Staff-Parish

RelationsCommitt

ee

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

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?

Mission-Centered

Issue-Centered

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

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

Key to Support

and Leadershi

p:COVENANT

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

Covenant Conversation

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

SPRC Basics:

HANDLING CONFLICT

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!

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 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.