Clara Sims' Ecclesiastical Council

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Congratulations to Clara Sims on her upcoming Ecclesiastical Council! 

Sunday, December 17, 2023, at 03:00 PM Arizona/New Mexico/El Paso 

This is the Official Notice of an Ecclesiastical Council for the Examination of Clara Sims for Ordination in the United Church of Christ, pending an approved call. 

 The Ecclesiastical Council will be held on December 17, 2023, on Zoom at 3:00 pm New Mexico & El Paso/ 3:00 pm Arizona. 

 Clara Sims is a Member in Discernment and a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Albuquerque, NM.  

 Her Preparation and Formation Plan based on the Marks included: 

  •  Masters of Divinity from Yale Divinity School and certificate of completion from the Andover Newton Diploma Program, 2020-2023  

  • Practical Experience:  

    • New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light in Albuquerque, NM. Young Adult Advisor to the Board; Contract Worker. 2019-2020  

    • University of Colorado Health in Aurora, CO. Chaplain Extern. Summer CPE Unit. Summer 2021  

    • First Congregational Church Guilford in Guilford, CT, Ministerial Intern (supervised ministry with Rev. Dr. Ginger Brasher Cunningham). Academic year 2021-22  

    • First Congregational United Church of Christ in Albuquerque, NM. Intern Assistant Minister. Summer 2022  

    • First Congregational Church Guilford in Guilford, CT, Ministerial Intern (supervised ministry with Rev. Dr. Ginger Brasher Cunningham). Academic year 2022-23  

    • SW Conference Delegate, UCC General Synod 34. Summer 2023  

    • First Congregational United Church of Christ Albuquerque, NM. Assistant Minister. 2023 –  

    • New Mexico Interfaith Power and Light in Albuquerque, NM. Assistant Executive Director, 2023 -  

  • Mentoring by UCC pastor: Rev. Dr. Karen Wood of the United Church of Christ, Central Pacific Conference.   

  • Mentoring by local UCC pastor: Rev. Sue Joiner, First Congregational UCC Albuquerque, SW Conference.   

  • Psychological Assessment: 2022, Rev. William M. Barter, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist, Safe Church Specialist, Associate to the Bishop New England Synod, ELCA.  

  • Boundary Training: 2021, Yale Divinity School; 2023, United Church of Christ Southwest Conference and Florida Conference.  

  • UCC Theology, History, and Polity Course: Rev. Dr. Sarah B. Drummond, Yale Divinity School and Andover Newton Diploma Program 

  • Cultural Competency Training: 2021, UCH  

The Southwest Conference will receive the recommendation of the Committee on Church and Ministry, hear the candidate’s presentation, and further examine the candidate. The Southwest Conference will vote on whether to authorize ordination, pending an approved call.  
 All churches of the Southwest Conference are invited to send three authorized delegates to act on their church's behalf. A two-thirds vote is required for action. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of churches in the Northern New Mexico Region and as wide a representation of clergy as possible. It shall be the responsibility of the Committee on Church and Ministry to see that a quorum is present.  

To learn more about Clara Sims, please visit her Ordination Portfolio:  

 If you have difficulty accessing the link online, you can email cesims1122@gmail.com and she will send you an attachment of the PDF.  

The candidate’s ordination paper should be read ahead of time.

 
You must register in advance for this meeting. Register to attend on Zoom HERE.