New Policy

This is an excerpt from Phil Taylor's March 11 email.

New Personnel Policy Section 13. 

Protocol for Departing Clergy:  This protocol is effective as of March 11, 2020.  Departing clergy, both settled and interim pastors, should have no contact or involvement with FCUCC or any of its members in any way, from their departure date until one year after the start of the new settled pastor.  After that time, social contact between the departed pastor and church members who so desire is approved.

The church wants to ensure successful new pastoral leadership, and healthy and uncomplicated relationships between the new pastor and church members.  The church also wishes departing clergy to be able to move forward with their lives.  Because it can be difficult for former pastors and church members to navigate healthy boundaries in a new kind of relationship, and in order to create clarity from the beginning, the revised protocol, and the most loving thing to do, is that departing pastors are no allowed to attend or rejoin FCUCC at any time.  This does not include former pastors who were invited to return to FCUCC before the enactment of this protocol.

A person’s choice of pastoral ministry as a vocation carries with it the expectation of leaving congregations and entering into the lives of new ones.  Departing pastors who remain in the area are encouraged to become involved in another faith community, and must end their membership with FCUCC, after departing FUCC.