12/2/2022 - Sharing stories and learning from each other's experiments — whether successful or not — is one of the best ways for congregations to support one another.

Someone has just reached out to you with some critical feedback about the minister. What should you do next?

Here are the latest insights, ideas, tools, and permission to do the work of the Committee on (Shared) Ministry effectively from Congregational Life Staff.

Help your people learn how to give helpful evaluations and so we can be much better ministers.

Conflict engagement requires engaging in healthy communication and modeling healthy boundaries.

One evening at a Board meeting, we came to a question about our definitions of membership....

The work of the Committee on Ministry (CoM) is shared ministry, which includes attending to the vitality of the congregation.

Assemble a team of people with complimentary skills to serve on the Committee on Shared Ministry.

10/7/2022 - Learning to let go and do less can be helpful as we focus on the quality of community and programs rather than quantity.

Congregations, like all organizational systems, need feedback loops.  Regular assessment of the ministry is essential to group self-awareness and growth.

How might we create communities where each member can contribute equitably in service of mission and vision? Circles are an ancient tried-and-true practice.

When you're building up a team of lay pastoral caregivers in your congregation, it's important to ask good questions. Their answers will help you determine whether a prospective caregiver has the appropriate boundaries and skills for the role....

The COVID-19 pandemic has arrived, and you can barely keep up with the emotional, spiritual, and health needs of your community. Either you didn’t have a strong network of lay pastoral care in place before, or the core of your network is over 60 and self-isolating… Suddenly, you find you have to...

The health and vitality of the congregation depends on the health and vitality of its minister(s), religious educator(s), music professional(s), administrative professional(s), membership professional(s) and other staff.

RACI charts are helpful to be clear about shared process, especially the part about which body gets to have “final” say.

Use this self-assessment exercise to help your team become more cohesive and effective.

Defining the role of the minister is one of the most unique aspects of congregational bylaws. Ministry is a covenantal relationship between called minister and congregation; the details are organic and evolving and are best left to letters of agreement and board policy....

Many congregations have a committee to assist and work with the professional minister or ministers. An older model is the Ministerial Relations Committee, which tends to be an advocate for, and a support and guidance group to, the minister or ministers....

Explore how you can improve the function of your Committee on Ministry. IDEA 1: C.O.M. is an AGENT OF THE ENTIRE CONGREGATION

Leaders know that so much of congregational life is about being present to and with one another; they don’t have all the answers, but they know how to be with others through the journey of their lives, and the journey of shared congregational life.