The Pastor Parish (or Staff Parish) Relations committee serves a key role in establishing the focus of the pastor, staff, and congregation's ministry. By advocating for the pastor and staff and helping to interpret their roles and ministries, the PPRC supports and nurtures the whole congregation. This guideline is designed to help implement and guide the work of the ministry area. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture.

Your role as trustee is governed by The Book of Discipline. Being a trustee of your local church is an important role and one in which you can take great pleasure. This Guideline is intended to be a guide as you begin fulfilling your responsibilities, and a reference throughout your tenure as trustee. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church, the administrative areas of Finance and Pastor, and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, and Christian E.

The Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC), also known as Staff Parish Committee, serves a key role in establishing the focus of the pastor, staff, and congregation’s ministry. By advocating for the pastor and staff and helping to interpret their roles and ministries, the PPRC supports and nurtures the whole congregation. This Guieline is designed to help implement and guide the work of the ministry area. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2017-2020 that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more.

The vast majority of United Methodist churches are small membership churches that can be and are vital places of ministry that matter. Most are situated in areas where there are people outside any faith community and have great potential for ministry. This Guideline will help you be an effective leader in your smaller church. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Pastor-Parish Relations; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship and Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more. To see a full list of Guidelines, search by typing keywords: “Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2013-2016,” and click “search."

The pastoral leader is the primary spiritual leader of the congregation. The pastor carries the responsibility for a number of different ministry tasks, which are condensed into seven categories. Effective pastors will also take intentional time for their own spiritual growth and restoration to maintain a vital ministry. The guideline helps each pastor navigate their role a pastoral leader. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, and Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more. To see a full list of Guidelines, search by typing keywords: “Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2013-2016,” and click “search”.

The church council exists to create and supervise the strategic plan for your local congregation fulfills its mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. This twofold function includes both leadership and management. This Guideline is designed to help equip you and your ministry team to navigate these two functions. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Pastor-Parish Relations and Small Membership Church, the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees, and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, and Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more. To see a full list of Guidelines, search by typing keywords: “Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2013-2016,” and click “search”.

The Lay Leader and Lay Member to Annual Conference are key roles in linking the vision and plan of the congregation with the ministry of the Annual conference and in nurturing cooperation and coordination of the pastor and congregation in leadership. These two roles are complementary, yet there are responsibilities unique to each role. The greatest distinction is the connections they forge with and on behalf of the congregation. The lay leader has a primary focus in linking the local church and community. The lay member of annual conference has a primary focus in linking the local church to the connectional United Methodist Church and God’s worldwide church. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church; the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees; and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, Stewardship, Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more. To see a full list of Guidelines, search by typing keywords: “Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2013-2016,” and click “search”.