The Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers is a tool for discernment and assessment, created especially for use by Members in Discernment, Committees on Ministry, and authorized ministers. The Marks developed through conversations surrounding the Ministry Issues Pronouncement of General Synod 25, which sought to expand UCC definitions of learnedness and leadership in authorized ministry and to emphasize excellence in ministerial formation.

It’s important to note that the Marks is not a checklist or report card, in which one strives to receive a perfect grade in every category. Rather, the Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers provides a lens for reflecting upon a person’s formation, gifts and growth both before authorization and throughout one’s ministry.

Each of the Associations of the Pennsylvania Southeast Conference have voted to adopt the Marks as a normative assessment tool for ministry work.

The Marks of Faithful and Effective Authorized Ministers are documented in the Manual on Ministry. For more information on the MOM, visit the Manual on Ministry resource entry.