Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod
General Presbyter Position Description

Purpose:
The Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod meets regularly as a community of faith to provide leadership that supports each congregation and clergy in their ministry through insightful governance, responsive oversight, and shared resources for congregations. The role of General Presbyter is one strategy that Presbytery will employ to fulfill this purpose.
The General Presbyter will be the key connector between clergy, congregations, and the presbytery, operating with delegated authority within the bounds of the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod to facilitate the care and good order of congregations and clergy.

Responsibilities:

  1. Support and Resource:
    a) Provide leadership on strategic planning to congregations
    b) Offer support to congregations and clergy in setting goals and objectives
    c) Serve as a resource for Congregational Visitations and help ensure that recommendations are being addressed in a timely manner
    d) Serve as a resource for Clergy Responsive Oversight (Clergy Visitations)
    e) Serve as resource for Exit Interview teams
    f) Educate and ensure compliance with presbytery policies.
  2. Encourage Relationships of Mutual Trust and Respect:
    a) Promote and facilitate dialogue, friendships and stronger relationships within the presbytery
    b) Foster ongoing information networks and partnerships. Facilitate the sharing of existing resources
  3. Respond to Emergent Situations:
    a) Provide first response and assess emergent, critical situations for congregations and/or clergy
    b) In consultation with the Convenors of the Clergy Care and Resource and Congregational Care and Resource Committees, help evaluate additional responses
    c) Participate in the presbytery’s response as directed by the appropriate committee of presbytery
    d) Provide pastoral care on behalf of the presbytery.
  4. Participate in the Courts and Committees of the Church:
    a) The GP shall attend meetings of the presbytery
    b) The GP will serve as staff resource to Clergy Care and Resource and Congregational Care and Resource committees
    c) The GP is an ex-officio member of all standing committees of the presbytery, and attends those meetings only as required
    d) The GP will not serve as an Interim Minister of a congregation, as Moderator, or as Clerk of the Court.

Accountability and Review:

The GP is appointed by presbytery and accountable to presbytery through the conveners of the Clergy Care and Resource Committee and the Congregational Care and Resource Committee, who will provide direction and oversight for the GP.

The GP will collaborate with the conveners of the Clergy Care and Resource Committee and the Congregational Care and Resource Committee to develop an annual work plan that will include specific objectives and deadlines that they will mutually be responsible for ensuring is fulfilled.

The conveners of the Clergy Care and Resource Committee and the Congregational Care and Resource Committee will meet with the GP on a regular basis throughout the year to review progress on the work plan. Annually, they will meet formally to discuss attainment of goals, necessary revisions of the position description, and a workplan for the coming year.

The work of the GP will be governed by the Book of Forms and the “Confidentiality and Disclosure Guidelines for the General Presbyter” as adopted by the Presbytery of Calgary-Macleod on February 4th, 2014 (Presbytery minutes pages 33/14 – 36/14).

Qualifications:

  • University degree related to the functions of the position; a combination of education and experience will be considered.
  • Strong working knowledge of the polity and ethos of the PCC.
  • The person may be clergy, ruling elder or layperson, having a strong faith and sense of pastoral care.
  • Excellent interpersonal, communication, facilitation, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
  • Strong analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
  • Working knowledge of PCC policies and requirements and Alberta employment law.
  • Ability to be self-motivated and work within the broad community of presbytery.

Interested candidates should send a letter of interest and information on their career and experience to sandracameronevans [at] gmail [dot] com.

To apply for this job email your details to sandracameronevans@gmail.com.