I authorize the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ and/or its officers, committees, and agents to make inquiries regarding my character and qualifications. I also authorize all entities, persons, seminary staff and faculty, former employers, supervisors, counselors, psychological testing agencies, ministers, ecclesiastical authorizing bodies of other judicatories, settings of other denominations, courts, law enforcement, and other public agencies to respond to inquiries concerning me and to comment on and state opinions regarding my background, character, and qualifications. To encourage such persons to speak openly and responsibly, I hereby release them from all liability arising from their responses, comments, and statements, including, but not limited to, any liabilities for alleged defamation of character or invasion of privacy. I authorize the Northern California Nevada Conference and its agents to circulate, distribute, and otherwise share the information gathered regarding me to those whom it, in its sole discretion, deems adviseable.
There are specific circumstances where one's prior life experience will automatically disqualify them from holding any leadership position in NCNC-UCC. Those circumstances are:
1. A judicial determination by any court of intentional sexual misconduct, whether or not registration is required, including but not limited to: rape, production or distribution of child pornography, assault or harassment against another person for personal sexual gratification without the other person's consent, assault or harassment against another person for personal sexual gratification when the other person was in a subordinate position of power regardless of their consent, or assault or harassment against any minor person.
2. A judicial determination by any court of human trafficking.
3. A judicial determination by any court of abuse or neglect of a child, elder, or vulnerable person in the past twenty (20) years.
4. A judicial determination by any court of use of violence (including murder/homicide), force, weapons, or threats against another person in the past twenty (20) years, including where the court has found the underlying basis motivated in domestic violence against a spouse or other intimate partner.
5. A judicial determination by any court of any felonious act of dishonesty in the past fifteen (15) years, or any misdemeanor act of dishonesty in the past ten (10) years.
6. A plea bargain whereby any charge that would otherwise fall under 1-5 was withdrawn in exchange for a plea on a different charge, or dismissal of a case that would otherwise fall under 1-5 due to expiration of the statute of limitations.
7. A judicial determination by any court of felonious impaired driving in the past five (5) years.
8. Any pending case in civil or criminal court charging any activity listed above.
9. Any judicial determination by any court for which parole, supervision, or probation is currently ongoing.
10. Out of court settlement of any alleged activity listed above.
11. Removal or requested resignation from any Conference leadership position in the past three (3) years.
12. When an Authorized Minister, any fitness review is pending, in process, or for which a program of growth has not yet been completed.
13. When an Authorized Minister, holding exempt standing.
14. When formerly an Authorized Minister, the termination of ministerial standing by a Committee on Ministry in and on behalf of the United Church of Christ.
