Purpose of the Practitioner CORE
The CORE Council of the United Church of Religious Science hereby establishes a Practitioner Core to provide an effective, empowered and representative leadership team that is an advocate and voice for UCRS licensed Practitioners within the Global Heart organizational model.  This Core reports to and partners with the Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator (ECC).

The Practitioner Core’s intentions are to inspire and facilitate greater participation of the Practitioner community in United Church activities and programs; to support harmonious and meaningful partnership between Practitioners and Ministers; and to nurture the personal and professional growth of Practitioners individually and collectively. The Practitioner Core develops annual recommendations and plans to carry out these intentions.

The Practitioner Core works in partnership with the Professional Standards Core on all matters pertaining to the Practitioner Code and to Practitioners’ adherence to ethical and professional behavior.

Funding of the Practitioner Core
Administrative expenses of the Practitioner Core are funded by UCRS according to policies, procedures and budgets established by the Stewardship Core. In addition, in each fiscal year, the Stewardship Core shall allocate and reserve 15% of annual income from Practitioner licensing fees for programs dedicated to Practitioner enrichment. The Practitioner Core shall research, design and present proposals for the programs to be funded from the reserved monies to the ECC for approval.  If the ECC returns a proposal to the Core for further research or additional planning, the estimated budget for the program shall not be released or allocated to any other program, project or operational expense of UCRS. The first allocation of Practitioner licensing fees shall be implemented Fiscal Year 2006/2007.   

Formation of the Practitioner Core
The Practitioner Core is comprised of six (6) members elected from the Practitioner community. The Practitioner Core shall also include as non-voting members the Practitioner Representative of the CORE Council, the Director of Growth & Ministries and the Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator. The Practitioner Representative of the CORE Council, the Director of Growth and Ministries and the Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator have no term limits.

Members of this Core must be UCRS licensed Practitioners of good standing with a minimum of two (2) years’ experience and a proven record of service, integrity and spiritual maturity. 

The original formation of the Practitioner Core shall consist of: three (3) members of the current (2005) Leadership Council of the Religious Science Practitioner Community Association and three (3) other members appointed by the Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator with the approval of the CORE Council from among qualified licensed Practitioners willing to serve and nominated by the Practitioner body.  The goal is to obtain an inclusive, geographically balanced and broad-based representation of the United Church spiritual community.  These charter members of the Practitioner Core shall serve one, two or three-year terms that shall be assigned randomly so that beginning in 2007 incoming members to the Core shall be elected, not appointed.

With the exception of the Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator, the Director of Growth & Ministries and the Practitioner Representative of the CORE Council, elected members shall serve three-year terms, with terms being staggered so that one-third of the members’ terms expire each year. Expired terms of elected seats shall be referred to the UCRS Nominating Team for recruitment of appropriate nominees who shall be elected by Practitioners at the Annual Gathering. If any member resigns before his/her term expires, the Practitioner Core Chair may appoint a person to fill the vacancy with the approval of the CORE Council. 

No member having served three years will be eligible for reappointment or re-election to the Practitioner Core for at least one year after the expiration of his/her most recent full term.

The Core members shall elect or designate a chair, a vice-chair and a secretary. The Ecclesiastical Core Coordinator, the Director of Growth and Ministries and the Practitioner Representative of the CORE Council may not serve as officers of the Practitioner Core. All three officers will be elected or designated annually. All three officers may be re-elected or re-designated for one successive term only. The secretary will keep accurate and thorough written minutes of all Core meetings, which shall be filed with the Core Administrator at the UCRS Home Office and which shall be submitted to the CORE Council as requested or as addenda to reports.

Scope of Work
Ecclesiastical Update The Practitioner Core’s scope of work shall include all aspects of Practitioner support, oversight, service, education, representation and ongoing development.  Over time the Practitioner Core shall address the following:

1. Vision constantly and whole-heartedly so that the Core is guided in revealing God’s greatest idea for Practitioners.
   1. Make recommendations to the Education Core in the assessment of and changes to Practitioner education curricula and materials. 
   2. Gather and analyze information necessary to develop new and/or coordinate existing programs such as workshops, retreats and other communal events that enhance and expand Practitioners personal, professional and spiritual growth.
   3. Evaluate and develop proposals for increased and improved communication networks, materials and strategies that create greater connection and bonding for the Practitioner community.
   4. Create an ongoing process for seeking and synthesizing Practitioners’ feedback and ideas for Core direction, priorities and effectiveness.
   5. Initiate a program of workshops, retreats, community dialogues and other activities dedicated to healthy, empowering and effective partnerships between Practitioners and Ministers.
   6. Work with the Department of Growth and Ministries to evaluate the entire process and consciousness of current policies and practices related to Practitioner licensing.
   7. Work with the Stewardship Core and the Department of Growth and Ministries to develop budget recommendations that allocate a specific portion of licensing fees to Practitioner programs.
   8. Develop and implement strategies for increasing the understanding and visibility of the Practitioner role within UCRS and out into the world.
   9.  Serve as the official decision making representative and advocate to the CORE Council on all policies, procedures and protocols pertaining to UCRS Licensed Practitioners.
   10. Consider participation in or responsibility for other creative initiatives as requested by the CORE Council.