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Procedure for the issue of Certificate of Eligibility to a Minister of another church and entry of that Minister onto the roll of ministers of the United Reformed Church.The Assembly 1991 agreed to the issue of Certificates of Eligibility to Ministers of other churches so that they might be introduced to a pastorate in the URC and if called enter the list of Ministers of the URC.
The procedure for such a course of action shall be:
1. Initial enquiries shall be directed to the Secretary for Ministries who will send the Minister an application form;
2. On receipt of the completed form the Secretary for Ministries will; a) ascertain the applicant is a minister in good standing with their own Church; b) obtain other references; c) confirm that previous training was equivalent to that required of Ministers of Word and Sacraments in the United Reformed Church; d) confirm that the applicant's own Church is a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Council for World Mission or the World Alliance of Reformed Churches; e) confirm that the applicant understands the financial provision given by the U RC.
In the case of c, d, e above any concerns will not necessarily preclude the application going before the Accreditation Sub-Committee of the Ministries Committee. However the committee will need to be aware of any complicating factors in assessing the application.
3. If the applicant is in England, Scotland or Wales the URC Synod in whose area the applicant resides will be asked to arrange an interview with the applicant with a view to recommending him/her as a minister within the United Reformed Church;
4. In the case of overseas applications the minister's present church may be asked to provide further information;
5. The Accreditation Sub-Committee shall consider the completed application and may then issue Certificate of Eligibility
6 If the Minister's own denomination is not a member of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, the Council for World Mission or the World Alliance of Reformed Churches the certificate shall not be issued until the application has been approved by General Assembly or Mission Council;
7. Certificates of Eligibility are valid for three years. During that time the Moderators of Synod are able to introduce the name of the holder of the certificate to vacant pastorates; N. B. the normal procedure for filling a vacancy and issuing a call applies.
8 If a call, and concurrence to that call, is given, the minister, on induction to the pastorate, will be entered into the list of Ministers of the United Reformed Church. This means s/he will be remunerated under the provisions of the Plan for Partnership.
9. If after three years no call has been given the certificate will lapse.
June 2007
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