Ministers on More than One Roll
Guidance and advice for when a Minister is on the roll of more than one church.
- It has been the custom and practice of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church that a minister cannot be on the roll of more than one Church. However, following a recent appeal against a removal from the roll of ministers, ministries committee was requested to bring a statement on the matter to Mission Council or General Assembly to clarify when and if ministers of Word and Sacraments may be on more than one roll.
- In the affirmations that are required at ordination and every induction a minister of Word and Sacraments of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church makes a commitment to the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church but, alongside that, a specific commitment to the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church, in particular to exercise ministry in accordance with the Statement of Nature, Faith and Order of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church.
- Holding dual standing raises concerns regarding discipline; by accepting ordination and/or induction (or its equivalent) into a new church and accepting their discipline indicates that the minister is allowing this to supersede the previous discipline relationship, therefore compromising a commitment to the discipline of the URC.
- Therefore, any minister of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church who is received as a minister into another church, and not having resigned from the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church roll of ministers, is deemed to have done so.
- Equally, any minister of another denomination who is received onto the roll of ministers of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church but who remains on the roll of another church will be regarded as wishing their place on the Â鶹´«Ã½ Church roll to be revoked unless there are cultural, historical or financial reasons for maintaining their status as a minister of an overseas denomination.
- The only time-limited exception to this is that, in exceptional circumstances, normally, though not exclusively, because of moving from another country to the United Kingdom or vice versa, a minister may temporarily remain on two rolls in order to provide for a return to their former situation if the new one proves unsatisfactory. The status of any in that situation will be kept under review by the accreditation sub-committee (or its successor) and brought to a conclusion in line with this resolution within a maximum of three years.
- Any requests under circumstances outlined in paragraphs five and-or six should be addressed to the Accreditation sub-committee (or its successor) as part of the sub-committee’s responsibility to maintain the roll of ministers. Cases of doubt or uncertainty will be taken by the sub-committee to the ministries committee for resolution there.
Last revised: 2019 of Word and Sacraments
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