What We Mean When We Say “Standing” in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), many lay leaders know the two familiar designations for ministry: ordained and commissioned. But there is a third word the Regional Staff wants everyone to understand—standing.
Standing has a technical definition (included below), but in everyday language it means this:
To the best of our knowledge, a minister with standing in CCSW is safe, trustworthy, and competent to function as an authorized minister in a Disciples context.
This is not simply an administrative status. It is a covenant—an agreement between a minister and the church—rooted in accountability, care, and shared mission.
What Standing Actually Is
Ministerial standing is the church’s ongoing authorization for ordained and commissioned ministers to serve on behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). A minister holds standing either with the Region where they serve or with the General Commission on Ministry (for general ministry staff, regional ministers, federal chaplains, and Disciples serving overseas).
Standing is how congregations, chaplaincy boards, employers, and ecumenical partners know that a minister:
belongs to this church body,
is trusted by it, and
is accountable to shared ethical and professional standards.
How Standing Relates to Commissioning and Ordination
Commissioning and ordination are sacred moments—rites that set a person apart for ministry.
Standing is the ongoing relationship that keeps that authorization active, current, and accountable.
In CCSW, maintaining standing includes:
Ordination or commissioning recognized and held by the Region
A six-hour Healthy Boundaries for Clergy course at least every five years
A six-hour Anti-Racism education course at least every three years
Completion of the annual Request for Renewal of Standing
These expectations reflect the church’s belief that ministers must not only be called, but continually formed, educated, and grounded.
The Practical Stakes
Functionally, standing is a kind of professional credential. Ministers with standing can:
Perform ministry on behalf of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Meet requirements set by chaplaincy boards, employers, and hospitals
Be listed on the Region’s published roster—often required for institutional ministry
Maintaining standing in CCSW means completing the annual renewal form, staying up-to-date with continuing education, and meeting boundary and anti-racism training requirements that are reviewed before standing is renewed.
When Standing Is Lost
Standing is a covenant, but like any relationship, it can be disrupted. Loss of standing generally falls into three categories:
1. Lapsed Standing
Standing lapses if a minister does not complete renewal requirements.
If the lapse is less than two years, it can typically be restored by completing requirements and submitting the annual form.
If it extends beyond 24 months, reinstatement may require a review by the Regional Committee on Ministry.
2. Surrendered Standing
A minister may voluntarily surrender standing. Sometimes this is framed as a disagreement with denominational identity or structure, but it also signals a choice to step outside the shared ethical code and collegial accountability of the Disciples of Christ.
3. Loss of Standing for Cause
Standing may be removed if ethical violations render it impossible for the Region to affirm that a minister is “safe and competent” to serve.
While administrative lapses can often be remedied with updated documentation, removal for cause involves deeper processes of review, intervention, pastoral care, and attention to all who have been impacted.
The Theological Heart of Standing
Theologically, standing is far more than a licensing requirement. It expresses the heart of Disciples polity: ministry is always a shared, covenantal endeavor.
Standing is the ongoing promise between minister and church:
The minister strives to live faithfully into their call.
The church offers nurture, oversight, and structures that help ministry remain healthy, just, and life-giving.
Standing also reflects a distinctive ecclesiology. Ordination and commissioning root a call in a particular community; standing connects that call to the wider church across time and geography. Much like the relationship between baptism and membership, ordination/commissioning name the sacred call, and standing locates that call within a particular covenant body—a kind of spiritual and professional “belonging.”
What This Looks Like in CCSW
In the Christian Church in the Southwest, standing includes:
Ongoing communication with the Region about one’s ministry
Adherence to the Ministerial Code of Ethics
Regular participation in boundary and ministry ethics education
Ongoing anti-racism training
Renewal through the annual standing process
Each year CCSW publishes a list of ministers who have completed standing requirements by the deadline. This serves chaplaincy boards, supports congregations, and gently encourages timely renewal.
See also,
What Is Ministerial Standing? — Christian Church in the Southwest