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 GBHEM
- Change of Relationship Form
- Questions for Deacons Seeking an Appointment Beyond the Local Church
- Steps to apply for Appointment to Extension Ministry status
- Leave of Absence Form
- Form 114 – Disclosure Form
- Pacific Northwest Annual Conference Board of Ordained Ministry Requirement for Recognition of Orders for Ministers of Other Denominations (MOD)
Formation & 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. 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.
- Continuing Education Policy – 2021
- Continuing Education Grant Application – 2021
- Clergy Continuing Education Report Form
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:
Spiritual Direction
The Board of Ordained Ministry offers a one-time grant of $500 to encourage clergy to experience the benefits of spiritual direction.
Spiritual direction is holy listening that involves three parties: the Holy Spirit, the spiritual director, and the directee. Each has a unique role in helping us listen for God. The Holy Spirit acts and moves in the directee’s life. The Holy Spirit is present in both the spiritual director and the directee, opening their ears, their hearts, and their eyes to listen for God, feel God, and look for God. The spiritual director serves in the role of holy listener for the directee. As the person shares what’s been going on in prayer and daily life, the spiritual director is diligently listening for the Holy Spirit’s nudges and promptings. This deep listening for God at work in the other person’s life helps the director ask questions and offer observations about how God seems to be moving in the person’s interior and exterior life.
Spiritual direction involves helping people grow in their relationship with God. This happens by inviting people to notice God at work in their day-to-day lives, by helping them discern God’s invitation, and by helping them gain awareness of what inhibits their growth in God.
From https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/listening-for-god-through-spiritual-direction/
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.