Welcome to the

Rocky Mountain Conference

of the United Church of Christ

Committee on Ministry (COM 2.0)

The Conference Wide Committee on Ministry (COM) is RMC’s governing body for handling all ministry-related matters. If you are relatively new to ministry or new to the RMC, this page has resources for you. If you are already a RMC pastor, this page also has resources for you.

As of May 2025, the COM is embracing a new structure, which we lovingly refer to as COM 2.0. As you may recall, our previous COM structure consisted of three subcommittees: Formation & Authorization (FAS), Supportive Oversight (SOS), and Accountability (ACS). In our new COM structure, those three committees have been reconfigured into two teams: Pre-Authorization (Pre-Auth), which handles all business pertaining to those who are not ordained in the UCC, and Post-Authorization (Post-Auth), which handles all matters pertaining to those already ordained in the UCC. Generally speaking, our Pre-Auth team handles business that was previously handled by FAS, while our Post-Auth team is taking over the matters previously handled by SOS and ACS. Of course, each team contains specific positions with specific roles, which you can learn more about by reading the COM 2.0 PDF via this link. Below are some general descriptions of the tasks assigned to the Pre-Auth and Post-Auth teams:

  • The Pre-Authorization (Pre-Auth) Team takes care of matters previously managed by the FAS. This means that the Pre-Auth team works with individuals who are not ordained in the UCC and with churches that are not yet UCC congregations. Pre-Auth business includes:
    • working with individuals who are pursuing ordination or lay ministerial standing in the UCC;
    • supporting Members in Discernment (MIDs) through the ordination process;
    • transferring ordination status to the UCC from a different denomination (known also as Privilege of Call);
    • working with clergy who are seeking Dual Standing (an ordination status in the UCC that is concurrent with ordination in a different denomination);
    • supporting ordained ministerial partners;
    • working with churches that are hoping to become UCC congregations

To contact the Pre-Authorization Team, please send an email to pre-auth@rmcucc.org. Thank you!

  • The Post-Authorization (Post-Auth) Team handles the business previously managed by both SOS and ACS. This means that the Post-Auth team works with clergy who already have RMC standing and with churches that are already part of the UCC. Post-Auth business includes:
    • assisting clergy who wish to transfer their standing into or out of the Rocky Mountain Conference
    • conducting annual information reviews
    • Situational support
    • Periodic review
    • Covenants
    • Standing Requirements for Clergy

To contact the Post-Authorization Team, please send an email to post-auth@rmcucc.org. Thank you!

Got any questions about this new COM structure? We invite you to reach out to our Bridge ACM Rev. Leslie Etheredge at leslie@rmcucc.org. You can also contact Martha Jones, the Chair of the Committee on Ministry, at com-chair@rmcucc.org. You can also ask your questions in-person by visiting the COM Q&A table at Annual Celebration 2025. We look forward to hearing from you!