ministry leadership proposal

MINISTRY LEADERSHIP

HOW DO WE SUPPORT AND ACCOUNT FOR EFFECTIVE MINISTRY LEADERSHIP AND HEALTHY PASTORAL RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA?

Developed for the Permanent Committee on Ministry and Employment Policies and Services

November 2011

The Mission and Ministry of the United Church

This proposal is about the work of the United Church of Canada and our faithfulness to the ministry of Jesus Christ in the world.

The ministry leadership model of the United Church involves the training and support of paid ministers: ordained, diaconal and designated lay ministers. There are 2300 paid ministers serving the church.

We depend on the effectiveness of these leaders to fulfil the missions of our 3300 congregations, 300 community ministries, 85 Presbyteries, 13 Conferences and the General Council.

For paid ministers to be effective, they need:• Gifts for leadership, education, skill, commitment• Healthy relationships with their communities of faith• Support through compensation, resources, colleagues, and oversight.

Ministry LeadershipHow do we support and account for effective ministry leadership and healthy pastoral relationships in the United Church of Canada?

Past Developments

• In May 2010, the Executive of the General Council approved a policy to move some or all pastoral relations responsibilities from the Presbyteries to the Conferences.

• This decision has included the findings of numerous past

reports and research projects.

Ministry LeadershipHow do we support and account for effective ministry leadership and healthy pastoral relationship in the United Church of Canada?

Constituency Feedback

Through this fourth round of consultation, the Executive of the General Council hopes to gain further insight and participation in this project from ministry personnel and congregational members.

• Views on the strengths and weaknesses of the model• Feedback about the perceived impact of the changes• Resulting in policy that reflects the positive aspects of

United Church experiences and addresses the present challenges.


Present Model

Research revealed several common concerns about the present model:

• Volunteers managing employment issues• Effectiveness of oversight and discipline practices • Sustainability of the current model• Potential conflict of peers conducting oversight• Need for more collegiality and mission-focused work


Research Findings

Excerpts from the Collaborative Research Project (Winter 2011)


The Challenge of Change

Excerpts from the article “The Adaptive Organization”

Carol Mase, “The Adaptive Organization,” Shift: At the Frontier of Consciousness (No. 22: Spring 2009)


The Process of Adaptive Change

• Realizing that our present operations and systems are not efficient, requires that we rethink and encourage change

• A process of Adaptive Change involves two aspects: • Transactional change: the approach, methods and goals of change• Transformational change: the emotional, psychological and spiritual effect

that change has on individuals

• Managing the challenges and difficulty of change depends on two factors:• The presence of a clear vision for the future and/or outcome• The conscious recognition that change is necessary to survival


A model of adaptive change

RED = Transactional changeBLUE = Transformational change


The temptation to resist change

RED = Transactional changeBLUE = Transformational change


Proposing Change

A New Model for Effective Ministry Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relationship


Proposal Summary

This report considers the health of ministry personnel and the local ministry units they serve, by redefining key areas of pastoral responsibilities.

• For congregations and local ministries: support for their mission and ministry leadership

• For Presbytery: responsibility for some pastoral relations policies• For Conference: responsibility for pastoral relations policies related

to the credentials of ministry personnel, employment standards and the initiation or ending of pastoral relationships;

• Increased staff support for ministry personnel at the Conference-level

• New approach to nurturing healthy pastoral relationships


Proposed New Model – Local Ministries


Proposed New Model – Presbyteries


Proposed New Model – Conferences


Proposed New Model – General Council


Implications• Changes in polity • Changes for Volunteers• Value of Volunteer time and gifts

Opportunities

• Increased time and energy for mission focused work • Support of collegiality and cooperation, and pastoral and spiritual care • Revitalizing pastoral relations processes• Increased support for the search and selection process• Ongoing assessments and vocational support for ministry personnel


Financial implications

• Regional staff support for pastoral charges• Creation of new personnel roles and positions• Revised funding approach• Associated costs for office space, support staff and travel


Possible funding options

The General Secretary has been directed to develop proposals for funding options including, but not limited to, reallocation of current General Council Budget, a payroll type, earmarking of conference grants


The Proposal for the Executive of the General Council

It is proposed by the Permanent Committee Ministry and Employment Policies and Services that the Executive of the General Council: • receive the report “Effective Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relationships: A proposal for the initiation, support, accountability, and conclusion of paid accountable ministries in The United Church of Canada”;

• direct the General Secretary to:• a) initiate consultation with the wider church on the wisdom and viability of the

proposed model and avenues of funding;• b) prepare draft Manual provisions to support the direction of the proposed model;• c) report back to the March, 2012, meeting of the Executive of the General Council with

detailed proposals for the consideration of the 41st General Council.


The General Council Wants to Hear from You!

Participate in the online survey (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MinistryLeadership)

For additional information, please check out our Online Resources on the Church Leadership Network

(http://churchleadership.united-church.ca/page/leadership)If you have any questions, please contact Philip Isard, Program Assistant

with the Ministry and Employment Unit ([email protected])

ministry leadership proposal

Spiritual

healthy pastoral

healthy pastoral

effective

ministry leadership

general council

paid ministers

ministry personnel

employment