ELM STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALTON

 

ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT FOR

YOKED PASTORATE & DESIGNATED PASTOR

 

 

            These Articles of Agreement are entered into by and between Elm Street Presbyterian Church (Elm Street) and First Presbyterian Church of Alton (First) to memorialize their agreement in establishing a yoked pastorate and designated pastor to serve their respective congregations as follows:

 

            1.  Premises for Agreement.  Elm Street and First are each currently without permanent pastoral leadership.  Elm Street has determined that it is unlikely that it will be able to financially support a full time pastor in the foreseeable future.  First has determined that it will also be unable to financially support a full time pastor at this time and, at the same time, retain its other professional staff consisting of a Director of Music and Administration  and Director of Christian Education and Youth.  The churches have determined that based on the location of their two churches and the membership size of each of their congregations, a single pastorate can at this time, and for the duration of this Agreement, serve both Elm and First effectively. The Sessions and Congregations of both Elm and First have approved entering into a yoked pastorate arrangement pursuant to the provisions of 14.0504 of the Book of Order.  Because this will be a new arrangement for both churches, they have, again by Session and Congregational approval, also determined that a designated pastoral arrangement pursuant to 14.0501e. of the Book of Order will be in their best interest by providing a limited initial term for the yoked pastor to allow both the pastor and the churches the time to evaluate and the flexibility to modify, make permanent, or end the arrangement as may be appropriate.

 

            2.  Mission Goals During Designated Pastorate.  As reflected in their respective Mission Studies, Elm Street and First find themselves at different, but at the same time similar, points in their lives of their congregations.  Elm Street has an active mission outreach and desires to build on that base, while First has a tradition of mission in the community which has fallen away in recent years and needs to be rekindled.  In the designated pastorate period, it will be the goal of both churches to seriously review their missional purpose and to determine how they will fulfill their roles in mission.  Having said this, both churches share the common mission of spiritual growth of their members as part of their church community.  The designated pastorate should be a period during which members will be challenged and given opportunities for such growth.

 

            3.  Services Expected of Pastor.  The designated pastor will serve as moderator for each of the churches in accordance with the Book of Order and will fulfill those official functions mandated by the Book of Order.  Both Elm Street and First have, in their own ways, each established an infrastructure which will be available to assist the pastor and to handle routine administration of the churches on a day to day basis.  At Elm Street, an Administrative Assistant is available.  At First, a Director of Administration and Director of Education are available.  In addition, both churches have a cadre of volunteers who provide clerical and office assistance.  Both churches have active and involved Sessions and commission or committee structures in place to work in the areas of worship, mission, finances, and property, among others.  Both churches recognize that in fulfilling their missions, the spiritual growth and well being of their members is the paramount concern of each congregation.  Accordingly, both churches desire and expect that the pastor serving their two congregations will primarily concern himself or herself with the spiritual growth of the members, worship leadership and preaching, and pastoral care and visitation (hospital, nursing home, shut in and member home).  Less work in the area of church administration would be expected, although the pastor would, as moderator of the Sessions of Elm Street and First, have overall administrative leadership in that capacity.

 

            4.  Establishment of Joint PNC.  Upon approval of these Articles of Agreement by the appropriate bodies, the congregations of Elm Street and First will each elect three members to serve as a joint Pastor Nominating Committee and carry out the responsibilities of the PNC under 14.0502 of the Book of Order.

 

            5.  Establishment of Joint Council.  Incident to the creation of the yoked pastorate between Elm Street and First, a committee, to be comprised of representatives of an equal number from each Session would be formed to meet at least quarterly or as needed to address matters involving the yoking arrangement.  Each church will, however, continue to operate independently as separate congregations with the Session of each church responsible for its governance and affairs. 

 

            6.  Financial Responsibility.  It is agreed that each of the churches will provide financial support to the pastor.  Until a different allocation is mutually agreed upon, it is agreed that Elm Street will furnish between 25% and 35% and First will furnish between 65% and 75% of the financial commitment of the call to the designated pastor.  A final allocation of the commitment will be made by at the time the call to the designated pastor is extended.

           

            7.  Pastor’s Time Commitment.  While it is understood that the designated pastor will necessarily be required to adjust his or her schedule and commitment of time to the two churches based on the needs of the membership at any particular time, it is generally agreed that the designated pastor will spend approximately 16 hours per week of his or her time in service to Elm Street and approximately 24 hours per week of his or her time in service to First.  It is also recognized that consultation and advice of the designated pastor is required with regard to this aspect of the relationship and that modification of this provision of the Agreement may be required at the time a call is extended to the designated pastor or thereafter.

 

            8.  Worship Service and Sunday Morning Arrangements.  Subject to consultation with the designated pastor at the time of call or thereafter, it is anticipated that Elm Street will have its Sunday morning worship service at 10:45 AM and that First will have its Sunday morning worship service at 9:30 AM.  Sunday School, Adult Education, Choir, Fellowship Time and other Sunday morning activities would be scheduled by each church around these worship times. 

 

            9.  Scheduling of Session, Board, Commission and Committee Meetings.  It is agreed that meetings of the Sessions, Boards, Commissions, and Committees of each church will be scheduled in consultation with the designated pastor in a manner which will not place an undue burden on the designated pastor’s time and energies.

 

            10.  Office of Designated Pastor.  It is agreed that office facilities will be made available at each of the churches for the designated pastor, with the designated pastor to determine, in consultation with the Sessions of the churches, where his or her primary office will be located.

 

            11.  Participation With Other Alton Churches.  It is agreed that the establishment of the yoked pastoral arrangement by Elm Street and First is not intended to in any manner affect the participation of Elm Street and First in the collaborative efforts of the four Alton Presbyterian churches (Elm Street, First, College Avenue Presbyterian Church, and Twelfth Street Presbyterian Church) which have been ongoing since July 2005 and which are expected to continue and expand over time as the four churches seek out their mission in the Alton community.  Part of the reason for selection of a designated pastorate arrangement is to permit greater flexibility to Elm Street and First not only in their relation to each other, but also in their relation to the other Presbyterian churches in Alton.

 

            12.  Expectations for the Future.  It is understood by each of the churches that no preconditions or required outcomes are mandated by this Agreement or the yoked pastorate and designated pastor arrangements.  It is acknowledged that these arrangements are an experiment entered into with open minds and hopes for success in meeting the needs of each church at this particular time and set of circumstances, however, it is recognized that conditions on one or both sides of the arrangement may, and likely will, change in the future and that this will necessitate modification and possibly termination of either or both the yoked pastorate or designated pastor arrangements.  Should this necessity arise, both Elm and First agree to counsel together and with the designated pastor, Committee on Ministry, and Presbytery to come to a mutually satisfactory conclusion for the churches and the designated pastor.

 

            13.  Modification of this Agreement.  It is recognized that these Articles of Agreement may, and in all likelihood will, require amendment and modification as the yoked pastorate and designate pastor arrangements commence and evolve in the context of the needs, challenges, and successes of the arrangements.  When either church or the designated pastor determines that such modifications or amendments are in order, they will so advise the other parties and the Joint Council will meet as needed to work through any issues which arise in a timely and orderly manner taking into account the interests of all parties.

 

            14.  Execution and Effective Date.  Upon approval of these Articles of Agreement by the Sessions of Elm Street and First, the moderators and clerks of Session will execute same on behalf of each of the churches.  These Articles of Agreement will become effective only upon the date that they receive the approval of all of the following bodies:  the Sessions of Elm Street and First, the Committee on Ministry, the Presbytery of Giddings Lovejoy, and the Congregations of Elm Street and First. 

 

 

ELM STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

 

BY:  ________________________

            Moderator

 

ATTEST:  ____________________

                        Clerk of Session

 

DATE:  _________________, 2006

 

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF ALTON

 

BY:  _________________________

            Moderator

 

ATTEST:  _____________________

                        Clerk of Session

 

DATE:  __________________, 2006

 

 

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