Originally approved by the Church Board December 13, 2016.
Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees
at Broadway Christian Church
Purpose of Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees
To maintain good relations and good communication between pastors, church staff and congregational members. The health of the relationship between the pastor and people cannot be taken for granted. Each entrusts the other; each complements the other. Stewardship of this relationship is important for the life of the church.
Why have Pastoral Relations Committees?
These committees acknowledge the importance of the healthy relationship among pastors, church staff and the congregation. Such committees aid a church in following Paul's instructions: "Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith." (Galatians, 6:2,10)
What are Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees?
Pastoral Relations Committees are standing committees that seek to support and maintain an open and healthy relationship among the pastors, staff and members of the congregation. The committees serve in two primary ways: as advisory groups to the pastoral staff and as a support for their leadership. As advisory groups, the committees share ideas, dreams, hopes, expectations and concerns of the congregation with the pastoral staff. As a support for the pastoral staff, the committees interpret roles, functions and needs of the pastoral staff to the congregation.
The main reason for sustaining open and healthy pastor-people relationships through the work of these committees is to enhance the effectiveness of the church's mission. The relationship between pastoral staff and the congregation should be constructive, rewarding and satisfying. As the people of God, they share joys, heartaches, personal crises and important decisions in ways that bind their lives together. However, sometimes the pastor-people relationship is characterized by tension, distrust and conflict. When this occurs, there needs to be an arena for helpful and honest dialogue out of which new understandings may arise and new commitments to ministry may be forged. One of the services to a congregation that a Pastoral Relations Committee can offer is to learn and then teach the art of successful negotiating, because not all disagreements can or will be resolved, nor should they. Diversity in theology, personality and background of church members leads to richness and strength in ministry.
Important qualities of members of Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees
Able to provide constructive, caring communication to pastors, staff and church members
Confidential and worthy of trust
Capable of considering two points of view (or maybe many points of view)
Sensitive to peoples' feelings
Gossip resistant
Community-builder
Good listening skills (in terms of listening both to the membership and to the pastoral staff)
Christian character that commands the respect and admiration of the congregation and the
pastoral staff
Maturity
Patience and flexibility
Vital interest in the life of the church
Ability to negotiate and reconcile differences
Selection of members of Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees
Choice of committee members is crucial. The members of the committees must be people whose ideas and opinions are valued by the pastors, the church staff and the congregation.
Members should be selected in a way that allows representation from all services at Broadway (if possible) and discipleship and/or leadership positions (past or present) held by members in the various ministry areas. Members are added on a three year rotation appointed by the Board Officers in consultation with the Ministers.
Possible organization of Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees:
Small enough in nature to allow for thorough discussion and consideration of relevant issues (3-
5 committee members for each pastor)
Not programmatic or policy-oriented; relationship-oriented
Reports to and responds to requests from the Executive Committee
Trained by regional staff already acquainted with Pastoral-Congregational Relations
Committees
Regular meetings to build the community of the group, trust and openness
Inform the BCC Executive Committee when they have met
Staff members who are also congregational members:
In all cases, differences of opinion regarding programmatic or policy decisions between church staff and pastors should be dealt with first in the expected fashion - staff talking with their supervising pastor directly and visa versa. If staff members are also church members, they would have the same rights as any other church members to conversations and discussions with the pastoral-congregational relations committees.
Possible Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees meeting plan:
Prayer and/or brief devotional (chairperson)
What issues will we talk about? (chairperson)
A time for taking the pulse of the congregation, where hurts are shared and victories celebrated (chairperson, committee members and pastoral staff)
Relational issues from the pastoral staff that need reporting and discussing (i.e. an experience to share and celebrate, recent disappointment, future expectations, most persistent concern, etc. (pastoral staff)
Relational issues from the congregation that need reporting and discussing (i.e. areas of strong satisfaction or appreciation of the pastoral staff, specific items that caused some negative reaction or concern, other feedback (chairperson and committee members)
Ongoing training for committee members (led by chairperson or committee member or church member with expertise in group dynamics, conflict mediation, management, etc.)
Closing prayer (committee member)
What Pastoral-Congregational Relations Committees are not:
A complaint box.
Individual members with personal questions, comments and/or concerns for the ministers and staff should feel free to talk with these leaders on their own and confidentially. The Pastoral-Relations Committees are designed to consider church issues in a broader sense and to help to create openness in communication between the ministers and church members, not a venue to field private complaints or views of individual members not generally shared by other congregational members.
Reference and more specific information available at:
http://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/unitedchurchofchrist/legacy ur1/11191/prc.pclf?141843695 3
2016 BCC Personnel Committee Members
Phil Fichter
Dave Fore
Phyllis Hardin
Wayne Holden
Dana Fritz, Chair