Church Conferences

Dear Colleagues in Ministry,

It will not be news to you that few people have been happy with our Church Conference forms in recent years, including those of us who collect them. Therefore, efforts are underway to redesign those forms to make them more relevant and helpful to both the local church and the District and Conference Offices. This is obviously something we’d prefer to see done well rather than quickly. So, they will not be ready for this coming Church Conference season. However, that does not mean we’re going back to the same old forms. Instead, I hope what we do this year can serve as a bridge.

For your One on One, I’m asking you to do the following:

First, review last year’s Pastor’s Profile. If there are any changes to be made, simply update the form electronically, highlighting the changes, and email it to Melanie. If you didn’t save a copy on your computer, Melanie can scan and email it to you (if you ask nicely), but you won’t be able to edit it. In that case, simply type up a single sheet with name/date and note any changes by question number. Then email that document to Melanie to be attached to last year’s form.

Second, attached is a copy of the “Clergy Effectiveness” document that was given to all clergy who attended Clergy Session at Annual Conference. This document has not yet been shared with laity, but it will be, either at the SPRC meeting prior to your Church Conference this fall or in a separate SPRC training event. Either way, it will eventually be a reference document used by SPRC’s as part of the annual ministry review process.

This year, what I would like you to do in preparation for our One on One is to first read it completely. Then, noting the five distinct sections – “Character and Call,” “Word,” “Sacrament,” “Order,” and “Service” – I would like you to describe how you would give evidence of your effectiveness in one or two of the areas listed. As examples, under “Character and Call,” you might pick 1B and share how you have “nurtured and cultivated spiritual disciplines” in your life and ministry. Under “Service,” you might pick 1D, and describe how you have been active in ecumenical and/or community ministry.

Then, in what will no doubt be a more challenging mode of self-reflection, I’d like you to also name one area listed in the “Warning Signs” of each section that may be growing edge for you. So, under “Sacrament,” you may need to acknowledge that 2D needs more attention. Under “Order” you may need to own that 2L is an area where you could be more effective.

At the top, label this document, “Clergy Effectiveness Reflection,” include your name and the date and email it to Melanie.

Third, in a separate “Goals for Ministry” document, I want you to list at least three Ministry Goals and one Personal Goal for the coming year. (About this time you are probably thinking “the old forms weren’t that bad!”) The goals you set for ministry may or may not be the same as the current goals of your congregation/ministry setting. In fact, if you are leading forward, some of them may be areas where you have a goal or vision for ministry that the community has not yet heard or adopted. As examples, goals might include: starting a new worship service or Bible study, initiating a new outreach ministry, increasing worship attendance by 5%, bringing in 12 new disciples, organizing a mission trip outside the community, initiating a long range planning process. Whatever the goals may be, please make them measurable or SMART goals. If you are not clear about what makes a goal “SMART,” you can look up SMART goals online, or email/call Melanie or me to request the single sheet I sent out last winter. Personal Goals might include: improving observance of personal Sabbath, taking more time for spouse/family, using all allotted vacation, implementing an exercise plan, or giving more time to a hobby. In other words, in addition to your responsibility to lead and care for the community you serve, how will you also plan to care for yourself? Email this document to Melanie.

Finally, IF you anticipate retiring next year, skip the first two steps and write a 9 month plan for “Ending Well.” Share with me your plans for making the transition into retirement. How are you going to prepare the congregation for transition? When will you announce your retirement? How are you going to wrap up what you’ve done and help prepare the leaders of your ministry for the next step in their life together? To borrow from Paul’s race metaphor, you don’t win the race by coasting the last lap. How will you intentionally give your best in this final year of active ministry? What I don’t want you to skip from above is the Goals piece. Even if you are headed toward retirement, there should be some professional and personal goals for the coming year. Email this document to Melanie.

If any of the above is not clear, please email me. I am on the road the next few weeks for vacation and a training event, but I am more than willing to help clarify any questions. My goal continues to be the same one found on the front page of the effectiveness document: “to bring out the best in each of us throughout our years of ministry.”

God Bless!

David

PS: Local Pastors, please remember to bring your License to your One on One so it can be signed.