THE BACKGROUND TO THESE GUIDELINES

Baheh - Peter J. Kelley

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English

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Publié par	Baheh
Nombre de lectures	32
Langue	English

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B.05.03
COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY
SEPARATION ETHICS
THE BACKGROUND TO THESE GUIDELINES
The pastoral relationship is very important, often deeply personal, and, in some cases, lifesaving to people
in a congregation. This relationship develops through study, teaching, preaching, administering the
sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, weddings, funerals, presence in crises, and praying with and
for members of the congregation. With the leadership of a congregation and particularly with the elders,
the pastor works to encourage the people in the worship and service of God, equipping them for their tasks
within the church and their mission in the world. In all of these dimensions of the pastoral relationship
there are elements of trust, confidence, admiration, affection, fondness, caring, and love.
The ending of the pastoral relationship is often a trying and traumatic experience for both the pastor and
the members of a congregation. It always means change for the life of the pastor involved and the
congregation. Therefore, in the light of our Book of Order and the best of our traditions, the following
guidelines represent what the departing pastor and the congregation will want to do as they face the
situation of pastor and congregation saying “Goodbye.”
1I. THE GUIDELINES
A. SAYING GOODBYE
The need to say goodbye to a congregation occurs for one of several reasons. A pastor may receive
a call to another field of service. A pastor may decide to retire. A pastor may decide to leave the
pastoral ministry and enter another area of service. The presbytery may, for cause, take the
initiative to dissolve the relationship. This break can be a difficult time for both the pastor and the
congregation.
Whatever the cause, it becomes the occasion when pastor and congregation find they must say
goodbye.
1. Saying Goodbye to Accept a Call a Distance Away
When a pastor accepts a call to a ministry a distance from the congregation which she or he is
leaving, the opportunity for contact with members of the former congregation is quite limited,
often non-existent. However, recent technologies provide for frequent contacts in spite of
geographical distances. Hence, there frequently arise certain circumstances which pose
questions for the departing pastor as to what is appropriate, and what can be most helpful to the
congregation and the interim and following pastors. It is always incumbent upon the
departing pastor to make sure that parishioners know that her or his relationship with
the congregation will change considerably. It is important that parishioners understand
that this change of relationship is necessary in order that the congregation be free, in all
respects, to make the adjustments necessary for changes of leadership, interim and
permanent, without the departing pastor’s influence. (See Section B, “Responsibilities in
Saying Goodbye,” below.)
2. Saying Goodbye But Remaining a Neighbor
When a pastor says goodbye and remains nearby, there are particularly sensitive aspects of
separation which require careful attention on the part of the departing pastor.
The experience of pastors and congregations over the years has led many to believe that when
a pastor ends a ministry with a congregation, it is best for the pastor to move out of the
community. However, this is not always possible or advisable. Thus, it is particularly
important when a departing pastor remains in the community and in proximity to the
former congregation, that he or she, with care and forethought, pay particular attention
to what is said below with reference to a departing pastor’s responsibilities to the
congregation, individual members of the congregation, and to the interim and subsequent
installed pastors (Section B, “Responsibilities in Saying Goodbye”)
The departing pastor should not be a part of the worshiping or fellowship life of the
congregation except upon the initiative and invitation of the interim or installed pastor.
If such an invitation is extended, normally, it should not occur until the interim or next
installed pastor has had an opportunity to establish relationships with the congregation.
A retiring pastor who remains in the proximity of the congregation from which he or she has
retired, will need to give careful consideration to the responsibilities that follow below in
2Section B, “Responsibilities in Saying Goodbye”.
3. When One is Elected Pastor Emeritus
When a pastor retires, the congregation may bestow upon him or her the title of Pastor
Emeritus. The provision for this is found in the Book of Order as follows:
“When any pastor or associate pastor retires, and the congregation is moved by affection and
gratitude to continue an association in an honorary relationship, it may, at a regularly called
congregational meeting, elect him or her as Pastor Emeritus. This action shall be taken only
after consultation with the Committee on Ministry of the presbytery concerning the wisdom of
this relationship for the peace of the church. This action shall be subject to the approval of
presbytery, and may take effect upon the formal dissolution of the pastoral or associate pastoral
relationship or anytime thereafter.” (Book of Order, G-14.0605. Emphasis added.)
To elect one as pastor or associate pastor emeritus:
C Is evidence of a long and loving, mutually caring pastoral relationship;
C Is a congregation’s way of saying to the church-at-large and to the world that they
love this person and are thankful for his or her time with them; and
C Is a gift to the retired pastor which says something special to him or her.
However, it must be recognized that the pastoral relationship has been dissolved. The
relationship of pastor to people has ended and there is no expectation of the person to be
present with the congregation because of the election.
All expectations related to the former pastor of a congregation apply to a pastor emeritus
(see Section B below).
B. RESPONSIBILITIES IN SAYING GOODBYE
These guidelines are an effort to deal in “Separation Ethics.” The use of the term “ethics” implies
certain values which are important to consider during this often highly charged experience of the
dissolution of the pastoral relationship. Such values include:
C Effective leadership;
C Congregational health and stability;
C The growth of pastor and members in dealing with opportunities that arise with the
pain, the problems, and the possibilities of separation; and
C The ability of the session and congregation to move positively and effectively toward
the next phase of their life together.
These values instruct the conduct and responsibilities of both the pastor and the congregation
regarding their separation.
The material which follows is addressed to pastor, session, and congregation, the Committee on
Ministry of the presbytery, and also the pastor’s family, where appropriate. However, the pastor
is the one in the professional leadership role and, therefore, the one who has the
responsibility for making sure that the separation that occurs is anticipated and carried
through with foresight and effectiveness.
1. Responsibilities of the Departing Pastor
Because of the sensitivity of the pastoral relationship, it is important that the departing pastor,
in any dissolution, assume certain responsibilities to the former congregation, to the remaining
3staff and personnel of the church, to individual members of that congregation, and to the
interim and next installed pastors.
a. To the Congregation
When the date has been set for the dissolution of the pastoral relationship, the departing
pastor must take the lead in beginning to prepare the congregation for their separation.
Certain things will need to be communicated clearly to the congregation in order to avoid
confusion on the part of members in the days ahead.
This communication can be accomplished in several ways. A letter could be addressed to
the members of the congregation spelling out clearly the matters below which are part of
1the separation and the time that follows . A sermon might contain references to the
approaching separation and speak to these matters. In casual conversation one-on-one or
in groups, in public presence, in newsletters, in all contacts with people of the congregation,
it is important that these matters be communicated and every effort made to have them
understood. These matters are:
1) That all pastoral and professional relationships and responsibilities of the pastor
with the congregation will end as of the effective date of the dissolution;
2) that the pastor will not be involved in any way in the selection process of either the
interim pastor or the next installed pastor. Neither will he or she be involved in any
way with the selection of any search team or pastor nominating committee;
3) that the pastor, after leaving, will not become engaged in conversations with church
members or staff which, in any way, offer opinions or criticism about the life of the
congregation or the performance of the interim or any subsequent installed pastors;
4) that any desire on the part of members of the congregation for the departing pastor
to participate in congregational life or services should be discussed not with the
departing pastor, but with the interim pastor or subsequent installed pastor;
5) that the departing pastor may participate in a wedding,