Elders & Deacons

Resources 

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

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.

For the Pastor Search Committee

Click here for comprehensive information for Search Committees. 

​For Pastor/Congregation Evaluation Committee
​​Pastor/Congregation evaluations are a natural and essential part of effective ministry.  When done well they can help the pastor and congregation be more effective in ministry.  When done poorly, evaluations can create pain for the pastor, the pastor's family and the congregation.  For this reason, it is important that those responsible for leading evaluations plan the process with the conference minister.  Contact Susan Janzen at [email protected] to start the planning process.  Also check out these free, downloadable resources for doing evaluations well.  

Annual Leaders Retreat

Encourage your pastor (and spouse) to attend the Annual Leaders Retreat, held each spring at St. Benedict Center near Schuyler, Neb. Hosted by the Pastoral Leadership Committee, the retreat features a balance of input and rest, with the goal of renewing mind, body, and spirit through encouragement, worship, and fellowship. This is also an opportunity for pastors, chaplains, and spouses to get to know one another informally. Budgeting for registration and travel costs is a way of showing appreciation for your pastor(s). Dates for the next two years have been set: April 27-29, 2025 and April 17-19, 2026.

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 Susan gives more detail.

Church-wide Statements & Resolutions

Mennonite Church USA statements and resolutions.

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