Q&A: Assigning and Employing

Can the Personnel Relations Commission hire its own pastor?

No. Pastors are assigned by a stationing committee in consultation with the PRC.

Who employs the senior pastor?

A pastor, licensed by the annual conference, is employed by the annual conference and appointed to serve a specific church or churches for an indefinite period of time.

Can a church employ a person on the pastoral staff who is not the senior pastor?

Yes. The local church can employ an assistant minister, associate minister, youth minister, music minister, or another position for the local church. The local church can also terminate the employment of such staff persons.

Can a church employ a pastoral staff member who isn’t a UB member?

This is a possibility. Prior to employment, a potential ministerial candidate must meet with the Ministerial Licensing and Ordination Commission of the annual conference. A ministerial candidate needs to be approved by this commission and specific recommendations given regarding the credentialing of this pastor. These steps must be done prior to a commitment to employment, not after a person has been hired.

Can the local church employ an associate or assistant pastor without the involvement of conference stationing committee?

Yes. However, it is expected that the superintendent, who chairs the stationing committee, be informed of local church decisions regarding ministerial staff. If a candidate for employment is a licensed minister in an annual conference, the superintendent of that conference must be conferred with prior to employment.

Can the church hire a non-ministerial employee without conference approval?

Yes. Choir directors, secretaries, nursery school workers, etc., can be employed without annual conference involvement.

If the local church hires an additional pastoral staff person, can the local PRC and the Board of Administration release this employee from employment?

Yes. Pending action, along with reasons, must be communicated in writing to the conference superintendent. When an employee is released from employment by the PRC and the Board of Administration, it is advisable to meet with the employee and give reasons for the termination of employment and the conditions of the termination.

To whom does a senior pastor resign?

A pastor who wants to resign from a church must:

• submit a resignation letter to the conference stationing committee chairperson.
• send a copy of the letter to the bishop and to the chairperson of the PRC.

Congregations do not act on letters of resignation for senior or solo pastors. This is the responsibility of the conference stationing committee. The PRC and the Board of Administration only act on letters of resignation for other employees.