Sample Policy Manual

Sample Policy Manual

For the Local Church

Prepared by Rev. Elder Arlene J. Ackerman

MCC Resource Specialist for Church Development

This manual has been prepared on the basis of laws and legal risks which prevail in the USA. Metropolitan Community Churches outside the USA are encouraged to adapt information from this manual as may be useful, and should modify the content as appropriate to local and national laws and pertinent legal risks. Disclaimer: Nothing in the pages of this document is to be construed as legal advice, nor should this Sample Policy Manual, in part or whole be relied upon in any legal context, without the express, written advice of an independent and qualified attorney. Neither the authors nor the UFMCC assume any liability for any users' reliance on the information contained in this manual.

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AUTHOR'S NOTES

Church leaders can better lead when good, up-to-date policies are in place and utilized, as such free them to focus on the critical rather than the mundane issues of leadership. Without them our leaders are sure to waste time, possibly make mistakes, or fail to focus on what is important.

When no or too few guiding policies are in place, leadership's efficient and effective function is significantly impaired by the need to address each instance of decision-making on a stand-alone basis. When a subject is dealt with more than two or three times, a well thought through policy should be developed and implemented so the church's needs can be met in a consistent way and the leaders' skills may be more productively applied.

What is offered here is neither a perfect nor an all-inclusive document; instead, it is intended as a starting point for churches creating (or perhaps reviewing) a Policy Manual.

Adapt this policy manual to meet your needs. Every church is different ? size, culture, theology, style, approach, etc. What is presented here is a generic sample, and what follows is just one way, not necessarily the best way, to organize or structure your church. I hope that the listing of different subjects, policies, and context information will assist you in thinking through and making decisions about what should be in your church policies.

Policies are used to explain the how to's of your church Bylaws. They are sometimes called Standard Operating Procedures. In MCC, the membership approves local church Bylaws and the Board of Directors approves the Policy Manual. The Board can also make revisions to the policies as needed.

Church Size Considerations Small Churches ? if you rent a space in which to worship, you probably won't need Facilities policies related to renting out the Social Hall and the like. Hopefully, the time will come when you will have your own space and it is important to learn what you will need. Delete the sections that don't currently apply to your situation and know that you can access the Sample Policy Manual on the MCC website if/when you need it in the future.

Terminology Your church may apply different processes or use different descriptive language for the various items discussed in this document. You are encouraged to adapt this Sample Policy Manual to meet your needs. I have chosen to write using a Council of Ministry approach to leadership, but I know that some churches employ the Leadership Council style and still others use different approaches. There are differences in staff structure, as well; some churches only have a Pastor on paid staff, while others have numerous paid staff including an Administrator. Again, adapt the language and sample policies to meet your requirements.

Once your Board has tentatively approved your church Policy Manual, have it reviewed by an attorney who has the expertise necessary to verify that it complies with the laws of your state and also gives your church the protection it needs.

I want to thank all the churches that sent me their Policy Manuals/SOPs. Special thanks go to: Imago Dei MCC, MCC Los Angeles, New Light MCC, MCC of the Spirit, MCC Louisville, St. John the Apostle MCC, Peninsula MCC, MCC of Greater St. Louis, and to all of the pastors who confessed that their churches do not have written policies. I also want to express my appreciation to Marsha Warren, Rev. Dr. James Burns, Rev. Dr. Neil Thomas, Barb Crabtree, Rev. Margaret Walker, Rev. Elder Dr. Nancy Wilson

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and the Council of Elders, Rev. Dr. Mona West, Irma Bauer Levesque, Rev. Onetta Brooks and especially Leah Sloan and Jacquie Ackerman for reviewing and offering their wisdom on this project. Your feedback is also welcomed. Rev. Arlene J. Ackerman MCC Resource Specialist for Church Development

RevArleneAckerman@

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Quick Start the Policy Manual

Creating a Policy Manual for your church is a major project and can feel overwhelming. Consider the following steps to get you started.

Step 1. The Board of Directors establishes a Policy Manual Committee. The committee might be made up of the Board of Directors or a separate committee which includes one or two Board members and the Pastor.

Step 2. The mission of the Policy Manual Committee is to draft a Policy Manual for review and approval of the Board of Directors.

Step 3. The Board and Committee must overwhelmingly agree in principle to the need for a written and approved Policy Manual.

Step 4. The Policy Manual Committee commits to seek input from church leadership prior to the final proposal going before the Board for approval.

Step 5. The Policy Manual Committee will first read and discuss the Introduction and Chapter 1. of the Sample Policy Manual to make sure there is an understanding of concept, purpose and scope.

Step 6. Committee members will review the Sample Policy Manual and individually mark what topics(Chapters/Sections) they think apply to their church now or will apply within the next three years. Discuss and work as a committee toward consensus regarding which topics to include.

Step 7. Create subcommittees or work as a committee-of-the-whole to go through each topic area to see if the policy is worded in a way that works for your church, modify as needed.

Step 8. Once the Policy Manual Committee is in agreement as to the topics and wording of your draft Policy Manual, seek input from the Board of Directors and other leadership; make changes as needed. Repeat this step until you have general consensus.

Step 9. When the Policy Manual has been reviewed by leadership and the Board and has general consensus it goes to the Board of Directors for official vote. This might be followed by a congregational forum to inform the congregation and answer any questions.

Step 10. Have the Policy Manual reviewed by the church attorney.

Step 11. Distribute the Policy Manual to all leaders of the church.

Step 12. Offer training to ensure leadership understands the policies and how to implement them.

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Metropolitan Community Church

_______(Name of Church)_______

POLICY MANUAL

Approved __(Date)________ (Name of Church) Board of Directors

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