1. Review of Ministry Clerks Consultation April 11-14, 2016 Susan Shaffer
Ministry and Church Vocations

2. Non-disciplinary complaints
strained relationships may result in non-disciplinary complaint
complaint may include:
several minor acts of negligence
unsuitable actions
differences of opinion
personal misunderstandings or disputes
when taken together, these undermine ministry
importance of regular presbytery visitations
duty to meet first (Matthew 18:15-17)

3. Complaint against Minister
Written, to session >>>> to presbytery (15 days)
By person(s) OR by Presbytery Visitation Committee
Permitted to try to resolve before investigation
Presbytery appoints Investigative Committee:
terms of reference
is complaint valid?
try to resolve
outcomes:
no further action
settled (terms reported to presbytery)
non-disciplinary review of ministry
charges against minister >>>> disciplinary case

4. Review of Ministry Purpose: Minister and session informed
facilitate changes to improve pastoral relationship
OR determine fairly pastoral relationship not viable
Minister and session informed
Terms of review
Key considerations:
nature of call/covenant
not sacrificing minister to unreasonable expectations
4 months (minimum)

5. Review of Ministry - outcomes
review team gives notice to minister and session, then reports to presbytery
3 possible presbytery decisions:
pastoral relationship affirmed
review extended (same or different terms)
pastoral relationship deemed not viable
potential strengths:
fair and transparent process to assess viability of pastoral relationship
possible outcomes known from outset

6. The Church’s Experience
Are presbyteries conducting reviews of ministry?
Why or why not?
What alternatives are being pursued?
What are we learning?

7. Presbytery Reports Thank you! 21 presbyteries
17 “review of ministry” narratives
4 reviews of ministry
3 commissions
10 visitations
in 16 of 17, minister and congregation parted
4 “mental health issues” narratives

8. Reviews of Ministry

9. Narrative 1 session request: help with conflict/disharmony
minister had served there several years
Special Committee:
to meet with minister and elders
to listen, learn and help facilitate progress towards restoration of harmonious relationships
Acting Moderator: to moderate regular session meetings with minister present (6 months)
after 6 months, Special Committee submitted letter of complaint: no observed healing/reconciliation
Investigative Committee: after investigation, recommended review of ministry

10. .... Narrative 1
Terms of Reference: to review the causes of the conflict and strained relationship between minister, ruling elders, Board of Managers and congregation
4 months
review work of Special and Investigative Committees
examine relevant records/documents
meet with parties directly involved in leadership, as well as congregational members
Letter to congregation re review of ministry

11. .... Narrative 1
Dynamics:
clash of leadership
disagreement over communication
lay leaders confused about Presbyterian ways
breach of confidentiality within session
gossip
Minister and elders urged to create new behavioural covenant: unable
Recommendation of Review Team approved by presbytery: pastoral relationship not viable

12. .... Narrative 1
Special meeting called for proposed dissolution of pastoral tie
session and congregation cited to appear, by chosen representatives
presbytery dissolved pastoral tie
Interim Minister for 6 months (up to 12 months):
to assist congregation with healing/reconciliation
to deepen understanding of PCC process/governance
Minister:
counselling to deal more effectively with issues raised during this ministry
cost shared equally by minister and presbytery
certificate withheld pending counsellor report (readiness to seek new call)
Interim Moderator appointed; Acting Moderator and Review of Ministry Committee dismissed

13. Narrative 2
letter of complaint: several areas of congregation’s ministry
Review Terms of Reference:
committee established/named
review all relevant documents
cite minister, elders, Board of managers, congregation
review work of visitation and investigative committees
review conflict/strained relationships between Minister and complainants (as in complaint)
review congregation’s ministry goals/accomplishments
provide opportunity for changes to improve pastoral relationship or determine fairly that it is inviable
regular reports to presbytery
at conclusion (4+months), report outcome (1 of 3 possible)

14. ... Narrative 2 Meetings: Documents: minister ruling elders
complainants and people signing letter requesting review of ministry
Board of Managers
Trustees
Ladies Group
members and adherents
face-to-face, , mail, phone
Documents:
call to minister (generic)
session records
Board minutes
annual reports

15. ... Narrative 2 Observations: Recommendations:
troubled spirit in congregation, lots of “exits”
no recognition that all elders share responsibility for visitation; guidance to set reasonable expectations
minister’s time management
effective communication
erosion of trust in one another’s abilities within leadership
no desire for reconciliation; no reported attempts to address concerns
minister resistant to guidance/assistance
Recommendations:
dissolve pastoral tie
congregation to have facilitator (immediately) and interim minister (2 years)

16. Review of Ministry: Lessons/Questions/Comments
inadequate communication about 3 possible outcomes (shock when meeting to consider dissolution announced)
non-disciplinary review of ministry: but result looks like discipline
what can review team divulge about complaint?
focus too narrow – petition against minister – so felt unable to remove lay leaders
review team: not capable of reconciliation work
need middle step: skilled facilitator to attempt reconciliation, THEN return to decision about viability of pastoral relationship

17. ... More Review of Ministry Lessons/Questions/Comments
presbytery has no $ (congregation must pay transition allowance to minister, facilitator, interim minister, interim moderator)
review of ministry can feel like “putting in time”
presbytery has lost practice of regular visitations
concern about lawsuits
need guidelines for reviews of ministry

18. When Review of Ministry not Conducted
Lessons/Comments/Questions

19. Why Review of Ministry not Chosen
presenting issue was sharply focused – presbytery visitation designed to study that issue
“late” timing of presbytery intervention leads to focused issue
situation fits somewhat in category of review of ministry, but occasioned by crisis that shaped response process
minister requested permission to resign and refused to participate in review of ministry
multi-layered, multi-causal situation – presbytery knew shifts in lay leadership would be necessary; review of ministry would have been unfair to minister

20. Initiating Event session letter re $ (although not always about $)
session requests help re conflict and disharmony in session and/or in congregation
petition to dissolve congregation
regular presbytery visit conducted at end of minister’s first year in congregation

21. Lessons for Presbyteries
know your congregations
regular visitations
presbytery clerk to keep visitation reports for future reference
coach/insist on direct reporting (no hearsay)
presbytery told when situation “beyond redemption”
congregation/minister not forthright:
pride
maybe it will go away
maybe we can figure it out ourselves
distrust of presbytery
Act as soon as possible – “don’t let it fester!”

22. ... Lessons for Presbyteries
do not dismiss carefully documented lay concerns
listen to and support Review Team (few cases when recommendations of Review Team not approved)
underlying health of presbytery must be strong enough:
grounded in significant relationships, positive regard
nurtured capacity for openness, vulnerability
presbyteries need courage and tools to intervene when resisted by congregation (power plays appear to dominate as congregation declines)

23. ... Lessons for Presbyteries
do not act quickly to approve minister’s request to retire (early) or resign (when unexpected): investigate first!
be alert to minister in trouble
establish (beforehand) procedures re handling of report :
when will it be released? to whom? what input will minister and session have?
one suggestion: released first to presbytery, after minister asked to check facts only

24. How Do We?... encourage congregations to ask:
“How do we evolve?” NOT “How do we cope?”
“evolve” looks forward and wider scope (vision, mission)
“cope” looks at present and narrower scope (fosters preoccupation with presenting issue)
review congregation’s ministry, including all congregational activities and lay leadership
challenge people (not just minister) to take responsibility for their own views and actions about congregation’s ministry

25. Discussion ... Ministry and Church Vocations
Helping the church discern, prepare and support ministerial leaders
A department of the Life and Mission Agency
Funded by Presbyterians Sharing