New Educational Requirement and RCOM Authority
In helping to clarify the new requirement for Ordained clergy to complete 12 hours annually of continuing education and report it on next year’s request for renewal of standing form, our Regional Executive Minister, Rev. Christy Drechsel has produced a very helpful FAQ clarifying the requirement. What follows is a not-as-helpful explanation to those who question RCOM’s authority in this regard.
The Design of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) clearly establishes the authority of regions to implement standing requirements within the framework established by the General Assembly. Two key passages are relevant:
Paragraph 24 (Regional Ministries - Nurture): "Regions are concerned for the continuing renewal of the life of congregations, members, and ministers, and offer leadership in matters of mutual concern. Within policies developed by the General Assembly, regions provide help, counsel, and pastoral care to ministers and congregations in such matters as standing and credentialing of ministers, ministerial search and call, ordination, licensing, establishment and dissolution of pastoral relationships, and installations of ministers".
Paragraph 87 (Ministry): "In addition [to the ministry of all believers], the church recognizes an order of ministry, set apart under God, to equip the whole people to fulfill their corporate ministry. The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), through the General Assembly, shall approve general policies and criteria for the order of the ministries; within policies developed by the General Assembly, regions certify the standing of ministers and provide help, counsel, and pastoral care to ministers and congregations" (emphasis added).
The Theological Foundations and Policies and Criteria for the Ordering of Ministry (TFPCOM) is the governing document for ministry referenced in The Design. This document explicitly requires continuing education as a condition of standing.
Part II, Section F.2 (Certification of Standing of those Commissioned and Ordained): "Standing for ministers in active service continues so long as the minister does and reports the following: ... ii. Participates regularly in programs of study, growth, and renewal".
Part II, Section F.3 (Certification of Standing of Retired Ministers): For retired ministers maintaining active standing, the requirement states: "iii. To be eligible for such Standing, the active retired minister ... b) participates regularly in programs of study, growth, and renewal".
Additionally, the Ministerial Code of Ethics, which has been part of our denominational standards since 1944 and is incorporated into TFPCOM, identifies continuing education as an ethical necessity for ministers.
The requirement for continuing education is not new. The first iteration of Policies and Criteria was established by the General Assembly in 1971, with amendments added in 1977, 1981, 1985, and 1987. In 2009, the most substantive revision of TFPCOM was presented to and approved by the General Assembly meeting in Indianapolis. The revised TFPCOM became the official policy document on August 1, 2011.
The requirement that ministers "participate regularly in programs of study, growth, and renewal" has been a standing requirement for at least 15 years, and likely dates back to the original 1971 document.
What has NOT changed: The requirement that ministers engage in continuing education and report it to maintain standing.
What HAS changed: Within the last 12 months, our Regional Committee on Ministry has clarified what "participates regularly" means by establishing:
A minimum threshold of 12 hours annually
Broad discretion for ministers regarding what counts toward this requirement
This clarification represents responsible regional governance, not arbitrary rule-making. Other Disciples regions have similarly clarified continuing education expectations, with requirements ranging from 12-15 hours annually.
The Regional Committee on Ministry has not created a new requirement but has clarified an existing one that has been part of our denominational standards since TFPCOM's inception. This action is consistent with our authority and responsibility under The Design to certify standing within the policies established by the General Assembly.