Pastoral Relations

At the start of January 2011, The United Church of Canada launched an online survey for ministry personnel and lay leaders, related to Effective Leadership & Healthy Pastoral Relations. Over 850 people responded to the online survey, and to those who participated, your input is greatly appreciated.

The online survey is now closed. Continuing the data gathering efforts for this research project, paper copies of the survey have been sent to a random selection of 1,600 ministry personnel and lay leaders across Canada, and focus groups and interviews are being planned for February–April 2011.

This consultative process poses the question: What would the future leadership and needs for leadership look like in The United Church of Canada? It is one of numerous consultations contributing to the General Council Executive’s vision of Planning for a Future Grounded in Faith and Action.

God calls us to be visionaries, to work toward creating communities where faith can be nurtured, challenged, and sustained and where leadership can be valued, honoured, and encouraged. As members of The United Church of Canada, we have a deeply rooted commitment to developing policies and practices that are just and fair, that work to build relationships, foster our sense of identity, and enable our connection within, across and outside the church.

The Permanent Committee on Ministry and Employment Policies and Services (PC-MEPS) identified its main goal this triennium as supporting and encouraging effective leadership and healthy pastoral relationships within the United Church. More specifically, the permanent committee is working through task groups to address some of the present needs of the church in the areas of pastoral relations policy, recruitment, compensation of ministry personnel, and oversight and discipline policy. Each of these areas requires study, research, and feedback from the constituency of the United Church ministry personnel and lay leaders.