Basis of agreement for clergy appointments

The term ‘judicatories’ is important for shared ministries.  It indicates the persons and/or bodies who have pastoral responsibility and oversight for the congregation(s). Judicatories are different depending on the denomination.

  • Anglican: through the bishop, who may authorize an archdeacon or other representative.
  • Presbyterian: through the clerk of the presbytery, who will indicate who will be serving as the interim moderator.
  • ELCIC: through the office of the bishop, who may authorize another representative.
  • United Church: the pastoral relations committee of the presbytery has responsibility.
  1. In the event of a ministerial vacancy or the formation of a new community of faith, participating judicatories should ensure that interim services are provided.  The initiation of the vacancy process and co-ordination of interim services shall normally be the responsibility of the denomination of the previous incumbent.
  2. Judicatories will assist the community of faith to prepare a profile defining its character, its needs and the challenges for witness and ministry it faces.  The profile will include: 1) a profile of the community; 2) a profile of the church; 3) a mission statement or statement of core values of the church; 4) a copy of the ecumenical shared ministry plan (section 3 point 5); and 5) a statement of the commitment which the ecumenical shared ministry is prepared to make.
  3. The judicatories in cooperation with the governing body of the ecumenical shared ministry should form a selection committee and determine the search process.
  4. The selection committee should seek candidates who indicate an openness to the ecumenical nature of this call/appointment/settlement.
  5. The selection committee should endeavour to honour any commitment made by the ecumenical shared ministry to rotate the denominational affiliation of its clergy.
  6. All the judicatories must approve candidates prior to their being considered by the selection committee.
  7. The selection committee should review the proposed candidates and designate one (or two) who have the support of the committee members representing all participating judicatories.
  8. The designated candidate(s) will be required to meet with the selection committee unless the selection committee decides otherwise.  The norm will be that the congregation pay the cost of the interview which will be negotiated by the selection committee.
  9. The community of faith, or each of the participating congregations where they are separately constituted, should approve the recommendation of the selection committee by at least a two-thirds majority vote.
  10. The selection committee will forward this action to the appropriate judicatory for issuance of a valid call/appointment/settlement according to the polity of the denomination of the candidate.  Ratification of the call/appointment/settlement as required by the participating judicatories will be sought according to their appropriate processes and time lines.
  11. Prior to the new minister taking up his/her duties, he/she shall undertake a training experience, which will include training in the polity of each denomination involved and may include the appointment of a mentor (see suggestions in the Clergy Guidelines prepared by the Joint Anglican Lutheran Commission, in the Appendix).  Training should be the responsibility of the local judicatories.
  12. As soon as practicable after entering upon his/her duties, the new minister of the congregation shall be duly installed/covenanted/inducted, with the participating judicatories appropriately involved.
  13. The judicatories are expected to carry on a regular system of visitation as they do in traditional ministries, with the possibility of joint visitations by the participating judicatories from time to time.

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