The Clergy Wellness Commission

Position Description
Assistant to the Rector

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Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, North Carolina

May 1992

Objective

To assist the Rector in providing leadership to the congregation so that the goals and purposes of the parish are achieved.

Dimensions

• Households: 550 Annual spending: $450,028
• $344,282 Local support
• $105,742 Beyond congregation
• Average Attendance
  • 4 Key Sundays: 474 Weekly Giving per Household: $14.90

Nature & Scope

The Assistant Rector is appointed by and accountable to the Rector, serving at the Rector's pleasure, and extends and supports the Rector's ministry in the parish, community and diocese. Under the Rector's supervision and authority, the Assistant shares in the responsibilities of pastoral care, education, administration of the Sacraments, outreach, and administration of the parish. As a member of Good Shepherd's professional ministry team, the Assistant works collegially with other paid and volunteer staff, exercising lead responsibility in tasks and areas assigned by the Rector. The Assistant attends Vestry meetings, and works with Vestry and program committees as assigned.

The Assistant is assigned direct program responsibility in pastoral care, administration of acolytes, and support of specific outreach ministries as assigned, and acts in a consultative role to the Rector in the rest of parish life. The Assistant is expected to participate in convocation and diocesan organizations, and the community's ministerial association.

Good Shepherd is one of two large downtown Episcopal churches located near Capitol Square in Raleigh. Set in a mixture of commercial properties and state government buildings, there are five churches of other denominations within three blocks. The congregation's membership is drawn from a wide geographical area; many parishioners commute a considerable distance, past other Episcopal churches, to participate in worship, education, and other parish activities. Parishioners are drawn by beauty of the sanctuary, the distinctive warmth of the congregation, the scope of the program offerings, and Good Shepherd's commitment to community service. (Good Shepherd houses a soup kitchen, which it founded, that serves over 200 meals a day, at lunch Monday through Friday.)

The congregation is made up of a variety of households -- singles, single-parent, couples, "traditional" families, etc. There is a wide range of ages, though not a great number of young families with children. Members are well-educated, and represent a variety of professions. A significant number of members is retired; in many of the rest of the households, all adults are full-time employed.

The Assistant must meet the usual standards of theological training required of all Episcopal clergy, and be open to continuing professional development, through formal conferences and courses, informal collegial support and networking, and the Rector's mentorship. The Assistant must be able to develop leadership in others in the areas of parish life in which s/he is assigned particular responsibility.

A major challenge in this position is to be a creative and loyal contributor on the parish leadership team. As in all large downtown churches, Good Shepherd's strength depends upon the energy and vitality that comes from the assertive blending of the differing gifts, theologies and ministries of both staff and parishioners. Over time, the Assistant will develop a constituency among parishioners; it is important that this natural constituency-building contribute to parish health and unity. The position also challenges the Assistant at a personal level to integrate professional growth with the performance of this ministry.

The weekly staff meeting is both the instrument and the support for meeting these challenges. Staff meetings are times for accountability and planning, and personal and professional support. The Assistant also draws upon the talents and energies of parishioners for both setting and accomplishing the goals of this ministry.

Accountabilities

1. Participate in Good Shepherd's professional team ministry, so that the congregation fulfills its mission and reaches its goals.

2. Share in leading worship, preaching the Gospel, and administering the sacraments, so that the congregation is given opportunity for spiritual renewal and exciting response to Christ.

3. Share in providing for pastoral care of the parishioners, so that individual and family joys, anxieties, and distress are addressed with Christian concern.

4. Share establishing achievable goals to which the parish can respond, so that its viability is assured and its mission strengthened.

5. Recruit, support and train leaders and participants for various parish program areas as assigned, so that parishioners fulfill the program objectives of the parish.

6. Support the planning and action of standing Committees and task groups as assigned, so that these groups reach agreed goals and their ministries are celebrated.

7. Participate in community, convocation, and diocesan activities, so that the mission of the congregation beyond itself is furthered.

8. Maintain a pattern of life that sets a wholesome Christian example.

May 20, 1992

Prepared by Interim Rector for Personnel Committee review and submission to Vestry.

This position description follows the form and models contained in Called To Work Together, a handbook available from the National Church. It was composed by the Interim Rector in consultation with other professional ministry staff, based on the position descriptions developed for the Director of Religious Education and the Coordinator of Lay Ministries, and experience with Good Shepherd's professional ministry team.

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