Process for reinstatement to the Roll of Ministers

1. Introduction

The Basis of Union notes:

The Lord Jesus Christ continues his ministry in and through the Church, the whole people of God called and committed to his service and equipped by him for it. This service is given by worship, prayer, proclamation of the Gospel, and Christian witness; by mutual and outgoing care and responsibility; and by obedient discipleship in the whole of daily life, according to the gifts and opportunities given to each one. The preparation and strengthening of its members for such ministry and discipleship shall always be a major concern of the United Reformed Church…

Some are called to the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments. After approved preparation and training, they may be called to be Ministers of local churches, or missionaries overseas, or to some special and approved ministry, and are then ordained and inducted to their office. The ordination and induction of Ministers shall be in accordance with Schedules C and D. They are commissioned to conduct public worship, to preach the Word and to administer the Sacraments, to exercise pastoral care and oversight, and to give leadership to the church in its mission to the world. Ministers shall conduct their ministry according to the criteria set out in Schedule E. Their service may be stipendiary or non-stipendiary, and in the latter case their service is given within the area of a synod and in a context it has approved…

Some are called to the Ministry of church related community work. After approved preparation and training, they may be called to be Church Related Community Workers in a post approved by the United Reformed Church, are then commissioned to the office of Church Related Community Worker and inducted to serve in a particular post for a designated period. This commissioning and induction shall be in accord with Schedules D & F. Church Related Community Workers are commissioned to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others God’s will for the well-being of the community, and to endeavour to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world. Their service may be stipendiary or non-stipendiary, and in the latter case their service is given within the area of a synod and in a context it has approved…

As a Reformed Church, therefore, the URC sees ministry as arising out of the service given by God’s people in worship, prayer, proclamation, witness, mutual care and obedient discipleship. From amongst the people the Church recognises God’s call to some to serve as Ministers of Word and Sacraments who are charged with the conduct of public worship, preaching, the administration of the Sacraments, pastoral care and oversight and leadership. The Church recognises others, from amongst the people, called by God to be Church Related Community Workers who care for the well-being of the community and help the church to proclaim God’s love and mercy in both church and community.

The URC maintains a Roll of Ministers being all those ministers who are in good standing in accordance with the provisions of Schedule E ie: former ministers of our constituent denominations who became URC ministers in 1972, 1981 and 2000 as the case may be, ministers ordained and inducted to URC pastorates and posts, ministers of other churches with a Certificate of Eligibility who transfer to the URC upon ordination and/or induction, and ministers of other churches who have been permitted by General Assembly to transfer to our role without a call to a pastorate or Synod post. The URC also maintains a Roll of Church Related Community Workers of all those commissioned and inducted as such.

Church Related Community Workers and Ministers of the Word and Sacraments who resign or who are deleted by decision of General Assembly, from the respective Roll following a disciplinary process may apply to be reinstated.

This policy ensures that applications are dealt with consistently, transparently, and with due regard to the integrity of the ministry and the wellbeing of the Church and its congregations.

2. The People of God

All the baptised form the People of God. Those who have resigned from the Roll of Ministers or the Roll of CRCWs (“the Roll”) remain as members of God’s people called to a life of obedient discipleship through worship, prayer, proclamation and witness, mutual and outgoing care and responsibility seen in the whole of daily life and lived out in a local congregation. Where someone has left the Roll of ministers following the outcome of a disciplinary process, or resigned their ministry on the Roll for reasons other than to continue ministry in a Church with which the URC is in recognised communion or ecumenical relationship, it is expected that those who seek reinstatement to the Roll will have lived out their discipleship in a local URC congregation, or local ecumenical partnership including the URC, for at least 5 years since their resignation or deletion from the Roll. It is expected that those who have continued to minister in a Church with which the URC is in recognised communion or ecumenical relationship will be in good standing with their current denomination.

3. Eligibility and Initial Contact for those who have resigned their ministry on the Roll to continue their ministry in a Church with which the URC is in communion or ecumenical relationship

3.1 Normally, no application process may commence until a minimum of five years has elapsed from the date of resignation.

3.2 Any such individual should, in the first instance, consult the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries). The DGS (Ministries) will advise on the process to be followed.

3.3 The former minister/CRCW should prepare documentation showing:

3.3.1 an explanation of the original reason(s) for resignation and a personal reflection on those reasons;
3.3.2 an account of personal development and journey of faith since resignation or deletion from the Roll;
3.3.3 the rationale for seeking reinstatement;
3.3.4 an articulation of what ministry contexts the former minister or CRCW is testing a call to;
3.3.5 a description of current Call. Where a minister is retired, an account of what the minister has been doing in retirement;
3.3.6 a clear indication of the applicant’s intention to be actively involved in ministry if reinstated, whether in a stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or retired capacity. If reinstatement is to a non-stipendiary or retired role then an indication of the amount of time being offered should be given.

4. Eligibility and Initial Contact for those who have resigned their ministry on the Roll for work outwith the Church

4.1 Former ministers and CRCWs who can demonstrate an ongoing life of Christian discipleship lived out in a URC congregation or a Local Ecumenical Partnership may apply for reinstatement. Normally, no application process may commence until a minimum of five years has elapsed from the date of removal.

4.2 Any such individual should, in the first instance, consult the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries). The DGS (Ministries) will advise on the process to be followed.

4.3 The former minister/CRCW should prepare documentation showing:

4.3.1 an explanation of the original reason(s) for resignation and a personal reflection on those reasons;
4.3.2 an account of personal development and journey of faith since resignation or deletion from the Roll;
4.3.3 the rationale for seeking reinstatement;
4.3.4 an articulation of what ministry contexts the former minister or CRCW is testing a call to;
4.3.5 a description of current employment. Where a minister is retired, an account of what the minister has been doing in retirement;
4.3.6 a description of current Call. Where a minister is retired, an account of what the minister has been doing in retirement;
4.3.7 a clear indication of the applicant’s intention to be actively involved in ministry if reinstated, whether in a stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or retired capacity. If reinstatement is to a non-stipendiary or retired role then an indication of the amount of time being offered should be given.

5. Eligibility and Initial Contact for those whose removal from the Roll is the outcome of a disciplinary process

5.1 Former ministers and CRCWs who can demonstrate an ongoing life of Christian discipleship lived out in a URC congregation or a Local Ecumenical Partnership may apply for reinstatement. Normally, no application process may commence until a minimum of five years has elapsed from the date of removal.

5.2 Any such individual should, in the first instance, consult the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) and the Moderator of the Synod in which they currently reside. The DGS (Ministries) will advise on the process to be followed.

5.3 The former minister/CRCW should prepare documentation showing:

5.3.1 their involvement in a URC, or LEP involving the URC, since they left ministry;
5.3.2 an explanation of the original reason(s) for deletion or resignation and a personal reflection on those reasons. Where a minister or CRCW was deleted from the Roll, the URC looks for acceptance of responsibility, evidence of contrition, willingness to apologize to those hurt by the original actions and evidence of actions taken to avoid repetition of the troubling behaviour;
5.3.3 an account of personal development and journey of faith since resignation or deletion from the Roll;
5.3.4 the rationale for seeking reinstatement;
5.3.5 an articulation of what ministry contexts the former minister or CRCW is testing a call to;
5.3.6 a description of current employment. Where a minister is retired, an account of what the minister has been doing in retirement;
5.3.7 a clear indication of the applicant’s intention to be actively involved in ministry if reinstated, whether in a stipendiary, non-stipendiary, or retired capacity. If reinstatement is to a non-stipendiary or retired role then an indication of the amount of time being offered should be given.

6. Initial Testing of Call

The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will convene a sub-group of three appointed by the Accreditation sub-committee of the Ministries Committee to assess that all the papers asked for have been satisfactorily completed and, where appropriate, to hear comments on the application from the Head of Safeguarding. The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will act as secretary to the group. Where safeguarding concerns are identified the Head of Safeguarding will arrange for a Synod Safeguarding Officer to interview the applicant. The comments received back from that Officer will be considered by the sub-group who will decide if the process should continue.

7. Deeper Testing of Call

7.1 For those who have resigned from the Roll to continue their ministry in a Church with which the URC is in communion or ecumenical relationship the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will seek:

7.1.1 a letter of good standing from the senior person in the denomination in which they are currently serving along with notification of any safeguarding issue;
7.1.2 a minimum of two references in support of the application;
7.1.3 a medical report, and, if deemed appropriate, a psychological evaluation;
7.1.4 a statement giving the views and needs of congregations previously served by the applicant;

7.2 The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will forward all the paperwork to the sub-group to consider. If, in their view, the sub-group consider the criteria for readmission in 3.3 is met, they will ask the DGS (Ministries) to invite the applicant to interview.

7.3 The interview should explore all aspects in the application and, where the applicant resigned from the Roll explore those reasons, development since, and changes in the person’s life and likelihood of successful future ministry. The Synod panel shall make a full written report to the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) including a statement about whether they support the application or not, giving reasons.

7.4 For those who have resigned their ministry on the Roll for work outwith the Church, the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will seek:

7.4.1. a reference and commendation from the applicant’s the local church;
7.4.2. a minimum of two references in support of the application, one of which must be from the applicant’s current employer. Where the applicant is not employed two personal references will suffice from people who have seen the developmental journey of the applicant since they resigned or were removed from the Roll;
7.4.3. a statement from the Moderator of the applicant’s current Synod;
7.4.4. a medical report, and, if deemed appropriate, a psychological evaluation;
7.4.5. a statement giving the views and needs of congregations previously served by the applicant;
7.4.6. if the applicant has since moved Synods, a statement from the Moderator of the Synod in which they previously resided;

7.5 The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will forward all the paperwork to the sub group to consider. If, in their view, the sub-group consider the criteria for readmission in 4.1 and 4.3 is met, they will ask the DGS (Ministries) to invite the applicant to interview.

7.6 The interview should explore all aspects in the application and, where the applicant resigned from the Roll explore those reasons, development since, and changes in the person’s life and likelihood of successful future ministry. The Synod panel shall make a full written report to the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) including a statement about whether they support the application or not, giving reasons.

7.7 For those whose removal from the Roll is the outcome of a disciplinary process, the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will seek:

7.7.1 a reference and commendation from the applicant’s local church;
7.7.2 a minimum of two references in support of the application, one of which must be from the applicant’s current employer. Where the applicant is not employed two personal references will suffice from people who have seen the developmental journey of the applicant since they resigned or were removed from the Roll;
7.7.3 a statement from the Moderator of the applicant’s current Synod or, where appropriate, from an equivalent officer in an overseas church;
7.7.4 a medical report, and, if deemed appropriate, a psychological evaluation;
7.7.5 if the applicant has since moved Synods, a statement from the Moderator of the Synod in which they previously resided;
7.7.6 where a minister’s name was deleted by decision of General Assembly, the outcome report of the disciplinary case outlining the original reasons for removal;
7.7.7 a statement giving the views and needs of congregations previously served by the applicant;

7.8 The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will forward all the paperwork to the sub-group to consider. If, in their view, the sub-group consider the criteria for readmission in 5.1 and 5.3 above is met, they will ask the DGS (Ministries) to invite the Synod to interview the applicant.

7.9 The Synod Moderator, with two others from the Synod will read the paperwork and interview the applicant. The interview should explore all aspects in the application and, where the applicant resigned from the Roll explore those reasons, development since, and changes in the person’s life and likelihood of successful future ministry. Where the applicant was deleted from the Roll careful exploration of the reasons for deletion, the acceptance of responsibility, contrition, growth, and proof of amendment of life must be explored and commented upon. The Synod panel shall make a full written report to the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) including a statement about whether they support the application or not, giving reasons.

8. Final Review and Decision

8.1 The sub-group shall be provided with all gathered documentation including the Synod report. The sub-group may request the participation or advice of an external expert if specialist insight is needed.

8.2 Prior to any interview, the convener of the panel shall provide the applicant with advance notice of the primary concerns and topics that will be discussed.

8.3 Following the final interview, the panel shall determine whether the applicant shall be reinstated. The Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) will communicate the outcome to the applicant and the relevant Synod as soon as possible.

9. Appeal Process

9.1 Following the decision of the sub-group, either the applicant or the Synod may request a further hearing before the Ministries Committee using the Ministries Appeals process.

9.2 The hearing shall be conducted by a group of three from the Ministries Committee chaired by the Convener of Ministries Committee (or their deputy) consisting only of those who have had no prior involvement with the application.

9.3 Any request for such a hearing must be submitted in writing to the Deputy General Secretary (Ministries) within 21 days of the date on which the sub-group’s decision was communicated to the applicant.

9.4 The decision of this hearing group of the Ministries Committee shall be final, and no further appeal shall be entertained.

Last revised: November 2025

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