Resources for Clergy Members
Conference Relations
The following chart is provided to offer guidance to members who may have questions regarding their relationship to the conference. It references portions of the 2016 Book of Discipline which you can find online here. You’ll also find our Change of Relationship Form for those requesting a change in status. If you have questions, please contact the Conference Relations committee chairperson (Contact Info).
Conference Relations Chart GBHEMFormation & Continuing Education
As required by The Book of Discipline (¶351 and ¶334.4), each clergy will present his/her continuing education report at the yearly Charge Conference. Each District Superintendent will track and monitor every clergyperson’s CEU requirement at his/her annual Covenant and Ministry Assessment supervisory meeting.
While continuing education/formation for appointed clergy is mandated by The Book of Discipline, the Board of Ordained Ministry believes that it should be a self-motivating desire for each clergy member to grow and develop one’s leadership and skills. The following details the Board of Ordained Ministries policies and also the resources to support clergy in their efforts toward lifelong learning. If you have questions, please contact the Formation committee chairperson (Contact Info).
Continuing Education for Clergy Online
Some clergy are finding that their plans for continuing education this year have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, several programs are offering online options free or at reduced cost. The annual Festival of Homiletics has moved online this year with access to every session and speaker for a fee. Register at festivalofhomiletics.com. Pendle Hill has a wide variety of greatly reduced online classes, lectures, and series. For more information go to pendlehill.org. An additional continuing education program online can be found at clergyeducation.com. There are some courses being offered in the future and several that are available as recordings. There are several courses that offer continuing education through BeADisciple that cover a variety of ministry areas. Students pay per course, with no membership fee.
Other online options may be sent to sfranklin@pnwumc.org and will be listed on the Board of Ordained Ministry page of the PNW website.
Healthy Boundaries Training for Clergy Online
All persons under appointment need to complete boundary training for the quadrennium that ends this June. The online option through the Lewis Center is still available for $25 (the conference pays the other half of the course fee). Go to: Lewis Center Basic Course to enroll in the basic course, Understanding Clergy Sexual Ethics or Lewis Center Advanced Course for the advanced course, Maintaining Boundaries in a Digital Age. Documents detailing the registration process, including the group codes you need to have part of your fee paid, can be found below:
Mandatory Cultural Competency Training for Clergy
All persons under appointment or assignment need to complete a minimum of 7 hours of cultural competency training each quadrennium to be eligible for appointment in the following quadrennium. The goal is to offer training opportunities produced by the Board of Ordained Ministry, Pacific Northwest Conference, or districts during the quadrennium.
If a training session is not available, clergy may choose one of these options:
- an online class or classes approved by your District Superintendent
- participation in a clergy cluster study on diversity, equity, inclusion, white privilege, white supremacy, racism or other identity-based discrimination using a book or other resource approved by your District Superintendent
- leading a congregational study on the topics above using a book or other resource approved by your District Superintendent
After completing the required training, a reporting form must be submitted online through this link.
Coaching for Clergy
The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry has been nurturing United Methodist clergy coaches with Certification from the International Coach Federation (ICF) since 2013 as a response to increasing demand for coaching for pastoral leadership. We have produced approximately 30 Associate Certified and Professional Certified United Methodist clergy coaches. These clergy coaches are committed to serving the church with their coaching skills. Please visit the Find a Coach page at the UMC Cyber Campus website, www.umccybercampus.com, and utilize UMC ICF certified coaches for clergy assessment, leadership development, the ordination process, and to nurture clergy effectiveness. To learn more about our Clergy Coach Training program, visit the Coaching for Vitality page.
