Provisions regulating release from ministerial service in a congregation
a. If a classis decides a released minister needs evaluation and
assistance before accepting another call, it shall specify at the
time of release what is required before the minister is declared
eligible for call.
1) The classis shall appoint an oversight committee of no fewer
than three persons to plan and monitor an evaluation of readiness
for the ministry that focuses on professional competence and
personal/ emotional status. An evaluator or evaluators mutually
agreed upon by the classis and the oversight committee shall
conduct the evaluation. (Pastor-Church Relations is able to
recommend appropriate evaluators.) Classis shall determine who is
responsible for any costs of evaluation or stipulated personal
counseling.
a) The committee, composed of both laity and clergy, may include
one council member of the congregation involved in the
separation.
b) The committee, in consultation with the interim committee of
classis, shall develop specific expectations for the minister and
shall monitor progress toward established goals. The issues
addressed shall be determined by concerns raised by the council
and the classis in collaboration with the minister.
c) The committee shall present a progress report at each
regularly scheduled classis meeting.
d) After it has received the report of the evaluator(s), the
committee shall make a recommendation to classis regarding the
minister’s eligibility for call.
2) The minister shall participate in the evaluation and
assistance process as follows:
a) The minister shall consent to the release of a detailed
report, with recommendations, from the evaluator(s) to the
oversight committee.
b) In addition to the evaluation stipulated above, the minister
shall engage in any personal counseling required by classis with
a therapist mutually agreed upon by the minister and the
oversight committee.
3) Based upon the recommendation of its oversight committee, the
classis shall make the final decision concerning the minister’s
readiness to be declared eligible for call.
4) If the classis does not declare the minister eligible for
call, it shall, with the concurrence of the synodical deputies,
release the minister from of ce.
5) With the approval of classis, a minister who has been released
from service in a congregation may transfer his/her membership
and ministerial credentials to a neighboring council within the
classis during the evaluation process. If classis declares the
minister eligible for call, the council that holds the minister’s
credentials shall publicize the minister’s availability.
6) With the approval of classis, a minister who has been released
from service in a congregation may transfer his/ her membership
and ministerial credentials to a council in another classis after
the classis in which the separation occurred declares the
minister eligible for call. The council that holds the minister’s
credentials shall publicize the minister’s availability.
b. If a classis decides a congregation that has been separated
from its minister needs a time of evaluation and assistance
before extending another call, it shall specify at the time of
separation what is required before the congregation calls another
minister.
1) The classis shall appoint an oversight committee composed of
the council’s classical counselor and at least two other persons
to plan and monitor the evaluation process.
2) In conjunction with the church council, the committee shall
secure interim pastoral leadership, preferably a specialized
interim pastor, and set goals. (Pastor-Church Relations is able
to assist with securing pastoral leadership.)
3) The committee shall present a progress report at each
regularly scheduled classis meeting.
4) Based upon the recommendation of its oversight committee, the
classis shall make the nal decision concerning the
congregation’s readiness to extend a call.
(Acts of Synod 2003, pp. 623-24)
Note: Councils and classes should take note of the regulations regarding “release from ministerial service” adopted by Synod 1998 (see Acts of Synod 1998, pp. 392-96) and as amended by Synod 2010 (see Acts of Synod 2010, pp. 915-16).