Staff- Parish Relations Committee

WORSHIP

The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is where the pastor, staff and the congregation come together to focus on the leadership needed for the mission of the church..

Together, lay members and the pastor deal with the celebrations and disappointments that arise out of life as a community of faith, and develop strong leadership for the mission of the church..

5-9 members elected at Church Conference for a 3-year term + Lay Leader & Lay Member to Annual Conference Members may not have more than two consecutive terms. Immediate family members cannot serve together Relatives of the pastor or staff cannot serve on the SPRC One member must be a young adult Everyone must be a professing or associate member of the church

Minimum: 4 times per year Recommended: at least 6 times per year… and monthly for the first year with a new pastor * * The committee shall meet only with the knowledge of the pastor and/or district superintendent.

Staff-Parish Relations Focus

ISSUES Care of the parsonage Upset Parishioners Church policies Staff concerns Annual ministry recommendation to the Superintendent Pastor Recognition Events Others… MISSION Creating a Covenant reflecting your church’s mission statement. Identifying a continuing education focus Assessing the congregation’s spiritual gifts Nurturing youth for pastoral ministry Studying and growing in leadership with your pastor

Sensitive matters can be shared in confidence and discussed without fear of attack or reprisal. Sacred Space Leaders grow together through study and scripture; they pray for one another and their church; and support their pastor’s growth for ministry Rule of 3 “C”’s Confidentiality Compassion Civility

1. Abiding in Christ Sacred Time 2. Offering Pastoral Support 3. Focus on Leadership for the Church’s Mission 4. Commitments & Prayer

Key to Support and Leadership: COVENANT

I. Any Church, Anywhere Basic pastoral duties for the life and mission of the church: preaching pastoral care adminis- tration teachingleadership

COVENANT II. Your Mission, Your People What unique focus does your pastor need to give in order to lead you in fulfilling God’s mission for your church? EXAMPLES Teaching Bible Studies Leading Neighborhood Visitation Teams Serving on an ecumenical Food Pantry team

COVENANT preaching pastoral care adminis- tration teachingleadership Now the HARD PART… In order to focus on those needs and ministries: What ministry expectations in your church will your pastor do less of, or let go of completely? How can the laity take more responsibility for these ministries?

Vision Statement: “1 st Church is called by God to… Church’s Goals for 2011 : Increasing the number of small groups in the church Reach neighborhood children through a summer children’s ministry Deepen the spiritual experience of worship Pastor’s Ministry  Teach Disciple Bible Study and train small group leaders  Work with church council and leadership team; participate as the pastor’s gifts allow.  Plan and lead healing services quarterly; work with prayer team.

SpirituallyIn your meetingsDuring Conflict Through continued education and development Communicating with the congregation Pastoral Changes III. SPRC Covenant with the Pastor

Staff-Parish Assessment Pastor’s Input District Superintendent Cabinet Assessment of Annual Conference Contact with New Pastor Introduce to SPRC May -Public Announcement July 1 new pastor begins Pastor Remains May-Public Announcement APPOINTIVE PROCESS

SPRC Basics: HANDLING CONFLICT

Rule of 3 “C”’s Confidentiality Compassion Civility SPRC member Pastor Parishioner or Staff Practice Matthew 18: Conflict is first worked out directly between two people. 2. An SPRC member goes with the parishioner to listen while they talk & seek resolution 3. If there is no resolution, the SPRC addresses the issue together. Avoid Triangles !

SPRC Basics: LAY STAFF

DETERMINING STAFF NEEDS & EFFECTIVENESS The SPRC and the pastor work together to determine the professional leadership needs of the parish: To hire and release staff members To support and strengthen staff effectiveness Provide annual evaluation Recommend annual compensation to the Charge Conference Address the use of skills and priorities Consult on continuing education & spiritual renewal The SPRC and pastor together determine the job descriptions of all lay staff.

LAY STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY All Lay staff are directly supervised by the pastor and are responsible directly to him/her for accountability and oversight of their work. Lay Staff are not members or Regular participants in SPRC meetings. They attend only at the invitation of the Staff-Parish Committee, and only for matters pertaining to their position. The pastor is present for all SPRC meetings including those with their Staff.

STAFF CONFLICT with the PASTOR, another STAFF or a PARISIONER Practice Matthew 18: Concerns are first addressed directly by the staff person with the pastor, staff member or parishioner involved. 2. If there is no resolution, the staff person may ask the Chair of the SPRC to be in a conversation with the parties involved to seek resolution 3. If there is still no resolution, the Chair of the SPRC can place the item on the agenda and invite the staff person to address them with the SPRC and other party at the next scheduled meeting. Avoid Conflict Triangles: SPRC members should not speak for staff persons or carry messages to the SPRC from personal conversations with them.

MEETING TOPICS Planning for pastoral change Care of the parsonage Upset Parishioners Church policies Staff concerns Annual pastoral recommendation to the Superintendent Pastor Recognition Events Creating a Covenant reflecting your church’s mission statement. Identifying a continuing education focus Assessing the congregation’s spiritual gifts Nurturing youth for pastoral ministry Studying and growing in leadership with your pastor Spiritual Renewal for your pastor Annual Covenant Renewal Arrangements for Course of Study time Setting annual compensation package and recommend to the church council Confer on pulpit supply Recommend staff changes to the church council; hire/fire staff Interview and recommend candidates for ministry Interpret to the congregation the nature of United Methodist ministry Promote unity in the local church and the parish Study the role and work of a pastor Write and review lay staff job descriptions Educate the congregation about the Ministerial Education Fund

SPRC MEETING OUTLINE 1.10 minutes of Devotions /Study, sharing prayers, singing Sightings of Good News – How have you seen God at work in the congregation and through the church’s ministry? 2. Reflections from the Pastor – How is it with your soul? 3. Today’s Topic(s) 4. Other business 5. Follow-up… Next meeting date and time… 6. Sending prayer *Ask members to bring concerns to the pastor ahead of time and decide together whether it needs to be addressed by the entire committee. Surprise complaints cannot be dealt with constructively in a meeting.

A copy of this powerpoint is on the district website BOOKS & GUIDES Pastor-Parish Relations GUIDELINES booklet The Book of Discipline of the United Methodist Church Unbinding the Gospel by Mary Grace Reese I Refuse to Lead a Dying Church by Rev Paul Nixon Watching Over One Another With Love by Gwendolynn Purushotham A step-by-step guidance for creating a covenant-based ministry assessment process that holds persons accountable for fruit-bearing faith while enabling the experience of ministry assessment to be edifying for both the church and the pastor. Can Our Church Live? by Alice Mann Redeveloping Congregations in Decline Take the Next Step by Lovett Weems, Jr. Leading Lasting Change in the Church Power Surge by Michael Foss Six marks of discipleship for a changing church Leading Change in the Congregation by Gilbert Rendle Spiritual and Organizational Tools for Leaders District website: evdistrictumc.com

STAFF CONFLICT with the PASTOR, another STAFF or a PARISIONER Practice Matthew 18: Concerns are first addressed directly by the staff person with the pastor, staff member or parishioner involved. 2. If there is no resolution, the staff person may ask the Chair of the SPRC to be in a conversation with the parties involved to seek resolution 3. If there is still no resolution, the Chair of the SPRC can place the item on the agenda and invite the staff person to address them with the SPRC and other party at the next scheduled meeting. Avoid Conflict Triangles: SPRC members should not speak for staff persons or carry messages to the SPRC from personal conversations with them.

Closing Prayer for SPRC members “Lord of our church, thank you for the pastor who serves us. We praise you for _________’s devotion, wisdom and faithfulness. Teach us a thousand ways to show our love. Help us to show our pastor how influential she/he is in our spiritual development and in the effectiveness of our ministry. Show us how to encourage and support him/her, to speak the truth in love, and to offer our best in return. Amen.” adapted from the book Your Pastor Is an Endangered Species by H.B. London, Jr., and Neil B. Wiseman.

Closing Prayer for Pastors “Lord of our church, thank you for the laity who serve you. We praise you for their devotion, wisdom and faithfulness. Teach us a thousand ways to show our love. Help us to show them how influential they are in our spiritual health and in the effectiveness of our ministry. Show us how to encourage and support them, to speak the truth in love, and to offer our best in return. Amen.” adapted from the book Your Pastor Is an Endangered Species by H.B. London, Jr., and Neil B. Wiseman.