Leadership Team
At YOUR CHURCH we believe that the church should be led by those with the spiritual gift of leadership. Therefore, up to six people with this gift (and other complimentary gifts) will serve with the Senior Pastor on the “Leadership Team.”
All final congregational authority shall be vested in the Leadership Team.
Senior Pastor and Leadership Team Roles
YOUR CHURCH is a staff led church under the servant leadership of the Senior Pastor.
The Leadership Team exists to assist the Senior Pastor in fulfilling his/her calling. As such, the Leadership Team exists to serve five specific functions:
- Serve as the primary care group for the Senior Pastor.
- Provide a sounding board for the Senior Pastor as he senses the next steps for the church.
- Hold the Senior Pastor accountable for the performance of the church.
- Serve a fiduciary responsibility to the church by determining salary increases for the Senior Pastor, approving the annual budget, and holding the Senior Pastor accountable for the financial health of the church.
- Hire/fire the Senior Pastor.
General Regulations
No person shall be appointed to the Leadership Team who is not a mature Christian.
The Leadership Team shall be chosen from people who are active members of the congregation and who are committed and dedicated to serving Jesus and His people. However, allowance is made for one member of the Leadership Team to be someone who is not a church member, but a Christian leader from another Independent Christian Church congregation. That person’s role on the team shall be to (1) challenge the team’s thinking by being a source of unbiased, non-church attendee/member feedback, (2) provide fresh ideas and insight, and (3) help with the search for a new Senior Pastor if and when that situation arises. This person shall possess the spiritual gift of leadership, be a member in good standing of another Independent Christian Church congregation, and meet the character qualifications of 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:6-9.
The Leadership Team shall be made up of no less than two (excluding the Senior Pastor) and no more than seven (including the Senior Pastor) members. In the event there is not more than two people qualified, other than the Senior Pastor, the Leadership Team shall not exist, and matters normally transacted by the Leadership Team shall be transacted by the Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, and church staff.
The Leadership Team shall meet once per quarter.
Selection of Leadership Team Members
Nominations for new Leadership Team members will be made by the Senior Pastor after a deliberate process of prayer, council and evaluation of potential candidates. After a person has been selected, their name shall be submitted to the Leadership Team for review, examination and approval.
Approval by the Leadership Team must be unanimous. Nominees approved by the Leadership Team shall be presented to the congregation. However, the congregation shall not have the right to approve or disprove the appointment of a Leadership Team member.
Leadership Team members, other than the Senior Pastor, will serve for a period of three years and until their successors are selected.
After one year away from service a person may be considered for nomination again. A person will only be nominated by the Senior Pastor if:
- They have the spiritual gift of Leadership as measured by spiritual gift testing devices, by self-observation, and by observation of existing leaders within the congregation.
- They agree wholeheartedly with the mission, philosophy and beliefs of YOUR CHURCH.
- They have demonstrated proven servant leadership in ministry at YOUR CHURCH for at least two years without signs of control or authoritarianism.
- They tithe.
- They have demonstrated positive support for the existing Leadership Team members, Senior Pastor, Executive Pastor, and church staff.
- They are a mature Christian with highly developed Christian character as outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-11 and Titus 1:6-9.
- They feel called by God to exercise their gifts within this body of believers.
Removal of Leadership Team Members
Any circumstance that renders a Leadership Team member unable to do their duties as outlined herein, shall be cause for termination.
Also, action will be taken against a Leadership Team member in spiritual disharmony with the Leadership Team in accordance with Biblical discipline as seen in 1 Timothy 5:17-20 and Matthew 18:15-20.
Responsibility for removal of a Leadership Team member rests with the Leadership Team itself and is accomplished by majority vote (excluding the vote of the Leadership Team member in question).
Selection of a Senior Pastor
The Senior Pastor of the congregation shall be recruited and hired by the Leadership Team, by majority vote. The new Senior Pastor shall minister for the period of time specified in the contract of employment.
The contract of employment shall be in writing, and shall be signed by the prospective Senior Pastor and by the Leadership Team.
The qualifications of the Senior Pastor shall be set by the Leadership Team, but in no case shall they be less than those of admission to membership in the congregation.
Under no circumstances will a Senior Pastor be hired who has not received an undergraduate and/or graduate degree from an Independent Christian church college or seminary and had at least five years of full-time service with an Independent Christian church.
Duties of Senior Pastor
The Senior Pastor shall serve on the Leadership Team.
In addition to the Senior Pastor’s duties as a Leadership Team member, the Senior Pastor will serve as the primary teacher in weekend services, visionary leader for the congregation, and manager of church staff.
Certain limitations and general constraints to the responsibility and authority of the Senior Pastor are set forth by the Leadership Team in the Executive Limitations Policy.
Termination
The position of Senior Pastor may be terminated voluntarily by giving written notice to the Leadership Team or involuntarily by a unanimous decision of the Leadership Team (excluding the vote of the Senior Pastor) following appropriate corrective action.
Termination shall take effect one hundred and eighty days from such notice or vote, unless the period of time is altered by mutual agreement of the Senior Pastor and the Leadership Team. During this period of time the performance of the duties of his position shall be determined by the Leadership Team.
Selection and Duties of Church Staff
The Senior Pastor shall be responsible for providing regular oversight and direction for the church staff.
It is the responsibility of the Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor to hire and dismiss all church staff.
Duties and qualifications of church staff are documented in the applicable job description.
The qualifications of church staff shall be no less than those of admission to membership in the congregation.
Specific policies and procedures related to church staff are contained in the Staff Policy Manual.
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