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CTS Announces:
The Center for Christian Leadership
Bringing Theological Education to the People of the Church
There was a time when theological education was reserved exclusively for the pastor.
That time has passed.
Chicago Theological Seminary partners with congregations to offer seminary-style
courses in the local church context.
Winter/Spring 2008 Courses:
Where It All Began - The Practices of Faith in the Early Church. Instructor:
Professor Charles Cosgrove; February 4 to March 10; Union Church of Hinsdale UCC
Faith in the Public Square. Instructor: Dr. Susan Thistlewaite,
President of Chicago Theological Seminary; This is an ONLINE COURSE! Saturday,
February 23 at Winnetka Congregational Church; Audio lectures and online discussion
for the week of February 25, March 3, March 10.
Does God Evolve? Ecology, Theology, and the Nature of God. Instructor:
Rev. Clare Butterfield, Executive Director of Faith in Place; April 7 to May 12;
Glenview Community Church.
Introduction to Islam. Instructor: Dr. Ghada Talhami, Professor of
Political Science at Lake Forest College; March 31 to May 12; Western Springs
Congregational Church.
For more information, download our
poster.
Download course descriptions
HERE.
Questions? Contact CCL Director Jason Coulter at
jcoulter@ctschicago.edu
If you have any registration related questions, please contact Cheryl Miller,
CTS Registrar at
cmiller@ctschicago.edu
The Leaders Box Now Online
A Leadership Development Resource for Local Churches
Click Here
It's been over 20 years since The Leaders' Box was first produced, and it has been a hugely popular resource. Much of the core material is still useful today. In response to ongoing requests, Parish Life and Leadership has made available some of these perennially useful articles, slightly modified, in PDF format. Some of the content is no longer current (for example, the section on newsletter production described making mimeograph stencils, and the entire box contained nary a mention of computers or websites). Over time, other material is now dated in its approach to organizational life. But the history of the offices of the church remains helpful, and much of the structuring of church offices and tasks has not changed dramatically.
For most of its life the Leaders Box has been an actual box, with hundreds of letter-size, card stock "cards" meant to circulate from the church's library. Today's technology creates an easier way for church leaders to have immediate access to all of this information (just as printing costs have made the resource prohibitively expensive in its original format). Basing this revised resource on the web will make it simple to add new content over time.
For more current materials in all areas of church life, browse the ministries represented on ucc.org. And if you have an old favorite from the Leaders Box you don't see here, let us know.
5 Ways Strengthen Your
United Church Of Christ:
1. Become a Still
Speaking Church.
2. Make use of UCC resources for Worship, Christian Education and
Justice & Peace.
3. Support UCC Mission Partners and Programs and Special Offerings.
4. Attend CMA, Illinois Conference, and UCC Events, and bring along
other members of your Church.
5. Contribute Regularly to Support our National Church through Our
Church's Wider Mission Offering each year.
Learn more about how the United Church of Christ
can help to strengthen your local church:
Visit the UCC website today at: www.ucc.org
Contact UCC Resources in Cleveland to order their catalog and program materials.
Order the UCC Desk Calendar and Plan Book for the current year. It contains
many helpful worship aids, a list of national staff offices, and a list of selected
publications and videos that are available from UCC Resources.
Order the Pilgrim Press and United Church Press catalogs to review their many offerings.
All items and catalogs are available from the UCC Resources office at 1-800-537-3394.
You can also visit the websites for
Pilgrim Press and
United Church Press
MAKE YOUR CHURCH A STRONGER FAITH COMMUNITY
National UCC Youth Website has been redesigned and updated. Check it out at:
www.ucc.org/youth
Rainbow Hospice is looking for caring and compassionate volunteers to help provide
respite and friendly visits to patients and families within your community. Contact
Kathy Huber at 847-685-9900 ext 232. Bilingual volunteers are especially needed.
The National Council of the Churches of Christ has a search engine on
its website which indexes the entire New Revised Standard Version of
the Bible (NRSV). It is located on the "search" page of their site at:
www.ncccusa.org
Coping with Violence
Help-Lines and Resources
From The Windy City Times
Community Listings
EMERGENCY CALLS 911
NON-EMERGENCY CRIMES (312) 746-6000
Anti-Violence Project 24-Hr HOTLINE; at Horizons: (773) 871-CARE
Chicago Abused Women’s Coalition, POBox 477916, 60647; (773) 278-4566
Chicago Anti-Bashing Network, action grp (888) 471-0874, (773) 878-4781;
www.CABN.org;
CABNstopthehate@aol.com
Chicago Commission on Human Relations; G&L Liaison: Bill Greaves, Advisory Council on
G&L Issues (TDD 312-744-1088) (312) 744-7911
Chicago Metropolitan Battered Women’s Network (312) 360-1924; 220 S. State #1208, 60604;
Fax (312) 360-1927, TTY (312) 360-1928, CMBWN@aol.com
City of Chgo Dept. of Health, Office of Violence Prevention Director, fax (312) 747-8835
(312) 747-8787
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Gay/Lesbian & Hate Crimes Specialist Nicole Kramer,
1340 S. Michigan, fx(312)341-2806 (312) 341-2738
Cook County State’s Attorney’s Gay/Lesbian Liaison Vernita Gray, 69 W.Washington,
TDD 890-7492, fx (312) 603-9831 (312) 603-8710
Heartland Alliance Women’s Program (773) 847-4417
Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence (217) 789-2830
LGBT Specialist (YWCA); (312) 341-2851
Hull House Domestic Violence Court Advocacy Project, Location: Domestic Violence Court,
1340 South Michigan; (312) 341-2883, TDD: (312) 341-2715; FAX: (312) 341-2825;
www.hullhouse.org/uc/dvcap.asp
Kate Shaw, LGBT Specialist, 170 N. Wabash, 60601; free counseling
LGBT Shelter. Chicago Horizons, 961 Montana, 60614 (773) 472-6469 x411
National Coalition for Police Accountability (312) 663-5392
National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-SAFE
North West Cntr Against Sexual Assault (crisis 888-802-8890) (847) 806-6526
Rainbow House (Women’s Shelter / Women’s Crisis Line) (773) 521-5501 English & Spanish;
Crisisline 24 hours: 773-762-6611 (TDD 773-762-6802)
Rape Victim Advocates (312) 663-6303
Sarah’s Inn domestic violence, POB1435,Oak Park 60304 (708) 386-3305
Women’s Program of Center for Women’s & Family Services, Chicago Connections,
3533 S.Archer, 2nd floor, 60609; 773-847-5602
UCC Health Insurance
THE IS AN IMPORTANT REMINDER ABOUT UCC HEALTH INSURANCE.
You must sign up for the UCC Health Benefits Plan within 90 days of your
first employment by a UCC church or agency or lose the
benefits of open enrollment. In other words, you will have to
submit proof of good health and be accepted by the Pension Boards.
The following excerpts come from the UCC Health Benefits Plan,
Summary Plan Description booklet dated January 1, 1991:
The Pension Boards-United Church of Christ, Inc. sponsors a Health
Benefits Plan for full-time employees in the United Church of Christ
(20 or more hours per week) and retired employees. The coverage
under this Plan may be on a contributory basis requiring
contributions on the person's behalf toward the cost. For actively
employed participants, the employer is required to pay at least
one-half of the annual cost.
When Coverage Starts:
1. You must enroll to get coverage.
2. If you have not been previously employed in the United Church
of Christ and:
* If you apply for coverage no later than the first 90 days of your
employment, coverage starts on the first day of the month coincident
with or next following the day of your application, or next
following the date of your employment, if later.
* If you do not apply for coverage before completing the first 90
days of your employment, coverage starts with the first day of the
month coincident with or next following the date you are accepted
as a participant by the Pension Boards.
3. If you obtain new UCC employment and have been previously
employed in the UCC:
* If you are still covered by the UCC Health Benefits Plan by your
previous employer, or individually as an unemployed person, your
coverage is continued and contributions by your new UCC employer
start on the first day of the month coincident with or next
following your date of employment with your new UCC employer.
* If you obtain new UCC employment and your previous employment in
the UCC was not immediately prior to our current employment and you
did participate in your Health Benefit Plan during that employment
at least up to the date of your termination of employment, your
coverage starts on the first day of the month coincident with or next
following the date you apply for coverage or the date of your
employment, if later, provided you make application for coverage no
later than the first 90 days of your current employment.
* If you were not a participant in the UCC Health Benefits Plan at
your previous employment in the UCC, or if your participation in the
UCC Health Benefits Plan during your previous employment was
terminated for any reason other than your becoming ineligible to
participate prior to your termination of employment, your coverage
starts the first day of the month coincident with or next following
the date you are accepted by the Pension Boards as a
participant. An exception to this rule is made in some circumstances
when the employer, or group of related employers, have 20 or more
eligible employees and have entered into an agreement with the
Pension Boards with regard to the participation of their eligible
employees. Your employer will be able to advise you if the exception
applies to your participation.
4. Coverage will not start if you are away from work due to a
disability.
5. You must enroll your dependents to get coverage for them.
6. No medical examination is required if you enroll promptly:
Evidence of your good health and of the good health of each of your
dependents to be covered under the Plan must be given to the
Pension Boards if you do not enroll within 90 days from the time
coverage could first start. Similarly, evidence of good
health of each dependent to be covered must be given if you do not
enroll your dependents within 90 days from the time coverage could
start for that dependent.
If you are a minister enrolling for the first time, you will need
evidence of good health if you were previously employed for at least
20 hours per week by a church or other religious or eleemosynary
organization or self-employed in a field which in the judgment of
the Pension Boards is related to the mission of the UCC, and did not
participate in this Plan during that period of employment or
self-employment or if you were eligible for participation in this
Plan prior to becoming a minister and did not participate in this
Plan at that time.
Evidence of good health must be given if you want to enroll after
coverage has been terminated, if the termination of coverage is for
any reason other than becoming ineligible while still employed, or
is transferred to another program sponsored by the denomination.
If the evidence of good health for you is not acceptable, neither
you nor any of your dependents will be covered under this Plan.
If the evidence of good health for any of your dependents is not
acceptable, that person will not be considered as a dependent under
this Plan. No coverage will be provided under this Plan for that
person.
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Church Tax and Financial Publications
Church
Treasurer's Handbook (PNC Draft 2002)
IRS Information for Churches
IRS Information for Clergy
Housing Allowances
UCC Tax Exemption
Pastoral Care Guidelines
for People Returning from Military Service
For a good Power Point presentation on giving for Our Church's Wider Mission
(OCWM), CLICK HERE
Is Your UCC Student Going to U of I?
Here is a request from the UCC Campus Ministry at the University of Illinois
in Urbana-Champaign:
The Campus Ministry would like to hear about any UCC students from your
church that are going to the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign this
Fall, either for the first time or as returning students.
Please use our DOWNLOADABLE FORM
to send us information on each of your students so
we can contact them and invite them to participate in our UCC campus ministry.
Please make copies of the form and use one form per student.
You can visit our WEBSITE
to learn more about our activities on campus. You can also download a copy of the
most recent edition of our own student produced and written newsletter, The
Grapevine, which is published twice a year.
DOWNLOAD THE GRAPEVINE HERE.
(Note: this is a large PDF file.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. Blessings and thank
you for all your support of campus ministry and our UCC students.
Rev Karen Bush
ks-bush@uiuc.edu
UCC Campus Ministry at
The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
Website: www.community-ucc.org/ucf/
A message from John Gundlach, Minister for Government Chaplaincies:
The Army Chief of Chaplains Office offers a publication to help civilian
clergy understand the special needs of service members and their
families entitled: Deployment Resources for America's Clergy.
This 39 page publication can be downloaded from
www.chapnet.army.mil.
Once on this site, click on "Civilian Clergy Resources" in the left
column and then click on the PDF file Deployment Resources for
America's Clergy. Adobe Reader software is required.
UCC History & Polity Classes Offered
Courses on the History & Polity of the UCC are being offered at several places:
Every Spring at
Chicago Theological Seminary
Every Other Fall at
Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary
Equal Marriage Rights
On July 4, 2005, the United Church of Christ became the first mainline Christian denomination
to officially support same-sex marriages when its general synod passed a resolution
affirming "equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender."
Read about this prophetic event here.
Same Gender Marriage
Resource Materials
The National United Church of Christ has produced an extensive study resource
on same gender marriage that is available from Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer at the UCC
office in Cleveland. To request a copy call 216-736-3217 or send an email to
schuenem@ucc.org. A copy is also available to
preview at the CMA office.
The National UCC has also issued a statement lifting up the actions of the General Synod
that have affirmed the rights and dignity of all covenanted relationships.
To read the UCC statement and other resource materials
Click Here
Resources on Open and Affirming Churches and LGBT Concerns:
Click Here
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center
The Lombard Mennonite Peace Center trains people each year in mediation and
conflict transformation. Information about their programs and registration
information and brochures (and a congregational group discount form for
"Healthy Congregations") are available on their website at:
www.LMPeaceCenter.org.
Click on the "schedule of events" page and then click on "register" for
each event. We hope that your pastors and staff are able to attend one
of these valuable training events.
For more information contact Erin Dalian, LMPC Assistant for Communications,
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, 101 W. 22nd Street, Suite 206, Lombard, IL
60148; phone: 630 627-0507; fax: 630-627-0519;
www.LMPeaceCenter.org.
Making Churches Safe for All
The UCC Office of Parish Life and Leadership in Cleveland is responding to an upsurge
in interest in safety concerns in all churches by referring those interested to an earlier
guidebook that was produced by several UCC agencies entitled Making Our Churches Safe
for All. This pamphlet is reproduced on the
UCC Web Site.
Copies are also available from CMA or from UCC resources (800-537-3394).
An update will be published later this year.
Background checks are one particular concern. The Roman Catholic Church
and the Boy Scouts of America are setting a new standard of care by
requiring criminal background screening for ALL STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS
WORKING WITH CHILDREN. PLL will keep us posted on federal
legislation to improve availability and access to such screening.
The Big Brothers have suggested contacting Illinois State Police at
815-740-5160 for criminal background assistance.
Reporting Child Abuse
ILLINOIS CLERGY ARE NOW REQUIRED TO REPORT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT
Illinois clergy have now been added to the list of mandated reporters who are required
by law to report suspected cases of child abuse or neglect to the Illinois Department of
Children and Family Services (DCFS) under a new law signed by Gov. George Ryan on Friday,
August 16, 2002.
Illinois clergy are now required to report suspicions that a person (including a
parishioner, a parent, a church employee, teacher, or another member of the clergy)
has neglected or abused a child under their care, including sexual abuse. An exemption
preserves the confidentiality privilege for clergy members who learn of abuse or neglect
in the confessional or when acting as a spiritual adviser.
Clergy members join a list of professionals, such as doctors and teachers, who have
had to report abuse or neglect to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services
for some time. People who fail to report the first offense can be charged with a
misdemeanor. Subsequent violations can result in felony charges. A person could be
jailed for up to a year for a misdemeanor, or sent to prison for a longer term for
a felony. (Chicago Tribune, 8/18/02)
DCFS has issued the following Guidelines for Calling the Child Abuse Hotline:
Mandated reporters and other persons should call the Hotline when they have reasonable
cause to suspect that a child has been abused or neglected. The Hotline worker will
determine if the information given by the reporter meets the legal requirements to
initiate an investigation.
Criteria needed for a child abuse or neglect investigation:
* The alleged victim is a child under the age of 18.
* The alleged perpetrator is a parent, guardian, foster parent, relative caregiver,
paramour, any individual residing in the same home or any person responsible for the
child's welfare at the time of the alleged abuse or neglect, including a minister.
* There is a specific incident of abuse or neglect or a specific set of circumstances
involving suspected abuse or neglect.
* There is demonstrated harm to the child or a substantial risk of physical or sexual
injury to the child.
Information the reporter should have ready to give to the Hotline:
* Names, birth dates (or approximate ages), races, genders, etc. for all adult and
child subjects.
* Addresses for all victims and perpetrators, including current location.
* Information about the siblings or other family members, if available.
* Specific information about the abusive incident or the circumstances contributing
to risk of harm-for example, when the incident occurred, the extent of the injuries, how
the child says it happened, and any other pertinent information.
If this information is not readily available, the reporter should not delay a call to
the hotline.
CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE NUMBER: 1-800-25-ABUSE (1-800-252-2873)
1-800-358-5117 (TTY)
The Hotline operates 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. The Hotline is less busy in
the early morning hours, and reporters may be able to get through more quickly during
these times. Reporters should be prepared to provide phone numbers where they may be
reached throughout the day in case the Hotline must call back for more information.
The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services publishes a Manual for Mandated
Reporters, which is designed to help those required to report understand their
responsibility to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the DCFS Child Abuse Hotline.
If the report is accepted, DCFS will begin an investigation to determine if abuse or
neglect occurred.
The manual, which will have to be revised to include the new clergy provisions, includes
a copy of the Abused and Neglected Child Reporting Act (ANCRA), the Illinois state
law which defines the Department's intake and investigation of child abuse and neglect
reports received through the Hotline.
The Department of Children and Family Services also provides a variety of training
opportunities for all mandated reporters in Illinois. The Attorney General's Task Force
on Violence to Children and the Illinois Children's Justice Task Force have contributed
their leadership to this training effort, as have many other state and local agencies and
professional groups.
To request additional information, please contact the DCFS Office of Communications at
217-785-1700 (phone) or 217-524-0014 (fax) or visit the DCFS Child Abuse Reporting Website:
www.state.il.us/dcfs/faq_faq_can.shtml
Check Your Pension Account
On New Web Site Feature
Annuity Fund members who are not yet receiving pension income
are now able to use the Pension Boards’ web site to access their personal account
information and make projections about future retirement income.
A new calculator feature has been added to the
Pension Boards website that
enables members to check their most recent account balances in a secure,
password-protected Internet setting. Individuals logging in to the Member Area
will also be able to update their contact information, such as changes of address, telephone
or e-mail.
To access account information, visitors must use their seven-digit member identification
number, located in the upper right hand section of the annual accumulation statement,
beneath the Pension Boards address. For first-time visitors, the last four digits of
the Social Security number serves as the password. Once in the site, members will be
asked to select a personal 6 to 12 digit password for future log-ins.
"These new web features offers members increased access to their accounts," said
Pension Boards Executive Vice President Michael A. Downs. "It is a another step
toward providing members with the flexible tools they need to make informed
financial decisions."
Ecclesiastical Councils
The United Church of Christ provides for associations to ordain
candidates for ministry. Persons prepare themselves for ordination
through study (including Master of Divinity) and prayer (including
membership in a local church which sponsors the candidate).
The official context for ascertaining a candidate's fitness for ministry
is the Ecclesiastical Council which is convened by the cluster of the
candidate's home church on behalf of the entire Chicago Metropolitan
Association. Voting Delegates to the Council are all Chicago
Metropolitan Association ordained clergy and Licensed Ministers
plus delegates selected by each local church in CMA.
Candidates distribute copies of their ordination paper to Cluster
church representatives. Copies for others are available upon request.
Ecclesiastical Councils begin with prayer and, after introductions,
the candidate presents her or his paper. Direct questions to the
candidate are asked after the paper has been presented. Some areas
usually highlighted for candidate response are:
a. The Bible- What is it for you? the church? the Christian community?
What is "God's Word"? Is there "universal truth" in the Bible?
b. Knowledge of the wider church.
c. The candidate's understanding of her or his ministry's impact
on the local church.
d. What challenges does the United Church of Christ present?
e. What opportunities for celebration does the United Church of
Christ present?
f. Understanding of the sacraments. (The United Church of Christ
recognizes baptism and the Lord's supper)
g. Reflection on the UCC Statement of Faith
h. Self care
i. Reflection on the role of preaching in the ministry
Procedures for Ecclesiastical Councils
February 19, 1999
1. The ordination process begins after a candidate is approved for ordination by the CMA Committee on Church and Ministry. The candidate then notifies his or her local church pastor, and the pastor and candidate then contact the dean of their cluster and the CMA association co-minister for that cluster. Together they all coordinate a date for an Ecclesiastical Council.
2. Once the date has been established, the candidate, with the help of his or her church, must inform all the other churches and non parish clergy in that cluster. A copy of the candidate's ordination paper is sent to each church and to all non-parish clergy in the cluster. Each local church in the cluster is responsible in turn for making copies of the ordination paper for its own lay delegates. The cluster dean should have extra copies of the ordination paper available at the Ecclesiastical Council for others that may attend. The candidate and his or her church should also inform the deans of the other CMA clusters. It is the responsibility of the other deans to inform their churches and non-parish clergy about the Ecclesiastical Council.
3. Quorum: the Ecclesiastical Council truly represents an attempt to have Association-wide support for a candidate considering ordination. As in other association meetings, all clergy with standing in CMA and two lay delegates from each church with standing in CMA, are eligible to vote. A quorum requires that at least one lay delegate from each of at least one-third of the churches within the host cluster be present, or that at least one lay delegate from each of 12 churches in other clusters and one clergy from each of 12 churches in other clusters be present. It is the responsibility of the candidate's church to secure a quorum.
4. The Ecclesiastical Council meeting: All clergy and lay delegates should register and receive voting cards. The cluster dean or a representative from the Committee on Church and Ministry should introduce the candidate. The dean of the cluster moderates the meeting. After the candidate is introduced, he or she should be invited to summarize his or her faith journey and statement on theology to the Council. A period of questioning follows regarding the theology presented, the submitted ordination paper, and the candidate's readiness for ministry. (See Manual on Ministry for suggested questions.) A reasonable amount of time for questioning is one hour. Further time should be negotiated by the entire group.
5. Following the period of questioning, the candidate and family are excused. In case there is no family present, the candidate should not be alone during the deliberation. A formal vote is then taken by the official delegates present. A three-fifths vote is required for approval. The candidate is invited back into the meeting to hear the results, and the meeting is closed in a circle of prayer.
6. The dean or a designated person reports the decision to the CMA association office. Plans for an ordination service must be worked out between the ordinand, the Local Church, and the association co-minister.
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CMA Forms Online
In Care Forms & Info
Information Review Form
Pulpit Supply List
Pulpit Supply Application
Want to be listed on the CMA Pulpit Supply list of people available for Sunday supply
preaching? Click here to download
the application form, print it, fill it out, and mail it to CMA.
Need to fill out the Annual Information Review Update Form for all clergy with
standing in CMA? Click here to
download the form, print it, fill it out, and mail it to CMA.
UCC Publications and Profiles Are Now Online
The complete UCC Manual on Ministry and several other UCC publications are now
available online
and can be read or downloaded in PDF format with Acrobat Reader.
Publications available include:
Pastoral Relations Committtee Guidebook (PDF)
Biblical Resources for Search Committees (PDF)
Interim Ministry Profile (WORD & Rich Text)
Ministry During the Interim Time: Guidelines (PDF)
Guidelines for Resourcing Committees on the Ministry (PDF)
Called to Care for Visitation, Support, and Community Service [PDF]
Seminarian's Page
Scholarships for Seminarians
Seminaries Related to the United Church of Christ
Local Church Profile
You can also now prepare and then update your UCC Ministerial Profile
online.
New Publication Available: Considering a New Church Covenant in the UCC (PDF).
This booklet describes a process of mutual exploration which will help your
local church, and your local association of the UCC, to decide whether you
wish to enter into a formal covenanted relationship. It will also give a
bit of history and some tools to help you begin the process.
Faith and Wisdom:
www.faithandwisdom.org is a searchable database
of continuing education opportunities for clergy. The site is maintained by the Evangelical
Lutheran Church of America but jointly sponsored by several mainline Protestant denominations
including the United Church of Christ. The database can be search by topic, location, type
of offering, denominational affiliation as well as several other categories.
UCC OFFERS FREE WEBSITES
for Local Churches
The Proclamation, Identity, and Communication Team of the United
Church of Christ in Cleveland, has entered into an agreement with
Faith and Values Media to provide free and low-cost websites to
United Church of Christ congregations. This program--which is
explained in greater detail at
www.ucc.org/webmedley
--is our response to repeated requests from UCC congregations that
the national setting of the church offer space for free websites.
"UCC Webmedley" can provide a simple, one-page, free website
to congregations that until now have been unable to establish a
presence on the Web. Paid options begin at $29.95 a month
and provide a wide range of tools for an advanced ministry on the
Web. Both the free and paid options include technical support by
Faith and Values Media and do not require any prior knowledge of
web design. The UCC receives no financial benefit from the
arrangement--apart from the value provided to local churches who
now have the option of creating free websites with the advantage
of technical support. Congregations, of course, will have complete
control over the design and content of their websites.
Faith and Values Media is a company established by the National
Interfaith Cable Coalition--of which the PIC team at UCC is a
founding member--to provide video production and other technical
services to Christian churches and Jewish congregations. Our
partners include the Presbyterian Church (USA), the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and the Union of American Hebrew
Congregations. However, PIC did examine a number of other Web
service providers before deciding that Webmedley was the best
package.
We believe this service will be helpful for some congregations,
while others will want to continue to maintain their existing
websites on other web hosting services. But particularly for
congregations that have been unable to create websites because of
lack of funds or lack of expertise, Webmedley may be a useful
alternative.
We will continue to provide resources for congregations that
prefer to use other services to maintain their websites. Those
resources are available at
www.ucc.org/tips/web.htm
Questions and comments should be directed to Andy Lang at
216-736-2185 or langa@ucc.org.
Andy is Manager of the UCC Web Team in the Proclamation, Identity
and Communication Ministry in the Office of General Ministries of
the United Church of Christ.
To learn more about Faith and Values, please visit their website at
www.faithandvalues.com
CHURCH VANS: The Retirement Research Foundation also makes grants
for congregations seeking support for purchasing a van. Contact RRF at
8765 W Higgins - #401, Chicago, IL 60631; 773-714-8080.
ALBAN INSTITUTE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT BOOKS are now available in CMA Resource Center.
New titles are:
The Care of Troublesome People, Wayne E Oates, 1994
Never Call Them Jerks, Arthur Paul Boers, 1999
Conflict Management in Congregations, David B Lott, editor, 2001
Also, for churches in transition from changing pastors, we have:
Critical Moments in Ministry: a change of pastors, Loren B. Mead, 1986
All books can be reviewed at or borrowed from the CMA office in Chicago. They can also be
purchased directly from The Alban Institute.
Annual Information Review
For All Clergy With Standing in CMA
The Chicago Metropolitan Association of the United Church of Christ is required to
keep current records of those who are authorized for ministry by the association
and in association churches.
We will contact each person with CMA standing for updated information on an annual rotation.
When you receive your Information Review Form, please fill it out, sign and return it
to us as soon as possible.
If your situtation, employment, or contact information should change before we send you a
new form, please fill one out on your own and return it to us so we can keep our records,
and the UCC national records in Cleveland current. A copy of the CMA Information Review form
can be downloaded HERE.
The basic rules for ministerial standing that are followed by the Chicago Metropolitan
Association come from the national office of the United Church of Christ, and are
primarily found in the UCC Manual on Ministry which is now available
online and can be read or downloaded in PDF format with Acrobat Reader.
Click Here to Download.
Please note that under new guidelines from the UCC Office of Parish Life & Leadership
you must hold your standing in the Association in which you work unless you are retired
and work only on a part time or interim basis. Please also be reminded that membership
in a local CMA church is a requirement for standing in CMA.
If you think you will need to transfer, renew or drop your standing, or if you have
any questions about your current authorization, please contact one of the Association
Co-Ministers at the CMA office. They will help you begin the process for updating or
changing your authorization.
INFORMATION ABOUT STANDING IN CMA
A guide for Persons Authorized for Ministry
BASIS for Authorized Ministerial Standing in CMA (only one may apply)
Ordained: Ordained ministerial standing is ongoing recognition as an Ordained Minister of the United Church of Christ and provides ongoing ecclesiastical authorization to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry. Ordained ministerial standing in the United Church of Christ is granted by and held in an Association and confers voting membership in the Association.
Licensed: A Licensed Minister of the United Church of Christ is one of its lay members whom God has called and who has been recognized and authorized by an Association to perform specified duties in a designated local church or within that Association, mainly preaching and conducting services of worship, for a designated period of one year at a time under the supervision and guidance of the Association.
Commissioned: A Commissioned Minister of the United Church of Christ is one of its lay members who has been called by God and who has been commissioned by an Association for a specific church-related ministry.
CURRENT STATUS of Authorized Ministerial Standing in CMA (more than one may apply)
Active: A minister who is recognized by the CMA Church & Ministry Committee as currently fulfilling all of the requirements for active ministry. These include membership in good standing in a local CMA church; and work in a position which requires ordination, licensure or commissioning that is approved by the CMA Church & Ministry Committee and should be located within the CMA geographic area.
Retired: A minister who is currently receiving retirement or disability benefits from the UCC Pension Boards or other retirement fund or Social Security or has special approval from the CMA Church & Ministry Committee. Those in this category do not have to be of retirement age. They may be disabled. They may engage in some forms of compensated ministry (pulpit supply or interim ministry) and may belong to any UCC Association.
Leave of Absence: A Minister who withdraws from active service in the ordained or commissioned ministry prior to retirement may to the CMA Church & Ministry Committee for Leave of Absence, which may be granted for one year at a time. People on Leave of Absence have voice and vote in Association and Conference settings. If Leave of Absence is not approved or is not renewed annually by the Standing Sub-Committee, standing may be dropped without prejudice.
Ordained Ministerial Partner: An Ordained Minister with ordained ministerial standing in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) who has a call to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ, may seek Ordained Ministerial Partner Standing in the Association where the calling body is located. This standing provides ongoing ecclesiastical authorization to perform the duties and exercise the prerogatives of ordained ministry in the United Church of Christ.
Dual Standing: An Ordained Minister of another denomination who wishes to retain ordained ministerial standing in that denomination and who has become pastor of a local church of the United Church of Christ, or serves in an instrumentality of the United Church of Christ (or has become pastor of a yoked charge or a federated church, one part of which is affiliated with the United Church of Christ, or has been called to an ecumenical ministry one constituent of which is the United Church of Christ), may be granted Dual Standing in the UCC by the CMA Church and Ministry Committee for the duration of that current call.
Privilege of Call: An Ordained Minister of another denomination who desires to enter the ordained ministry of the United Church of Christ may be granted Privilege of Call by the Association within whose bounds he or she resides. The ordained minister is then free to seek a UCC call. If that subsequent call is approved by the applicable Association, full active standing is granted
Trained Intentional Interim Minister: An Ordained Minister who has completed recognized training for Interim Ministry and who professionally serves in successive interim positions. The UCC Office of Parish Life & Leadership recommends that these ministers establish a call to Interim Ministry from the local CMA congregation in which they hold their membership. This makes the call continuous and allows the minister to maintain active standing during periods of unemployment without changing church membership or reapplying for Leave of Absence or Active Standing with each change of position.
This general discription is not intended to be a complete technical guide to all
standing questions, but merely a source of general preliminary information. For
authoritative information you should consult the UCC Manual on Ministry and contact
the CMA Church and Ministry Committee or an Association Co-Minister.
Revised Procedure for Renewal of Standing in CMA
Procedures for Pastors Transitioning Between Calls in the Chicago Metropolitan
Association of the Illinois Conference, United Church of Christ, Adopted April 10, 2003,
by the Sub-Committee on Standing of the CMA Church and Ministry Committee.
Overview
In the past, when a person with standing in the CMA moved between calls within the
association, they were asked to "renew their call" by submitting documentation to and
meeting with the Sub-committee on Standing of the Church and Ministry Committee.
Starting immediately, Renewal of Standing as a category is being dropped for the
following reasons:
- It is not identified as a category in the Manual on Ministry.
- Transfer of call within the association does not raise questions regarding
an authorized individual's standing that warrant a meeting with the sub-committee.
- Few people actually followed through with the process.
- If everyone did follow through with the requested process, the sub-committee
would be overwhelmed with the volume.
Procedures
The association, however, does need to be apprised of a change in an authorized
individual's call. The new process that the sub-committee will follow is:
- When an authorized individual leaves their current call, he/she will send a
letter to the CMA office informing the office of this change and indicating his/her
intentions regarding on-going ministry. (i.e. is the person seeking a new call,
retiring, desiring to go on leave of absence, transferring standing, etc.)
- When an authorized individual is called to a new position, he/she will send
a letter with a copy of their new call contract to the CMA office. The association
co-minister will review the call contract. If the association minister finds any
issues of concern related to the call, she/he will refer it to the Sub-Committee on
Standing.
- Issues that might be referred to the Sub-Committee on Standing include:
* Questions regarding just compensation for the pastor.
* A call requiring a four-way covenant (i.e. a non-parish ministry or an unpaid
ministry in a congregation).
* A call to a multi-denominational congregation.
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