3.1 LAY MINISTERS

"The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church" [BCP p. 855]

All baptized persons are called to ministry as a part of the Body of Christ. Christians engage in this ministry where they work and live, within and beyond the local congregation. (See also Section 4.3, Appendix 8.2.3 and the Licensed Ministries Manual published by the Diocesan Commission on Ministry.) Those that support the church's life of worship and fellowship and require licensing but not ordination include

Pastoral Leader: A lay person licensed to exercise pastoral or administrative responsibility in a congregation under special circumstances.

Worship Leader: A lay person who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the Member of the Clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith.

Lay Preacher: A lay person licensed to preach.

Eucharistic Minister: A lay person authorized to administer the Consecrated Elements at a Celebration of Holy Eucharist.

Eucharistic Visitor: A lay person authorized to take the Consecrated Elements in a timely manner following a Celebration of Holy Eucharist to members of the congregation who, by reason of illness or infirmity, were unable to be present at the Celebration.

Catechist: A person licensed to prepare persons for baptism, confirmation, reception, and the reaffirmation of baptismal vows.

3.2 ORDAINED MINISTERS

Ordained ministers are those persons who have been called by God to minister pastoral care, preach the Gospel, and administer the sacraments. They have received theological and other particular education, training, and examination and have been ordained by the Church. (The process to prepare for Holy Orders is outlined in Section 4.2.) The ordained ministry of bishops, priests and deacons differ in the following ways:

BISHOPS

"The ministry of a bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry." [BCP p. 855]

A Diocesan Bishop is the chief pastor of the Diocese who acts as president of the Diocesan Corporation, presiding over the Diocesan Convention and Diocesan Council.

A Bishop Coadjutor, when elected, assists the Diocesan Bishop, assumes such duties as are assigned and automatically succeeds to the post at the death or retirement of the Diocesan.

A Suffragan Bishop, if there is one, serves at the pleasure of the Diocesan Bishop and assumes such duties as are assigned, but does not have the right of succession upon death or retirement of the Diocesan Bishop.

PRIESTS

"The ministry of a priest is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to share with the bishop in the overseeing of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God." [BCP p. 856]

A priest's pastoral and sacramental responsibilities are set forth in the Ordinal of the Book of Common Prayer, p. 531. Priests are called by parishes (with the concurrence of the Bishop) or are appointed to Mission Congregations and other positions by the Bishop. Priests also have the responsibility of "taking part in the councils of the church" and are generally expected to spend a portion of their time in the work of the church beyond the local congregation. (See Section 8.3.1 for a sample Covenant of Ministry.)

DEACONS

"The ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments." [BCP p. 856]

A deacon's pastoral and sacramental responsibilities are set forth in the Ordinal of the Book of Common Prayer. [BCP p. 543] Deacons are assigned by the Bishop. When assigned to a congregation, a deacon works under the direction of the rector or vicar.

Often, a deacon will be engaged in work beyond the usual boundaries of parish life, "bringing the hopes, needs, and concerns of the world to the church." (See Section 8.3.3 for sample Covenant of Ministry.) They may also be engaged in providing services originating with the Diocese.

3.3 GOVERNANCE OF EACH CONGREGATION

The governance of each congregation is prescribed by its bylaws and the canons of the church. (See Section 8.2.1 for bibliography of examples.)

The Annual Meeting of the congregation shall be upon a day and at an hour as determined by the Vestry or BAC. It shall elect its governing body (Vestry in a parish, Chapter at the Cathedral, or BAC in a mission), and hear the reports of the priest in charge, wardens, committees and other church groups. The Vestry or BAC shall attend to the fiscal matters of the congregation between Annual Meetings. (See Section 7.9 for further information about Annual Meetings.)

3.3.1. Leadership of the congregation is provided by officers described as follows:

The Presiding Officer at meetings of a parish congregation or its governing body (the Vestry) is the rector and of a mission congregation or its governing body (BAC) is the vicar. The senior warden presides in the absence of the rector or vicar.

The Senior and Junior Wardens of a parish or mission must be confirmed communicants in good standing in the Church. They are selected and hold office by either of two methods determined by vote of the congregation.

Note: Methods are similar for parish or mission wardens and are described in detail in Section 8.2.2. Additional duties of the wardens are normally listed in the congregation bylaws.

The Clerk of the Vestry or BAC records the minutes of that body and of the Annual Meeting of the congregation. The clerk certifies the Parochial Report and files the articles of incorporation of a parish. The clerk may have other duties prescribed by the congregation bylaws, or by the action of the Vestry or BAC.

The Treasurer of a congregation maintains records of account for all funds received and disbursed, and presents them annually for audit. By the 15th of each month the treasurer (for the Vestry or BAC and congregation), sends Treasurer of the Diocese a statement of the previous month's General Purpose Income and its Diocesan Program Assessment payment, in compliance with Diocesan Canon 5.2.6. The Treasurer also maintains records and assists the rector or vicar in the preparation of the annual Parochial Report. (See Section 8.2.2 for additional duties of wardens, clerk and treasurer.)

3.3.2. Aided Parishes. The January 1991 Diocesan Convention recognized that from time to time there are parishes unable to meet their financial obligations to the Diocese and to their clergy in the ministry of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Diocesan Canon 5.2.6 provides in part that "if a congregation's Diocesan Program Assessment (DPA) is more than two months delinquent, the Bishop shall provide such counsel to the congregation as the Bishop deems advisable." To more clearly define when counsel is provided, and what sort of counsel may be indicated, the Diocesan Convention adopted the following resolution of policy which became effective July 1, 1991.

The Bishop may designate a parish as "aided" when, after a total of nine (9) months (with the exception of pension and life insurance payment deficiency, in which case after a total of ten (10) months), any of the following occurs:

• The parish is more than two periods in arrears in any one of the Total Compensation Package, Diocesan Program Assessment, or health insurance payments. Or the parish is three months in arrears in pension and life insurance payments.
• The parish is more than two periods in arrears of the interest on loan payments to the diocese.
• The parish pays the clergy less than the full proportionate SHU. (See Appendix 8.3.5.)

When designated "aided", the Bishop may appoint a consultant to work with the clergy, vestry, and congregation to identify and evaluate their mutual ministry. The consultant will bring in such teams as are necessary to work with the parish to help clarify goals and objectives, and the means to meet them. After these discussions, a Mission Statement for the parish will be drafted by the clergy and Vestry. When the deficiencies have been rectified, the "aided" designation should continue for a minimum of an additional three (3) years at the Bishop's discretion.

3.4 GOVERNANCE OF MISSION CONGREGATIONS

3.4.1 The Bishop as rector and chief pastor of all mission congregations delegates oversight to the Ministry of Congregational Development (MCD) for pastoral management and long-range planning development for the mission congregations.

The Bishop approves and appoints priests as vicars to share in the ministry of the mission congregations. The general practice of this Diocese is for the mission congregations to follow the diocesan search process when seeking Vicars. (See Section 5.1.) The role of the MCD in clergy deployment is consultative.

3.4.2 Members of the Ministry of Congregational Development include:

• The Bishop.
• The Chair, appointed by the Bishop with term of office at the discretion of the Bishop.
• The dean of each Convocation, appointed by the Bishop for one-year terms with expectation of serving three terms.
• Lay representatives appointed by the Bishop from each Convocation for a one-year term with the understanding that it is possible that an appointment will extend for three consecutive terms.
• Additional members may be appointed to serve on the MCD in order to incorporate specific skills and expertise

3.4.3 MCD responsibilities are as a Council of Advice to the Bishop to:

Consult regularly, through the chair, on overall strategy to insure the strengthening and renewal of existing congregations, and the implementation of the Bishop's vision for mission, leadership and guidance.

Prepare an annual Evaluation/Strategy Report for the Bishop, under the direction of the chair and the dean convener, retaining a copy for the MCD file. Communicate the Ministry Development Program of the MCD to the Diocese. Insure coordinated support and nurture for short term and long range planning of ministry development in each Convocation, by assisting each Convocation to:

• Explore and encourage cooperative ministry through the sharing of all major resources including clergy, evangelism strategy, training for ministry of all the baptized, and other local and/or diocesan programs.
• Submit Block Grant requests to MCD if required by the budget process, clearly addressing the availability of local funding, need, evaluation of ministry/mission, and the mission opportunity of each congregation.
• Be an advocate for funds needed for expansion opportunities. Analyze the quarterly reports from each mission congregation. Provide periodic on-site evaluation of each mission church in areas of mission/ministry to each other and to the community at large, budget, long-range planning, programs for spiritual growth and Christian formation, and participation in diocesan and Convocation programs.

Exercise oversight for proper stewardship of diocesan resources by:

• The effective preparation of an annual budget for submission to the Diocesan Council Convocation in accordance with the Stipend, Housing And Utilities (SHU) Subsidy Process of the MCD.
• The assignment of liaisons between the MCD and local congregations, to communicate local needs to the MCD and to communicate the MCD’s ministry to the local church. As needed, liaisons may request consultations, with MCD members or other diocesan members with particular skills, for a particular congregation or Convocation to focus on areas of congregational development or formation in such areas as ministry development, evangelism, Christian education, etc.
• The recommendation of clergy and lay persons for training in specific areas and in cooperation with other diocesan departments. Advocate for scholarship assistance as needed.

The MCD expects mission congregations to have an annual Mutual Ministry Review, and will offer assistance in this process. That said, however, clergy evaluation is NOT within the scope of MCD responsibilities. Statements regarding personnel are to be directed to the Bishop only, to be shared at his discretion with the MCD convener and/or the dean. In clergy/congregation conflict, the Bishop may call upon mediator(s), not necessarily of the MCD, to assist in situations not resolved at the local level through the dean. The dean and MCD convener will be kept advised of the progress toward resolution in such cases.

Situations of clergy/clergy differences are a pastoral concern for the Bishop.

3.4.4 The Dean in each of the seven Convocations of the Diocese is the Bishop's representative to the mission churches in that Convocation. It is the responsibility of a dean to:

• Encourage use of the Operations Resource Manual, published by the Diocese, and conformance to MCD policies and procedures.
• Monitor congregational development and nurture cooperation in planning development of ministry of all the baptized and encourage the vision of mission.
• Monitor the financial resources in each congregation, including operating budgets and conformity of clergy compensation to the Diocesan Salary Housing Utilities (SHU) policy.
• Nurture cooperation in strategic planning for mission/ministry within Convocation, recognizing that at times "boundaries" must be crossed.
• Notify the Bishop of potentially serious clergy/congregation conflict that cannot be resolved in consultation with the dean.
• Conduct on-site visitation with congregations of the Convocation to provide visibility of diocesan care, and participate occasionally in liturgical services. Consult with other clergy in the Convocation to develop lists of clergy to serve as supply or in interim positions. Names submitted must be approved by the Bishop for such assignment.
• Seek assistance from the MCD Convocation lay representative and/or the Convocation president, as needed.

3.5 GOVERNANCE OF THE DIOCESE

Diocesan governance centers around the annual meeting of the Diocese in Convention at a time specified by the Bishop in consultation with the Standing Committee. Each congregation will be notified by the Secretary of Convention concerning the time and the certification of delegates to the Convention. Diocesan Council has a very close relationship with Diocesan Convention. According to Diocesan Canon 3.3, “It [Diocesan Council] shall perform such work as may be committed to it by the Convention and initiate and develop such new work between meetings of the Convention as it deems necessary.”

The Diocese is divided into seven geographical areas called Convocations (sometimes termed deaneries in other dioceses). The Convocations are presided over by a president (lay person) and dean (priest or deacon). The Convocation meets several times each year to preview the diocesan budget and discuss other matters of mutual concern. Each congregation is a member of the Convocation in which it is located and is represented by its clergy and elected representatives to Convocation. These elected representatives to Convocation are the same persons as are elected to serve as delegates to Diocesan Convention.

The following table may be helpful in comparing the terminology used at various levels of church government.