St, Matthias United Methodist Church Purpose: This poticy establishes guidance for the Nominations and Leadership Development committee to apply in the nomination of Church Leaders for election at the annual Charge Conference. The desired characteristics of Church leaders are summarized as provided in the United Methodist Book of Discipline, the United Methodist Guidelines and as published by the Virginia Annual Conference Board of Laity. The elements of this policy are intended to provide for a vital Church leadership team with a l'deep bench" of disciples who ar prepared to participate together in discernment of God's will for our St. Matthias Church and support the various Church ministries in executing the Church mission and achieving the vision of a Christ Centered Community of Faith, Reaching, Teaching, Loving and Serving. Scope: This policy applies generally to members of the St. Matthias Church leadership and speciflcally to Council and Committee Chairs who are elected by the Charge Conference. Specific committees and organizations within the Church (e.g.trustees, United Methodist Men and United Methodist Wornen) have additional policies and procedures for selection of leaders who are reported to the Charge Conference. Background: The Nominations and Leadership Development committee is charged with the prayerful discernment and nomination of individuals to service in key Church leadership positions. These positions include but are nat limited to the following: Lay Leader, Lay Member of the Annual Conference, Administrative Council Chair, Committee on Nominations and Leadershi p Development Members, StafflPastor-Parish Relations Comm ittee Chair and Members, Board of Trustees Members, Treasurer and the Chairs for the various Church Committees including Finance, Stewardship, Worship, Education, Mission, The United Methodist Men President, United fvlethodist Women President and the Board of Trustees Chair are elected by the membership of those organizations and reported to the Charge Conference' Together, these individuals so elected form the Church Council" Discussiqn: The United Methodist Book of Discipline Faragraph 244,3 provides the following discussion relative to the qualities expected of members of the Church Council:
5t. Matthias United Methodist Church Members of the church council or alternative structure shall be persons of genuine Christian character who love the church, are morally disciplined, are committed to the mandate of inclusiveness in the life of the church, are loyal to the ethical standards of the United Methodist Church set forth in the Social Principles and are competent to administer its affairs. Thls paragraph goes on to state that the Church Council shall include youth and young adult members chosen according to the same standards as adults and that atl persons with vote shall be members of the local church except where central conference legislation provides otherwise. The General Board of Discipleship has published a series of booklets entitled, "Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation," that are tailored to various areas of church ministry. Each Guideline notes that the answer to the call to church leadership is not just a "job," but a spiritual endeavor. Those who answer the call will be looked to for spiritual leadership, not just functional direction. Those called to leadership in following Jesus Christ are called to grow spiritually through the practice of Christian habits (or means of grace) that include, prayer, study, private and corporate worship, acts Of Service and Christian conferencing. In the context of Church council, committee and board leadership, the practice of Christian Conferencing is of extreme importance so that not only do we listen to one another, but we also listen intently for the will of God in any given task or conversation. We are called to speak the truth in love and treat each other as if each of us were Christ arnonq us. The Virginia Conference Board of Laity has issued a short publication entiiled, "Characteristics of Effective Lay Leadership in the Churches of the Virginia Conference." This document, which is incorporated in this policy by reference, identifies the desired characteristics of members of the Lay Leadership in the areas of Commitment to God's will and Jesus Christ, Character, Leadership Style and Discipleship. The basic message from the Conference Board of Laity is that Church Leaders model what it means to be a disciple of lesus Christ. It should be the goal of the Nominations and Leadership Development committee to bring Church members into key leadership roles who are
St. t*latthias United Methodist Church Policy for Nomination and Devel-opme-nt of Church Leaders committed as disciples of Christ and to the Mission of the United Methadist Church; who share in the vision and values of St. Matthias UMC as a Christ Centered Community of Faith, Reaching, Teaching, Loving and Serving; and who will work together on a leadership team that operates in accordance with our Covenant of Love and Seruice. The leadershib team should also reflect the unity and diversity of the St. Matthias UMC Congregation as described in 1 Corinthians 12. The members nominated to Leadership positions will be identified as having the necessary spiritual gifts (including both capability and desire) to competently serve in ministries to which they are nominated. Church leaders will be called to create and serve in a social environment and atmosphere that are reflective of the Love for One Another of which Jesus spoke as he Eave His Church Leadership, the Apostles, His final commandment {John 13:3a-35). * * * * * * * * >k * *x * * * * * * * * * * * * {<* * * * * {c* * * ** * * * ** * * ** * * * * * * * * * X( * * Policy: In keeping with the above discussion, the guidance that follows is adopted by the St" Matthias UMC Church Council for use by the Nominations and Leadership Development Committee in development of the slate of people to be presented for consideration by the annual Charge Conference for election to the Church Leadership. a. Nomination cf Church leaders shall be conducted first and foremost in an atmosphere of prayerful discernment with the knowledge that the choice of leaders should be the result of discernment of the will of the Lord with regard to who is to lead the work of His Church. b. Prospective Leaders shall be prayerfully seeking to devetop a stronger relationship with Jesus. c. Prospective Leaders shall have a sound reputation of integrity. honesty and fairness in the Church and the Cornmunity. d. Prospective leaders shall manifest the grace to forgive, the ability to empower others, the generosity to be inclusive and committed to dealing with others in accordance with the values and practices embodied in the St. Matthias Covenant of Love and Service. e. Recognizing that all Christians possess unique spiritual gifts, individuals should be nominated after prayerful consideration of their spiritual gifts to perforrn the position for which they are being considered. Leaders should be selected by their rninistry activity, level
St. Matthias United Methodist Church Pqlicy for Nemination and Development of Church Leaders of training (District and Conference Sponsored, e.g. Lay Servant), and other factors that may provide evidence of their capability to lead in God's service, f. Leaders shall be proposed in in accordance with the requirements and recommendations of the current edition of the United Methodist Book of Discipline and within practical considerations of the members of the 5t. Matthias Congregation. g. All nominated Church leaders shall be members of the St. Matthias congregation. Length of registered membership shall not be considered in discernment of who is called to serve in a key leadership position. The gifts of new members are as valuable in the service of the Lord as the gifts of long time rnembers of the Congregation. h. The Book of Discipline has specific requirements for limiting time in service for the Nominations and Leadership Deveiopment Cornmittee (P 258.1), and the SPPRC rnembers (P 258.2). In keeping with the recommendation of the Book of Discipline (P 247), remaining key leaders shall not be called upgn to serve for rnore than three consecutive one-year terms, except in extreme circumstance (as determined by the Nominations and Leadership Development committee). This requirement is intended to provide for a vital and competent Church leadership team that is reflective of the Congregation as a whole, while providing opportunity for many to serve the Lord in different ways with a defined commitment. A'ternn limit" will help to assure the spiritual health and prevent "burn out" of Church leaders. The nomination of a Church leader to serve for more than 3 consecutive years should be approved by the Administrative Council. In support of this policy, Church leaders should actively seek out and mentor individuals who are potentiatly called to the Lord's service as members and leaders of the various Church councils, committees and boards, so that a line of leadership succession remains in place at the end of one's term. Additionally, Church leaders should work to becorne a source of inspiration, mentorship and support to their successors and other Church leaders after their terms have been completed, so that the work of Church leadership may be a joy and rarely a burden in the service of our Lord. (Hebrews 13:17)
St. Matthias United tt{ethodist Church Adopted: q/rr/turu Date Administra e Council References: (a) United Methodist Church Book of Discipline; 2012 Edition (b) Guidelines for Church Council; Carol F. Krau, General Board of Discipleship; 2008 (c) Characteristics of Effective Lay Leadership in the Churches of the Virginia Conference; Virginia Conference Board of Laity; undated (d) 1 Corinthians 12: This chapter speaks of Spiritual Gifts, and how we, with all of our collective spiritual gifts, we who are many forrn the one Body of Christ. A body so arranged by God, "2sgiving the greater honor to the inferior member, that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it." (e) John 13:34-35: 3a A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (0 Hebrews t3:l7: 1'Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.