Elders & Deacons

Resources 

Training Ministry Teams: A Manual for Elders and Deacons by Anne Stuckey

Across the Fence

This occasional newsletter shares best practices for pastoral ministry from one neighbor pastor to another, "across the fence."  Click here for an introduction and back issues.

Child Safety Policies

Dove’s Nest works to empower and equip churches to keep children and youth safe in their homes, neighborhoods, and communities. See their website for information and resources for the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Dove’s Nest provides resources to help churches write and implement child and youth protection policies. They have a checklist, and sample policies from other Mennonite churches on their website: http://www.dovesnest.net/policies

Mennonite Church USA Resources

Click here for Mennonite Church USA congregation/pastor packets on a range of issues and situations.

Central Plains Conference Documents

Click here for a list of useful documents.

Church-wide Statements & Resolutions

Mennonite Church USA statements and resolutions.

For the Search Committee

Click here for comprehensive information for Search Committees.

Annual Leaders Retreat

Please encourage your pastor to attend Annual Leaders Retreat and make it possible for him or her to do so by encouraging the congregation to cover registration and travel costs. Pastors, chaplains and other credentialed leaders and their spouses are invited to the Annual Leaders Retreat held each spring at St. Benedict Center near Schuyler, Nebraska. Hosted by the Pastoral Leadership Committee, the retreat includes a balance of input and rest with the goal of renewing the spirit through encouragement, worship and fellowship.  

Working with Pastors

Salary Guidelines for Pastors

The Pastoral Leadership Committee recommends that congregations use the Salary Guidelines formulated each year by Mennonite Church USA.  Find free software here to calculate a salary based on the guidelines.

Samples of Pastor Job Descriptions

Congregation B
Congregation C
Congregation D

Ordination Standards

The Pastoral Leadership Committee adopted a minimum set of educational/formation standards for persons ordained in Central Plains. 

Accountability for Pastors

The conference ministers meet annually with all credentialed pastors to build relationships, strengthen communication, offer encouragement and nurture accountability. This letter from Tim gives more detail.

Misconduct Policy & Procedure

The Pastoral Leadership Committee of Central Plains Mennonite Conference takes seriously any ethical misconduct on the part of credentialed leaders or any other leaders in the congregation.  Mennonite Church USA has developed policies and procedures for dealing with such misconduct, to which Central Plains also subscribes.  All allegations of such misconduct should be directed to one of the Conference Ministers or to the Chair of the Pastoral Leadership Committee.

Copies of the policy and procedure can be found here in English or downloaded as .pdf files in Spanish below.
Normas y Procedimientos Indice
NORMAS y Procedimiento texto
HACIENDO JUSTICIA