Articles
Ministerial Sponsorship Policy
Entity responsible for this policy: Committee on Ministries
Date revised: May 2005
SECTION ONE: PURPOSE
To establish a process for responding to a request for sponsorship;
To outline the responsibilities of the Church and candidate in a sponsorship relationship.
SECTION TWO: PROCESS
To establish a process for responding to a request for sponsorship;
According to the UUA Ministerial Fellowship Committee: “The purpose of the requirement for congregational sponsorship is to ensure familiarity on the part of our UU ministers with UU congregational life, and encourage congregations to take a responsible role in the recruitment, preparation and assessment of our future ministers. Sponsorship of a Candidate indicates confidence in the person’s potential and suitability for UU ministry.”
Upon receiving a written request for congregational sponsorship, the Board shall appoint a sponsor liaison, whose responsibilities shall be:
1. to ascertain whether the candidate is otherwise in good standing with the UUA and their theological school, appropriate to sponsorship;
2. to arrange an interview between the minister of the Church and the candidate, and to receive feedback from the minister;
3. to review this data and present a recommendation to the Board;
4. The Board may request additional information, including but not limited to, references, an interview, or a copy of the candidate's Essay on Ministerial Aspirations.
Upon approval by the Board, the proposal shall be presented to the congregation at a duly called congregational meeting.
SECTION THREE: RESPONSIBILITIES
The responsibilities of the Church and candidate in a sponsorship relationship shall be:
Minimally, the Church, while in a sponsoring relationship, shall provide: an annual preaching opportunity, encouragement and guidance, conversation with Church leaders regarding the dynamics of their work, and opportunities to participate at various levels in the life of the congregation.
Minimally, the candidate, while sponsored by this congregation, shall: cooperate in gathering information relative to his/her activities; endorse the vision and mission statement of the Church as demonstrated by support of the work of the congregation; keep the congregation informed in writing of their progress; and fill the pulpit once in a year.
The Ministerial Fellowship Committee of the UUA and the Ministerial Education Office regards congregational sponsorship as evidence that the person seeking fellowship is actively committed to Unitarian Universalism and the institutions which uphold our liberal religious tradition, and as an indication of our confidence in the candidate’s potential and suitability for UU ministry. The congregation makes the assumption that evidence of psychological, legal and financial stability will be obtained by other credentialing bodies within the Fellowshipping process. Sponsorship denotes support for the candidate’s educational process, but not assurance of their ultimate success in ministry.