The Ministry Empowerment Team

By Pastor George Antonakos

In a previous article I began to explain the role of our new Ministry Empowerment Team. This article will further define the responsibilities of the MET. Other congregations that have moved toward this model have referred to this team as an "Executive Hub." It is ultimately responsible to the Session (the governing body of a Presbyterian congregation), but is given extensive authority. The MET is charged with the practical management and coordination of ministry at Central Presbyterian Church. This would include everything from the ongoing nurture and accountability of existing and new ministry teams to coordinating the church calendar and use of facilities.

In essence, this structure allows those involved with daily ministry leadership (staff and key volunteers) to authoritatively implement mission goals and priorities indicated by Session without having to go to Session as in the past. As you might imagine, this model requires a great deal of communication and trust between the MET and Session. The pastors, who are members of both groups provide a vital link between these two bodies. Hypothetically speaking, if the MET would take a direction that the Session did not approve of, it would indicate a failure of communication from Session to the MET or a failure in the MET's misunderstanding of the mission of the Church as directed by Session.

The MET currently consists of nine persons:

• George Antonakos (Interim Senior Pastor),
• Jerry Cooper (Associate Pastor),
• the four program staff of the church
  • Andy Gathman - Young Adults
  • Rhonda Herman - Children
  • Alida Oosthuizen - Contemporary Music
  • Bill Pitts - Students
• Janice Chubski (Office Manager)
• Al Finch (Facilities Manager)
• Kathy Vaselkiv (Empowerment Facilitator)

The first seven listed above are paid staff. The last two are volunteer staff. Al Finch and Kathy Vaselkiv have been on the Session and Steering Committee of Session and have had extensive interaction with the existing staff which provides an immediate rapport.

As the MET is in the process of understanding its new role Kathy Vaselkiv is beginning to do an inventory of existing ministries. We are also seeking to understand how Al Finch will coordinate and interface with all existing resources that have anything to do with building upkeep and scheduling. As a group we are seeking to discern how we will provide a template guide for new ministry teams and how we can best work with other existing resources such as AiM, Finance, Personnel and Worship Committees to implement the new way of operating.

At this time, as we all try to adjust to a new paradigm, I ask for the congregation's prayers and patience. We have stated from the beginning that we are learning as we go, much like the Israelites traveling through the wilderness. Let's hope we "get it" quicker than they did while we accept the fact that the transition to this new enterprise will take a number of months. We recognize that there are details to discover but we are deeply convinced that we are being led by God. Our intent and prayer is that the MET will be an important means of Moving People Toward Christ in 2002 and beyond.

See also NV-1/27: Central's New Ministry Structure: Frequently Asked Questions and NV-6/2: The Ministry Empowerment Team.