The CWCOM Profile Series

Over the next several weeks, the Conference Wide Committee on Ministry (CWCOM) will share different aspects of our work in an effort to clarify different roles and responsibilities and point towards resources for additional information.  If there are particular topics you would like included in this series, please email Ronda Connaway, Accountability Subcommittee co-chair at acs@rmcucc.org

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In this next installment in our profile series on CWCOM, we’ll be discussing the Accountability Team (ACS) of the CWCOM. The ACS is responsible for two significant processes that assess the continued qualification and conduct of Authorized ministers in and on behalf of the United Church of Christ.  First, ministers’ continued qualifications are determined through Annual Information Reviews which report contact information, ministry setting, professional development including but not limited to Conference wide requirements related to healthy ministry relationships (aka Boundary Awareness Training), and anti-racism training.  Failure to be in communication with ACS, and failure to complete professional development requirements lead to significant questions about a minister’s authorization.

Second, the conduct of an Authorized Minister is examined when a written concern or complaint is received by the ACS team.  The team carefully reviews the submission and asks one question:  If this concern/complaint is true, are there Marks of Faithful and Effective Ministry (aka Marks sometimes referred to as a Code of Ethics) that are not being met?

If the answer is no, the concern/complaint is directed back to the person who contacted ACS.  For example, concerns or complaints about the structure of worship or decisions a church council makes are not appropriate reasons for further ACS action.

If the answer is yes, the ACS team seeks additional input from other CWCOM leaders and this expanded team determines the next steps.  These steps may include making vocational and situational support available to the minister.  However, if the Team determines that the minister must be accountable for failure to meet one or more Marks of Faithful and Effective Ministry, a Fitness Review is the appropriate next step. In our next segment, we’ll go into more detail about all the aspects of the Fitness Review process.