Home » About » Leadership » Staff-Parish Relations Committee The Staff-Parish Relations Committee is the administrative unit in a local church where staff and congregational interests are integrated to focus on the mission of the church.

The "Pastor-Parish Relations Committee (PPRC)" is truly a Staff-Parish Relations Committee (SPRC) because the committee relates to all staff, both bishop-appointed staff and employed staff....The SPRC has some of the same functions of a personnel office or Human Resources department in other organizations.

Primary Tasks of the Committee

• Explaining the nature and function of ministry to the staff and the congregation
• Conferring with the congregation and the staff/pastor about ministry direction
• Assessing the ministry of the congregation and the staff/pastor at least annually
• Conferring and consulting with the district superintendent
• Supporting lifelong learning for all staff (continuing education)
• Identifying and supporting individuals from the congregation whom God seems to be calling for ordained ministry
• Making recommendations regarding compensation, travel, benefits and housing to the church council
• Recommending needed staff positions and develop written job descriptions and titles for associate pastors and staff

Current Members of SPRC:

Class of 2013 Bill McClesky Julie Croft Mary Jane Tohlen

Class of 2014 Nancy White (chair) Craig Morris Jennifer Mitchell

Class of 2015 Carolyn Sims Linda Almendarez Herb Fry

 Lay Leader: Mark Howe
Senior Pastor: John Mollet




Pastoral Appointments

Bishops are responsible for assigning pastors to charges. District Superintendents assist the Bishop in prayerfully making appointments. They generally meet with pastors and representatives of local churches every year to assess the effectiveness of ministry there.

The SPRC represents the congregation officially in this process. Usually, when everyone agrees that a current pastor's gifts and graces are a good match for the specific needs of a ministry setting, the pastor is assigned to remain for another year. Sometimes, however, a particular pastor is needed elsewhere or a local church requires someone with a new set of gifts and graces. In that case, the pastor will move and the church will receive someone new. The process always involves consultation between the SPRC and the Bishop.

Appointments are formally 'fixed' at the regular session of annual conference and they take effect on a designated Sunday, usually in early summer. The Central Texas Annual Conference takes place in early June and appointments take effect the Sunday following.

Questions about the pastoral appointment process in the United Methodist Church? Visit the UMC website for more information