Church Support Team

Mission

The mission of the Church Support Team (CST) is to respond to referrals from the Office of the Bishop concerning congregations (parishes and missions) that are experiencing significant difficulties in their worship, leadership, financial and/or facility health and well-being.

Vision

The CST envisions a return of these congregations to a healthy and viable status or an honorable and mutually-acceptable transition to another form of faith community.

Objectives

• The CST will respond within 30 days of a referral from the Office of the Bishop (OOB) with an initial analysis and review of the issues, concerns, or problems at hand.

• This response will be orally and/or in writing to the OOB and include identification of the CST team assigned, a review of the issues presented, and an initial response plan.

• The initial support plan will include (but not be limited to) an action plan that includes visitation and interaction with the congregational leadership, review of fiscal circumstances with the Diocesan Chief Fiscal officer (CFO), and review of congregational history, operations, and past and present conditions.

• The CST will utilize markers or indicators of congregations in need, that speak specifically to such congregations.

• The CST will develop a plan of action that includes visitations, reviews and updates, resources accessed or invited, and findings and recommendations. This will include a written plan of action from the congregational leadership.

• At such time as the CST determines it has completed its work, it will forward its findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the congregational leadership and to the OOB.

• Interim or final reports and recommendations will include suggested local, diocesan, fiscal, operational, leadership, and strategic resources as may be applicable and useful in each congregational situation as well as other Diocesan committees, commissions, or sub-committees that have been, or need to be, involved or consulted.

Markers that may identify of congregations in need

• Unpaid diocesan apportionment over 90 days
• Unpaid loan payments to diocese or other lending groups or agencies
• Unpaid clergy and/or employee pension, insurance, or other legal benefits
• Current operations are financed through reserves or endowment funds
• Request to transition from parish to mission status
• Signs or reports of internal conflicts that continue over a period of time
• Reduction of clergy salary levels by vestry or mission committee
• Reduction in pledge income and or worship attendance over a period of time
• Congregational delegates do not attend diocesan convention
• Maintenance issues with physical facility that have not been, or cannot be addressed
• Changing community demographics that adversely affect congregational health
• Resignation or retirement of clergy without viable succession planning
• Financial and attendance trend analysis data show ongoing and/or significant declines
• Internal relationships become destructive, adversarial, or hostile

It is not expected that all markers need be present in any given situations, and that other indicators or markers may arise in the course of the CST’s reviews that could be added to this preliminary list.

© 2010 The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.

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