New York Mennonite Conference

Conference Minister Job Description

  1. Leads Oversight Team by convening meetings, writing oversight reports for delegates, and assisting overseers as per their requests.
  2. Works closely with Coordinating Coouncil by attending meetings, articulating the conference vision, and minding the conference system.
  3. Serves as staff person to the Leadership Commission, which provides for credentialing and continuing education for pastors.
  4. Serves as the primary link to the denominational ministerial leadership office.
  5. Cultivates personal spiritual maturity through spiritual disciplines and the development of gifts related to effective ministry within the conference.
  6. Works collaboratively with oversight team to provide effective conference leadership which makes practical a missional vision.
  7. Makes effective use of denominational and conference resources.
  8. Meets with moderator and assistant moderator for oversight, accountability, and support.

Term

Three-year initial term, renewable in five-year terms after satisfactory evaluation by moderator, assisting moderator, and overseers.

Qualifications

  1. Ordained or comparable qualified person with significant pastoral or related experience.
  2. Demonstrates mature spirituality as described in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1.
  3. Is able to hear, support and/or challenge diverse views and to be proactive with respect to those views rather than being merely reactive.
  4. Demonstrates an ability to collaborate with other leaders and to equip/encourage individuals developing gifts in ministry.
  5. Demonstrates an ability to see the broad scheme of God's purpose in His church and to interpret/articulate the Anabaptist perspective on fiath with respect to this broader view.
  6. Demonstrates loyalty to the conference by embracing its vision, participating in and supporting its programs, and working cooperatively within its accountability structures.
  7. Cultivates a life of spiritual discernment through prayer, study of scripture, and meditation.

Support Level

2/ 5 (40%) of full-time equivalent.

Conference Profile

I. Part One -- Information

A. BASIC INFORMATION AND CONTACTS

1. Name of Conference:  New York Mennonite Conference

2. Chairperson of search committee:  Philip Martin, 11588 Gebhard Lane, Alden, NY 14004;
                                                                                    716-937-0412; AMCpastor@highstream.net

3. Member:  MC USA

B. MEMBERSHIP

1. Total current congregations:  18

2. Racial/ethnic composition of conference:  Majority is Anglo.  Just a few congregations are essentially
                  non-Anglo.

C. CONFERENCE COMMUNITY

1. Character of the community NYMC serves:
 
4 Rural         3 Town (under 10,000)        3 Large City (over 100,000)

6 Village   (under 2,500)    2 City  (over 10,000)


2. The racial or ethnic composition of the leadership of NYMC:   only one non-Anglo

3. Other Mennonite/Anabaptist bodies in New York state:  Old Order Amish, Old Order Mennonite, Bruderhof  Communities, Conservative Mennonite Conference, Mennonite Independent Conference, Independent Charity Christian Fellowships,  Independent Mennonites, Beachy Amish, Mennonite Biblical Alliance, Brethren in Christ, New Order Amish, Mennonite Christian Fellowship, Mennonite Fellowship Churches, Ass?n of Evangelical Mennonite Churches, Apostolic Christian, Church of God in Christ Mennonite, Conservative Grace Brethren, Mennonite Brethren

4. Significant issues confronting NYMC:  NYMC is entering new era of stability; becoming missional; finances are an issue; leadership development is an issue to keep working on.

5. Distinctive assets of New York Mennonite Conference:  NYMC joined MC USA by 100% consensus; working with  MMN on leadership and missional focus; we like each other.

6. How NYMC participates in interchurch programs:  There is increased cooperation between churches.

D. CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATION AND PROGRAM

1. The primary governing body which represents the congregation:  Coordinating Council

2. Other significant leadership/programming bodies:  Finance Commission, Leadership Commission, Congregational Resource Commission, Overseer Team, Celebration Committee

3. Description of NYMC youth fellowship:  There is an annual youth gathering at Celebration; a NYMC youth coordinator is in place.

4. Active men?s/women?s organizations:  There is an active MW USA.


E. CONFERENCE  BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY

1. Conference office location and equipment:  There is no formal office location.  Current office equipment includes a Xerox copy machine, Dell computer with Windows XP, Dell printer, Brother fax machine, V-Tech 2-line phone, 3 4-drawer file and 1 2-drawer file cabinet, 1 swivel desk chair.

2 Are building and equipment adequate for an effective program?  Have a new computer as of April, 2005.

3 Name of insurance company: Guide One?


F. STAFF

1. Identification of the present staff position for which NYMC is seeking a candidate:  Conference Minister

2. Previous person in that position:  Milton J. Zehr, January 1991 to present

3. Identification of other staff:  3 Overseers @ 25%;  1 Office @ 20%


II. Part Two -- Interpretation

A.  COMMITMENT OF NYMC TO ANABAPTIST/MENNONITE FAITH

     See the Item #2 "Bylaws" on the web site: nymennon.brn.org


B. THE MISSION OF NYMC.; A PARTICULAR FOCUS WHICH CHARACTERIZES THE CONFERENCE'S MINISTRY

Westside in Buffalo and Bethsaida and Rochester Area Mennonite Fellowship in Rochester are three large city urban churches.  NYMC is registered for missional training under MMN.


C. THE CONFERENCE MINISTER ROLE IN NYMC

See Item #7 "Position of Conference Minister"  posted on the web: http://freenet.buffalo.edu/~nymennon
 
In addition to the job description, we are looking for a candidate who:


- will work primarily with the overseers, congregational involvement at overseer?s request
- is skilled at team-building, encouraging team-based ministry
- can focus the conference vision (articulate, but not invent it)
- has a broad sense of how NYMC is doing
- can identify God at work in the various congregations
- is a good storyteller to share with conference where God is at work
- has significant experience in the Mennonite Church
- has strong pastoral/relational gifts (as opposed to administrative)
- is ordained
- can transcend socio-economic, political and cultural boundaries
- is committed to working toward becoming a missional church


D. DIFFERENCES IN THEOLOGICAL ORIENTATIONS

We are concerned that popular Christian media, i.e. books, radio, etc., have influenced many people toward popular North American evangelicalism/fundamentalism.


E. CONFERENCE MORALE

NYMC is at a healthy place, with a good sense of togetherness.


F. TRENDS FOR THE CONFERENCE IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS

The focus for NYMC is on becoming missional.