The Ministers Council goal is to prepare a manual to help local councils. As Denominational Relationships Committee, we will focus on helping councils relate to Regional Executives.
Is there any systemic reason why there should be tension between local council and Executives?
Should we ask them if they consider the MC as an important entity?
What can we do to make the Ministers Council an extremely valuable asset to Executives? Nebraska Executive values MC; Nebraska has money for continuing education; we must create healthy Ministers Council that will always benefit the Executive and region.
25% of clergy are members – what does Executive say to 75%-80% who are not members? Ministers Council would be more valuable if more clergy belonged. Does Executive have influence to encourage people to join? Should Executive be involved? Majority of members are theologically ‘center-left’ – why? Why aren’t ‘center-right’ joining?
Mission Statement – advocate for deepening spiritual journey and increasing effectiveness. What minister would not want this? Do clergy know this? Are local councils communicating this?
Councils must maintain healthy independence but also take advantage of resources. Are councils communicating or do regions facilitate communication? National Ministers Council would never by-pass local council – all initiatives must come from local – local leadership is the key – fluctuates between and within regions in cycles.
Economic issue – helps to have some money to jump start – hard in regions with no extra money – must clearly define mission – create a system to conform to ethos of individual region. Theological differences should not stand in the way of membership.
MC spends time with Executives to emphasize matters of agreement – work together on shared goals. Disagree in private if you must.
If Kate had 30 minutes at REMC meeting, would she be able to influence those on fence with anything she might say?
Kate speaks at GEC (includes REMC) – generally speaking, no one objects to Ministers Council. Can’t measure sense of priority for each Executive. How can we affirm that we are all in this together? Should REMC be encouraged to publicly sign off on Mission Statement?
Is it not more effective to build relationships on local level?
Some have great relationships but not a lot of movement. Ministers Council is not above rejecting any Executive who may come across as heavy-handed.
Executives – pastor – MC Presidents – matter of balance. MC value is high, especially for those who are aware of and care about Code of Ethics.
Executive = churches – MC = pastors: so how does this work? Ministers Council must work out individual relationship with each Executive. Also important for REMC to see value of strong local council – can we find a success story and communicate it?
Must also make Ministers Council important to clergy – does everyone know that TIM came from Ministers Council?
Executive is servant to Pastors, therefore servant to council.
Is it standard that Executive is ex-offico at Ministers Council Executive Committee? Do they all go? Does Ministers Council take time to recognize anniversaries?
Region sends out letter to churches reminding them of clergy anniversary – letter sent with Ministers Council signature. Much positive feedback.
In regions where Executive steps in, what is motivation?
Ethnic churches growing because of connection, personalizing, relationships – How could we do this within Ministers Council?
For those who are effective, do others want to know about it or is it too much work (in addition to everything else we have to do) – Kirk Jones’ work on “rest in the storm” is nothing new – but ministers have not been listening.
Executive and Ministers Council Presidents together make contacts to let them know they are not alone. Home gatherings – clergy connections will help people feel more positive about region – good for Executive.
Partnership of Executive and Ministers Council is worthy objective.
Executive is paid to support clergy. Ministers Council does it as volunteers – big difference.
Anything that fosters relationship and accountability is high priority.
Executives want to be held accountable (within guidelines of mutual respect). Interest is sincere and clergy/executives are in it together
After all, most Executives are dues paying members.
Do Executives make it a presumption that region staff belong?
Follow-up from last conversation:
Now can we help constituent councils operate within existing framework? (May try to improve Ministers Council/Executive relationships, but what do we do in the meantime?)
What steps can be taken to create healthy Ministers Councils that will always benefit clergy and Executive?
Each region has its own ethos (goals, initiatives, etc.) but we can send message that we are in this together.
Encourage each council to communicate clearly the purpose/mission, etc. Continued process of communication.
Also, make sure Executive is clear – also, does Ministers Council understand Executive’s goals, etc. and how do we work on fitting together?
Local councils may not be savy enough to link with Executive. Can we prepare something to send them to help start conversations?
Are there Ministers Council reps on region board? (Yes, in most regions…) Do Ministers Council reps identify position within Ministers Council when meeting in region settings?
If a group introduces an issue which must be dealt with before we go on, does this damage credibility in eyes of denominations, churches, or Executive?
But we do have to listen to everyone so that all know they are being heard.
Local leadership may need tools to help with clear communication – keep the mission the main message.
MC reps have to sort through personal feelings on issues vs. MC policies and agreements.
Do MC groups choose multi-faceted reps so that people know that dialog has taken place among MC?
Councils should stick to Mission Statement and not spend time trying to define theology – no one could not like Ministers Council mission – Shouldn’t we talk about other issue than Executives?
Cannot ignore influence of Executives.
Not a power-based operation – but other Executives would be – have to respect styles that exist – different cultures exist in different regions.
We can say to local councils that they should be in relationship with region board and Executive - whatever that means.
Steps for local councils to become valuable to Executive
Encourage choice of local leaders who are committed and have time.
Go ahead and sit down with Executive and agree that Mission Statement is important…If so, then how can we work together, be mutually supportive, and affirm clergy –
How do local councils respond to region policy that does not lead to healthy pastors –
Sometimes local councils have to remind us all of everything included in Biblical model of faithful ministry –
How to create system of advocacy and support to ministerial leaders in times of crisis?
Region partners with Ministers Council to assign some to be pastor to pastor – Commission on Ministry works closely with Ministers Council – support system goes hand-in-hand with any regional investigation.
Issues of misconduct, church crisis – how to advocate and/or support after/during “official” process.
There comes a point in process when clergy feels that region is not advocate (it probably is not, at a certain point) – Who will be primary support?
How do we get past the idea that sharing struggles with area or Executive Minister will jeopardize career? MC can offer colleague network – (remember that pastors are notorious lone rangers).
So what about mentoring new pastors so they are aware of Ministers Council –
Collegial groups can create life-long supportive friends/supporters.
Beneficial to everyone when we pool resources as much as possible.
Lots of good reasons to clarify role (different from region, commission, etc.) – Should we also say what we are not?
Also clarify advocacy (we do not advocate bad behavior…)
As advocates, we may not take a side but we can provide resources – we do want fairness.
For the vast majority who admit wrongdoing, how do we offer support? And don’t forget resources of MMBB – for lots of reasons.