Resources for UCC Ministers
The Conferences offer a host of resources for United Church of Christ (UCC) ministers including standing requirements and how to keep them up, worship resources of all kinds, and information for new ministers.
New to the Conferences?
If this is your first time as a minister in the IA, NE, and SD Conferences? We can help you get situated.
Become a UCC Pastor
There are several ways to become a pastor in the UCC, we will guide you through the process that works best for you.
Worship Resources
Discover new resources for you to bring into your worship services (music, litrugy, lectionsaries, etc).
Spiritual Directors
Find a Spiritual Director to help you process experiences and grow in your faith, ministry, and leadership.
UCC Polity curriculum
Curious about what it means to be a part of the UCC? This resource is for you!
Abuse Prevention
Background checks and resources for creating a safe space for all congregants.
Pulpit Supply List
A list of people interested in serving as guest preachers for UCC churches.
Behavioral Covenants
A document to help foster healthy behaviors and relationships in congregations.
Standing Requirements
To maintain ministerial standing, UCC authorized ministers must complete the following:
All
- 2022 Information Review (2022 deadline was Feb 11, 2022)
Iowa
Central Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Periodic Vocational Support every 3 years
- Continuing Education, 6 hours every 3 years
Eastern Iowa Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Periodic Vocational Support every 3 years
- Continuing Education is encouraged
Northeast Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Continuing Education is encouraged
Northwestern Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Continuing Education, 6 contract hours per year
Southeastern Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Periodic Support Consultation every 3 years
- Continuing Education, 16 hours per year
Southwestern Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Yearly Periodic Support Consultation
Nebraska
Heartland Association
- Boundary Training every 5 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Continuing Education
Living Waters Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Marks of Ministry Self-Assessment & Peer Review and Ministerial Code Review, every 3 years
- Continuing Education
Prairie Association
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
South Dakota
(Black Hills, Dakota Oahe, Prairie Lakes, and Two Rivers Associations)
- Boundary Training every 3 years
- Annual Information Reviews
- Continuing Education is encouraged
Information Review
Information Reviews are requested each year for those with UCC ministerial standing as part of requirement for good standing. If serving UCC churches in Iowa, Nebraska or South Dakota, but have other denomination connections or in the process of becoming a UCC minister, we still appreciate the time to complete this form. At the end, the submit button forwards this information review to the conference office, the correct COM chair, and to the preferred email address used on this form.
The 2022 Information Review was due on Feburary 11th, 2022.
Pastor Compensation
Salary and benefit guidelines for clergy in the Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota Conferences of the UCC are reviewed and approved annually. These are guidelines approved by the 2023 annual meetings for the year 2024:
- 2024 Iowa salary and benefit guidelines
- 2024 Nebraska salary and benefit guidelines
- 2024 South Dakota salary and benefit guidelines
2023 Guidelines:
- 2023 Iowa salary and benefit guidelines
- 2023 Nebraska salary and benefit guidelines
- 2023 South Dakota salary and benefit guidelines
Boundary Awareness Training
To see the boundary trainings happening within the Conferences, visit www.ucctcm.org/boundaryawareness.
Scholarships for Continuing Education
- Modest scholarships for Iowa authorized. Contact ECM Rev. Phil Hart for additional information.
- Learn what scholarships are available to UCC:
- Ministry Education Scholarships support those preparing for ministry in the UCC and provide emergency assistance to ministers experiencing financial or personal crisis.
- Leadership Development Scholarships help to support UCC undergraduate students, future seminary professors, African American laywomen, and gifted persons with disabilities, among others.
- The Genesis Fund accepts applications for faith-based projects that are innovative or experimental, that represent a new initiative in Christian mission, or that may be deemed controversial. UCC local churches, associations, conferences, national bodies, UCC-related institutions, and overseas/global partner churches are eligible to apply.
- Scholarship application forms and grant applications open online on Thursday, December 1st. Find more scholarship information at http://www.ucc.org/scholarships. Questions can be emailed to scholarships@ucc.org.
- Yankton College scholarship applications available online at www.yanktoncollege.org. More assistance at 866.665.3661. (Awarded to high school seniors and post-grad students each year).
Communities of Practice
A Community of Practice is a structured, facilitated small group of colleagues meeting regularly for mutual support, accountability, and learning. Learn more and join a Community of Practice today!
Continuing Education
Check out the list below for a variety of ongoing continuing education opportunities. For one time events, visit our calendar and look under the “Continuing Education” category to filter events.