A Covenant for
Cooperative Ministry
shared by
St. Stephens’
Church,
the
and
the Episcopal Dioc=
ese of
Purpose of this Covenant
This covenant defines the terms of agreement for the s=
ake of
mutual ministry in and to the City of
Cooperative Ministry
The relationship between the two congregations will be=
in
the style of a “cooperative ministry” defined as “[severa=
l]
congregations that covenant together to envision a shared ministry area as =
the
place in which Christ is calling them into cooperative planning and ministr=
y.”
While each parish maintains its own Vestry, the covenant leads to shared id=
eas,
energies, leadership and resources for ministry. The goal of a cooperative
ministry is to maximize and focus the ministry of the participating
congregations.
Vision and Values
The vision we hold for this cooperative ministry is to
sustain and strengthen the ministry of the Episcopal Church to and with the
people of the City of
Affirmations
=
1. St.
Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the Church of
=
2. Each
congregation will share and develop its unique culture and identity.
=
3. Each
congregation will be governed by its own vestry and will be responsible for=
its
own budget and for the maintenance of its property.
=
4. Each
congregation will worship in its accustomed location, except on those occas=
ions
when both vestries agree to alternative arrangements.
=
5. Both
congregations will seek to discover ways in which their ministries may mutu=
ally
support and enhance one another and will work together and with others as o=
ften
as appropriate.
=
6. Both
congregations seek the ministry of a clergy team made up of both paid and
volunteer clergy whose work will be to enhance the ministries of both.
Responsibilities
and Accountabilities
The Diocese of
=
1. The
core of the clergy team will be two full time clergy, the Rev. Michael Hopk=
ins,
rector of Two Saints and priest-in-charge of St. Stephen’s, and the R=
ev.
Mary Ann Brody, assistant at Two Saints and pastor at St. Stephen’s. =
The
Rev. Mr. Hopkins will serve as team leader. The Bishop of the Diocese of
Rochester will appoint the Rev. Mr. Hopkins as the priest-in-charge and the=
Rev.
Ms. Brody as pastor at St. Stephen’s.
=
2. In
consultation with the Bishop, the team leader may recruit other clergy to j=
oin
the team, including clergy currently serving as deacons at St. Stephen̵=
7;s
and Two Saints, retired clergy associated with both churches, and other cle=
rgy
as appropriate. The Bishop will make diaconal assignments and facilitate ot=
her
agreements as appropriate. The team leader will develop letters of agreement
with other team members.
=
3. The
diocese will work with the congregations to develop a financial plan that
supports the covenant during the trial period.
St. Stephen’s
=
4. St.
Stephen’s congregation will support ½ the cost of supporting t=
he
Rev. Mary Ann Brody’s service as pastor according to the personnel
guidelines of the Diocese of Rochester. The Rev. Ms. Brody, the wardens of =
St.
Stephen’s, the priest-in-charge, and the bishop will sign an appropri=
ate
letter of agreement.
=
5. St.
Stephen’s will affirm the appointment of the Rev. Michael Hopkins as =
priest-in-charge.
The Rev. Mr. Hopkins, the wardens of St. Stephen’s, and the bishop wi=
ll
sign an appropriate letter of agreement.
=
6. St.
Stephen’s will work collaboratively with the team in the scheduling of
worship and of vestry meetings so that the priest-in-charge and the pastor =
can
be at Two Saints for mutually agreed upon times of worship and decision-mak=
ing.
=
7.
Two Saints
=
8. The
Rev. Michael Hopkins will continue as the full time rector at Two Saints.
=
9. The
Vestry of Two Saints will support ½ the cost of supporting the Rev. =
Mary
Ann Brody’s service as assistant to the rector according to the perso=
nnel
guidelines of the Diocese of Rochester. The Rev. Ms. Brody, the rector and =
wardens
of Two Saints, and the bishop will sign an appropriate letter of agreement.=
=
10. Two S=
aints
will work collaboratively with the team in the scheduling of worship and of=
vestry
meetings so that the rector and the assistant can be at St. Stephen’s=
for
mutually agreed upon times of worship and decision-making.
=
11. Two S=
aints
will commit to an initial period of two years for the development of this
cooperative ministry beginning with the signing of this covenant.
Both Congregations
=
12. The
relationship of the two Vestries and the members of the team will require t=
he
development of appropriate job descriptions for the team members. An operat=
ing plan
will detail adjustments of vestry, office, and other policies and procedure=
s,
and this plan may be considered a work in progress that may be modified by
mutual consent of the vestries. Both congregations acknowledge the Rev. Mic=
hael
Hopkins as the canonical priest-in-charge of St. Stephen’s. The Rev. =
Mary
Ann Brody will serve as the primary pastor and primary liturgist for St.
Stephen’s. The working out of these relationships will require patien=
ce
and flexibility.
=
13. The m=
embers
of the ministry team, working with musicians and other worship leaders, will
coordinate and share worship leadership as, in their judgment, is best for =
the
development of ministry in both parishes.
=
14. The v=
estries
will meet concurrently at least four times a year at a convenient location =
so
that they may meet separately and together as the agenda requires. The vest=
ries
may meet together more frequently if the clergy and wardens deem it helpful=
or
necessary.
=
15. Both
congregations agree to consider the applications of other congregations to =
this
shared ministry.
=
16. The D=
iocese
of Rochester will facilitate annual Mutual Ministry Reviews to evaluate the
progress of this cooperative ministry and will be part of the conversation =
when
changes in membership of the shared ministry are considered.
=
17. Amend=
ments
to this covenant may be requested by any of the three parties, but changes =
will
take effect only with the consent of all three parties.
=
18. All t=
hree
parties will make every effort to maintain the cooperative throughout the
initial two year period. The covenant may be renewed after two years. In the
event that any party deems it necessary to leave the cooperative, that party
will request a face-to-face meeting with the other parties. If it is determ=
ined
that a change in membership is necessary, the parties agree to fund a
three-month period of transition to minimize disruption to the congregations
and to the clergy team.
Ministry Development
Since the goal of this cooperative ministry is to stre=
ngthen
ministry, all parties desire to seek out opportunities to enhance existing
ministries and develop new ministries utilizing appropriate resources from =
the
congregations and the diocese. The cooperative will seek to employ a minist=
ry
developer at the earliest opportunity whose purpose will be to enhance mini=
stry
with the neighborhoods surrounding St. Stephen’s and Two Saints and to
explore possibilities for new ministry.
Adoption
We adopt this Covenant and enter into it effective Jul=
y 1,
2007.
______________________________ =
_=
_____________________________
The Rev. Michael W. H=
opkins &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; The
Rev. Mary Ann Brody
______________________________ =
_=
_____________________________
James Fallesen, Senior
Warden, St. Stephen’s &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Madeline
Gamble, Warden, Two Saints
_____________________=
____________ &=
nbsp; ______________=
__________________
David Morse, Junior W=
arden,
_____________________=
____________
The Rt. Rev. Jack M.
McKelvey, Bishop of
We attest that this C=
ovenant
was adopted by each of our Vestries meeting is session June 21, 2007.
_____________________=
_____________ &=
nbsp; __________________________=
______
Mary Elizabeth Lewis,=
Clerk &=
nbsp; &nbs=
p; &=
nbsp; Sharon
Nelson,
Vestry of St. Stephen=
’s
Church,
St. Simon