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

VI. Ministerial Search and Call

A. The General Principle. Ministerial Search and Call is the term applied to the process developed to facilitate the employment of ordained and licensed ministers who hold standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). It provides a covenantal framework within which ministers and the general, regional and congregational manifestations of the church can serve to upbuild the whole church of Jesus Christ.

Freedom and responsibility are inherent in the tradition of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). General, regional and congregational manifestations of the church are accorded full freedom to issue ministerial calls within their own established or constitutional provisions. Ministers, likewise, are accorded full freedom to accept or reject a call to any particular service. All, however, covenant to work within these policies in the interest of assuring an orderly and responsible system of ministerial search and call.

B. Operating Principles.

1. Ordained ministers with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will have complete and unhindered access to the ministerial search and call process of the church.
   
   
2. Ordained Ministerial Partners with standing in the United Church of Christ will have complete and unhindered access to the ministerial search and call process of the church once they have been qualified to seek a call by a region.
   
   
3. Licensed ministers with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) will have access to the ministerial search and call process in the region for which their ministry is licensed.
   
   
4. Congregations, regions, institutions and general units of the church will be provided assistance when so desired in their search for ministerial leadership.
   
   
5. Any minister's personnel file in Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, will be open to the minister concerned except for confidential references for which a waiver has been signed.
   
   
6. Confidentiality, when assured to the persons completing the reference forms, will not be violated.
   
   
7. All ordained ministers with authorized access to the ministerial search and call process may have their names considered for any ministerial position for which they are qualified, following the selection processes used for the position.
   
   
8. All ordained ministers with authorized access to the ministerial search and call process shall also have access to information regarding available ministerial openings in the church.
   
   
9. Every congregation, region, institution and general unit will strive to be open to the ministry of all persons putting aside prejudice and considering candidates based on gifts and skills for ministry rather than such givens as race, ethnic origin, sex, age or physical disability.

C. Responsibilities.

1. Congregations. Within the tradition of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), congregations have the right and responsibility to seek and call their own leadership, to establish the terms of employment, to undergird the ministry, and to effect terminations within their own procedures. In the ministerial search and call process, congregations will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   
   a. Congregations will advise regions of impending vacancies and work within regional procedures to receive advice and counsel in seeking ministerial leadership.
   b. Congregations will have freedom to consider any ordained minister with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) or any Ordained Ministerial Partner who has been qualified by a region to seek a call. The congregation should inform the region and request biographical and reference material on all ministers it wishes to consider.
   c. Congregations will keep the region informed of all names being considered, including persons who apply directly to the congregation and persons whose names are suggested by members of the congregation.
   d. Congregations will strive to be fair and open in the consideration of all candidates putting aside prejudice based on race, ethnic origin, sex, age or physical disability.
   e. Congregations will treat with confidentiality all information including personal biographical information and reference material, taking care to ensure that the information does not go beyond the search committee. When the call has been issued and accepted, all records relating to the minister called to serve, including any minutes of the search committee regarding that minister, shall be given to the regional office for reasons of safe keeping and confidentiality. All records relating to other candidates in the search process shall be destroyed.
   f. Congregations will stay in communication with candidates whom the search committee has contacted, especially informing candidates who are no longer being considered for the position.
   g. Congregations may talk with a number of ministers concurrently but will negotiate with only one minister at a time. A search committee and candidate are in negotiation when both agree that they will not discuss relocation with any other candidate or search committee until the expiration of a mutually agreed upon date. It is the obligation of the search committee to be specific with the minister about its degree of interest.
   h. Congregations will issue a written call providing copies of the call for the congregation, the minister, and the region.
   i. Congregations will provide a fair salary (including parsonage provision) within the capabilities of the congregation, as well as adequate benefits (pension, health insurance, continuing education and Social Security offset).
   j. Congregations will provide for the reimbursement of church-related expenses to cover actual expenses of accomplishing ministry.
   
   
2. Regions. Regions bear the primary responsibility for providing advice and counsel to both congregations and ministers in matters of ministerial search and call. Regions may delegate or share this responsibility with their subdivisions, e.g., areas or districts. In the ministerial search and call process, regions will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. Each region will provide advice and counsel to congregations either at the request of the congregation or at the initiation of the region when it is known that new ministerial leadership is being or will be sought.
   b. Each region will receive and review all ministerial search and call materials from Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, giving special attention to those persons who have indicated an interest in their region.
   c. Each region will refer all ministers within the region who wish to seek relocation outside the region to Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call for entry into the search and call process.
   d. Each region will share with search committees biographical and reference materials on candidates who appear to meet the requirements of the congregations and institutions with whom the region is working.
   e. Each region will encourage congregations to give fair and equal consideration to candidates regardless of their race, ethnic origin, sex, age or physical disability.
   f. Each region will share with specific search committees biographical and reference materials on any minister with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), or any Ordained Ministerial Partner qualified by a region to seek a call, who requests consideration in that congregation.
   g. Each region will maintain a list of churches seeking ministerial leadership in the region and make it available upon request to ministers who are seeking a call.
   h. Each region will secure permission from any minister not actively seeking a call before releasing references to a search committee. The minister has the right to know the name and location of the interested congregation.
   i. Each region will provide, upon request of ministers seeking a call, a list of congregations which have received their biographical and reference material.
   j. Each region will treat with confidentiality all confidential material reported on the Search and Call Form.
   k. Each region will communicate to Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, and to other regions any official action by its commissions on the ministry concerning the conduct of a minister. The minister shall be informed and given a copy of the report which will also be placed in the minister's file.
   l. Each region will refer all requests for assistance from congregations outside the region to the appropriate regional office.
   m. Each region will notify Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, monthly of all relocations occurring within, to, or from the region.
   n. Each region will grant provisional standing, for the purpose of entering the search and call process, to senior theological students whose ordinations have been authorized in their region and to ordained ministers from other denominations who have been given temporary recognition and are in the process of transferring standing to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   o. Each region will make information available about vacancies to be filled on the regional staff through such channels as  Disciple World magazine, www.Disciples.org web site, regional publications and Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call.
   
   
3. Educational institutions. The undergraduate departments of religion and the theological educational institutions have unique responsibilities with respect to the search and call process of the church. Each relates to a limited number of congregations in which pre-theological and theological students may be employed. The theological institutions have responsibility for relating their graduating students who are candidates for standing as ordained ministers in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to the search and call processes of the church. In the ministerial search and call process, educational institutions will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. Educational institutions will relate to congregations served by students upon approval of the region in matters pertaining to the employment of students during their pre-theological and theological education.
   b. Educational institutions will refer requests from congregations for search and call assistance to the appropriate regional office when the congregation is one that is not a student congregation.
   c. Educational institutions will cooperate with regions seeking candidates by announcing position vacancies when received. Any nominations or applications for such positions shall be made through the appropriate regional office.
   d. Educational institutions will cooperate with regions in orienting seminary students to the search and call process of the church.
   
   
4. General units. Except for those units with assigned responsibilities, i.e., The Pension Fund, the Division of Higher Education and Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, general units and their staffs will not engage in programs or practices related to ministerial search and call. In the ministerial search and call process, general units will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. General units will call their own staff, establish the terms of employment, undergird their staff and effect terminations within their own procedures.
   b. General units will refer all requests for search and call assistance to Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call.
   c. General units will refrain from making nominations to congregations for ministerial vacancies. They will refer requests for candidates' names to the appropriate region.
   d. General units will make information available about vacancies to be filled within the general units through such channels as Disciple World magazine, Disciples.org web site, regional publications and Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call.
   e. General units will notify Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, of vacancies in ecumenical and experimental ministries, when known, so the information can be made available to clergy seeking such
   positions.
   
   
5. The Pension Fund. The Pension Fund of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) is charged with responsibility for coordinating the employment of retired clergy in interim and supply ministries. In the ministerial search and call process, The Pension Fund will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. The Pension Fund will maintain current lists and appropriate biographical data on clergy with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who desire to be considered for interim or supply work and periodically make such lists available to the regions.
   b. The Pension Fund will refer requests from congregations seeking interim or supply leadership to the regions.
   c. The Pension Fund will refer requests from ministers seeking search and call assistance to Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call.
   
   
6. The Division of Higher Education. The Division of Higher Education is charged with responsibility for coordinating a referral system of both academic and administrative leadership in institutions of higher education related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and notification of openings in campus ministries in related institutions and in United Campus Ministries. In the ministerial search and call process, the Division of Higher Education will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. The Division of Higher Education will compile and maintain appropriate personnel and academic dossiers on persons who desire employment in higher education ministries.
   b. The Division of Higher Education will refer all requests from congregations for candidates' names to appropriate regions.
   c. The Division of Higher Education will refer all clergy seeking search and call assistance in ministries other than higher
   education to the Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call.
   
   
7. Disciples Home Missions. The Office of Search and Call at Disciples Home Missions (DHM) is the primary locus of the ministerial records of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and is responsible for coordinating the search and call process of the church. In the ministerial search and call process Disciples Home Missions will function within the covenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. The Office of Search and Call will maintain the personnel files of all ministers in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
   b. The Office of Search and Call will maintain the Ministers Directory of the Year Book and Directory reflecting the current listing of ministers with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) as reported by the regions and the General Commission on Ministry.
   c. The Office of Search and Call will receive, reproduce and make available search and call assistance materials of ministers with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to regions and general units. The Search and Call Form will be reproduced as prepared and submitted by the minister.
   d. The Office of Search and Call will collect and release reference material to regions, congregational search committees or general units upon permission of the minister applying for search and call assistance.
   e. The Office of Search and Call will protect the confidentiality of references when confidentiality has been promised.
   f. The Office of Search and Call will secure permission from any minister not actively seeking a call before releasing references to regions or general units. The minister has the right to know the name and location of the interested congregation. Permission need not be secured for the release of the Ministerial Record Form or biographical information.
   g. The Office of Search and Call will secure, maintain, and release to regions, and on request, to ministers who have applied for search and call assistance, a list of staff vacancies in regions, general units of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and ecumenical organizations.
   h. The Office of Search and Call will make available education and informational materials regarding the search and call system to congregations, regions, institutions and general units.
   i. The Office of Search and Call will refer all requests from congregations for names of potential candidates to the appropriate regions.
   j. The Office of Search and Call will refer all theological students seeking student preaching/pastoral positions to the field education office of the appropriate institution or to the region in the case of students in non-related institutions of higher education.
   k. Disciples Home Missions will refer all persons seeking academic appointments to the Division of Higher Education and all persons seeking interim/supply positions to the Pension Fund of the Christian Church.
   l. The Office of Search and Call will share with regions, and where appropriate, general units, the record of any official action by a region's commission on the ministry concerning the conduct of a minister who is entering the search and call process.
   
   
8. Ministers. Ordained and licensed ministers with standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) have both freedom and responsibility within these policies and criteria. They have the freedom to accept or reject any call offered to them, to negotiate whatever contracts of employment or service seem appropriate, and to have access to the search and call process of the church. In the ministerial search and call process, the ministers will function within the convenantal relationship of the whole church.
   a. Ministers will provide information for a personnel file to Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, upon entry into the ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and maintain current data in that file. For purposes of search and call, the Ministerial Record Form and the Search and Call Form will be reproduced as prepared and submitted by the minister. 
   b. Ministers will utilize the search and call process of the region in which the minister is located when a move is desired within that region. If relocation is desired beyond the region where the minister is presently serving, search and call assistance may be requested from Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, and the appropriate regions.
   c. Ministers will strive to be as specific and honest as possible about any limiting factors in relocation, such as geographical preferences and salary requirements.
   d. Ministers will provide the region or Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, with reference material that will be held in confidence from the minister once received by the region or department if a waiver has been signed by the minister.
   e. Ministers will negotiate with only one congregation at a time. A search committee and candidate are in negotiation when both agree that they will not discuss relocation with any other search committee or candidate until the expiration of a mutually agreed upon date. It is the obligation of the minister to be specific with the congregation about the degree of interest.
   f. Ministers will stay in communication with search committees who have indicated interest, especially informing a congregation immediately when a decision has been made not to consider accepting a call to that particular congregation.
   g. Ministers will contact the appropriate region if they wish to be a candidate for a specific congregation in that region and request that their name be submitted to the search committee. Ministers will not initiate the search and call process by contacting the congregation directly.
   h. Ministers will advise the region, if contacted directly by a congregation, should mutual interest in exploring a possible call be determined.
   i. Ministers will advise the region where currently located, the region where moving, and Disciples Home Missions, Office of Search and Call, as soon as a call has been accepted.

D. Right of Review and Counsel. The right to review and counsel is limited to perceived violations of Section VI of Policies and Criteria for the Order of Ministry and should be initiated with the appropriate region, institution or general unit. A request for review and counsel beyond the region shall be to the Office of Search and Call at Disciples Home Missions. If the perceived violation involves D.H.M., the request for review and counsel may be directed to the General Commission on Ministry.

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