Ministerial Formation

The following document, drafted by Karin Tetlow and Mark Peterson on October 9, 2009, was approved by the Board of Trustees on October 21, 2009.

Introduction

The Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations requires all person’s preparing for fellowship as Unitarian Universalist ministers to obtain sponsorship by an affiliated congregation.

Policy

It is the policy of the Board of Trustees to recommend individual candidates for sponsorship by the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia. The Board of Trustees has created a Ministerial Formation Working Group (MFWG). [In other congregations this type of body would be called a "Committee on Ministerial Formation".] This permanent Working Group has two functions: first, to review initial requests for sponsorship and, second, to exercise oversight after a candidate has been approved for sponsorship. The MFWG is a recommending body to the Board of Trustees.

Ministerial Formation Working Group

The Ministerial Formation Working Group’s (MFWG) purpose is to provide a venue for:

1. Receiving and reviewing formal requests from ministerial student candidates who wish to be sponsored by the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.
2. Meeting with student candidates to discuss their call to ordained ministry.
3. Recommending to the Board of Trustees whether or not candidates receive sponsorship or renewed sponsorship by the congregation of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia.

Composition and Role of the MFWG

The Committee consists of at least two long-term members of the church appointed by the Board of Trustees. Each candidate may select a First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia member in good standing to join the MFWG as a third member for discussions and reviews regarding that particular candidate’s sponsorship. The MFWG is expected to provide direct feedback to the candidate about the development of his or her ministerial identity. While the MFWG provides ministerial candidates with an intentional setting in which to discern their call to ordained ministry, it may only make recommendations regarding sponsorship.

Requirements of a Candidate Seeking Sponsorship

Those pursuing ordained ministry can request in writing that the Board of Trustees convene the MFWG after the student has completed four steps: (1) enrolled in seminary, (2) completed the Career Assessment evaluation, (3) been awarded “candidate” status by the Regional Subcommittee on Candidacy (RSCC), and (4) formally enrolled as a member of the UU Ministers Association.

The MFWG will meet with candidates who either request congregational sponsorship or who are seeking an annual renewal of sponsorship. A portion of the discussion will focus on the candidates’ beliefs that they are called to the ministry. Subsequently the MFWG will obtain and review the information associated with both their training as listed below (A) and from others in the church community (B).

A.  Training related sources

1. Academic transcripts to monitor the student’s progress in completion of an accredited degree program;
2. Results from the evaluation by the Regional Sub-committee on Candidacy to reflect upon strategies to complete their recommendations;
3. And if applicable, evaluations from Clinical Pastoral Education which reflect upon counseling skills, ministerial identity and theological overview;
4. And if applicable, evaluations from Field Education placements and/or Internship placements to reflect upon ministerial skills such as worship, administration, religious education and prophetic outreach.

B. Church Community

The MFWG will also solicit recommendations from various leaders in the church, including the staff – Minister(s), Music Director, Director of Religious Education, Business Administrator and Building Superintendent. The congregation will be notified that an applicant has applied for sponsorship and invited to provide input during the pre-sponsorship review. The information will be summarized for the candidate to discern whether or not to pursue sponsorship.

Subsequent to accumulating this information, the MFWG will meet with the candidate to discuss his or her perceived fit with the Church.

Recommendation to the Board of Trustees

The MFWG will make a recommendation to the Board of Trustees who will vote on whether or not to recommend the candidate to the congregation for sponsorship. A congregational meeting will be scheduled and the Moderator will invite the candidate to present her/his vision of ministry and ask the congregation to vote on the Trustees’ recommendation to grant sponsorship.

The congregation will be provided adequate time to discuss the motion.  Should there be a time when two or more candidates are reviewed in one meeting, each motion will be treated as a separate agenda item. It is required that the candidate receives at least two thirds of the votes by eligible voting members. If the congregation grants sponsorship the status will go into effect immediately for one calendar year. If the sponsored candidate breaches the UU Ministers Association (UUMA) Code of Professional Practice, sponsorship is automatically revoked.

Sponsorship Renewal

The MFWG may choose to host a quarterly review of each sponsored candidate. This includes assessing the most up-to-date information listed in items 1-4 as well as feedback from the Board of Trustees, staff and members of the congregation. Concerns or commendations regarding the candidate's performance will be provided to the candidate, the Board of Trustees and the Minister.

Upon the one-year anniversary of receiving sponsorship, the MFWG may ask the Board of Trustees to grant a one-year sponsorship renewal. Should the candidate not complete the renewal process with the MFWG within a mutually agreed upon time frame the sponsorship will be automatically revoked until formally renewed by the Board of Trustees.

Alternate Recommendation

At any point in this process should the MFWG recommend that the candidate not pursue sponsorship, the candidate may invite a Good Officer of the UUMA to help negotiate the next steps. Any agreement not to pursue or renew sponsorship shall be communicated in writing, signed by all members of the MFWG, reported to the Board of Trustees and Minister and held in confidence by all. If the candidate takes issue with the MFWG’s recommendation and decides to ask the Board of Trustees to grant or renew sponsorship, then it is the responsibility of the MFWG to explain to the Board of Trustees its opposing rationale. At this point, the ultimate authority lies with the Board of Trustees to determine whether or not to recommend the candidate to the congregation.

Confidentiality

Aware of the sensitive and vulnerable nature of ministerial discernment, the MFWG, the Board and all Church staff will uphold a covenant of strict confidentiality. Only the Board and Minister will have access to the confidential documents and minutes of the MFWG. Each participant in this process will agree to treat one another with the utmost dignity and respect.