Pastoral Relations Committee Report

Pastoral Relations Committee Report

The Pastoral Relations Committee met several times in 2008 to discuss joys and concerns of the pastor and the church family.    The “God is Still Speaking” sign which hung in front of the church was a concern to several members of the congregation so consensus was to take it down and consider other ways of extending our message of invitation to the community to join in our work and worship.  Support was offered to the pastor during periods of critical family health problems.   Encouragement was offered to the pastor as she helped initiate a series of lectures for the Williams and Williamstown communities on mental health issues.

Realizing that a committee will be working on rewriting the Bylaws of the church, I have included below for your review the description of the duties of the PRC.

The Board of Deacons voted on February 28^th, 1999 to establish a Pastoral Relations Committee as described below:

The Pastoral Relations Committee will be an ad hoc committee of the Board of Deacons and will function in advisory, supportive, and interpretive capacities with the following general responsibilities:

1.  A bridge/communication link between pastor and congregation to share needs, ideas, hopes, expectations and concerns;

2.  Advocate/demonstrate concern for the pastor and his/her family;

3.  Encourage the pastor’s ministry, including teaching ministry, both locally and in the wider community;

4.  Act always in a confidential manner;

5.  Meet a minimum of four times per year in private session with the pastor.  In addition, the pastor or the committee should feel free to convene the group as deemed necessary;

6.  The Pastoral Relations Committee will be expected to report to the Board of Deacons as necessary.

Signed,

Abbie Hatton for the committee

John Blackmer, Caarie Waara