Congregations are in a better position to show appreciation of their pastor and staff than a judicatory like a presbytery. I would like to propose one example of how a presbytery or other judicatory might both show appreciation and educate the membership at the same time. I will speak of it as a presbytery but other judicatories could easily translate it into their situation.
Our presbytery meets quarterly. it is a meeting of both the clergy and a congregational member elected by the congregation as their commissioner. Frequently the congregations rotate their commissioners, so that person is often only vaguely familiar with what the presbytery does. That lack of awareness seriously weakens the sense of support for the work of the presbytery as a whole. The staff, in our case five professional staff and four support staff, work very hard to implement the corporate ministry of our regional churches. With budgetary limitations, the number of staff has declined while the expectations of their work has continued if not expanded. As I have advocated for pastors and congregations, so I think some visible expressions of appreciation would nurture there often stressed out and weary souls. I want to suggest a simple process to begin that expression of appreciation.
First arrange a time on the agenda.
Ask all the staff members to come forward, both program and support staff. Have someone both name them and provide a brief statement of their area of responsibility. Ground this in the biblical expression that we are all one body and that they work on our behalf to give visible expression to that corporate truth of our faith.
While they are standing before the body, ask members of the meeting to spontaneously rise and give a personal thanks for the the work that either a staff member or the office as a whole has offered on behalf of the church. It can either be something they have personally experienced or something they are aware of on behalf of others. Encourage these verbal affirmations to be both brief and as specific as possible. Allow this to continue until at least 10 to 20 examples have been given. (As an aside, this activity will have the side effect of educating many to the different types of work that the presbytery does.)
Having heard the testimony, invite two or three people for each staff person to come forward representing the whole body to lay their hands on each of the staff while the whole body participates in a litany of appreciation for their work. I will try to provide a sample litany tomorrow.
