We have Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation  available in the Miami Valley District Office for teams to use. Twenty-six booklets, for ministry areas of your church; e.g. Trustees, Finance, Outreach, Worship, etc. Contact the office if you would like to use these.

There are also downloadable forms below for your use.

Every year we offer The Right Start training for our pastors moving into new appointments and their Staff-Parish Relations Committees.  Since we are cognizant that all persons may not have been immunized against COVID-19, the Districts are providing video training modules for “The Right Start” for all clergy moving to new appointments and their new congregation’s Staff/Pastor Parish Relations Committee.  These sessions contain important information for you, as the newly appointed pastor to review and discuss with your committee , so please make completion of this process a priority in the month of July. 

Each SPRC chairperson, along with the new pastor, should decide how they choose to view the sessions.  Here are your two options:

Option 1: Watch the 3 sessions together.  Each session is designed to last 45 minutes to 1 hour and 15 minutes.   After watching the videos together, share in discussion what you have learned and the path you will forge together. This can be done in-person (socially distant), or virtually via Zoom or some other online meeting space. 

Option 2: Watch the sessions independently. Have each person watch the videos before you meet.  There are then 3 sessions that are for discussion only and are designed to last 30 – 45 minutes.  This discussion can be done in-person, again socially distant, or virtually via Zoom or some other online meeting space.

*There is a discussion guide for your use as you complete this process.   You will find more details, the training sessions and discussion guide by clicking here.

Remember that the entire staff-parish relations team/committee should be a part of this process.  We will leave it up to each church to decide how and when they will complete this process.   Please complete the form below for Right Start and return it to the District Office by August 5, 2021.

Feel free to reach out to the district office staff if you have any questions.