Like most credentialing agencies, the Ministerial Fellowship Committee requires that all ministers go through a probationary period before receiving Final Fellowship. This is typically a three year process involving the submission of evaluations by the minister and their review by the MFC.
Ministers enter the renewal process once they begin their first settlement. It is important that the date the position began, the title of the position, and the location of the settlement be communicated to the Settlement Director in the Ministry Department as soon as this information is known by the minister. This communication is especially important in instances when the Settlement Office is not used to obtain settlement. Direct and speedy communication with the Ministry and Professional Leadership ensures that the Department keeps accurate records of when an individual is due to be evaluated.
According to the MFC rules, a settlement may count toward the renewal process if it is at least half-time, and if the duties required by the position count as ministry as it is defined in the rules. Ministers who do not meet these requirements may petition the MFC for a waiver due to unusual circumstances. All non-church based ministries must be evaluated by the MFC as to whether they can count as ministries (see the MFC rules concerning this topic and contact the Director of the Ministry and Professional Leadership.)
Once a minister is settled the Ministerial Fellowship Committee places the minister in one of the three renewal periods. Approximately one year from the minister's renewal period, the minister's settlement will be considered for his or her First Renewal of Preliminary Fellowship. The Ministerial Fellowship Committee Assistant sends out evaluation forms to each minister due to be evaluated for the first renewal of fellowship. ( see schedule below ) These forms are due approximately a month and a half before the MFC is scheduled to meet. It is the minister's responsibility (via contacting his or her evaluators or the Department) to see that all evaluation forms have been returned by the deadline, and to make sure that all the parts of the renewal, the signed mentor form, development agreement, an evaluation from the Governing Board or Supervisory Board or Supervisor, an evaluation from the Committee on Ministry, and a self-evaluation are sent together and complete to the Ministerial Fellowship Committee Assistant. Once the forms are returned, they are forwarded to the MFC which considers the minister for renewal.
In reviewing the evaluation forms, the MFC may choose to pass an individual for that renewal, or may choose to continue the individual in present status (CPS). This means that the minister stays at the same renewal level for another year and is reevaluated after that time.
If the minister receives his or her First Renewal, and continues to be settled for at least another year, then he or she is considered for Second Renewal. If Second Renewal is granted after that year, and the minister remains settled for at least another year, then he or she is evaluated for Final Renewal. If the Final Renewal is granted, the minister enters Full Final Fellowship and ceases participation in the renewal process.
Once settled, each minister is required to choose a mentor. Mentors must be ministers in Full Final Fellowship with the UUA. The mentor/mentee relationship is reported annually to the MFC by the mentee, via a form which is sent out by the Ministry and Professional Leadership with the blank evaluations. No other report is necessary.
If a minister ceases to be settled before a year has been completed, that year does not count toward a renewal. If a minister chooses to serve in more than one interim ministry during the course of his or her renewals, only one of these interims will count towards renewals. In addition, no one is allowed to remain in any one renewal period for more than three years without a waiver from the MFC.
Other restrictions and instructions for the renewal process may be found in the MFC Rules (a section of which appears below.)
From the MFC Rules:
Rule 15
A. PRELIMINARY FELLOWSHIP: When the Committee determines that an applicant is qualified for Ministerial Fellowship, the Committee shall grant him/her Preliminary Fellowship. A person in Full Preliminary Fellowship shall be reviewed approximately every twelve months from the date of settlement, or at any other time deemed necessary by the Committee. Following any review, Preliminary Fellowship may be renewed, revoked, or continued in present status. The Committee reserves the right not to deal with renewal materials of Ministry and Professional Leadership Staff Group by the specified deadline. No person in Preliminary Fellowship shall remain in any one renewal period for more than three years without a waiver from the Committee for continuing education, family circumstances, or other significant cause.
Ministers in Preliminary Fellowship are required to arrange for the establishment of a Committee on Ministry, including members of a parish. Ministers primarily employed by an institution or government agency would include appropriate representation from that institution or agency. This committee is responsible for completing MFC evaluations as required.
Ministerial Fellowship is a privilege and not a right, and the Committee's refusal to grant or decision to revoke Preliminary Fellowship shall not be subject to appeal. If Preliminary Fellowship has been revoked, a person may re-apply for Fellowship.
There shall be no more than two renewals before the decision on Final Fellowship is made. Those persons settled in one ministry with Preliminary Fellowship in more than one ministry may retain Preliminary Fellowship in the ministry for which they are not settled until such time as settlement occurs. For purposes of renewal of Preliminary Fellowship, only one interim ministry, whether for one or two years, can be counted toward such renewal.
Community Ministers are required to develop a Committee on Ministry composed of a minimum of five people. The Ministerial Fellowship Committee prefers that three members of this committee be from UU congregations, taken from a list prepared by the Community Minister, to represent the appropriate local UU congregations, area councils, and/or district boards served by the Community Minister. Others on the committee will represent the minister's ministry within the community. This committee's responsibilities include:
- Offering support and guidance in visioning this ministry
- Completing MFC evaluations as required
- Receiving on-going reports of the minister's work
- Ensuring that the Community Minister, where appropriate, maintains membership
in at least one certifying professional association.
