research, growth and renewal.
   c. Maintains relations with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) including participating membership in a recognized congregation in the community where feasible.
   d. Continues to meet the personal qualification for admission to the Order of Ministry (see Section IC1).
   e. Seeks annual certification upon retirement.
   
   
4. The region or the General Commission on Ministry will provide means by which the standing of all ministers in its care will be reviewed periodically.
   
   
5. When an ordained minister moves from a ministry position in one region to a ministry position in another, standing in the Order of Ministry is retained. Responsibility for review and subsequent certification is assigned to the region in which the minister functions or to the General Commission on Ministry. When an ordained minister who is not actively seeking relocation moves from a ministry position in one region to another region and is no longer engaged in ministry, ministerial standing will lapse in six months, except in the case of retirement, until review and subsequent certification is granted by the region into which the minister has moved. The standing of licensed ministers is removed when they no longer serve in the region which granted the license.
   
   
6. Ministers with standing at the time of retirement retain this standing except when the minister no longer meets the personal qualifications for admission to the Order of Ministry (see Section IC1).
   
   a. Upon retirement standing is certified annually by the region in which the minister holds participating membership in a recognized congregation in the community when feasible.
   b. When actively engaged in the practice of ministry, standing is certified by the region where the minister is so engaged.

C. Recognition and Reconciliation of the Ordained Ministries of the
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ

1. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ recognize the ordained ministries of the other church to be efficacious ministries of grace within that church and these ministries to be valid and full ministries of the one Church of Jesus Christ.
   
   
2. The ordained ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ are reconciled. An ordained minister with ordained ministerial standing in one church may function, whenever invited, and as established procedures permit, as an ordained minister of the other.
   
   
3. The designations "Ordained Ministerial Partner" and "Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing" manifest the corporate and individual nature of the recognition and reconciliation of the ordained ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and the United Church of Christ.
   
   
4. Each member of the United Church of Christ who holds ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ is an Ordained Ministerial Partner of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   
   
5. Each member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who holds ordained ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is an Ordained Ministerial Partner of the United Church of Christ.
   
   
6. When a person no longer has ordained ministerial standing in either the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or the United Church of Christ, that person is no longer an Ordained Ministerial Partner and Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing is nullified.
   
   
7. United Church of Christ ministers with Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 
   Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing is recognition granted to an ordained minister with ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ who has a call to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). This recognition is based upon demonstrating knowledge of and appreciation for the history, polity, and practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing provides ongoing ecclesiastical authorization to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   
   a. A United Church of Christ minister has Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) only when serving a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) calling body.
   b. Once a United Church of Christ minister has demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for the history, polity, and practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), that Ordained Ministerial Partner may seek a call in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   c. A United Church of Christ Ordained Ministerial Partner who secures a call in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) applies for Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing to the region in which the minister's congregational membership is held.
   d. A United Church of Christ minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shall maintain ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ. Ordained ministerial standing shall be held in the association in which the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) membership is held.
   e. A United Church of Christ minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing shall maintain relations with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) including participating membership in a recognized congregation in the community where feasible.
   f. A United Church of Christ minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in a region has voting privileges in the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   g. A United Church of Christ minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shall relate to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for his or her primary support and accountability in ordained ministry.
   h. When a United Church of Christ minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) accepts a call in another region, they shall be subject to review and subsequent certification by that region.
   i. When a disciplinary review is instituted in relation to a United Church of Christ minister holding Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the association of the United Church of Christ in which the United Church of Christ minister's ordained ministerial standing is maintained shall be informed and invited to participate in the procedures.
   
   
8. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) ministers with Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ.
   
   Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing is recognition granted to an ordained minister with ordained ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who has a call to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ. This recognition is based upon demonstrating knowledge of and appreciation for the history, polity, and practices of the United Church of Christ. Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing provides ongoing ecclesiastical authorization to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ.
   
   a. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister has Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ only when serving a United Church of Christ calling body.
   b. Once a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister has demonstrated knowledge of and appreciation for the history, polity, and practices of the United Church of Christ, that Ordained Ministerial Partner may seek a call in the United Church of Christ.
   c. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Ordained Ministerial Partner who secures a call in the United Church of Christ applies for Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing to the association in which the minister's congregational membership is held.
   d. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ shall maintain ordained ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Ordained ministerial standing shall be held in the region in which the United Church of Christ membership is held.
   e. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ shall hold local church membership in the United Church of Christ.
   f. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ is eligible for election as a delegate to a Conference or General Synod or election as a member of any instrumentality board.
   g. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ shall relate to the United Church of Christ for his or her primary support and accountability in ordained ministry.
   h. A Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister who holds Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ is subject to periodic review by the region in which ordained ministerial standing is maintained.
   i. When a disciplinary procedure is instituted by an association in relation to a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister holding Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the United Church of Christ, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) region in which standing is held shall be informed and invited to participate. The region may accept the procedures and outcome of the association or utilize its own procedures to determine the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister's ongoing standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

D. Admission to Standing of Persons Ordained or Licensed by Other Churches. Ministers ordained or licensed by other churches may be received into the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and granted standing as ordained or licensed ministers. Responsibility for this process is lodged with the region or the General Commission on Ministry.

1. Temporary recognition of applicants shall be granted upon the fulfillment of the following requirements:
   a. Consultation, whenever possible, with appropriate officials of the church from which the candidate transfers.
   b. Investigation of personal and ministerial references.
   c. Filing of the Ministerial Record Form with the appropriate offices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Temporary recognition does not constitute standing in the Order of Ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). Temporary recognition shall be reviewed annually by the body granting it, either the region or the General Commission on Ministry.
   
   
2. A Certificate of Ministerial Recognition and admission to ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will be granted by the region or the General Commission on Ministry upon fulfillment of the following requirements:
   
   a. Membership in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or recognition by a region of the applicant's participation in the life and work of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   b. Acquaintance with the history, polity, and practices of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   c. Fulfillment of the prerequisites and preparation for the Order of Ministry.

E. Termination of Ministerial Standing. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) shall develop policies and criteria by which ministerial standing can be terminated. Until such a time as these policies and criteria are developed, the following shall apply:

1. Procedures leading to a review of standing may be initiated by the minister or the region when one or more of the following conditions are present:
   a. The minister desires to be released from the practice of ministry, either temporarily or permanently.
   b. The minister requests transfer into the Order of Ministry of another church.
   c. The minister enters into a full-time occupation not recognized by the church as ministerial in purpose and no longer performs
   the normal functions of a minister.
   d. The minister discontinues active relationships with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   e. The minister no longer meets the personal qualifications for admission to the Order of Ministry (see Section IC1).
   
   
2. When the region or the General Commission on Ministry takes the initiative in the review of standing, the procedures shall include:
   a. Written notice to the minister that standing is to be reviewed with the possibility of termination.
   b. A hearing by a committee appointed by the region or the General Commission on Ministry.
   
   
3. When the minister takes the initiative in the review, the procedures shall include:
   a. Written notice to the regional minister or the General Commission on Ministry requesting that standing be reviewed with the possibility of termination.
   b. A consultation with a committee if appropriate.
   
   
4. Standing may be granted to a minister whose standing has been terminated or suspended by another region or church only after thorough investigation of the reasons for the termination or suspension.

F. Standing in Regions. Nothing in these statements of policy and criteria is intended to preclude a region from developing further appropriate statements pertaining to recognition and/or standing within that region. However, only those persons meeting the specific criteria established by the policies of this document should be recognized as holding standing in the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).

G. Right of Appeal. Decisions with an adverse effect on standing may be appealed to the General Commission on Ministry within one year from the date on which regional decisions were final.

The General Commission on Ministry understands that the Right to Appeal, described in paragraphs III. E., IV. E., and V. G., extend to persons who, at the time of their appeal are subject to a decision with adverse effect regarding licensing, ordination, and/or standing.

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