As adopted and recommended by the
URJ Board of Trustees and the
CCAR -- Fall 1984
Guidelines for
RABBINICAL-CONGREGATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
11. THE AUTHORITY OF THE RABBI
A. The Rabbi's Status in the Congregation
The Rabbi is the Congregation's chosen spiritual leader, called to minister to
the
religious, educational, pastoral, and communal needs of the membership. While
in a legal sense the Rabbi is an employee of the Congregation, the Rabbi is
more than a professional staff person.
The Rabbi's unique authority derives from three sources:
1. Rabbinic ordination attests to the Rabbi's learning and fitness to
interpret Judaism. Ordination is granted upon the completion of four years of
general studies in a university and five years of graduate study in the Hebrew
Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, or an institution of equivalent
rank.
2. Rabbinic authority is broadened by systematic study after ordination, and
by association with other Rabbis, with the agencies of the Reform Movement,
and with local and national institutions, both Jewish and non-Jewish, which
contribute to the Rabbi's scholarship, spiritual growth, and experience.
3. Rabbinic authority within a particular Congregation is derived from the
Rabbi's election as spiritual leader by the Congregation. (Specific procedures
may differ from Congregation to Congregation.)
B. The Roles of the Rabbi
1. The Rabbi in the Pulpit
The Rabbi always enjoys complete freedom of the pulpit. Rabbis are faithful
to the traditions and high demands of their rabbinic calling when they preach
and teach Judaism both in its fundamental essence and its application (as each
Rabbi sees it) to the contemporary scene.
Only the (Senior) Rabbi of the Congregation may invite another Rabbi or guest
speaker to occupy the pulpit.
The conduct of services of worship and life cycle ceremonies should be
primarily
the responsibility of the Rabbi. When changes in the method of worship are
under consideration, the Rabbi should consult with the Cantor and/or the
Director of Music and the appropriate congregational committee, and seek a
consensus. The Rabbi's especial competence in questions of ritual should be
recognized.
2. The Rabbi as Teacher
Rabbis should avail themselves of every opportunity to teach Torah to their
congregants.
If the Congregation's staff includes an Educator, the Educator shall consult
with the Rabbi in all matters relating to the educational program of the
Congregation.
3. The Rabbi as Scholar
The calling of the Rabbi requires regular and diligent study. Therefore, the
Congregation should provide the Rabbi with ample opportunity for both formal
and private study in Jewish and general areas of learning.
4. The Rabbi as Officiant
The Rabbi shall officiate at life-cycle functions of congregants. Courtesy and
practical considerations require that the Rabbi shall determine rituals and
procedures which are to be used at these functions. The Rabbi shall officiate
in accordance with his/her convictions and with due regard for the customs of
the Congregation. Other Rabbis in the Congregation shall officiate only in
conformity with the standards and procedures set by the (Senior) Rabbi. The
Cantor's especial competence in the field of Jewish music shall be respected
in the choice of appropriate music for public worship and
for life-cycle functions.
The Rabbi shall serve those individuals and families who seek rabbinic
ministration. In some instances, in the spirit and tradition of Judaism,
pastoral activities may be shared by Rabbi, Cantor, and lay people. The
Congregation shall recognize the desirability of establishing a proper balance
between the time needed for the Rabbi's pastoral obligations and other duties.
5. The Rabbi as Counselor
The Rabbi meets with individuals and families who desire personal guidance.
Contacts between the Rabbi and those who seek counsel are always held in
strictest confidence. When, in the Rabbi's judgment, the situation
warrants, the Rabbi makes referrals to specialists.
6. The Rabbi in the Community
Rabbis demonstrate their commitment to Judaism through participation in
activities which benefit the general community. Rabbis may rightly identify
themselves with causes, movements, or institutions which they judge compatible
with the teachings of Judaism.
7. The Rabbi as a Person
Rabbis, as do their congregants, require ample time and privacy to fulfill
their responsibilities to their family and to maintain their health of body
and of mind through regular physical exercise, study, and recreation. The
Congregation is best served in its partnership with its Rabbi when it takes
the Rabbi's needs as a person into account.
8. The Rabbi and the Lay Leadership
As has been noted previously (Article I, Section C), the Rabbi should interact
on all levels with the lay leadership of the Congregation. Experience has
demonstrated that a Congregation is best served when its rabbinic and lay
leadership consider themselves to be partners in the sacred work of the
Synagogue. The President and the Rabbi need to have an ongoing relationship,
respect for each other's knowledge and experience, and a genuine desire to
work together for the good of the Congregation. They should meet regularly
and frequently.
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