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Assembly 2001 - Certificates of Limited Eligibility

Amended June 2007 following 2006 General Assembly's transfer of District Council functions to the Synods

 

General Assembly authorises the Ministries Committee, through the Accreditation sub-Committee, to grant Certificates of Limited Eligibility to ministers of other churches in order that they might serve local pastorates and posts in the United Reformed Church and receive a stipend from the Maintenance of the Ministry fund.

 

Before granting a Certificate of Limited Eligibility the Accreditation sub-Committee must be satisfied that the minister:

  • is from a member Church of the Council of Churches in Britain and

  • Ireland, or a church overseas which is a member church of the Council

  • for World Mission or the World Alliance of Reformed Churches

  • will subscribe to the Basis of Union of the United Reformed Church

  • is in good standing with their own denomination.

  • has the appropriate training and experience or gifts to enable them to serve the United Reformed Church.

Such Certificates shall relate to a particular appointment and be valid for a limited period not exceeding twelve months.

 

A Certificate of Limited Eligibility will be endorsed with the name of the pastorate or post to which an appointment has been made as soon as it is known. It is valid for no other local church. It also bears the date when the Certificate ceases to be valid.

 

 

1. There are ministers of other churches who serve the United Reformed Church in addition to those who transfer onto the roll of ministers by way of certificates of eligibility.

 

2. Some serve in local ecumenical partnerships and remain with and are funded by their own church that takes full responsibility for their oversight. No action is required by the United Reformed Church in relation to such ministers’ status or support.

 

3. Others are willing to serve the United Reformed Church but for various reasons do not wish to transfer to our Roll of Ministers. These are some of the circumstances when this might arise;

 

a) Where a minister of another denomination is near retirement age and is willing to serve in a short term appointment of not more than 12 months.

 

If the minister is granted a Certificate of Limited Eligibility s/he may receive a call, and after induction receive a stipend from the Maintenance of Ministry Fund. S/he will on the appointment of the Synod be a member of the Synod and his/her name will be added to the List of Ministers of other Churches serving the United Reformed Church. Upon completion of the period of service, or earlier resignation from it, his/her name will be removed from the list.

 

b) Where there is a need for interim ministry in a local United Reformed Church and the local church with Synod concurrence wish to call a minister from another denomination for a period of not more than twelve months.

 

In such circumstances a request for a Certificate of Limited Eligibility will be made by the minister and supported by the Synod at the request of the local church. This follows the procedure already in place.

 

c) Where a minister of another denomination is in pastoral charge within their own denomination, or is in an ecumenical appointment, or is seconded by their denomination to a United Reformed Church  sponsored appointment, and is willing to extend their ministry to give pastoral oversight to a local United Reformed Church.

 

The Accreditation sub-Committee will need to establish that the applicant’s denomination is willing to allow them to extend their ministry beyond that work in which they are already engaged, and is prepared to hold them under its own disciplinary procedures for that part of their work which is carried out in the United Reformed Church.

 

Thereafter, provided that the minister receives a valid call, he/she may be inducted, and his/her name added to the List of Ministers of other Churches serving the United Reformed Church.  Upon completion of the period of service or earlier retirement from it, his/her name will be removed from the List.

 

If the original appointment with the parent denomination, or other body, comes to an end, the minister’s service in the local United Reformed Church also terminates. If it is desired that this service should continue, an application for a Certificate of Eligibility should be made, as appropriate to the new situation.

 

d) Where a minister of another denomination is employed outside the structures of  their own denomination, and is willing to give oversight to a local United Reformed Church on a non-stipendiary basis. In this case, a minister should apply for a Certificate of Eligibility in the usual way. If it were necessary  (and not merely desired on the applicant’s part) for the original denominational link to be maintained, then the minister should apply as for 3c above.

 

In relation to the circumstances detailed above, it is necessary for the Accreditation sub-Committee to have granted a Certificate of Limited Eligibility before any formal agreement concerning ministry is entered into by the local church.

The affirmations set out in Schedule C of the Basis of Union will be made by those to be inducted.

 

In no case shall the inclusion of a person’s name in the List of Ministers of other Churches serving in the United Reformed Church confer a right to receive a call from any local United Reformed Church save that for which the Certificate of Limited Eligibility as granted.

 

If the minister wishes to extend his/her service in the United Reformed Church s/he will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility and transfer onto the roll of Ministers of the United Reformed Church.

 

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