The ordered ministry of Clergy Support Memorial Church has two orders of ministry: the Ordained and the Appointed.

Both hold the office of Clergy but differ as to function.

While the Ordained Minister’s main focus is on serving those within the church structure, the Appointed Designated Minister’s main ministry focus is on members of the general public beyond the traditional church culture. Their focus is on outreach and church growth.

The Ordained Minister’s main focus is on pastoral care serving those within the church structure. The function of an Appointed Designated Minister is to engage in ministry within the wider community, including conducting life events like marriage, funerals or memorial services, and child welcoming or dedication services and ceremonies for people outside the church and for Clergy Support Memorial Church units without ministers.

We hope our Appointed Ministers, by establishing a relationship with those non-members who call upon us, will be free to call upon us again in the future for other events of pastoral care, such as baptisms, funerals, visitation in hospitals and old age facilities.

This program is not unique to us. It is modeled and patterned on the Unitarian Chaplains’ program who use weddings to the general public as their primary method for church growth. Having Appointed Ministers who are not ordained to fulfill that function is modeled on the Church of Christ (Brethren). It does not have any formal ceremony of elevating its ministers which it calls ‘ordination’. Like our Appointed Ministers, they are, however, accorded a spiritual status by the church because of their status and function and able to solemnize marriage.

Appointed Designated Ministers are pleased to provide this church growth and outreach service to people who want a religious or spiritual ceremony, both to the wider general public and to Clergy Support units without a minister.

These Appointed Ministers represent our church in the wider community. They are expected to serve in a manner that celebrates and dignifies the special occasions they commemorate, adding spiritual depth to the lives of individuals and communities. They should always interact with the wider community in a professional manner and be able to articulate and model our Church’s rites and usages.

Appointed Designated Ministers are approved and appointed by the Church Board, through the office of the Chief Governing Official.

This vocation as an Appointed Minister is a journey involving Spirit-filled enrichment and learning, requiring humble offering of self, demanding prayerful discernment and courageous risking, exercising visionary and communal leadership, promising joy and meaning, and daring to imagine God’s abundance in a world of love and respect.

Conclusion

Both Appointed Designated Ministers and Ordained Ministers hold the office of minister and may use the honorific title ‘Rev’.

Ordained Ministers minister primarily to those within the Fellowship while the Appointed Minister is focused on outreach and church growth for those beyond the reach of traditional church culture and to those members without the benefit of a local Ordained Minister.

Both orders of ministry are set apart as spiritual leaders. One is Ordained at a service of public worship, the other is appointed by the Chief Governing Official at the behest of the Board.

Notes

1. For a detailed outline of the Unitarian Church’s Lay Chaplaincy program see here.
2. Much of the forgoing commentary is drawn from: Nevena Belovska (ed). Charities Handbook:The Comprehensive Guide For Canadian Charities 19^th edition. Canadian Council of Christian Charities 2016.p 257ff, in which we hold membership.
3. Official ‘Statement of the‘Appointed Designated Ministry’ of Clergy Support Memorial Church approved at the Church Annual Meeting (March 16th, 2001).