What is the congregation’s or organization’s vision for ministry? Additionally describe how this vision is lived out.
(Note: our answer to Narrative Question #1 and our Mission Statement are the same.)
The Charleston Atlantic Presbytery is a Reformed expression of Christ's Church in which we covenant to worship and glorify God, living together in community. As ambassadors of Christ, we affirm Jesus Christ as Head of the Church and that we are members of the Body of Christ.
Our vision of love and service is carried out by 48 congregations, a capable staff, and a collaborative system of Presbytery ministry areas.
We commit ourselves to support and nurture each other, to provoke each other to love and serve our neighbor, and to hold each other accountable in love as ambassadors of Christ.
We welcome, nurture and empower teaching elders in ministry, strengthening the bonds of the connectional church.
We promote flourishing within congregations, transitional ministries, and new church developments, including at-large and retired minister members and with those in validated and campus ministries, lay ministries and in the preparation for ministry process.
We resource churches in transition and conflict, promote healthy boundaries, engage other councils in the PC(USA) and establish commissions as needed. |
How do you feel called to reach out to address the emerging needs of your community or constituency?
The emerging needs of Charleston Atlantic Presbytery mirror those of many communities and institutions at this time. Covid has changed the way we do ministry. As a presbytery, we are committed to embracing change as an opportunity rather than a problem. Our 44 congregations, 2 new church developments and 2 worshiping communities (48 in total) of 15,000 members span the Lowcountry to the west of the state as far as Williston and Orangeburg. Our diversity is our strength.
Along with staff restructure from a split Executive Presbyter and Stated Clerk we are moving to a combined GP/SC. We recently moved our Presbytery Offices to a newly renovated church space, opening us to some exciting opportunities for service, mission, education and worship. The Charleston Atlantic Presbytery supports such ministries as Hands of Christ, Charleston Youth Mission (housing work groups), and STEPS (yearly educational event), and continues to address challenges and opportunities related to the use of technology, racial and social justice issues (as in the Matthew 25 initiative), care of the environment, Presbyterian Women Teams, and 1001 New Worshipping Communities.
We hope that the one who serves will be open to God’s leading in what is to be our future mission and ministry. |
How will this position help you to reach your vision and mission goals?
Offer hope to our churches: We seek a leader to nurture our vision that continues to shape us through a relational ministry with the systems awareness and skills to foster transparency, depth and communion in our fellowship, always attentive to the leading of the Spirit.
Create awareness of where needs are: Equipping churches to meet local needs, support of churches who are struggling or in conflict and the development of existing churches through evangelism.
Strengthen leadership: We seek a leader who will identify, call and nurture leaders within the presbytery, connecting them to service where their gifts are needed and can flourish. They will delegate and empower others with good practice, vision and spiritual direction without micromanaging or over-functioning;
Encourage teamwork among staff: As Head of Staff, the Transitional General Presbyter and Stated Clerk will champion the staff team, promoting cohesion in the workplace and around our vision while assessing structural efficacy and being responsive to staff needs;
Support the Community of our Congregations: With a servant's heart and willingness to show up, the Transitional General Presbyter and Stated Clerk will monitor, model and promote community building among the members and congregations of the presbytery for mutual support and service. |
Provide a description of the characteristics needed by the person who is open to being called to this congregation and or organization.
When we completed the Leadership Competencies Questionnaire, the characteristics that surfaced as most important were Compassion, Strategy and Vision, and Flexibility.
These competencies speak to a person who is trustworthy, has a strong sense of pastoral identity and who can engage others in their joys and struggles and do so in gentle and constructive ways, all the while maintaining a clear and joyful vision for our future as a Presbytery. The ideal candidate will prove prayerfully mindful of potential new patterns of ministry and will demonstrate the ability to work well with others to identify and implement achievable goals. |
What specific tasks, assignments, and program areas will this person have responsibility?
General Presbyter responsibilities: serving as head of staff; serving as pastor to pastors, educators, and commissioned ruling elder members of presbytery and their families, visiting them on a systematic basis; executive staff support for all agencies of the presbytery; participating with the Shepherding Team in decision making; interpreting the policies/decisions of the GA and synod to the presbytery; interpreting policies to sessions, congregations, and to the general public; administering the budget; facilitating the delivery of services authorized by the presbytery; serving as a voting member of the presbytery Shepherding Team, advisory member of the COM and the Comm. on Representation.
Stated Clerk responsibilities: serving as Parliamentarian; performing duties required by the BOO and the Presbytery's Manual of Admin. Operations; preparation of dockets, handbooks, training for new commissioners, supplements/minutes for all Presbytery meetings and preserving records; procuring facilities for Presbytery meetings; serving on the Strategy Team, staffing the Permanent Judicial Comm., facilitating the judicial process, and resourcing the CPM; processing correspondence with other councils; responding to inquiries for constitutional interpretation; maintaining membership rolls for Ministers, Inquirers/Candidates and Certified Christian Educators, Ministry Teams, Churches/Clerks and Commissioners to higher councils; and maintaining membership in the Assoc. of Stated Clerks. |
Optional Links
Charleston Atlantic Presbyter Website: http://capresbytery.org/. Presbytery newsletter: The Chatline link: https://mailchi.mp/capresbytery/the-chatline-march282018-937558?e=cd6d7b79b0.
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