Winter 2012 – Cluster of Clusters

1. Winter 2012 – Cluster of Clusters Clergy meeting SPR Training Cluster Training Vital Signs

2. Clergy -Agenda • Tithing Report • Role of Associate DS’s • Annual Conference • Conference Briefings • Conference Registration • Conference Workbook • Summer Interviews –Evaluations coming in April • Charge Conference • Setting Personal Goals • What can I do to be more helpful Questions

3. Welcome Associate DS Role Devotional Thought Annual Conference Tonight's Training

4. Clusters of the North District • Begoria • Better Together • Calumet • Faithful Remnants • Focused Followers • John 3:17 • Lake Effect • Marshall • Mid-Lake • Mishawaka’s Finest • New La Porte Prairie • Rev. James Armstrong • Servants of Hope • Spirit Creek • The Lakes • Trailblazers • Two Rivers • Warsaw • Methodists in Service to South Bend

5. Ministry clusters are to focus on answering two core questions: • “How are each of our congregations doing in accomplishing our mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world?” • Sharing our stories • “What can we do better and more effectively together to impact our area for Christ than we can do as individual congregations?”

6. 3 Practices • Prayer and Support • Get to know each other • Offer prayer support and encouragement • Sharing Resources • What has worked for us • How can we learn from each other • Looking at shared ministry opportunities • What training might we all benefit from • What might we do together that would strengthen our ministries • What is our witness to the community we are in

7. Specifics Cluster Leadership Team: lay persons and pastors under appointment expected to participate. The number of lay persons from a congregation may vary, though two is considered a minimum. Ministry cluster leaders can be elders, deacons, local pastors, or lay persons Ministry clusters are expected to meet a minimum of three times per year All congregations are expected to be in a ministry cluster (four to nine churches)

8. Your Story • What is working • What are your concerns • What obstacles are in your way • Where do changes need to be made • How can I and Associate DS’s be helpful

9. Vital Signs • Measurements that help us know where we are – current reality • Tools for ministry so that you can talk about your situation; set goals; and evaluate your own progress • Discern what next steps are to be more effective in our mission • Vital Signs Prayer List • And pray that these congregations will move faithfully toward achieving their Vital Congregation goals.

10. Questions

11. Staff/Pastor Parish Committee • Confidential and closed meeting • 5-9 members plus lay leader and lay member to Annual Conference (no staff family members – no more than 1 per family household- at least 1 young adult) • Connection with District/Conference with concerns for leadership • Take the vision and vital signs of the church and helps discern what leadership is needed to be effective • Members represent the needs and goals of the congregation and need to see beyond their personal agenda

12. Duties of the Committee2008 Book of Discipline ¶258.2g • Encourage, strengthen, support, and respect the pastors and staff • Promote unity • Consult on matters of effectiveness of ministry • Consult on matters of priorities in ministry • Provide annual evaluations • Write job descriptions for all employed staff • Have personnel policies – benefits for hired staff • Work in partnership with other committees to be sure healthy administrative practices are in place and followed (financial accounting; safe sanctuaries)

13. Responsibilities Cont. • New Appointments – meet monthly with new pastor • Required – Quarterly • Winter – Review ministry goals, educational pieces, training of committee members, review candidates for ministry • Spring – Review job descriptions for staff, personnel policies, vacation plans • Summer – Evaluate effectiveness in ministry, priorities in ministry, congregational needs, ministry needs • Fall – Review and recommended compensation, appointment consultation • The Committee shall not meet without the pastor

14. Responsibilities Cont. – Clergy Related • Communicate with congregation – open itinerancy, preparation for ministry • Consult on issues of continuing education and spiritual renewal – BOOM requires boundary and diversity training each Quadrennium • Enlist, interview, evaluate, review, and recommend persons for ministry • Consult on matters of pulpit supply, compensation, travel expense, vacation and housing • Visit the Parsonage; make sure it meets today’s standards • Encourage days off; vacation time, renewal time, clergy covenant groups

15. Basic Policies for Clergy • Vacation for clergy • Less than 2 years – 2 weeks • 2-4 years – 3 weeks • 5 or more years – 4 weeks • Continuing Education – 1 week each year • Conference Connection – • Annual Conference; Covenant Group; Cluster meetings; Our Life Together; Camp • Going /Coming Back – As a clergy in the clergy Role DO NOT GO BACK!

16. Appointment Making • Traditional Season for Appointments is January – June Appointments are effective July 1 • November – Consultation recommendation • January – Cabinet Process • Known openings • Profile Church • Nominate Clergy • Discern Best skill set match • Do the Take-in • Take- Out • Announcement

17. If there is a change in appointment • Getting to Know the New Clergy Family • Pictures • Letter of introduction • Letters from children • Prayer support • Farewell and Welcome • If your pastor is retiring – you should host a retirement party • Parsonage Cleaned; repaired; prepared • Get suggestions of colors from new family • Moving Day – • Food and drinks in refrigerator • Meals for a week • Lawn care for the week • List of Amenities with map and directions • Do not need visitors who stay

18. Other responsibilities • Conflict Mediation/Resolution - Matthew 18:15-17 • All letters need to be signed – all complaints need a name attached • Listen and Discern the truth • Consult • Create an action plan • Work the plan • Call the DS when • Sharing information • Update information • Asking for help

19. Staff Support • If the church wants to be effective - have the right staff doing the right things at the right places at the right times • Staff need the tools to do their work • Staff need prayer support • Staff need continual educational opportunities • Staff Retreats are helpful • It is important to end the employment of staff who do not meet expectations and are not committed to the mission of the church.

20. Questions Contact Information – District Center 219-574-6235 877-781-6709 P.O. Box 1701 Laporte, IN 46352 Cindy Reynolds – ds.northdistrict@inumc.org 219-730-4859