What are the necessary elements of a good church policy manual?
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Our church is gathering together years of of old policy statements and council decisions in order to produce a policy manual that works. But we're working in a vacuum. We'd really like like to see the manuals some other churches have put together. Will you send me a copy of yours? Hard or electronic? And/or, can you share with this list some good insights you may have about such policy manuals? Thanks
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Hi John,
I've compiled what we've come to call an Officerbearer Handbook for the deacons and elders of Telkwa CRC. It includes policies and documents such as...
:: safe church policy
:: profession of faith procedures
:: facilities usage standards
:: rental policy
:: privacy policy
:: society act
But that's just the tail end of the booklet. It begins with leadership roles/responsibilities, followed with the mandates of our various committees, and then various resources for elders (e.g. family visit helps, rules of order, sermon evaluation form, worship resources) and deacons (e.g. "Servant Leaders" brochure from Diaconal Ministries Canada). I'll look up your email address in the Yearbook and email it to you.
Blessings to you!
Stanley
You are probably well underway, but Dan Hotchkiss, Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership, provides a sample outline of materials that could or should be included in a policy manual. See. p. 218 for his outline. I strongly recommend the book for other uses, including getting one's church council to focus on policy making as a primary task.
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