THIS IS A DRAFT DOCUMENT
Within the Community Membership, there are a number of special roles that members may take on —
Each Pastoral Group Leader is responsible for one Pastoral Group of Community Members.
Appointment: Pastoral Group Leaders are appointed by the Web Pastor on the advice of the i-church Council, who together endeavour to find sufficient PG Leaders for the needs of the i-church Community. To be considered as a potential PG Leader, a Community Member would normally be well-established in the i-church Community, or else come with recommendation from another part of the church (e.g. Missions to Seafarers, diocesan links). During the process of discernment, the Web Pastor verifies that the recorded address and phone number of the applicant are correct. At least two references will be taken up, at least one of which will be from a church leader. Where it is not possible to get a reference from an identifiable church leader in an accepted Christian church or denomination, further checks and references may be required. References and other documents are stored securely by the Web Pastor.
Responsibilities: Pastoral Group Leaders report to the Web Pastor. They have primary responsibility for the pastoral care and spiritual nurture of their group’s members. They are also responsible for leading and developing the group as a whole. They are considered to provide official i-church pastoral care.
PG Leaders are encouraged to help their members develop a Rule of Life, using the Rule of Life system provided or otherwise. If a member already has a spiritual director or equivalent, the PG Leader should not duplicate that work.
Each PG Leader is a moderator of the group’s private forum. PG Leaders are encouraged to seek the Web Pastor’s help when needed (respecting confidentiality). PG Leaders can view when each of their members last logged in or posted to the forums– after a period of inactivity, Leaders are encouraged to contact their members by email or telephone. If a group member would like a long period of inactivity but would like to remain in the i-church Community, they can be encouraged to transfer to the sleeping group. In this case, the PG Leader or the member asks the Web Pastor to transfer the member to the sleeping group.
Training and Supervision: The support, training, and supervision of the Pastoral Group Leaders is the responsibility of the Web Pastor.
A Pastoral Group Leader may request of the Web Pastor that a Community Member is made Assistant Leader of a group. The same process of appointment (references etc.) is followed as for a Pastoral Group Leader. The Assistant Leader’s responsibilities are agreed with the PG Leader. Assistant Group Leaders are considered to provide official i-church pastoral care.
The Web Pastor and the Assistant Pastors (the Pastors) together have the responsibility of pastoral care for the whole of i-church. Primary areas of responsibility may be allocated by the Web Pastor.
Appointment: The same process of appointment (references, etc.) is followed as for a Pastoral Group Leader. Assistant Pastors are considered to provide official i-church pastoral care.
Responsibilities: The team of Pastors are able to act as moderators in any forum. Although they do not generally participate in Pastoral Groups other than their own, they are able to if invited to do so for a particular reason. The Pastors are members of the i-church Council ex officio.
Each forum may be led by one or more hosts.
Appointment: Forum hosts are appointed by the Web Pastor on the advice of the Council.
Responsibilities: Forum hosts help to give a forum its character, they stimulate discussion, and help to guide the perplexed. Forum hosts moderate their forum(s) in accordance with the Moderation Guidelines and the Forum Rules. There is no pastoral care responsibility attached to this role.
There is a Welcome Team whose role is to foster the ministry of welcome within the whole membership of i-church, ensuring that new members of i-church feel welcome, and to get to know their way around relatively painlessly. The Welcome Team can invite new members to join the team, having sought the advice of the Web Pastor. Note this is not a pastoral care role.
There are many other very important roles taken by members – Individual and Community Members – within i-church. Without their contribution of time and talents, i-church could not run. Many formalised roles are mentioned on the Who’s Who page, and the Web Pastor appoints to these roles. Many more roles are quite informal, but no less important.
Every member in i-church is equally important and valued. Those in i-church who have been called to any kind of formal role are encouraged to exercise “servant ministry”, following our Lord’s example:
“The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them… but not so with you; rather the greatest among you must become like the youngest, and the leader like one who serves.”
(Luke 14.25-6)