Candidacy Boards

Description

Candidacy Boards

Are you someone who can assist people in discerning whether their call is 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: 1–2 vacancies
• Quebec and East Ontario (and Francophone): 2 vacancies
• North and Central Ontario: 2–3 vacancies
• Southwestern Ontario: 4 vacancies; for at least 2 lay people 
• Prairie: 2 vacancies
• Mountain: 2 vacancies

Key skills: Understanding of the identity, role, and responsibilities of ordered ministry; experience with competency-based models of education and formation; discernment

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 Pathway Policy, 2024, p.5) 

In this work, boards are supported by the vocational ministers and the Director of Emerging Ministry Leadership in the Office of Vocation. They are provided with policy and procedure handbooks, and are given access to all reports and documents necessary for the assessment of candidates. Candidacy Boards are working boards, with roles for chair, secretary, and specialists. Candidacy Boards serve as commissions of the Board of Vocation.

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. 

All with the gifts and interest to serve are welcome to express interest. Each board has noted particular priorities for the current outstanding vacancies that would broaden the perspectives, experiences, and lived realities present on it:  

• Atlantic: Interested in lay people or diaconal ministers
• Quebec and East Ontario (and Francophone): Interested in lay people or diaconal ministers, who are fluent in English and French (This board serves all francophone candidates independent of regional council).
• North and Central Ontario: Open to all, with encouragement for lay people and diaconal ministers; male or non-binary, racialized, and 2S and LGBTQIA+ people
• Southwestern Ontario: At least two lay people 
• Prairie: Interested in lay people, female or non-binary people, Prairie to Pine members
• Mountain: Interested in male or non-binary, racialized, or 2S and LGBTQIA+ people

All Candidacy Boards seek diversity of ministry stream, gender, and geography, and invite the participation of people with identities named in the United Church’s equity commitment, as well as people who would broaden the board’s perspectives and lived realities in other ways. 

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 
• have or be able to develop proficiency in the candidacy pathway process 
• have or be able to develop familiarity with the United Church testamur, and the theological schools and programs which offer it 
• be prepared to work primarily digitally (and possibly across time zones) using email, SharePoint, and video conferencing platforms (training is available)
• be able to gather in person on occasion, normally annually

United Church Relationship: Full member

Expectations and Term

• Online meetings: Varies by Candidacy Board. Usually monthly for one to one-and-a-half days (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.
• Expectations between meetings: Significant preparation time in reading candidate materials in advance of each meeting and sets of interviews.
• Additional appointment expectations: None
• Appointment term: November 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 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

• 45-37 Candidacy Boards.pdf (187.91 KB) (PDF)