Staff parish relations committee
Purpose: Assists the Pastor in carrying out his leadership responsibilities. Monitors the Pastor's work-life balance, sets priorities for leadership and service. Encourages, strengthens, nurtures, supports, and respects the Pastor and his family. Promotes unity in the church and confers with and counsels the Pastor regarding the effectiveness of the ministry, relationships with the congregation, Pastor health and self-care, and conditions that may impede effective ministry. Evaluates the Pastor annually and recommends the Pastor salary to Chair, Finance Committee. Oversees, supervises, and evaluates all staff whether employees or contractors.
Builds a strong positive relationship between staff and congregation so that the congregation makes disciples of Jesus Christ.
The chair is the congregation’s primary connection with the district superintendent related to the pastoral appointments and pastoral evaluation for the congregation.
SPR IS the supervisor for all church staff, including oversight of volunteer positions with regard to ethical and appropriate behavior. Is not responsible for duties volunteers perform.
Ensures staff operates to full legal, safety, and ethical standards.
This committee encourages, strengthens, nurtures, supports, and respects the pastor and staff and their families. They confer regularly about the personnel conditions and issues that affect the congregation’s total ministry, including healthy life-work balance. They help the staff set priorities.
Communicates openly and regularly with the pastor, staff, and congregation.
Recommends needed staff positions and develops and approves written job descriptions and titles for staff.
Recommends compensation, travel, housing, and other financial matters to the church council through the finance committee. Recommends salary or contract payment amounts for all staff
Proactively council with and advise Pastor on his performance.
Responsible for carrying out, through appropriate agencies, proper screening (including background checks) for lay employees and volunteer staff.
Provides an annual evaluation of the pastor(s) and other staff for ongoing effective ministry.
This committee enlists, evaluates, and annually recommends candidates for professional ministry to the charge conference.
Committee recommends new positions or positions to delete to the Church Council
Conduct meetings as required but all discussions about staff issues or performance are kept confidential and only shared with those with a requirement to know. Meetings are closed when discussing staff performance or other private issues.
Recognize staff as appropriate – birthdays, Christmas, special occasions, Pastor appreciation month. Includes Christmas cards, bonuses, etc.
Arrange for pulpit supply (guest pastors) as needed – includes coordination, meeting the person at the church, arranging for meet and greets, etc.
Provides for and coordinates all aspects of background checks as necessary and maintains privacy of all related information and findings.
¶ 258.2 e) of the 2016 Book of Discipline states,
"The committee shall meet only with the knowledge of the pastor and/or the district superintendent. The pastor shall be present at each meeting of the committee on pastor-parish relations or staff-parish relations except where he or she voluntarily excuses himself or herself.
The committee may meet with the district superintendent without the pastor or appointed staff under consideration being present. However, the pastor or appointed staff under consideration shall be notified prior to such meeting with the district superintendent and be brought into consultation immediately thereafter.
The committee shall meet in closed session when discussing staff performance or other personnel sensitive issues, and information shared in the committee shall be confidential."
Builds a strong positive relationship between staff and congregation so that the congregation makes disciples of Jesus Christ.
The chair is the congregation’s primary connection with the district superintendent related to the pastoral appointments and pastoral evaluation for the congregation.
SPR IS the supervisor for all church staff, including oversight of volunteer positions with regard to ethical and appropriate behavior. Is not responsible for duties volunteers perform.
Ensures staff operates to full legal, safety, and ethical standards.
This committee encourages, strengthens, nurtures, supports, and respects the pastor and staff and their families. They confer regularly about the personnel conditions and issues that affect the congregation’s total ministry, including healthy life-work balance. They help the staff set priorities.
Communicates openly and regularly with the pastor, staff, and congregation.
Recommends needed staff positions and develops and approves written job descriptions and titles for staff.
Recommends compensation, travel, housing, and other financial matters to the church council through the finance committee. Recommends salary or contract payment amounts for all staff
Proactively council with and advise Pastor on his performance.
Responsible for carrying out, through appropriate agencies, proper screening (including background checks) for lay employees and volunteer staff.
Provides an annual evaluation of the pastor(s) and other staff for ongoing effective ministry.
This committee enlists, evaluates, and annually recommends candidates for professional ministry to the charge conference.
Committee recommends new positions or positions to delete to the Church Council
Conduct meetings as required but all discussions about staff issues or performance are kept confidential and only shared with those with a requirement to know. Meetings are closed when discussing staff performance or other private issues.
Recognize staff as appropriate – birthdays, Christmas, special occasions, Pastor appreciation month. Includes Christmas cards, bonuses, etc.
Arrange for pulpit supply (guest pastors) as needed – includes coordination, meeting the person at the church, arranging for meet and greets, etc.
Provides for and coordinates all aspects of background checks as necessary and maintains privacy of all related information and findings.
¶ 258.2 e) of the 2016 Book of Discipline states,
"The committee shall meet only with the knowledge of the pastor and/or the district superintendent. The pastor shall be present at each meeting of the committee on pastor-parish relations or staff-parish relations except where he or she voluntarily excuses himself or herself.
The committee may meet with the district superintendent without the pastor or appointed staff under consideration being present. However, the pastor or appointed staff under consideration shall be notified prior to such meeting with the district superintendent and be brought into consultation immediately thereafter.
The committee shall meet in closed session when discussing staff performance or other personnel sensitive issues, and information shared in the committee shall be confidential."