TALENT BANK FORM

The Commission on Nominations nominates members of the Reformed Church in America for membership on the RCA’s various commissions and agencies.  A brief description of these commissions and agencies can be found on the RCA website, www.rca.org/synod/talentbank.html.  All confessing members of RCA congregations are eligible for nomination, as well as all RCA ministers in good standing.

The following form must be filled out by all candidates and submitted to the Commission on Nominations by January 31.  The Commission on Nominations will then determine final nominees whose names will be submitted to the General Synod for election.  Terms are three years in duration and begin July 1.

Please submit this form to The Commission on Nominations, attn: Laura Tarbous, ltarbous@rca.org, Reformed Church in America, 18th Floor, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY  10115.

Name  													
Address  												
City, State, Zip  											
Office phone                                     Home phone                                         Email 			
Please check one:
	Confessing member of an RCA congregation		  Minister of the RCA in good standing
Church                                                    		Classis of membership  				
Address     __                                                           		
_________						
                                                                                  	
Years a member                                                        	
Classis to which your church belongs  		

The Commission on Nominations is responsible to “monitor the inclusiveness of the membership of the various commissions and agencies with respect to geography, gender, age, culture and social differences, and academic and other appropriate expertise.  The commission shall also monitor required nominations of racial/ethnic persons…” (Book of Church Order, Chap. 3, Part I, Art. 5, Sec. 8.c.4).  The following information will be helpful in assisting the commission with these responsibilities:

Gender (optional)   M   F       Age (optional)                     Racial-ethnic group (optional) 			

Please check all degree programs completed:
  high school       college     major                                graduate study     field of study 			

The Book of Church Order further specifies that “the commission, in consultation with the general secretary, shall search the denomination for suitable nominees.  In making nominations it shall consider the geographic location, occupation, and record of previous service to the denomination of persons suggested by classes, regional synods, and other sources.  It shall consider this and other pertinent data in light of each commission’s or agency’s responsibilities, membership needs, suggested nominees, and place and schedule of meetings.” (Book of Church Order, Chap. 3, Part I, Art. 5, Sec. 8.c.2).

Occupation  												
												(form continues on back)

Some agencies specifically require professional expertise from some or all of their members.  Please check any of these that apply:
  finance			  law			  health care insurance	
  human resources	  retirement benefits	
                                                                                                                                                        
Church offices held (check all that apply):
	Deacon			  Elder		  Minister

Please indicate briefly previous service to your congregation, the classis, regional or general synod
Congregation  												
Classis 													
Regional Synod  												
General Synod  												

Commission, board, or agency for which you are applying 							

The Commission on Nominations has found the acronym SHAPE to be helpful in distinguishing among many qualified candidates.  Thus, the commission strives to match people with positions on the basis of their Spiritual gifts, Heart (or passion), Abilities, Personality, Experience.  Please write a brief paragraph or two explaining how your gifts, abilities and experience would benefit the work of the commission or agency for which you are applying.	

Please furnish the names and telephone numbers of a minister and an elder, deacon, or layperson who know you personally and/or who have worked with you, especially in your area of particular interest.

Minister                                                                                                       Telephone  				
Elder, Deacon, or Layperson                                                                      Telephone  				
Signature                                                                                                     Date 				

Office Use Only
Date received  		 Official nomination by                                             for