2091 Preparing to Meet the Ministerial Fellowship Committee
Ministerial Fellowship Committee

Six members of the Ministerial Fellowship Committee (MFC) offered a workshop on how candidates for the Unitarian Universalist ministry can prepare for acceptance into fellowship with the Unitarian Universalist Association. Whereas theological schools grant academic degrees, and congregations ordain ministers, the UUA's Fellowship Committee is responsible for certifying that the ministerial candidate has met agreed on standards for Unitarian Universalist ministers. Once in Fellowship, ministers may utilize the UUA's search process, and other services for ministers in Fellowship. The workshop was designed primarily for ministerial candidates, but it was also aimed at lay people who wanted to know more about how ministerial candidates are received into fellowship.

The main speaker and moderator of the workshop was Ms. Phyllis Daniel, chair of the MFC. Six of the fourteen members of the MFC were present: Ms. Daniel, the Rev. Jory Agate, the Rev. Mark Belletini, the Rev. Stephan Papa, Ms. Sue Stookey, and Ms. Abbey Tennis. In the audience were the Rev. Ellen Brandenburg, Director of Ministerial Education for the UUA until August 19, as well as the Rev. David Pettee, who will succeed Ms. Brandenburg with the new title of Ministerial Credentialing Director.

Daniel began by giving candidates a summary of what the MFC expects. "We want to hear you preach," she said. "We will look at your different competencies... and we are looking to give you our approval to move forward into Unitarian Universalist ministry."

Papa described the basic structure of an MFC meeting with candidates. In a typical one-hour meeting, the candidate preaches a 10 minute sermon and then answers questions from MFC. The candidate then leaves the room while the MFC deliberates, and shortly returns to hear the decision. Papa said, "Above all, we try to be supportive" of candidates.

Agate described a new innovation designed to make the process even more transparent. All the questions asked by the MFC in 2001 have been collected and posted online at http://www.uua.org/ministry/mfc/samplequestions.pdf (in PDF format) . Agate pointed out that while the questions asked of each specific candidate will vary, the MFC felt it important that anyone interested be able to see typical questions.

The MFC can approve candidates for Fellowship, which allows them to enter into the UUA's search process. They may also ask for further work in specified areas. In rare cases, the MFC may recommend that the candidate not further pursue a career in ministry.

A member of the audience asked MFC members why they have chosen to take on such a big volunteer responsibility. Belletini said that while his commitment to the MFC included nearly a month of travel each year along with long hours of additional work, "I serve on the MFC because I care a great deal about the institution of the [Unitarian Universalist] Association." Tennis added, "This is some of the most important work that can be done on a denominational level."

Reporter Dan Harper; Web Designer Anna Belle Leiserson

 

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