What Is Ministerial Standing?
Commissioning, Ordination, and Standing
Within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the words Commissioning, Ordination, and Standing are more than procedural terms—they form the backbone of how we understand and authorize ministry. These three concepts are interwoven, each playing a distinct yet complementary role in a minister's life and calling.
Commissioning is a recognition extended to individuals called to serve within a specific ministry context for a designated time. This may be a local congregation, a Disciples-affiliated ministry, or even an innovative nonprofit setting. Commissioned ministers include pastors, chaplains, youth and Christian educators, and increasingly, leaders in nonprofit spaces whose work is spiritually rooted.
The process begins with a recommendation from a local congregation or affiliated ministry, continues with discernment led by Regional Ministerial staff and Commissioning Committees on Ministry (CCOMs), and includes developing an education plan that covers boundaries, ethics, and anti-racism training. For many, though not all, commissioning is a step toward ordination. For ministers coming from other denominations, commissioning offers a pathway to serve within Disciples spaces while maintaining covenantal ties.
Ordination, meanwhile, is the Church’s formal and enduring recognition that an individual is called by God, has cultivated the necessary gifts and preparation, and is ready to represent the Church in ministry. Typically, this involves seminary training—often a 72-hour Master of Divinity—or completion of an approved apprentice model. The process requires discernment by a sponsoring congregation and evaluation by the Regional Committee on Ministry (RCOM). Ministers ordained in other traditions who wish to make Disciples their denominational home can do so through a process called Recognition of Ordination and Transfer of Standing.
Local and Universal: A Theology of Ministry
Think of the distinction between commissioning and ordination as a reflection of our theology of the Church itself. Historically, the Church has been described as both local and universal—a tension beautifully illustrated in Paul’s letters. The letters of the New Testament bear the mark of this local and universal nature of the church, with the letters to specific places (Rome, Galatia, Philippi) coming first, and the General Epistles, which speak to the church universal (James; 1 & 2 Peter; 1, 2, & 3 John), following. In Paul's greeting to the Church in Corinth, he greets both the local congregation—"to the church of God in Corinth"—and also references the church universal: "together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours."
In this light, Commissioned Ministry emphasizes our understanding that ministry is local, specific, and contextual, like the local church. Ordained Ministry emphasizes our understanding that ministry—like the church universal—spans both time and space. Together, they illustrate the dual nature of ministry: grounded in the here-and-now, and accountable to the eternal.
What Is Standing?
Let’s zoom in on a term that often generates questions: Ministerial Standing. Whether a minister is commissioned or ordained, standing is what affirms that their ministry is recognized, active, and accountable to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
For most, standing is granted and held by the Region where they serve. Others—those working in general ministries like the Pension Fund, Christian Church Foundation, or the National Benevolent Association—have their standing maintained by the General Commission on Ministry (GCOM). Think of it like the “Registered” in Registered Nurse: it’s a designation that reflects not only qualification, but accountability.
Standing Is Covenantal
Ministerial standing is, at its heart, a covenantal relationship. When a person is ordained or commissioned, standing is granted as part of that sacred moment. If it were up to me, I’d have every congregation recognize and bless their ministers’ annual renewal of standing in worship. Because every renewal is an act of trust, of affirmation, and of accountability. When a Region or the GCOM renews a minister’s standing, it’s saying to the Church and the world:
To the best of our knowledge, this person is safe, prepared, and committed to serving and doing ministry as a Disciples of Christ minister.
Standing Is Also Professional
Just as importantly, standing is a professional credential, with clear expectations for its maintenance.
Maintaining standing means:
A minister annually communicates their continuation in ministry, the specific nature of their ministry, their concerns and needs, and their ongoing education in ministry.
Annually, a minister commits to abiding by the Disciples Ministerial Code of Ethics and has not violated the Ministerial Code of Ethics to the extent that their standing was removed for cause by their RCOM or GCOM.
A minister completes a Ministry Boundaries/Ministry Ethics education class of at least six hours every five years.
A minister completes a ministry-related anti-racism course of at least six hours every three years.
There are other, more specific requirements depending on the form a ministry takes, but these are the requirements across the board.
By granting standing, the Region acknowledges that a minister is engaged in faithful ministry and committed to ongoing growth. It’s a shared promise: the minister agrees to serve with integrity, do ministry in a covenantal way, and the Church commits to walking with them. They have committed to abiding by the Disciples Ministerial Code of Ethics, and the Region has reinforced that commitment by offering ministry boundaries education and anti-racism education. They have completed, or are making progress on, their foundational ministry education, and they are committed to developing their capacity for ministry through career-long continuing education and professional development.
The Sacred and the Specific
There is perhaps an analogy between Baptism and Church Membership and Commissioning/Ordination and Standing. When a person is baptized, they respond to God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ within the Church, both universally and locally. Baptism is sacred. Baptism is eternal. Baptism is holy. Commissioning and Ordination have a similar sacred quality to them. They probably aren't eternal—I do not imagine anyone will be called "Reverend" in heaven. Still, we believe that Commissioning and Ordination emerge out of the spiritual discernment of the minister, the local church, and the regional church. They are holy.
Many people also place their membership in a local church. Membership is specific. Membership is time-bound. Membership is covenantal. Ministerial standing is evidence that a minister belongs to and is accountable to a specific denominational entity. They "have their membership," if you will, in a professional guild that works to support their work and development as ministers and holds them accountable for faithful and ethical ministry.
When Standing Is Lost
Loss of standing takes many forms.
Loss of standing can happen because a person has chosen to leave authorized ministry and no longer feels it necessary to maintain professional credentialing. Such persons can "relinquish" their standing and obtaining it back again should they decide they want to do, which involves applying once again to their RCOM.
Lapse of standing can happen because a minister does not complete their annual request for the renewal of standing several years in a row or chooses to exceed the expectations for ministry boundaries or anti-racism education beyond what would be reasonable. In such cases, we may have an "administrative removal of standing." In most cases, such standing and be obtained again by completing the missing requirements.
As a sidenote, each year the Christian Church in the Southwest publishes a list of the ministers who have completed their renewal of standing requirements by the deadline. This is mainly because many of our Hospital Chaplains have a requirement that they be able to point to a specific denominationally published document that shows they have standing.
The annual publication is also intended to encourage ministers to complete their renewal of standing in a timely manner.
Removal of Standing for cause is more complicated. It happens when a minister's conduct is found to violate our ethical standards to such a degree that the Region can no longer in good faith say that this person is "safe and competent to do ministry in a Disciples context." When a challenge to a minister's conduct is made and found to be credible, RCOM has some responses--it can choose to sustain standing but requires that the minister complete an intervention (e.g., go to counseling, obtain additional education). RCOM may write a letter of censure; RCOM may remove standing for cause with a clear pathway to obtain standing again; or RCOM may remove standing for cause with no expectation that standing will be granted again. In such cases, a person can appeal their removal of standing for cause after no less than three years.
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Faithfully,
Rev. Dr. Andy Mangum
Regional Minister and President