Manual on Ministry
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. It is maintained by the Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) Team.
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.
Contact
Rev. Elizabeth Dilley
Minister and Team Leader: Ministerial Excellence, Support and Authorization
216-736-3841
dilleye@ucc.org
Section 3 Resources for the Manual on Ministry
The Manual on Ministry (sections 1 and 2) is available in 2018 edition PDF or the newest edition of the hard copy can be purchased through UCC Resources.
The following resources, templates, and best practices of the Manual on Ministry 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. Click on the caret next to the Article for which you are seeking resources for a drop-down list.
* To use the forms as fillable PDFs or fillable DOCXs, please download and open with desktop programs.
Section 1
- UCC Constitution and By-Laws
- Manual on Ministry (1986/2002), Section 1 “Partners in Authorizing Ministry”
- Baptism, Eucharist and Ministry (World Council of Churches 1982)
- Ministry Issues Pronouncement (2005) and Implementing the Pronouncement
- Sample Liturgy for Ordination
- Sample Ministerial File
- Transitional Discussion Guide for Committees on Ministry with current Licensed Ministers and Commissioned Ministers
Section 2
- Local Church Discernment Committee Best Practices
- Member in Discernment Application Form
- Member in Discernment Marks Assessment
- Matrix for Assessment (PDF)
- Order of Recognition of a Member in Discernment
- Discernment Travelogue
- Psychological Assessment Best Practices
- Member in Discernment Advisor Best Practices
- Preparation and Formation Plan (blank)
- Sample Preparation and Formation Plan (Multiple Paths)
- Training of Delegates in Preparation for an Ecclesiastical Council
- Best Practices for Ecclesiastical Councils
- Notice of Ecclesiastical Council – Ordination
- Ordination Interview Sample
- Member in Discernment Four-Way Covenant
- Member in Discernment Portfolio
- Sample Liturgy for Ordination
- UCC Ministerial Code
- Access to Profiles Portal/Eligibility for UCC Ministerial Profile
- Transfer of Standing Process
- Standings in Ministry Flow Chart
- Leave of Absence Form
- Sample Leave of Absence Covenant
- Leave of Absence Best Practices
- Three-Way Ministry Covenant for Ministers with Active Standing who Identify as Retired from Ministry (docx)
- Exempt Standing Application
- Sample Exempt Standing Covenant
- Sample Information Review Form
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- Discussion Guide
- Lay Ministerial Standing Application
- Lay Ministerial Standing Checklist
- Lay Ministerial Standing Self Disclosure Form
- Licensure and Commissioning Resource 2024
- Application for Licensure 2024
- Licensure Renewal and Information Review
- Lay Ministerial Standing Covenant Template (DOCX)
- Lay Ministerial Standing Supervisor Best Practices (DOCX)
- Order for Creation or Renewal of a Lay Ministerial Standing Covenant (DOCX)
- Lay Ministerial Standing and Member in Discernment Covenant
- Guidelines for Discerning An Ordainable Call
- Guidelines for Discerning An Authorizable Call
- Three-Way Covenant Template (docx)
- Four-Way Covenant Template (docx)
- Three-Way Ministry Covenant for Ministers with Active Standing who Identify as Retired from Ministry (docx)
- Lay Ministerial Standing and Member in Discernment Covenant
- Member in Discernment Four-Way Covenant
- 4- or 5-Way Covenant OMPS
- 4- or 5-Way Covenant Dual Standing
- Sample Leave of Absence Covenant
- Sample Exempt Standing Covenant
- Lay Ministerial Standing Covenant Template (DOCX)
- Liturgy in Celebration of a Four Way Covenant
- Ordination and Endorsement
- Endorsement Guidelines for Chaplain Candidate Program
- Professional Endorsement Guideline for Candidate Info-graphic
- Professional Endorsement Guideline for Local COM Info-graphic
- Professional Endorsement Guidlines for COM (list)
- Application for Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Professional Organizations
- Application for Continued Ecclesiastical Endorsement for Professional Organizations
- Introduction to Endorsement for Government Agencies
- Guidelines for Transfer of Endorsement for Federal Government Chaplains
- 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
- Sample Information Review Form
- Five Year Periodic Vocational Support Guide
- Marks for Faithful and Effective Boundary Trainers
- Recommendations for Organizing/Hosting Peer Support (in development)
- Periodic Vocational Support Best Practices
- Situational Support Consultation: Case Study and Report
- Situational Support Consultation: Process and Meeting Outlines
- Upon Receipt of a Concern
- Resources for Response Team Members
- Fitness Review Reporting Form
- Fitness Review Confidentiality Notices
- Fitness Review Process Checklist
- How to Report Clergy Ethics Violations
- 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
- Overview of Fitness Review Appeals
- Non-Compliance Process Checklist
- Standing Non-Compliance Review Reporting Form
- Overview of Fitness Review Appeals
- Communications with Covenantal Partners Regarding Fitness Reviews
- 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
- Suggested Resources for Survivors of Clergy Sexual Misconduct
- Sample Agenda for Fitness Review Adjudication Meeting
Implementing the New Manual on Ministry
