Supervising Staff

The two churchwardens are the hiring and firing authority of the parish, but the responsibility for supervising staff rests primarily with the incumbent.

A good place to start when trying to understand this role is in the person of Jesus Christ. He drew together individuals of mixed, even dubious capabilities; inspired, motivated and empowered them to offer their best to God; then delegated, or sent them out to offer their many gifts. (Matthew 10:1-10)

Regardless of your staff’s religious background, level of responsibility or competence, their work with you will shape their sense of meaning and personal call. It’s important to create a work environment:

• that affirms the dignity and worth of each individual
• where the theological concepts of redemption and grace are lived out
• where justice and compassion are practised
• where the needs of the individual are balanced with the stewardship needs of the parish

This means that:

• a person’s value is not determined by position but by being a child of God, so respect is integral
• information is shared, meetings are open and inclusive, expectations are clearly stated and boundaries of job descriptions are honoured
• employees feel valued and are recognized publicly
• staff are accountable for both good and poor performance, in a spirit of reflective openness
• there’s opportunity for growth, development and change