Mt. Pleasant United Brethren Church

Policy and Procedure regarding the Death of a Pastoral Staff member:

Where the death of a Pastoral staff member occurs, the Governance Board Chairperson and the Vice Chairperson are responsible to ensure the necessary actionslisted below are coordinated promptly.

Responsible leadership demonstrated by the Governance Board as a body during this time is critical.

  1. Establish a joint Governance Board/Personnel Relations Commission (PRC) meeting as soon as possible following notification of the death.
  1. Notify the Bishop of the United Brethren Church in Christ denomination offices.
  1. Offer to meet with the family to assure support from the church congregation.
  1. Meet with the church staff members. Discussions should include:
  2. A review of known pastoral obligations;
  3. A review of upcoming church activities and events;
  4. A review of Pastoral substitutions where necessary and worship service impacts;
  5. A discussion regarding staff member concerns requiring prompt attention;
  6. An explanation of any guidance received by the denomination.
  1. Designate a Governance Board member to address the congregation during both worship services the Sunday immediately following the death.
  1. Promptly provide a written letter to the surviving spouse to acknowledge the love and support from the Governance Board, PRC and the congregation. The letter will be personally delivered by a person or persons designated by the Board. The letter will provide sympathy and offer to address the immediate needs of the family. It will not include finalization of any church-related business or employee benefits at this time. Its purpose is not to address financial items, rather to provide support from the church.
  1. Offer assistance with funeral arrangements when appropriate.
  1. In coordination with the PRC, determine or monitor the needs of the church staff. Attempt to ensure operational impacts are minimal.
  1. Work with the PRC to determine interim needs as applicable to the operation of the church.
  1. Consider coordinating a love offering for the benefit of the surviving family.
  1. Be sure to select Governance Board delegates to arrange for flowers on behalf of the Board.
  1. Provide any assistance reasonable under the leadership of the Governance Board.
  1. Keep the congregation informed.
  1. At a date defined by the Governance Board, provide written notification of Board decisions regarding key items listed below. Written correspondence must be maintained by the Governance Board Secretary for recordkeeping purposes.
  • Housing
  • Where the death of the Senior Pastor occurs and the parsonage is occupied by the surviving spouse and dependentfamily members, the Governance Board Chairperson and Vice Chairperson will follow the guidance provided by the Parsonage Transition policy.

Note: Anticipated vacation of the parsonage should be no longer than a three month period from the date written notification is provided to the surviving family.

  • For other Pastoral staff, the Governance Board will establish a joint Board/PRC/Church Finance Commission meeting to determine housing allowance actions for the surviving family.
  • Salary. The Governance Board will establish a joint Board/PRC/Church Finance Commission meeting as soon as possible to discuss appropriate measures to be taken regarding the salary of the deceased member. A firm date must be established by the Governance Board to determine payment of the final salary to the surviving spouse. The Governance Board may also consider a declining scale of which a portion of the salary may be paid to the surviving spouse over a defined period of time.
  • Healthcare benefits. The Governance Board will establish a joint Board/PRC/Church Finance Commission meeting as soon as possible to discuss appropriate measures to be taken regarding any continued family health benefits paid by the church. A date the Governance Board determines final payment of health benefits to be paid to the surviving member(s) must be established.

Approved by the Mt. Pleasant Governance Board September 5, 2017

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