It’s official: we are going to fill the office next to mine with an Associate Pastor! At its June meeting the Session enthusiastically received the report from the Personnel Ministry Team and unanimously approved the Team’s recommendation that we call an Associate Pastor.
Six years ago, before I was called as Pastor, this congregation made the difficult decision to eliminate the Associate Pastor position. This was done reluctantly, solely for financial reasons. When the decision was made, virtually all agreed that it was a “temporary” decision until we were able to fund the position.
We know we need a second pastor – we have too many ministries that we are either underserving or not serving at all, especially our ministries focused on our youth. Our newest group of high school graduates have had constantly changing leadership since their Middle School days, when what they have wanted is stability. Our young people need someone they can develop a relationship with, someone to help them walk those stressful years that come with adolescence and early adulthood, someone who will be there to help them grow in faith.
The Personnel Ministry Team recommends that the Associate Pastor’s time be divided, on average, among the following ministries:
Middle School Youth 20%
High School Youth 25%
18-30 “Not-So-Youth” 20%
Adult Ed. /Programs 10%
Worship 12.5%
Administrative/Other 12.5%
These are averages, of course. There may be weeks when the AP is committed completely to one ministry, such as a Youth Group Mission Trip, or preaching and leading worship, while other ministries are set aside for that week. Most of the emphasis will be on our Youth, but we also want to give our Associate Pastor the opportunity on occasion to teach Adult Education classes, as well as assist with worship, including preaching regularly. And the AP will also need time to participate in staff meetings, visit, and work with a Ministry Team or two.
This is such an exciting step for our church. But we still have a great deal of work to do. Calling an Associate Pastor is a process we will do jointly with the Presbytery, just as we did when I was called as Pastor. The biggest hurdle we have yet to overcome is financial. Last year’s economic recession took its toll on our finances; we will need a successful Stewardship campaign this Fall to close the gap and fully fund the position. We are close, but not quite there yet.
You’ll be hearing more from our Personnel Ministry Team and from Stewardship in the months to come, but my hope and prayer is that we will all share the Session’s excitement and faith in our future. “How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1).
Grace & peace
Pastor Skip
