COVENANT (For Senior Minister)

The ______________________________ Church of ________________________________ (the

“Church”) and _________________________________ (the “Minister”) do hereby acknowledge

that we have been led to each other by the Holy Spirit to join in a ministry intended to be mutually

profitable to the spiritual interest of the Church and fruitful for the Kingdom of our Lord. In view of

our shared sense of call to this ministry, the Church earnestly and solemnly calls the Minister to

undertake the office of _________________________________ on behalf of this Congregation,

beginning _______________, and in order to further the ministry which we are to share, we jointly

agree to include as part of this Covenant the following Statement of Convenantal Relationship.

PRINCIPLES

A. Scripture affirms that the relationship we have entered into jointly is the result of the work of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:2-14.

B. Scripture affirms that those who labor for the Gospel of our Lord deserve support. Luke 10:4-7, 1 Corinthians 9:14, 1 Timothy 5:17.

C. Scripture affirms that all relationships will be undertaken in love and are to be governed by justice and fairness. Exodus 19:6 through Exodus 20.

D. The professional called as Minister is recognized as a skilled person with high responsibility for which long years of preparation and training have been required.

E. The Minister is expected to continue to develop skills and knowledge in the tradition of the long years of preparation and training already experienced and, to that end, such time as is necessary and reasonable shall be made available for the pursuit.

F. The compensation to be paid and the benefits to be afforded shall appear reasonable, just and fair to the leaders of the congregation, to a majority of the members of the congregation, to the Minister involved, to the Minister’s spouse, and to any connectional division of the church that may have oversight of the selection.

G. For the peace, unity and effectiveness of the church, general acceptance of each of these principles is essential so that the Minister and members of the congregation may be able to work together to carry out the mission of the church.

I. COVENANTS CONCERNING EXPECTATIONS

A. Responsibilities.

1. The Minister shall devote his/her full-time efforts to the Ministry of the Word among

us in meeting this responsibility. The responsibilities of the Ministry of the Word shall include the

Sunday morning service, outreach and evangelism, visitation of the sick, elderly and shut-ins,

visitation of the members of the church, leadership in the organization/committee structure of the

church, staff leadership, ministry to and continuing communication with the governing bodies of

the church, and participation in the activities and functions of the church.

2. The Congregation covenants to be supportive and to participate in each of the areas

in which the Minister shall have responsibility or oversight. It is the intent of the Agreement that

the Minister not work alone in meeting the mission of this Church, but that it be a shared

relationship as stated in the Principles above.

3. The Minister and the Congregation shall shortly after the call establish short and

long-term goals for the Minister and this Church. The goals adopted shall be reduced to writing

and signed and reviewed annually to assess the performance of both the church and its members

on the one hand and the Minister on the other. A restatement of goals, including old and new, in

writing and signed, shall be made after the annual review.

B. Authority and Limitations on Authority. The Minister shall have general and overall

responsibility and authority (working to build consensus with the Congregation and/or various

committees from time to time) over the professional ministerial staff (including hiring and firing

decisions, setting compensation, etc.), worship services, mid-week meetings, lay leader training,

outreach, visitation of sick and shut-ins, and such other matters as are mutually discussed and

agreed on. The Minister shall have the authority to delegate any of these responsibilities as he/she

deems appropriate from time to time. A more detailed description of the authority and responsibility

of the Minister shall be set out on Exhibit A attached to this document.

C. Minister’s Advocacy Committee. There shall be a standing committee whose

responsibility shall be to support and counsel, and provide spiritual support for, the Minister in all

matters. It shall be composed of at least five members of the congregation, one of whom shall be

the immediate past or present chairman of the deacon or elder body; the others shall be appointed

by the Minister to a one year term (but there shall be no limitation to the number of terms a member

may serve). No appointed member shall serve simultaneously on this committee and any other

committee which evaluates the Minister or participates in compensation, hiring and firing decisions.

It shall meet with the Minister regularly, at least once a quarter. In any matters involving conflict

between the Minister and congregation, or any member thereof, the committee will maintain a

supportive position as an advocate for the Minister (without becoming adversarial to the

congregation).

D. Open Communications. The Church and Minister pledge to create and maintain a

relationship built on open communications. Expectations shall be clearly communicated, along with

progress towards meeting such expectations.

E. Annual Review. There shall be an annual assessment by the Church Council (or

other committee appropriate to the church and denomination) of the expectations, communications,

performances, and/or the setting of goals by both the Church and the Minister. The annual review

shall be discussed among the Personnel Committee and the Minister’s Advocacy Committee; then it

shall be discussed among the Chair of the Personnel Committee, Chair of the Minister’s Advocacy

Committee, and the Minister. At the conclusion of each annual assessment, a new statement of goals

and expectations shall be prepared in writing and signed and shall be provided to the Minister and the

Congregation.

II. COVENANTS CONCERNING FINANCIAL MATTERS

A. Pastoral Call Agreement. So that the Minister may be free to devote full-time

(part-time) to the ministry of the Word among the Congregation, the Church hereby promises and

obligates itself to pay the Minister the following (those agreed upon are to be filled in):

Salary $____________________ Use of Church Owned Residence (value) ____________________ Housing Allowance $____________________ Utilities Allowance $____________________ Automobile Allowance $____________________ Library/Computer Allowance $____________________ Pension/Retirement Contribution $____________________ Self Employment Tax $____________________ Expense Allowance $____________________ Life Insurance $____________________ Medical Insurance $____________________ Disability Insurance $____________________ Study Leave Allowance $____________________ Other (Specify)___________________ $____________________

All salary and benefits shall be continued in full while the Minister is entitled (and

encouraged) to take, annually:

Vacation leave of __________ days

Study Leave of __________ days

Other Leave (specify) ______________________________ of __________ days

In addition, the Church agrees to pay in advance a one-time non-accountable moving and

relocation expense of $ _______________________.

B. Annual Review. The financial matters related to the Pastoral Call shall be reviewed

at least annually and shall be adjusted where necessary. Any adjustments agreed upon shall be in

writing and signed by the parties.

C. Sabbatical. The Minister shall be afforded at the completion of each six year’s

service under the Covenant _______ months for a Sabbatical, during which the Minister shall

continue to receive full compensation, including salary and all benefits, but shall not be expected

to perform the responsibilities outlined above.

III. COVENANTS CONCERNING CONFLICT RESOLUTION

A. Grievance Procedures. Any grievances concerning the Minister and Congregation

shall be brought to the Minister’s Advocacy Committee. After hearing the complaint and giving all

sides ample time and opportunity to present their side of the issue, the Committee shall propose a

solution. If both sides do not accept the proposed solution, the matter shall be submitted to a

Christian mediation group, such as Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Inc.

B. Termination of Employment.

1. Subjective Disenchantment. If after a reasonable period of time, it

becomes evident that a majority of the active members of the Congregation are becoming

disenchanted with the Minister’s performance (generally manifested in terms of lack of effective

leadership, failure to “reach” people spiritually, failure to attract followers in defining or reaching

goals, and similar complaints), the Church Council shall be advised of the specific complaints and

the identity of the people making them. The Church Council shall facilitate communication among

the Minister, the Congregation, and the disenchanted, and specific accusations shall be presented

to the Minister with the identity of the accuser.

If the Church Council believes that a majority of the congregation, or a minority

substantial enough to affect the continued viability of the church, has concluded that a change in

ministerial leadership is necessary, the Minister will be given a period of one year to seek other

employment and resign. During that year, the Minister may continue to perform all duties under the

Call and all salary and benefits shall continue at the rate in effect at the commencement of the one year

period, except that liberal leave (with full pay) shall be allowed the Minister for the purpose of securing

future employment and/or career counseling. The Call of the Minister shall be terminated at the end of

the one year period unless there is mutual agreement to continue the Minister’s services on some basis,

such as administrative leave with full or partial pay.

2. Accusations of Illegal or Immoral Activity. If members of the Congregation accuse

the Minister of illegal or immoral activity, such accusations shall first be brought to the Minister’s

Advocacy Committee, which shall conduct a confidential investigation, including informing the

Minister of the nature of the accusations and the names of the accusers. If the Minister’s Advocacy

Committee feels that the accusations raise questions that are not satisfactorily answered, it may

recommend to the Church Council any of the following actions, either singularly or in sequence,

depending on the circumstances: continued employment on probation, administrative leave with

full or partial pay, or administrative leave without pay. If, after the investigation, the Church Council

believes that a majority of the congregation has concluded that a change in ministerial leadership is

necessary, the Church Council shall recommend to the Congregation that the Call of the Minister

shall be terminated at the end of a nine month period unless there is mutual agreement to continue

the Minister’s services on some basis, and the Minister’s salary and benefits shall continue for nine

months at the rate in effect at the commencement of the nine month period. If the Church Council

makes a specific finding that there is convincing proof that the accusations are true, the nine months

shall be reduced to six.

3. Fairness and Due Process. In making decisions under this section B, the Committee

shall act in the best interests of both the Church and the Minister, and shall be guided by the

principles of fairness, redemption and mercy. Unless waived by the Minister, no adverse action

concerning the Minister shall be taken without a hearing before the main governing council or

committee of the Church at which the Minister may face his or her accusers, present evidence

in defense or mitigation, and be represented by the person of his or her choice.

4. Action by the Congregation. A majority vote at a called business meeting of the

Congregation, if requested by the Minister, may modify or reverse the decision of the Church Council

regarding termination, and may increase (but not decrease) the financial provisions of this section B.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF each of the parties accepts this Statement of Covenantal

Relationship as evidenced by their signatures, this ____________ day of

_________________________, 19_____, and as to the Church, in accordance with an authorization

of the governing body over such decisions.

CHURCH By: _____________________________________ MINISTER By: ______________________________________

THE COVENANT is produced by: Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Inc. 2641 Cromwell Road Richmond, Virginia 23235 (804) 320-6463, Fax (804) 320-9178 E-Mail: THE COVENANT may be reproduced for your use.