ABCOTS, from the BF&P Forum

[Haruo]

Technically I still don't think it violates autonomy; tries to coerce it, yes, but doesn't violate it, even if the church doesn't join another Region. The pastor and/or church is free to find some other insurance carrier, or to simply do without a pension plan. Let them eat IRAs. Or whatever. But in any case, these two Tacoma churches have joined Evergreen, so it didn't impact their autonomy even in the MMBB connection.

Incidentally, I've heard that CBF churches (not aligned with ABC let alone related to a Region) have access to MMBB plans. What exactly is the situation on that front? And could it be tweaked so a disfellowshipped-by-default church could continue on a similar basis?

[Ed Pettibone]

[Haruo]

I don't know about NYS, but out here churches are still free to call whom they will without the denomination's approval. Local ordination, licensing, all that sort of stuff. It's not highly regarded, but if a church calls someone without an appropriate collar, it won't affect their right to stay in the denomination. As far as I know. I think joining Evergreen requires an agreement to work toward the Regional accreditation of unaccredited clergy, but I don't think sloughing off on the task would result in shunning the way calling a lesbian might in some Regions.

[Ed Pettibone]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Ed Pettibone]

[Haruo]

I think it means two things. (Timothy will correct me if I am wrong.)

1) for the ordained person seeking employment, it means more access to more denominational networking resources;

2) for the church seeking to employ an ordained person, it means some degree of certainty about a candidate's having met certain criteria.

Many ABC churches may as a rule of thumb refuse to look at the resume of someone lacking such accreditation, but there's no rule saying they have to. Some ABC churches may be under the mistaken impression that there is such a rule, and that's too bad. Some Regional employees may even mislead churches about this, which (if it happens) is deplorable.

[Ed Pettibone]