Pastor Parish Relations Training for Effective Church Leadership

Staff/Pastor Parish Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Training Relations Training 2022 Northwest District (with information and ideas from Virginia Annual Conference, Ann Handschu, and many others)

Sources Book of Discipline 2016 Paragraph 258.2 Page 196-201 PPRC Guidelines (umcdiscipleship.org) Experience of wise leaders

Goals today: Offer a guide for positive and productive team meetings Equip you for your responsibilities as S/PPRC chairs and clergy partners Encourage you as your leadership role becomes a part of your discipleship Provide a useful annual calendar for your work

Mission of the Church 100% Local churches engaged in their mission field is our Wildly Important Goal Making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world Love of God and Love of neighbor are the foundation Values: Missional, Accountable, Called, Connectional

How does a fully devoted, maturing disciple of Jesus Christ think and act? *2 *2 important questions How is our church helping people develop into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ? *Ann Handschu

Who is S/PPRC Professing members of the local church (And/or) Associate Members of the local church People engaged attentive to their own maturing Christian spiritual development: in worship, giving of time, talent and treasure. Elected by Charge Conference Lay Member of Annual Conference and Lay Leader (voice & vote) A representative and lay leader from each church on the charge 2016 Discipline 258.2

Who is S/PPRC Model team for the rest of the church First priority is the pastor(s) success toward accomplishing the mission Model discipleship act in a Christ-like way Willing to accept your own privileges Affirm and Encourage regularly Cor = heart People engaged all year this is a ministry!

Who S/PPRC cannot be Immediate family members of the pastor(s) or staff More than one immediate family member from the same household Staff Members

Committee Basics (258.2a): Membership Between 5 and 9 persons (one shall be a young adult and one may be a youth) Divided into three year classes Members shall be able to succeed themselves for one three-year term Oversees the work of all staff Pastor should be present, unless s/he excuses self or if C.S. is in attendance

Committee Basics Single Council same rules apply All Council votes as S/PPRC Divided into three year classes Members shall be able to succeed themselves for one three-year term Oversees the work of all staff Pastor should be present, unless s/he excuses self or if C.S. is in attendance

Meetings Written, confidential minutes At least quarterly with at least 2 weeks notice Pastor present, unless she/he voluntarily excuses self Only with knowledge of Pastor and/or CS Shall meet in closed session confidentiality May meet with CS without appointed pastor(s) (notification prior to meeting and consultation after) is key

S/PPRC stewards of congregational relationships MEDIATING Address conflict in healthy ways and teaching mediation and communication skills MENTORING Discern God s hand in calling persons to ministry as clergy (licensed/ordained) or lay servants MAXIMIZING Graciously hold pastor, staff, and congregation accountable to the mission PURPOSE OVER PREFERENCE MONITORING Tend to relationships in the congregation and care for pastor and staff

If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell himwork it out between the two of you. If he listens, you ve made a friend. If he won t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again. If he still won t listen, tell the church. If he won t listen to the church, you ll have to start over from scratch, confront him with the need for repentance, and offer again God s forgiving love. Matthew 18:15-17 (The Message)

RESPECTful Communication R Accept RESPONSIBILITY for what you say and feel without blaming others E Listen with an EMPATHETIC heart S Be SENSITIVE to differences in communication styles P PONDER what you hear and feel before you speak E EXAMINE your own assumptions and perceptions What story are you telling yourself? C Keep CONFIDENTIALITY T TRUST ambiguity, because we are not here to debate who is right or wrong (Adapted from The Bush was Blazing But Not Consumed by Eric Law

Confidentiality / Integrity Issues Issues are discussed during meetings, not between meetings All matters under discussion are kept in strict confidence, i.e., a Brave Space All input brought to the meeting is held in confidence, but is owned input, not anonymous input. Careful reporting to Council of each meeting s outcomes, honoring confidentiality

How does your congregation support and encourage your pastor(s) and/or staff? How do you handle conflict with or about the pastor?

Duties of Committee : Personnel Consult: pulpit supply, compensation, vacation, insurances, pension, housing - making recommendations to Council in light of Conference policies. Recommend to Council personnel policies and monitor compliance Develop and recommend to Council staff positions and job descriptions for staff other than pastor Enlist, interview, evaluate, review, recommend: Lay Speakers, Candidates for Ministry and missionary service Consult: continuing education, renewal To encourage, monitor, and support clergy and lay staff pursuit of health and wholeness.

Duties of Committee: Housing Issues With Trustee and Pastor, make annual review of parsonage plan for upgrades Assure timely resolution of parsonage problems affecting the health of the Pastor or Pastor s family.

Duties of Committee: Housing Issues Remember your house, their home . Show hospitality. Respect privacy. Housing allowance should reflect the costs for home, utilities, insurance in your community tax implications

Duties of Committee: Housing Issues C.S. or Connecting Shepherd can help with navigating issues Pet policies deposit, expectations

Duties of Committee Appointment Issues Confer with Pastor & Cooperate with Pastor, CS, and Bishop when the missional needs of the congregation (or the Conference) point to a change in pastoral leadership. Such conferring and cooperating with CS and Bishop are advisory only.

The United Methodist Way The Bishop appoints after consultation (sent vs. call system) Open Itinerancy : Clergy are appointed and received without bias about race, ethnic origin, gender, color, disability, marital status, or age. Itinerancy in Indiana

Annual Recommendation to Cabinet Appointment Request Form Fill out form with new S/PPRC only Form is advisory to Bishop and Cabinet Complete the Appointment Request form on time Pastor and S/PPRC share their forms together No polls, petitions, straw votes NOT just loud voices

Duties of Committee Set priorities together Together with pastor, set priorities for time use toward the goals of the church and be ready to adjust when needed Protect the priorities you set

The Pastors Job Description set priorities for time use Word (and worship) Sermon 8-12 hours Worship plan- 2-3 hours 2 hours per class Service Community engagement and involvement Sacrament Calling others to discipleship Preparing for baptism/confirmation Communion Order FT pastors expected to serve District/Conference Pastor chair of Lay Leadership Nominations Staff oversight Forms and reporting

Duties of Committee Feed the priorities and Encourage Affirm strengths feed the priorities Do the work on time - Appointment Review, Consultations, Assessments Acknowledge weaknesses with sensitivity and develop a plan - hope is not a strategy Utilize Support Systems and Appreciation regularly ask How are you doing? Consider liaisons for staff Nothing negative about pastor outside S/PPRC and in the meeting only constructive

Support Systems Self-care Accountability (Prayer, vacation, days off, health, stress management, etc.) Parsonages or Housing Allowances (Good repair, privacy, meet Conference standards) Connecting Shepherds part- time churches Leadership Development: funding for continuing education training and coaching Director of Clergy Renewal Karen Bray CA and CS

FIRST QUARTER SECOND QUARTER Organize Committee (vice- chair, secretary) Share your faith journeys Calendar Flow New appointments set - Announce clergy change if a move is projected Review mission and vision of the churchpersonnel policies Parsonage Tour -- with Trustees NOT OPTIONAL Review job descriptions for lay staff and personnel policies Attend Moving with Missional Purpose if pastoral change is happening Look at S/PPRC Goals for year, set priorities Set vacation schedules THIRD QUARTER FOURTH QUARTER Set goals for new year how do they impact staff (priorities, training, division of tasks). Celebrate victories and outgoing members Budget work: salary, accountable reimbursement, continuing education, parsonage/HA other budget items that relate to staff Look at long range plan for Pastor s continuing education Interview and recommend Lay Speakers, candidates for ministry, missionaries (or as needed) Appointment Request form Announce retirement by 12/1 Complete Assessment and make recommendations for charge conference action. Pastor appreciation/staff gifts Celebrate Pastor Appreciation in October

Theres no growth in the comfort zone, and no comfort in the growth zone!

This power point and a SPR handbook will be on the Northwest District website Train your committee What happens next?

What will you put into practice?

Goals today: What else? Offer a guide for positive and productive team meetings Equip you for your responsibilities as S/PPRC chairs and clergy partners Encourage you as your leadership role becomes a part of your discipleship Provide a useful annual calendar for your work

Dear God, as I go about my responsibilities for the SPRC, may I approach each opportunity with both my mind and my heart. I believe that if I put you in the middle of each situation, I will be a bridge builder. Please help me to think, plan, feel, and act on behalf of the whole community, not just a segment of it or for my own selfish desires or preferences.

God, I want to commit to the truth without engaging in name-calling or blaming. I want to act on the truth that there is more to be gained by appealing to the best in others than to the worst in others. And as a Team, let us work together to be Christ-like and serve the church while pursuing our mission, which in turn should help move the mission of the United Methodist Church to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world. Amen.