The Clergy Wellness Commission

Position Description
Director of Lay Ministries

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Church of the Good Shepherd, Raleigh, North Carolina

May 1992

Objective

To develop and support lay ministry opportunities for adult members of Good Shepherd, so that the parish grows as a community faithful to our Lord's command that we love as he first loved us.

Dimensions

• Households: 550 Adult Men: _____ Adult Women: _____
• Typical Sunday Worship Attendance: 70 Early Service
• 125 Family Service
• 200 Last Service
• $1,500 annual budget for program and supplies
• Major On-going Lay Ministry Programs Numbers of Adults Involved
• Stephen Ministers ______
• Daughters of the King ______
• Shepherd's Table Soup Kitchen ______
• Communitas ______
• Bible Study Groups ______
• AIDS Support Groups ______
• Senior Bridge Groups ______

Nature & Scope

The Coordinator of Lay Ministries (CLM) is a full-time, non-stipendiary lay person appointed by and accountable to the Rector, and whose pleasure s/he serves. The CLM extends and supports the Rector's ministry in the areas of pastoral care, social ministry, membership support, leadership support, and volunteer recruitment. Under the Rector's supervision and authority, the CLM administers the Stephen Ministry Program, and supports the work of the Membership, Fellowship, Publicity, and Christian Social Ministries Committees. As a member of Good Shepherd's professional ministry team, the CLM works collegially with other paid and volunteer staff, attends staff, vestry and committee meetings as assigned by the Rector, and participates in relevant community, diocesan, and national church activities.

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 CLM must show evidence of a basic theological education (for example, completion of the University of South's Education For Ministry program); understanding of and enthusiasm for Anglican history and tradition; personal commitment to a spiritual life, including worship, prayer, study and action; knowledge and understanding of pastoral caring techniques, group and team development theory and practice; conflict resolution skills; ability to facilitate groups.

The challenges of the position are to be present to the members of the congregation so as to assist them to identify their personal ministries, to enable and support those self-identified ministries, and to inform parishioners of lay ministry opportunities with the parish, the community, the diocese and the National Church. The CLM is also challenged to represent the lay perspective to the other members of Good Shepherd's ministry team.

The CLM meets the challenges of this position by participating in the design and implementation of parish programs; communicating opportunities for service; working collegially with other church professionals to stay current on issues, ideas and programs; and participating in continuing education opportunities afforded by the community, the diocese and the national church.

Accountabilities

1. Administer the Stephen Ministry Program, so that the quality of lay pastoral ministry is maintained at the highest level.

2. Support and guide the planning and action of the Fellowship, Membership, Christian Social Ministries, and Publicity Committees, so that each Committee sets and meets achievable goals.

3. Communicate to all parishioners the Lay Ministry goals and programs available to them in the parish, the community, the diocese and national church so that the congregation is well-informed of opportunities and motivated to participate.

4. Administer the Communitas Program, so that all outside use of Good Shepherd's buildings is in accord with standards set by the Rector and Vestry.

5. Recruit, train and facilitate lay volunteers and leaders, so that they may express their ministries effectively to the furtherance of Good Shepherd's stated mission and goals.

6. Share in providing for pastoral care of parishioners, particularly those who themselves deliver pastoral care, so that individual and family joys, anxieties, and distress are addressed with Christian concern.

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

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

May 20, 1992

Prepared by Interim Rector and CLM for Personnel Committee review.

This position description follows the form and models contained in Called To Work Together, a handbook available from the National Church. The first draft was composed by the incumbent Coordinator of Lay Minis tires, and revised by the Interim Rector in consultation with the CLM and other staff.

 

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