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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
Who are we?
Members may not have more than two consecutive terms.Immediate family members cannot serve togetherRelatives of the pastor or staff cannot serve on the SPRCOne member must be a young adultEveryone 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.
How Often do we meet?
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
RESULT:
MaintenanceRESULT:
Leadership
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
ConfidentialityCompassion
Civility
1. Abiding in Christ
Sacred Time
2. Offering Pastoral Support3. Focus on Leadership for the Church’s Mission4. Commitments & Prayer
COVENANT• I. Any Church, AnywhereBasic pastoral duties for the life and
mission of the church: preachi
ng
pastoral care
adminis-trationteaching
leadership
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-trationteaching
leadership
• 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: “1st 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.
Spiritually
In your meetings
During Conflict
Through continued education and development
Communicating with the congregation
Pastoral Changes
III. SPRC Covenant with the Pastor
Pastor’s
Input
District Superintend
ent
Cabinet Assessment of Annual Conference
Contact with New
Pastor
Introduce to SPRC
May -Public Announceme
ntJuly 1 new
pastor begins
Pastor Remains
May-Public Announcem
entAPPOINTIVE PROCESS
Rule of 3 “C”’s ConfidentialityCompassion
Civility
SPRC member
Pastor Parishioner or Staff
Practice Matthew 18:15-17
1. Conflict is first worked out directly between two people.2. An SPRC member goes with the parishioner to listen while they talk & seek resolution3. If there is no resolution, the SPRC addresses the issue together.
Avoid Triangles!
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 onlyat 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 18:15-17 1. 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 inthe 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 NixonWatching Over One Another With Love by Gwendolynn PurushothamA 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 FossSix marks of discipleship for a changing church
Leading Change in the Congregation by Gilbert RendleSpiritual and Organizational Tools for Leaders
District website: evdistrictumc.com
STAFF CONFLICT with the PASTOR , another STAFF or a
PARISIONER
Practice Matthew 18:15-17 1. 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.