NACCC | Ministerial Enrichment

Ministerial Opportunities

Ministerial Training

Ordination and
Installation

Lay Ministry Training

Non-NA Clergy

  Congregational
  Foundation for
  Theological Studies

  Division for Ministry
    - Purpose and History
    - Search Process
    - Ministerial Assistance
    - Ministerial Enrichment
    - Seminars
    - Clergy Benefits
    - History/Polity Course

Ministry : Division for Ministry : Purpose and History

The chief concern of this Division is for the Congregational ministry in its variety of forms. Through the office of the Staff Secretary for Pastoral Relations, support and aid are offered search committees as they seek ministers for churches of the Association, and consultation is offered to churches and ministers seeking to resolve problems and conflicts. The Office of Pastoral Relations also maintains current files of records and profiles for each Association member church, and credentials and professional dossiers for ministers. In addition, the Division for Ministry acts as the agent for the Congregational churches for the endorsement of military, Veterans Administration, hospital and prison chaplains.

The Division also administers several special funds:

The Ministerial Assistance Enrichment Fund
This fund is broken into two parts. The Ministerial Assistance portion provides emergency financial assistance to ministers, both active and retired. Many times the grant a minister receives is a deciding factor on whether or not they can continue in the ministry or secure a secular position.

The Enrichment portion of the fund is used as financial support for a variety of continuing education opportunities. With resources of this fund, the Ministers' Convocation is planned and presented by the Division Board. The fund also provides the resources needed to help with evaluating the ministries of churches and clergy, compensation planning guide for ministers, and help with interim ministry training costs. The Division also tries to supply, on a lending basis, some books that the Associate Executive may suggest on subjects that are pertinent to the ministry of our churches.

This fund is not endowed and the contributions received have been completely depleted some years.

The Retired Ministers' Fund was established by the Rev. Dr. Max Strang, a long-time Congregational minister, and Mr. Fred Hoerner, a Congregational layman, to recognize the value of the service rendered by retired Congregational ministers and their spouses. This fund has been supported generously by the churches of the Association and now provides an annual stipend to all retired ministers who have served NACCC churches. This is an endowed fund.

The Winthrop Administration Fund was established in 1987 by the Division Board to provide for the cost of administering the programs and services of the Division. At this time the Winthrop Fund endowment is inadequate to cover administrative costs.

For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Thomas Richard.