Candidacy Boards

Description

Candidacy Boards

Key Points 

Are you someone who can assist people in discerning whether they are called to paid, accountable ministry? Ministers and lay people are needed for Candidacy Boards. Members cannot be currently serving on a Regional Council body with pastoral relations decision-making responsibilities. 

Vacancies: Various on different candidacy boards: 

• Atlantic: 2 vacancies 
• Quebec and East Ontario (and Francophone): 2 vacancies 
• North and Central Ontario: 3 vacancies 
• Southwestern Ontario: 2–4 vacancies 
• Mountain: 1 vacancy

Mandate 

Candidacy Boards are responsible for:  

1. approving an individual for candidacy for ministry in the United Church;   
2. terminating candidacy if necessary;   
3. determining an individual’s readiness for accreditation for ordination, for commissioning, and for recognition as a designated lay minister; and   
4. overseeing the Candidacy Pathway process.   

Candidacy Board Membership 

There are a number of Candidacy Boards that support the candidacy pathway, including an Indigenous Candidacy Board for the Indigenous Candidacy Pathway. Each Candidacy Board has up to 12 members.   

In accordance with the Equity Commitment of the United Church of Canada, for the current outstanding vacancies, the candidacy boards are prioritizing perspectives, experiences, and lived realities that are currently absent or underrepresented in their membership.

If you would like to learn more about the specific diversity priorities of a particular candidacy board, or if you would like to discuss ways that you and your gifts could be a part of supporting the candidacy pathway, please contact Member Engagement or the relevant vocation minister.  

Member Skills and Experience 

Candidacy board members will: 

• be aware of the current ministry leadership needs of the church   
• be familiar with the theologies of the United Church in order to assess essential agreement on the part of candidates 
• be familiar with the church’s commitments to discipleship, spirituality, and justice 
• understand the identity, role, and responsibilities of ordered ministry in the context of collaborative lay and ordered ministry, including the ministry competencies and standards of practice  
• have experience of competency-based models of education and formation, including setting and assessing competency-based learning goals  
• be able to analyse and/or discuss professional assessments, including psychological and spiritual inventories  
• be able to use equity, diversity, and anti-oppression social competence to conduct interviews and make collective decisions  

United Church Relationship: Full member 

Expectations and Term 

• Online meetings: Varies by candidacy board. Usually monthly for one to one and half day (summer months excluded), totaling about 16 days per year of meetings or interviews. Scheduling is set according to the availability of members and candidates. At present, most meetings and interviews take place during daytime hours on weekdays.   
• In-person meetings: Most boards meet in-person once per year. Travel is required. 
• Appointment term: May 2026 to August 2028 (46th General Council), with the possibility of reappointment for a second term.

It is expected that members will make this commitment a priority and attend every meeting notwithstanding unavoidable emergencies or similar situations. 

 

For more information about this volunteer opportunity, please see the complete description, below.

To Express Interest

To apply for this vacancy, please express interest or nominate someone.

All submissions will be acknowledged by e-mail. If you do not receive acknowledgement, please contact Member Engagement. Incomplete or late submissions cannot be considered.

For further information or assistance in expressing interest or nominating someone, please contact:

Member Engagement
Toll-Free: 1-800-268-3781
E-mail: 

Downloads

• 45-27 Candidacy Boards.pdf (198.98 KB) (PDF)