The ministry of Powhatan Mennonite Church is carried out by teams.  Once a month the teams leaders meet to share their thoughts and what is happening on their team.  This is not a decision making meeting but rather a time of keeping connected to what is happening in each team and the broader church ministries. Each team has their own budget and area of ministry for which they are responsible.

  1. Adult Education Team
  2. Children’s Ministry Team (Nursery through youth)
  3. Communications Team
  4. Facilities Team
  5. Finance Team
  6. First Impression Team
  7. Men’s Ministry
  8. Missions Outreach Team
  9. Multimedia Team
  10. Prayer Team
  11. Spiritual Leadership Team
  12. Women’s Ministry Team
  13. Worship Team

 

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Team Mission Statements and Responsibilities

2018

Note: the following is not intended to be comprehensive documentation on the mission and responsibilities of the teams but a brief overview for quick reference.

Team Responsibilities

General guidelines for all teams:

  • All team leaders will be chosen by the Spiritual Leadership Team (SLT) from among the church membership. (Team leaders, but not necessarily team members, must be members of the church).
  • The team leaders and team members will serve in ministry until they resign or are asked to step down by the SLT or the team leader.
  • The teams and leaders are accountable to the SLT.
  • Each team will submit a yearly budget to the Finance Team.
  • Each team will be evaluated annually by the SLT.
  • The team leader is responsible for assembling a team to fulfill its mission.
  • The SLT will meet monthly with the team leaders.
  • All activities or meetings that involve the entire congregation need to be coordinated through the SLT by calling the Pastor.
  • Everyone continually involved with a ministry will be called a team member. The team leaders will surround themselves with a core group of people from within the team to lead it. (People shoulder tapped to plan an event will be part of the team just for that specific activity or occasion.)

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 Adult Education Team: 

Mission:  Provide adult Christian education in the congregation.

Responsibilities:

  • Evaluate, plan and make decisions concerning curriculum and staffing upon the approval of the Spiritual Leadership Team.
  • Provide classrooms in conjunction with the Children’s Ministry Team.
  • Coordinate and schedule Sunday School electives.
  • Appoint member of Spiritual Leadership Team to team.

Possible strategies:

  1. Coordinate and schedule Sunday School electives.
  2. Hold classes for teachers to improve teaching skills.

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God,  a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

II Timothy 2:15

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Children’s Ministry Team (Nursery – Youth):

Mission:  Provide children’s Christian education and spiritual growth opportunities.     

Responsibilities:

  • Evaluate, plan and make decisions concerning curriculum and staffing upon the approval of the Spiritual Leadership Team.
  • Provide children’s fellowship and spiritual growth opportunities.
  • Provide a nursery and schedule care for children during all church services as needed.
  • Assign classrooms in conjunction with Adult Education Team.

Possible strategies:

  1. Provide a Bible School.
  2. Provide for the Boys/Girls Club ministries, children’s choir, and Jr Youth fellowship.

 

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Communications Team:                                  

Mission:  Inform the congregation and the community of the work of the Powhatan Mennonite Church, its services, special events and projects.                        

Responsibilities:

  • Publish and maintain the church website, facebook page, church directory, and phone tree.
  • Maintain church sign and advertising for the church.
  • Develop and maintain a visitor’s packet to be distributed by the First Impressions Team.

 

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Facilities Team:               

Mission:  Organize and maintain an attractive facility.

Responsibilities:

  • Control the temperature of the facilities, lock and unlock doors, turn lights on and off and ensure the thermostats are properly adjusted.
  • Coordinate use of the facility for personal use.
  • Post sign-up sheet for tables and chairs borrowed from the church.
  • Decorate the secondary auditorium, entrances, hallways and other areas as needed. Work in cooperation with the Worship Team to decorate the auditorium.
  • Provide oversight of sexton (Or give oversight to. . .)

Responsibilities of Sexton:

  1. To maintain a record of plots including availability, ownership, and to define boundaries for new sites.

 

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Finance Team:     

Mission: Manage the funds of Powhatan Mennonite Church with accuracy, integrity and clarity.

Membership and Members:

  • Team Leader chosen by SLT
  • Treasure (name submitted by Team Leader through SLT)
  • Member at large (name submitted by Team Leader through SLT)
  • Elder (Chosen by SLT)
  • Pastor

Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate spending in light of the availability of funds.
  • Establish procedures for the auditing of and integrity of funds.
  • Appoint and assist a Mennonite Mutual Aid Representative.
  • Produce a yearly budget and present it to the SLT before presenting it to the congregation at the congregational meeting.

 

Possible strategies:

  1. Coordinate spending in light of the availability of funds.
  2. Establish procedures for the auditing of and integrity of funds.
  3. Appoint and assist a Mennonite Mutual Aid representative.
  4. Produce a yearly budget and present it to the SLT who will present it to the congregation.
  5. Give a quarterly report to the SLT and the Team Leaders.

 

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First Impressions Team:

Mission: Initiate a friendly atmosphere in the congregation with special attention to visitors.

Responsibilities:

  • Schedule ushers and greeters for all services and assist visitors before Sunday School, before worship services and during special events.
  • Distribute bulletins and visitors’ packets.
  • Inform Spiritual Leadership Team (SLT) of new attendees for follow up.
  • Collect the offering and assist the treasurer in counting the money.
  • Count attendance and provide a count to the bulletin editor.
  • Alert congregation to beginning and end of Sunday School and encourage people to move into the worship service.
  • Adjust temperature during the services.

 

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 Missions Outreach Team:                  

Mission: Initiate support for missions in our local community and beyond.

Responsibilities:

  • Keep in touch with mission boards and individual missionaries.
  • Inform the congregation of various mission works the congregation is supporting.
  • Consult with Missionary Support Teams (MST) about programs and finances for missionaries we support and appointment of members for missionaries we send.
  • Work in conjunction with the Finance and Spiritual Leadership Teams to undertake fund raising efforts for missions that are not within the Mission Team budget.
  • Actively seek mission opportunities and encourage individuals to become involved in these fields of service.
  • Work with the Youth Ministry Team to encourage the youth of the congregation to consider short and long term mission work; assist in raising funds for youth mission projects.
  • Appoint and assist representatives to Mennonite Disaster Service and Virginia Mennonite Relief Sale.

Possible strategies:

  1. Working as advocates in the congregation for the various boards and workers.
  2. Inviting speakers from various missions’ boards and missionaries to come and spend time in our congregation to teach us about their work and challenge us to join them in their work.
  3. Making missions reports in worship services.
  4. Seeking and implementing new and effective ways to communicate missions works and needs to the congregation.
  5. Be aware of and speak to social justice issues as needed

 

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 Multimedia Team:                     

Mission:  Operate, maintain and improve as necessary the audio and video equipment of the church. The team will also study and initiate new ways to use media in the work of the congregation.     

Responsibilities:

  • Work closely with Worship Team in developing and using audio/visual resources in our worship services.
  • Provide technical support for church activities, services and events.
  • Take care of ordering of office equipment and provide/resource technical support for the equipment which is used by the church.

 

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 Prayer Team:        

Mission:  Be a contact for prayer concerns of the church body and community. The team is to be made up of people who have a passion to pray and actively to encourage and promote prayer in the life of the congregation.

Responsibilities:

  • Sunday Morning Prayer Time (9:00-9:30 AM).
  • Prayer Chain.
  • Card Ministry.
  • Promote prayer and fasting for special concerns as they arise within the congregation, community, and missions.
  • Include special prayer concerns and praises in the weekly bulletin as needed.

 Possible strategies:

  1. Plan for two Corporate Prayer and Praise Meetings a year with the help and guidance of the Spiritual Leadership Team, praying and giving testimony of answered prayer, giving God the glory.
  2. Coordinate Prayer Partners for Sunday mornings, making sure that there are always two people praying for the Pastor and the congregation during the message.
  3. May form Prayer Cell Groups to commit to pray for specific ministries or needs within the church.

 “Pray without ceasing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:17

 

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Spiritual Leadership Team:

Mission:  Lead the church in its God-given vision.

Membership: 

  • Pastor: Team leader
  • Head Elder: Leads in the absence of the pastor.
  • Three more elders      

The Spiritual Leadership Team uses their gifts and works together, both pastor and elders, to provide for the spiritual health of the congregation.  The Team leads the church in discipleship, fellowship, worship, ministry and evangelism.  They lead us in our mission to reach nonbelievers and in growth in discipleship as we become more faithful followers of Christ. The Spiritual Leadership Team leads the church in reaching out to the unchurched, and monitors our growth and continues to define ways to fulfill the church’s mission.

Each elder term consists of four years. An elder is eligible to serve two consecutive terms and then must be off for a year before serving again. 

The SLT may request the Elder Selection Team to process and add more elders as the need arises.

Responsibilities:      

  • Lead the congregation through oversight of team ministry and attend church functions whenever possible. (I Timothy 5:17)
  • The Pastor is expected to fill the responsibility of preaching with the team providing general oversight of preaching and teaching. (I Timothy 5:17)
  • Encourage people to consider membership: assess new member applications.
  • Baptize believers. (I Timothy 5:17)
  • Help the congregation with spiritual care and restoration (includes prayer and anointing the sick). (James 5: 12-14)
  • Care for the needs of the church (visitation, contacting visitors and assessing congregational needs). (I Peter 5: 1-3; Acts 20:28)
  • Commission other leaders (communicate with team leaders, discern gifts needed on SLT, maintain leadership of the congregation during pastor’s absence or pastoral crisis). (I Timothy 4:14)
  • Exercise church discipline. (Matthew 18:15-17; Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:15; I Corinthians 5:9-13)
  • Provide for attendance/representation at Virginia Conference, Eastern District meetings and other conference related events. Also, coordinate monies given to wider church bodies on an annual basis.
  • Have a member serve on the Adult Christian Education Team (chosen by ACE Team).
  • Each September oversee the pastors Covenant of Understanding and discuss it with the pastor.
  • Conduct a mid-term pastoral ministry assessment.
  • Oversee the Secretary.

Annual Ministry Meeting

  • The Annual Ministry Meeting date will be set by the Spiritual Leadership Team.
  • The Spiritual Leadership Team (not the Pastor) will lead the Annual Ministry Meeting.
  • The Team Leaders will present their expenses and projected activities and expenses.
  • The year end expenses and a proposed budget will be presented by the Finance Team to be discussed and then affirmed by the congregation.
  • The Missionary Support Teams will present their expenses and projected expenses and a general report on what might be expected of the congregation in the upcoming year.

 

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Pastor: 

Mission:  Preach, teach and provide leadership for the congregation as the leader of the Spiritual Leadership Team.       

Responsibilities:

  • Serve as a member of the Worship and Finance Teams.
  • Lead the Spiritual Leadership Team.
  • Lead the Elder Selection Team.

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Pastor Selection Team

Mission:  Oversee the pastor’s Covenant of Understanding and be  responsible for the pastoral search.

Membership:

            A). Head Elder (leader)

            B). District Overseer as advisor         

            C). Missions Team Leader

D). Worship Team Leader (Worship Team chooses a member if the pastor is the    Worship Team Leader)

            E). Women’s Ministry Team Leader

The Pastor Selection Team works through the “Guidelines For Pastors’ Salaries and benefits” www.manygifts.org/salaryguidelines paper and sends the figures to the Finance Team for their input concerning  ministerial support.

 

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Elder Selection Team

Mission: Process the selection.

Membership:

            A). Pastor (leader)

            B). Head Elder

            C). District Overseer (Advisor)

            D). Missions Team Leader

E). Worship Team Leader (Worship Team chooses a member if someone in the list is the Worship Team Leader)

            F). Women’s Ministry Team Leader

Elder Selection Process:

  • Spiritual Leadership Team (SLT) may suggest to Elder Selection Team particular gifts needed on the SLT.
  • Elder Selection Team sends paper to congregation asking for names of persons with gifts needed by the SLT.
  • Elder Selection Team discerns a name, contacts the nominee and then takes the name to team leaders for feed back.
  • Elder Selection Team sends a name to the congregation for affirmation.

Each elder term consists of four years. An elder is eligible to serve two consecutive terms and then must be off for a year before serving again.

Biblical qualifications of elders may be found in the following scriptures: Acts 6:1-4; 20:28; 1 Tim. 3:1-7; 4:14; Titus 1:6-9.

Responsibilities of elders in our congregation are listed under the Spiritual Leadership Team.

 

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Women’s Ministry Team:          

Mission: Encourage all women to be involved in church activities; also, be better caregivers, strengthening our relationships.

Responsibilities:

  • Send flowers or other appropriate gifts to people hospitalized, undergoing surgery or experiencing death in the family.
  • Schedule flowers in the sanctuary for Sunday services.
  • Schedule meals for people following births or major illness.
  • Coordinate baby and wedding showers.
  • Make lodging/meal arrangements for guest speakers.
  • Give oversight to Food Service Team.
  • Plan women’s retreats.
  • Communicate information for Annual Day, retreats, and announcements from Mennonite Women of Virginia and MC-USA to the PMC women.

Possible strategies for Women’s Ministry Team:

  1. Plan women Bible studies

Subteams

  1. Food Service Team:              

 Mission: Encourage fellowship and unity within the congregation by providing food services for planned church activities with a willingness to serve others in Christian love.

 Responsibilities:

  • Coordinate food service needs for social and fellowship events of congregation.
  • Purchase supplies and stock the kitchen.
  • Plan arrangement of tables and chairs with assistance of ushers.
  • Ensure kitchen and social area are cleaned and free of trash.
  • Account for kitchen items, tables, and chairs borrowed from the church.

Possible strategies for Food Services Team:

  1. Post sign up sheet for kitchen items borrowed from the church.

 

 2.Women’s Service Fellowship:

 Mission: To resource women within our congregation, nurture our life in Christ, utilize our gifts, hear each other, and engage in mission and service. 

Responsibilities and activities:

  • Respond to the material needs of the local church and community through a variety of projects, which include making blankets for new babies and families suffering a house fire and giving care packages to college students.
  • Participate in the broader church-wide outreach ministries of Mennonite Central Committee, including help with the annual Virginia Relief Sale and periodic provision of health and school kits for distribution to areas of need in the S. and abroad.
  • Be accountable to the Virginia Mennonite Women and the Mennonite Women U.S.A. organizations.
  • Meet every second Tuesday of the month for a day of sewing, lunch, and fellowship.

 

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Worship Team:               

Mission:  Prepare and plan worship services in coordination with the Spiritual Leadership Team.     

Responsibilities:

  • Seek the advice and direction of the Pastor in the planning and implementation of every service.
  • Maintain a list of approved worship leaders and song leaders.
  • Study, prepare, and oversee the ways our auditorium will be prepared and used for worship.  This includes close cooperation with the Women’s Ministry Team and the First Impressions Team to ensure the auditorium is inviting.
  • Work closely with the Multimedia Team to enhance the use of media in our services to draw the church into deeper worship of our Lord; study and use different media in worship as appropriate for the service being planned.

Possible strategies:

  1. Pray and prepare for worship services
  2. Study and implement worship to improve the flow and harmony of our services so that our Lord will be glorified.
  3. Services are to have, as the primary goal, congregational worship of our Lord.
  4. Services are to be designed for maximum participation by the worshipers with special concern for visitors.
  5. Services may include prayer, hearing of the Word, and united worship including but not limited to singing, confessions, mutual greetings, and other forms of vocal, corporate worship.
  6. Services are to follow a theme
  7. Services are to be well planned and properly staffed
  8. The Worship Team leader is able to lead worship.
  9. Inclusion of different viewpoints – youth, adults, seniors, men, women and people who are new to the congregation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Youth Ministry Team:  

               

Leader:  Youth pastor or youth leaders.

           

Mission:  Provide young people–high school age and up–opportunities to develop dynamic relationships with Jesus Christ through discipleship, activities, fellowship, accountability, and involvement in the life of the congregation.

           

Responsibilities:

  • Communicate to the Spiritual Leadership Team before any major changes are made.
  • Submit a yearly plan or vision to the Spiritual Leadership Team.