Organizational Structure Core Leadership Team Unity Church: A UMC Community 1910 East Broadway Northwood, OH, 43619 Adopted: September 29, 2012 Adapted:
It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.- Ephesians 4:10-12 Unity Church: A United Methodist Community Organizational Structure: Core Leadership Team Paragraphs 243 & 244 of 2008 Book of Discipline give authority to the local church to develop an administrative structure to order the life of the church to carry out its vision and mission 243. Primary Tasks--The local church shall be organized so that it can pursue its primary task and mission in the context of its own community reaching out and receiving with joy all who will respond; encouraging people in their relationship with God and inviting them to commitment to God s love in Jesus Christ; providing opportunities for them to seek strengthening and growth in spiritual formation; and supporting them to live lovingly and justly in the power of the Holy Spirit as faithful disciples. In carrying out its primary task, it shall be organized so that adequate provision is made for these basic responsibilities: (1) planning and implementing a program of nurture, outreach, and witness for persons and families within and without the congregation; (2) providing for effective pastoral and lay leadership; (3) providing for financial support, physical facilities, and the legal obligations of the church; (4) utilizing the appropriate relationships and resources of the district and annual conference; (5) providing for the proper creation, maintenance, and disposition of documentary record material of the local church; and (6) seeking inclusiveness in all aspects of its life. 244. Organization The basic organizational plan for the local church shall include provision for the following units: a charge conference, a church council, a committee on pastor-parish relations, a board of trustees, a committee on finance, a committee on nominations and leadership development, and such other elected leaders, commissions, councils, committees, and task forces as the charge conference may determine. Every local church shall develop a plan for organizing its administrative and programmatic responsibilities. Each local congregation shall provide a comprehensive program of nurture, outreach, and witness, along with leadership training, and the planning and administration of the congregation s organizational and temporal life, in accordance with the mission of The United Methodist Church. 1
The Core Leadership Team Goal: To form an administrative grouping that would be responsible to protect and champion the vision and mission of Unity Church and to approve significant ministry decisions. The Core Leadership Team model is based upon the Core Process of Disciplemaking as identified by Bishop Robert Schnase and affirmed through the West Ohio Conference: Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Faith Development, Risk-taking Mission and Service, and Extravagant Generosity. The Leadership Team of Unity Church will be led by an Executive Team Leader who is to lead alongside the Senior Pastor. The Team responsibilities are divided into two major areas: Spiritual Discipleship and Spiritual Administration (the Faith/Leadership Development Team clearly works in both areas). Each major area is divided into others, each led by a Team Leader who will field a flexible and effective team of volunteer ministry servants for carrying out the mission for his/her assigned area as it relates to the vision and mission of Unity UMC. In addition, ad hoc work teams may be formed to carry out short term ministries. Responsibilities: The Leadership Team will merge the current Administrative Council, Board of Trustees, Staff Parish Relations Team, Finance Team, Nominations and Leadership Development Team, and Lay Leader position, absorbing all of their responsibilities as set forth in the Book of Discipline. The Leadership Team members shall be the members of the Charge Conference. The Leadership Team shall be 8-12 members including laity, and non-clerical ministry staff and the Pastors. The Senior Pastor shall be the administrative officer and, as such, shall be an ex officio member of all conferences, boards, councils, commissions, committees, and task forces, unless otherwise restricted by the Discipline. (BOD para. 244.3) Ultimately everyone on this team inputs holistically into every area but, by title, each person would have responsibility to work with pastoral staff to carry out the specific needs of their area of ministry. 2
Initial Structure (Flexible) Pastoral Team Leadership Team Executive Team Leader Leadership Team Coordinator Spiritual Discipleship Hospitality/ Welcoming/Connection Worship Ministry (Worship Minister) Outside the Walls/ Missions Leader Faith/Leadership Development Spiritual Administration Finance Facilities Care Personnel Communications (Office Manager) Team Meetings: The Leadership Team will meet publicly in full session 4-6 times per year, with additional public meetings as necessary for accomplishing the mission of the Leadership Team. The purpose of these meetings would be include a.) spiritual mentoring by the Pastoral staff and their appointed representatives; b.) leadership development to ensure that all ministries are functioning in a manner that is congruent with the church s vision and mission; c.) provide for the administrative action of the church; d.) shall be amenable to and functions as the administrative agency of the charge conference. (BOD para. 244) Each of these meetings is open to all church community, who will have voice as needed in this forum--the exception being when the leadership team is assuming the responsibilities of the Staff Parish Relations Team, the Leadership Team will meet in closed session so all information shared shall be confidential. (para. 258.2e) They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.- Acts 2:42 Additionally, the Leadership Team will meet in some fashion no less than twice monthly, for the purpose of study of Scripture and related materials, prayer, Christian conferencing, communion and, to pour into one another and encourage each other in spiritual growth as citizens of the Kingdom and children of God. All 3
members of the Core Leadership Team are committed to this process first and foremost. The carrying out of business grows directly from the spiritual growth and Holy Spirit- given wisdom that grows from this commitment. Appointment: Appointment to the Core Leadership Team will be made annually with the change of calendar year. Members of the Core Leadership Team will be called to serve in this capacity for flexible terms based upon the qualities listed below. New members of the Core Leadership Team will be considered at such a time as is necessary; the resignation/sabbatical of a Core Leadership Team member, the addition or subtraction of a ministry team within the Core Leadership Structure, or should there be need to remove a member of the team at any time of year. In any case, it is vital that Pastoral Staff and Core Leadership Team members have consensus as to appointments/departures, and that all members of the Unity congregation have sufficient voice as these things progress, as well as proper notice of changes to be made. Qualities of Core Leadership Team Member: Core Leadership Team Members demonstrate commitment to God and to Unity Church through: Professing membership, pastoral appointment, or employment Clear evidence that he/she is striving to live into the covenant o Presence- in worship, study, prayer, Christian life Weekly attendance in weekend worship experiences Weekly or bi-weekly involvement in a study or Christian accountability group beyond weekend meetings o Prayers- individual and corporately Makes habit of daily prayer for him/her self, for Unity Church, our city, state, nation, and the world Participates faithfully in no less than one area of the corporate prayer ministries of Unity o Gifts- lifestyle of tithing and generosity Takes seriously the promises of God for faithful stewards, as well as the scriptural admonition to give freely to the mission of the Church 4
o Service- in-house ministry and/or outreach and mission Uses his or her spiritual gifting to further the Kingdom of God through some type of regular service to ministry through Unity o Witness- by example of his/her life Makes daily effort to obey the command/claim the promise- Be holy, for I am holy, both personally and socially. Shows evidence of passion for people to know Jesus Christ Has a contagious faith Proven Leadership o Spiritual gifts appropriate to the area of your calling as a member of the Core Leadership Team Determined through study and reflection: affirmed by the faith community and in action. o Previous successful leadership is a plus, particularly in the setting of a faith community Decision-Making: A consensus/discernment model of decision-making will be utilized based on the understanding given by the Holy Spirit through the communion of this group. However, on rare occasions, if a vote is needed, each team member will have 1 vote, the Executive Team Leader will cast the decisive vote if there is a tie. 5
Overview of Responsibilities Executive Team Leader: The Executive Team Leader will serve as the Chairperson of the Core Leadership Team. He/she will prepare an agenda in consultation with the Senior Pastor and conduct the business portion of each meeting; will provide coaching and encouragement to the Team for carrying out their responsibilities; serve as the primary lay representative of the laity in the church (assumes the role of Lay Leader per BOD para. 251). Senior Pastor: The Senior Pastor will serve as the Spiritual leader of the Leadership Team. He/she provides a time of spiritual centering, coaching, and/or instruction in each meeting; will ensure the actions taken will be in accord with Unity UMC s vision and mission, the Book of Discipline, and requirements of the West Ohio Annual Conference; and annually lead a review and evaluation of the vision, mission, and ministry of the church. (BOD para. 252) The Senior Pastor provides clergy direction, council and support across all areas of ministry. Pastoral Staff: Pastoral Staff may serve as at-large members or may head up any of the ministry area teams as is appropriate according to his/her spiritual gifting, job description or areas of ministry passion. He/she will support the Senior Pastor and/or Core Leadership Team in carrying out the action that brings to completion the vision and mission of the church and will be active in all facets of the work of this team. The Pastoral Staff provides clergy direction, council and support across all areas of ministry. Leadership Team Coordinator: The Leadership Team Coordinator will record minutes/actions of public meetings, distributing them to Leadership Team and posting them on paper and electronically for the church membership within a week following adjournment and gather necessary documents in preparation for upcoming meetings. He/she will oversee collection and reporting of weekly attendance data in worship, study, prayer, and mission settings. He/she will keep membership records, update participant directories (in conjunction with the Communications Team Leader), coordinate contacts with members in absentia, and complete reports for the Annual Conference as requested. 6
Hospitality/Welcoming Team : Spiritual Discipleship Christian hospitality is the active desire to invite, welcome, receive, and care for those who are strangers so that they find a spiritual home and discover for themselves the unending richness of life in Christ. Bishop Robert Schnase The Hospitality/Welcoming Team Leader will be responsible for developing and leading (or employing the gifted leaders) a strategic plan of reaching and welcoming people into the Unity community. He/she will work closely with the Senior Pastor and provide leadership and encouragement to the ministry team of hospitality and welcoming. He/she will work with the Outside the Walls/Mission team to develop strategies for deeper impact in the neighborhoods. Worship Team: Worship describes those times we gather deliberately seeking to encounter God in Christ Passionate worship means an extraordinary eagerness to offer the best in worship, honoring God with excellence with an unusual clarity about the purpose of connecting people to God. Bishop Robert Schnase The Worship Team Leader will be responsible for coordinating various aspects of worship; working with a ministry team, the construction of which will be his/her responsibility. The Worship Team Leader will be a paid staff position and he/she has a ministry job description designating the specifics of the work to be carried out. He/she will work in partnership with the Pastoral staff and creative teams to ensure the best possible experience of worship in all of Unity s worship settings. Outside the Walls/Mission Team: Mission and Service refers to the projects, efforts, and work people do to make a positive difference in the lives of others for the purposes of Christ, whether or not they will ever become part of the community of faith. Bishop Robert Schnase The Outside the Walls/Mission Team Leader will work closely with Pastoral Staff in strengthening the connection of the church with our community and mission in the US and beyond; identifying opportunities, and coordinating ministries to address needs, as well as establishing and maintaining partnerships for effective ministry within the Unity Community and surrounding neighborhoods. He/she 7
will work closely with Pastoral Staff to educate, engage, and implement opportunities to connect the church with missions within the United States and throughout the world. The team provides education and engages the Church to support and be actively involved in the work of Christ beyond our community. Spiritual Administration Finance Team Leader: The Finance Team Leader will be responsible for care of the church finances. He/she is responsible, along with Core Leadership Team, for developing a Ministry and Mission Financial Projection that reflects the vision and mission of the church; expending finances as directed by the Leadership Team; and reporting on the state of church finances at each Leadership Team meeting and monthly to the congregation. The Finance Team leader will direct the Unity Church Treasurer and Bequest Funds Treasurer in the distribution of all monies in the possession of Unity UMC. He/she will take the lead in exploring partnerships and grants and other means of securing funding for ministry and mission as agreed on by the Core Leadership Team. He/she will also, along with assigned Pastoral Staff, advise and consult with the Intentional Faith/Generosity Development team. Facilities Care Team Leader: The Facilities Care Team Leader will provide leadership to a ministry team that cares for the maintenance/repair needs of all church property, as well as other tasks related to our facilities, including insurance, as directed by the Leadership Team. Personnel Team: The Personnel Team Leader will provide leadership to a ministry team that is responsible for staff hiring, the development of necessary handbooks, job descriptions, non-appointed clergy and lay staff evaluations, maintenance of employee records and other tasks that ensure that the church is functioning in a manner governed by law. Communications Team: The Communications Team Leader will be employed by the church in the ministry position of Office Manager and will provide leadership in coordinating a ministry team that effectively communicates the life of the church through various media both within the church and our community. The 8
details of his/her duties will be set forth in the ministry position document used for hiring and/or assessment. Faith/Leadership Development Team: Faith Development refers to all the ministries that help us grow in faith outside of weekly worship: Bible Studies, [Weekend onsite discipleship], small groups, and retreats [and other settings] where we learn in the community of other Christians. Bishop Robert Schnase The Faith Development Team Leader will work closely with the Senior Pastor and/or Pastoral Staff to plan and coordinate studies and spiritual development opportunities. He/she will also work with individuals and/or groups to develop a plan of action for individuals to grow in their spiritual and leadership skills. He/she will assist the Team Leaders in enlisting servant volunteers for short term task groups and ministry projects. He/she will lead in providing affirmation and recognition of ministry servant volunteers and develop a positive atmosphere for all people to be involved in an area of ministry. 9