United Church of Canada Exit Interview

United Church of Canada Exit Interview

This section will be for Clergy Leavers from the United Church of Canada to share information that is generally gathered from exit interviews. When a clergyperson in the UCC submits their voluntary (or involuntary) request to be on the discontinued service list, the denomination does no follow up to understand why clergy are leaving. This is understandable since the church hierarchy wants mainline and evangelical clergy to leave; yet lots of good reflection is lost to the denomination as a whole. I am confident that many in the UCC want to understand why clergy leave and the space has been provided for that opportunity.

The follow questions are adapted from commonly used company exit interviews. Please email your exit interviews to Rev. James Love. I'll be including my own, as time permits.

What is your primary reason for leaving the United Church of Canada?
Did anything trigger your decision to leave?
What was most satisfying about being a United Church of Canada?
What was least satisfying about being a United Church of Canada clergyperson?
What would you change about your role?
Did your ministry in the United Church of Canada turn out to be as you expected?
Did you receive enough training to engage in ministry effectively?
Did you receive adequate support for ministry; from M&P committees, from congregations; from presybtery; from the United Church of Canada denomination?
Did you receive sufficient feedback about your ministry faithfulness and effectiveness over your period of ministry?
Did the United Church of Canada help you grow as a Christian; as a pastor?
Do you have any tips for new clergy in the United Church of Canada?
What would you improve to make ministry in the United Church of Canada better?
Were you happy with your pay, benefits and other support?
What was the quality of the presbyterian supervision you received?
What could presbytery do that was different?
Based on your experience with the United Church of Canada, what do you think it takes to be a successful clergyperson?
Did any denominational policies or procedures (or any other obstacles) make your ministry more difficult?
Would you consider ministry with the United Church of Canada in the future? If not, what would need to change in order for you to change your mind?
Would you recommend pastoral ministry in the United Church of Canada to family and friends?
How do you generally feel about the United Church of Canada?
What did you like most about the United Church of Canada?
What did you like least about the United Church of Canada?
What does your new denomination offer that the the UCC doesn't?
Can/Could the United Church of Canada do anything to encourage you to stay?
Before deciding to leave, did you investigate other forms of ministry in the United Church of Canada?
Are planning to continue serving as a clergyperson in another denomination? If not, why are you no longer serving as a clergyperson; are you involved in another minstry?
Did anyone in the United Church of Canada discriminate against you, harass you or cause hostile working conditions?
Any other comments?