At the ministerial conference held in November 2006, the concept of pastoral councils was introduced. The plan is to try and formulate a council made up of three people operating as one unit as the pastor in as many of the congregations as possible. Using a pastoral council in place of a single pastor has a number of benefits. At a time when there are very few employed pastors in the Worldwide Church of God (WCG), a council prevents burn out on the part of one person having to shoulder the entire responsibility for a congregation. | Other benefits are: | Our long-term view of ministry is: | | Peer accountability | that ministers receive pastoral care | | Visibility of fellowship in action | that ministry is about service | | Variety of perspectives | that WCG will provide accountability and supervision structures | | Variety of style | that WCG will provide ongoing informal and formal training | | Checks and balances | that the concept of pastoral councils will be the dominant model for congregational care | | Protection of flock enhanced |
With all this in mind, the process of introducing the councils throughout the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland has begun. The first council was commissioned in Birmingham on 17 February. The Pastoral Council, which is made up of three people, takes the place of the pastor. All three are accountable as the pastor (it is not a case of appointing two assistants for the pastor). As a whole unit they are accountable ecclesiastically to the National Structure. They are appointed by the National Structure for a set period of time (at this point it has been set for three years). The council will be made up typically of elders/pastoral workers. The Pastoral Council instructs local ministry and appoints other congregational leaders. Once the council has been commissioned, they will, amongst themselves, appoint one of them as the Facilitator or Chairman. Specific duties will then be apportioned to each member. | The overall responsibilities of the council are: | | Pastoral Care | | Contextualised WCG Vision (application of living and sharing the Gospel) | | Church Ministries | | Local Mission | | Leadership Development | | Deacon and Elder recommendations | | Conflict Resolution | | Upward, Inward, Outward |
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