AACM Covenant
ALLIANCE OF UCC ASSOCIATE CONFERENCE MINISTERS COVENANT The United Church of Christ Alliance of “Associate Conference Ministers*” exists to be a supportive expression of the Living Christ, in relationship with one another and with the Body of Christ, in all its forms.
The Alliance seeks to live out its purpose of:
1. Building and maintaining a covenantal and collaborative relationship with all United Church of Christ Associate Conference Ministers.
2. Developing and maintaining a covenantal and collaborative relationship with the United Church of Christ Council of Conference Ministers, officers of the Church, UCC Covenantal partners, and UCC Board of Directors.
3. Being a resource to share information and best practices to promote excellence in our various ministries.
4. Being a collective voice of advocacy for concerns important to the role and work of the Associate Conference Minister as they relate to the life of the United Church of Christ.
In our efforts to accomplish our purpose, members of the Alliance covenant to:
• Participate in meetings and activities of the Alliance, to the best of our ability. • Share information and include our fellow ACM’s who, for varying reasons, may not be able to be active Alliance participants.
• Create a welcoming, supportive environment for all new ACM’s and encourage their participation.
• Hold ourselves and others accountable for assignments and for adherence to this covenant.
• Continually pray for one another, our ministry settings and hold in highest regard our work, both individually and collectively.
• Approach the work of the Alliance with a spirit of wonder, positivity, and hope that with Christ, all things are possible. In our efforts to live out our purpose in our time together, members of the Alliance covenant to:
• Bring our authentic selves to meetings and gatherings.
• Work to develop and create brave community where differing views and opinions are heard and respected.
• Share space for all to express and fully participate.
• Speak solely from our own personal experience, being intentional to use “I” statements.
• Speak our truth in love and ways that are respectful and productive.
• Practice self-care and attend to our personal needs as they arise.
• Maintain all confidences placed in us.
* The Alliance is open to those who serve in a staff or called position doing conference ministry in the support of the conference minister and conference. The term “Associate Conference Minister” is used ubiquitously in this document to refer to all persons who serve in the role either designated as associate conference minister or all the various titles of those functioning similarly in job responsibilities and expectations.
Adopted by the United Church of Christ Alliance of Associate Conference Ministers on June 18, 2020.