Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers in the United Church of Christ

Please click on any “mark” under the headings to view its corresponding references.

Exhibiting a Spiritual Foundation and Ongoing Spiritual Practice

• Loving God, following Jesus Christ, and being guided by the Holy Spirit; living a life of discipleship.
• Praying actively and nurturing spiritual practices.
• Being called to ordained ministry by God and the Church.
• Continuing discernment of one’s call in community.
• Understanding the power of the Holy Spirit at work through the elements of Christian worship to nurture faith.
• Exhibiting a commitment to lifelong spiritual development and faithful personal stewardship.

Nurturing UCC Identity

• Acknowledging Jesus Christ as the sole Head of the Church.
• Communicating passion for the oneness of the Body of Christ (John 17:21).
• Holding active membership in a Local Church of the United Church of Christ.
• Participating in the various settings of the United Church of Christ, including Local Churches, Associations, Conferences, General Synod, and global ministries.
• Knowing and appreciating UCC history, polity, and theology.
• Exhibiting a commitment to the core values of the United Church of Christ: continuing testament, extravagant welcome, and changing lives.

Building Transformational Leadership Skills

• Empowering the Church to be faithful to God’s call, reflective of Christ’s mission, and open to the surprises of the Holy Spirit.
• Strategically creating the future of God’s Church.
• Witnessing in the public square to God’s redeeming power.
• Performing necessary and appropriate administrative tasks.
• Working collaboratively with intercultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Encouraging leadership development of self and others through continuing education and lifelong learning.

Engaging Sacred Stories and Traditions

• Exhibiting knowledge, understanding, and continuing study of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament.
• Maturing in effective proclamation and preaching.
• Understanding the history of the Christian Church, from biblical times forward.
• Bringing life to sacred stories and traditions in worship, proclamation, and witness.
• Leading faith formation effectively across generations.
• Holding the Holy with integrity especially as represented in the Sacraments.

Caring for All Creation

• Nurturing care and compassion for God’s creation.
• Maintaining a basic understanding of mental health and wellness.
• Practicing self-care and life balance.
• Providing hope and healing to a hurting world.
• Attending to one’s own spiritual and pastoral care, including engagement in supervision as appropriate.
• Stewarding the resources of the Church.

Participating in Theological Praxis

• Practicing theological reflection and engagement as part of one’s sense of ministerial identity.
• Integrating theological reflection in teaching, preaching, and ecclesial and community leadership.
• Articulating a theology and practice of ministry consistent with the UCC Manual on Ministry.
• Demonstrating an appreciation for and participation in the ecumenical and interfaith partnerships of the UCC.
• Experiencing and appreciating a variety of theological perspectives.
• Embodying the UCC Ministerial Code.

Working Together for Justice and Mercy

• Drawing on the ministry of Jesus Christ to confront injustice and oppression.
• Practicing the radical hospitality of God.
• Identifying and working to overcome explicit and implicit bias in the life of the Church.
• Understanding community context and navigating change with a community.
• Engaging in mission and outreach.
• Building relationships of mutual trust and interdependence.

Strengthening Inter- and Intra- Personal Assets

• Developing and maintaining a healthy sense of self as shaped by God, community, and life experiences.
• Living in relationships of covenantal accountability with God and the Church.
• Exhibiting strong moral character and personal integrity.
• Respecting the dignity of all God’s people.
• Understanding and ministering to stages of human development across the life span.
• Demonstrating excellent communication skills.