wfn.org | UCC delegates vote to support commissioned ministers

[powellb@ucc.org]

United Church of Christ
General Synod Newsroom
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
newsroom@ucc.org
http://www.ucc.org

By Tim Kershner

MINNEAPOLIS?Calling commissioned ministers an essential part of its church
life, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ called for greater
resources at the national, conference and local settings to support these
workers.

"We have felt the fire-in-the-belly clear call from God to serve," said
Ruth Hainsworth, a commissioned minister from the Rhode Island Conference.

The resolution calls for structural changes in various church settings to
"deepen understanding of commissioned ministry" so that the UCC may better
identify and utilize individuals who are called to commissioned ministry.

Commissioned ministers work in a variety of settings, from Christian
education and parish nursing, to music and even outdoor ministry.

While not requiring a seminary education or ordination, commissioned
ministers are authorized by their local associations to perform specific
ministries in their church or region. Commissioned ministry, said
supporters of the resolution, "is one of the yet-undiscovered treasures of
the United Church of Christ."

"These ministries are vital for the faith formation, continued spiritual
growth, and empowerment of the children, youth and adults of our local
churches to live as people of faith in an ever-more-volatile society," they
wrote.

To mine that treasure, delegates urged the national covenanted ministries,
conferences, associations and congregations to establish support programs,
including the development of a mentoring process similar to "in care"
status now offered to seminarians preparing for ordained ministry.

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