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UBIC Title

The Personnel Relations Commission

The Personnel Relations Commission is an essential commission for every local church. This group monitors the relationships between the staff members and between the staff and congregation, it deals with salaries and benefits, it evaluates the work of the staff, and it works directly with the stationing committee when it comes to appointing a senior pastor and in the ongoing evaluation of the pastor-parish fit.

Below is some information about how the PRC typically operates in UB churches.

Responsibilities

The PRC has some very important responsibilities in the church.

  • Serve as a conferring and counseling committee to the pastor and other employed personnel.
  • Interpret to the congregation the nature and function of the pastoral office.
  • Cultivate the pastor-church relationship.
  • Make recommendations to the Finance Commission concerning the pastor’s salary and benefits, pulpit supply, amount of vacation, and attendance at conventions and seminars.
  • Cooperate with the stationing committee in securing a pastor when the need arises.
  • Make recommendations to the board concerning job descriptions of other employed personnel.
  • Serve as a conflict management group when tension exists between the pastor and other staff members or the congregation. This responsibility means that members of the PRC need some practical knowledge in conflict management and resolution.
  • Serve as a conflict management group when there is tension between a staff person and the congregation or between members of the staff.
  • Provide an annual evaluation of the pastor and other full- or part-time employees.

Personnel

Churches are free to adopt a structure which best fits their needs and situation. However, most churches use a Personnel Relations Commission, with a chairperson elected by the congregation during the annual elections. It is wise to have both men and women, plus a range of ages, on this commission.

Meetings

The Personnel Relations Commission should meet at least two times a year at the request of the chairperson, the pastor, or the cluster leader. In matters pertaining to pastoral relations, the commission can meet only with the knowledge of the pastor and/or cluster leader. It may meet with the cluster leader without the pastor being present; however, the pastor must be informed prior to the meeting and immediately afterward be consulted by the cluster leader.