February 2016

To our Committee on Ministry colleagues,
 
The work of conducting a Fitness Review is one of the more spiritually, emotionally, and logistically taxing responsibilities of Committees on Ministry. Fitness Reviews require extensive coordination of & communication with individuals (from the Response Team to the minister under question, from the person raising the concern to the congregation where the minister holds membership), a thoughtful balance between information-gathering and confidentiality, a wellspring of prayer on the part of Committee members, and the difficult tasks of truth-telling and truth-hearing and truth-discerning.

The MESA Ministry Team along with your conference & association ministers support COMs’ undertaking of a Fitness Review through training, presence, and guiding resources. Those resources include:

The United Church of Christ through Local Church Ministries recently released a discussion guide of the movie Spotlight to encourage discussion in our congregations and Committees on Ministry about the seriousness of allegations of clergy pedophilia & abuse of children. MESA especially highlights this resource for your attention, believing that the safety of children is well worth every Committee’s time in ongoing education.
 
As always, MESA is here to support you through Fitness Reviews and through all your work.
 
Peace and grace,
Rachel Hackenberg

The Rev. Rachel G. Hackenberg
Minister for Committee on Ministry Resources & Conference Support
Ministerial Excellence, Support & Authorization (MESA) Team
Local Church Ministries, United Church of Christ
ucc.org/ministers