Pastor & Parish

pastor & parish logoPastor & Parish is a new learning resource for staff/pastor-parish relations committees (S/PPRCs). Offered as a formational experience, the Pastor & Parish curriculum grounds the work of the S/PPRC theologically and encourages thoughtful reflection upon the committee’s ministry in the congregation. 

We piloted the Pastor & Parish program in a number of churches in 2012 and are currently incorporating this feedback into the program. Beginning this summer, we hope to offer the program to all United Methodist congregations. 

Program Format

The Pastor & Parish program consists of six sessions, each lasting about an hour.  Each session is designed to build upon the last. A facilitator from your congregation will be trained to guide your committee through the program, which incorporates video, workbook exercises, guided discussion and complementary readings. The program concludes with the creation of a Covenant for Ministry tailored to your own parish setting.

We encourage S/PPRCs to gather on a weekly basis to complete the program. The Sunday school hour may be the ideal “set-aside” time for this study to take place, emphasizing the formational aspect of this ministry, as well as the practical training.  

Session Descriptions

Session 1: Baptism
Have you thought about your presence on the S/PPRC as a ministry? This session encourages committee members to understand their work as being a ministry in response to their baptism and to approach their responsibilities to the pastor and the congregation through this lens.

Session 2: Discipleship
In this session, we will explore the nature of Christian discipleship and the ways in which S/PPRCs can with their pastor(s) to fulfill the larger mission of the United Methodist Church: To make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

Session 3: Sacred Bundle
Each church has its own traditions, taboos, symbols and artifacts that constitute local church culture. But unless they are named, they remain hidden to a new pastor. We’ll discuss the S/PPRC’s role as narrator or interpreter of your church’s unique character. 

Session 4: Truthful Naming
In this session, we will explore basic tools that will equip your committee to deal responsibly with conflict arising in your congregation and “speak the truth in love.”

Session 5: Stewardship of the Pastor
How does your congregation care for its pastor? It’s a demanding role, filled with obligations to the congregation, the community, and the larger United Methodist connection. We’ll explore ways that the S/PPRC can foster a supportive environment that promotes the well-being of the pastor and his or her family, and consequently, the growth of the church. 

Session 6: Covenant for Ministry
In its final gathering, your committee will discuss ideas from previous sessions that you would like to see reflected in your work as a committee.  You will begin the process of constructing a covenant (or amending an existing one) that reflects the journey you will have taken during this study. This document is specific to your parish setting and is designed to complement other assessment tools your committee may use.

Participating

When will Pastor & Parish be available?
We expect to release Pastor & Parish in Summer 2013. 

Who should participate?
Pastor & Parish is designed for staff-parish relations committees, but our hope is that it will foster conversations that enhance the overall work of the church. Therefore, we encourage other key leaders within the congregation, such as the chairs of Church Council or Nominations, to join the group in completing the program. The choice of whether or not a pastor participates is something the pastor should discuss with his or her committee.  We have seen churches complete the program successfully in both ways.

Who should lead the group through the program?
Each participating committee should designate a committee member to be trained as a facilitator of the program. We strongly discourage pastors from serving as facilitators, as one goal of the program is to build leadership capacity within the church.

What is required?
Each participating committee will receive access to the videos, participant workbooks, and a facilitator guide.  Additional information about obtaining these materials will be available this summer.

Should we incorporate this program into our regular S/PPRC meetings?
Please plan to gather at a separate time, ideally weekly. Pastor & Parish is meant to be a formational activity, filled with prayerful reflection about your committee’s service to the church. The Sunday school hour may be the ideal “set-aside” time for this study to take place, emphasizing the formational aspect of this ministry, as well as the practical training. We hope that you will apply these learnings when you gather for regular S/PRC meetings, but it would do a disservice to both activities to try to combine the two.  

Should you have additional questions, please contact the Clergy Health Initiative.

Resources

The resources below delve deeper into the topics introduced in Pastor & Parish:

Session 1: Baptism

Session 2: Discipleship

Session 3: Sacred Bundle

Session 4: Truthful Naming

Session 5: Stewardship of the Pastor

Session 6: Covenant for Ministry