Your local church and you...

The local church is the place where a candidate is nurtured in the faith,
often hears God's call to ministry, and receives help, encouragement, challenge and guidance to discern the gifts and graces for ministry. Your local church pastor and congregation are important partners in the journey toward ordination.

What does "In Care" mean?

In the United Church of Christ, "In Care" is the relationship between a candidate exploring ordination, his or her local church, and the local Association. The purpose of the In Care relationship is to provide support and counsel to the candidate during preparation and study for ordained ministry. To be In Care is a covenantal relationship characterized by communication, trust, and mutual discernment. In the United Church of Christ, one does not discern a call to ministry in a vacuum. Rather, discernment is a communal responsibility. While the encounter with God which leads a person to feel called to ordained ministry may be profoundly personal, the discernment of the gifts and graces necessary to be authorized for ministry by and on behalf of the United Church of Christ is a shared responsibility best discerned in the relationship between the individual, a local congregation and the Association.

Steps in the In Care Process

A person interested in exploring ordination as a United Church of Christ minister talks with his or her pastor indicating an interest in entering the In Care process.
Application is made to the local church governing board asking for their recommendation to the Association that the person be considered for In Care status.
The person is interviewed by the local church governing board and provides specific information to that board.
If the church board members vote to recommend, they send material to the Association Committee on the Ministry.
The Association Committee on the Ministry reviews that application and arranges to meet with the candidate.
The candidate is interviewed by the Committee on the Ministry and is often accompanied by his or her pastor or a local church representative.
A decision is made concerning accepting the candidate as In Care of the local Association.

Role of the In Care Advisor

Each person accepted In Care of a local Association of the United Church of Christ is assigned an In Care Advisor. This person provides the following:

A supportive link between the Church and the person who is In Care.
Counsel and guidance concerning the In Care process.
Encouragement for the deepening of the candidate's faith that will nourish and sustain the person in ordained ministry.

The In Care Advisor serves as mentor and coach through the process of discerning a call and preparing for ordination. Many candidates find that a special and cherished bond develops with their Advisor.