Manual on Ministry
The following resources, templates, and best practices of the Manual on Ministry’s Section 3 are updated, amended, added to or subtracted from, by the MESA Team in order to support faithful and effective Committees on Ministry. These resources are dated and identified specifically as MESA- or MOM-related resources. Additional materials that are not specific to MESA may be linked as relevant references for understanding the Manual on Ministry and the polity of the United Church of Christ.
Access to the Manual on Ministry and associated material is publicly available and for use by individuals and ecumenical partners for their information, Committees on Ministry and Conference staff for their work of authorization and oversight, and others for non-commercial use. Use of Manual on Ministry materials for training for staff, Committees on Ministry, and clergy on the oversight procedures is limited to MESA staff and designated current Conference or Association staff with appropriate and relevant training and experience in the field. Click here for more information on how to share our content.
A Guide to Authorizing Ministry in the United Church of Christ
The role of the Manual on Ministry (MOM) in the United Church of Christ is to serve as a living guide, a grounding perspective, and a resource for shared expectations in the essential ministry of Committees on Ministry.
The Manual on Ministry is maintained by the Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) Team. The 2018 edition of MOM has three sections; the first two are available in PDF, with hard copies available for purchase through UCC Resources. The third section includes online resources (updated regularly) that can be found by scrolling down this page.
Outline of the Manual on Ministry
Section 1: Theological Grounding (available in PDF or hard copy as referenced above)
Covenantal Polity
Theology of Ministry and Ordination
Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers
Ministry of Committees on Ministry
Section 2: Ministerial Authorization (available in PDF or hard copy as referenced above)
Article 1: Members in Discernment
Article 2: Ordained Ministers from Ecumenical Bodies
Article 3: Ordained Ministerial Standing
Article 4: Lay Ministerial Standing
Article 5: Calls, Covenants, and Endorsements
Article 6: Accountability and Support
Section 3: Resources for Committees on Ministry
Online Resources (listed below, referenced by Section and Article)
Glossary of Terms (included in the PDF/hard copy)
Letter from the Habakkuk Group (included in the PDF/hard copy)
SECTION 3 RESOURCES
Section 3 Resources for Section 1: Covenant Polity
- UCC Constitution and Bylaws
- Manual on Ministry (1986/2002 edition), “Partners in Authorizing Ministry”
Section 3 Resources for Section 1: Theology of Authorized Ministry
- Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (World Council of Churches 1982)
- Ministry Issues Pronouncement (2005) and Background Document (2010)
- Transitional Discussion Guide for Committees on Ministry with current Licensed Ministers and Commissioned Ministers
- Sample Liturgy for Ordination
Section 3 Resources for Section 1: Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers
- The Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers
- Marks Assessment Rubric
- Journaling the Journey
- Marks Mosaic cards
Section 3 Resources for Section 1: Ministry of Committees on Ministry
- Discernment Travelogue
- Committee on Ministry Orientation Booklet
- Committee on Ministry Research Report
- Sample Ministerial File
- Ministerial File Outline
- Registrar Orientation and Instructions
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 1: Members in Discernment
- Local Church Discernment Committee best practices
- Member in Discernment application form
- Member in Discernment Assessment
- Order for Recognition of a Member in Discernment
- Sample Outline of Discernment Expectations
- Discernment Travelogue
- Training Delegates in Preparation for an Ecclesiastical Council
- Privilege of Call
- Notice of Ecclesiastical Council, Ordination
- Ecclesiastical Council Agenda
- Psychological Assessments best practices
- Member in Discernment Advisor best practices
- Sample Preparation and Formation Plan (multiple paths)
- Sample outlines of Portfolio Presentations and Ordination Papers
- Sample Ordination Interview
- Four-Way Covenant template
- Sample Preparation and Formation Plan
- Sample Preparation and Formation Plan – blank
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 2: Ecumenically Ordained Ministers
- UCC Ministerial Standing Application Form
- Sample Four and Five-Way OMPS Covenants
- Sample Four and Five-Way Dual Standing Covenants
- Formula of Agreement Orderly Exchange
- Notice of Eccelsiastical Council for Privilege of Call
- Ecumenically Ordained Flow Chart
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 3: Ordained Ministerial Standing
- UCC Ministerial Code
- Journal on Ministerial Code
- Access to Profiles Portal/Eligibility for UCC Ministerial Profile
- Sample Liturgy for Ordination
- Transfer of Ministerial Standing
- Standings in Ministry flow chart
- Exempt Ordained Ministerial Standing Application Form
- Leave of Absence Application Form
- Sample Leave of Absence Covenant
- Leave of Absence Best Practices
- Sample Exempt Standing Covenant
- 3-way Covenant Active Retired Template
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 4: Lay Ministerial Standing
- Transitional Discussion Guide for Committees on Ministry with current Licensed Ministers and Commissioned Ministers
- Sample Liturgy for Local Commissioning
- Lay Ministerial Standing Checklist
- Lay Ministerial Standing Application
- Active Church-Minister-3-Way Covenant Template
- Order for Creation or Renewal of a Lay Ministerial Standing Covenant
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 5: Calls, Covenants, and Endorsements
- Guidelines for Discerning an Ordainable Call
- Guidelines for Discerning an Authorizable Call
- Three-Way Covenant template
- Four-Way Covenant template
- Liturgy in Celebration of 4-Way Covenant
- Template for Letter for Endorsement, ACPE
- Template for Letter of Endorsement, APC
- Template for Letter of Endorsement, CPSP
- Template for Letter of Endorsement (Employment)
- Template for Letter of Endorsement (Volunteer)
- Template for Letter of Continued Endorsement
- Understanding Ordination vs. Endorsement
- Endorsement Guidelines for Chaplain Candidate Program
- Endorsement Guidelines for Professional Organizations
- Introduction to Endorsement for Federal Government Chaplaincy
- Guidelines for Transfer of Endorsement – Federal Government Chaplains
- Application for Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Professional Organizations
- Application for Continued Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Professional Organizations
Section 3 Resources for Section 2 Article 6: Accountability and Support
- Guiding Principles for Oversight
- Sample Information Review Form
- Marks of Faithful and Effective Boundary Trainers
- Recommendations for organizing/hosting Peer Support
- Five Year Periodic Vocational Support Guide
- Periodic Vocational Support best practices
- Situational Support Consultation – Process and Meeting Outlines
- Case Study and Reports (Situational Support Consultations)
- Upon Receipt of a Concern
- Resources for Response Team Members
- Fitness Review Reporting Form
- How to Report Clergy Ethics Violations
- Fitness Review Confidentiality Notices
- Fitness Review Process Checklist
- Recommended Guidelines for Fitness Reviews of Conference Ministers
- Guidelines for Effective Programs of Growth
- Best Practices for Unified Fitness Review Committees
- Media Guidelines in a Fitness Review
- Non-Compliance-Process-Checklist
- Non-Compliance-Review-Reporting-Form
- Overview of Fitness Review Appeals
- Communications with Covenental Partners Regarding Fitness Reviews
- Suggested resources for victims of clergy sexual misconduct
- Suggested resources for restorative practices
- Sample Fitness Review Notification Letter for Minister in Question
- Sample Fitness Review Notification Letter for Local Church as Calling Body
- Sample Fitness Review Notification Letter for Specialized Ministry Setting
- Sample Fitness Review Notification Letter for Local Church as Place of Membership
- Sample Agenda for Fitness Review Adjudication Meeting
For reference, the 1986/2002 edition of the Manual on Ministry remains available online in ten sections: Partners in Authorizing Ministry, Student in Care of Association, Ordained Ministry, Dual Standing and Privilege of Call, Ordained Ministerial Partner, Commissioned Ministry, Licensed Ministry, The Oversight of Ministries, Ecclesiastical Endorsement, and Supplemental Materials.