Shepherding Committee

Purpose: The Shepherding Committee (SC) functions to select, engage, and equip shepherds to care for our members in ways that help them live out Covenant’s Vision and Mission of being a loving family of believers that develops and deploys fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ to disciple our family, community, and world.

Governance Commission (GC)
The SC provides expertise and counsel to the GC regarding current and anticipated shepherding issues and concerns. The SC reports annually to the GC on progress in the ministry and its future direction.

Covenant’s Staff
The SC works alongside Covenant’s staff to ensure active communication, address unmet needs, and effectively coordinate resource deployment efforts. Regular interaction typically involves the Deacons, Prayer Ministry, Stephens Ministers, the Covenant Counseling Center, and Children and Student Ministries.

External Agencies
Covenant members may need external services that the church does not supply. The SC seeks to identify faith-based or quality public organizations that can provide needed resources in a timely manner.

Committee Membership
The Shepherding Committee will consist of up to ten members: The Shepherding Pastor, the Assimilation & Lay Ministry Director, the Lay Leaders of the Small Group Ministry, three Ruling Elders, and three SGL or Lay Shepherds, at least two of whom shall be female.

The Shepherding Pastor will serve as the Chairperson. As a non-voting member, his administrator will attend SC meetings to provide logistical support, keep accurate records, and publish agendas and minutes.

CCN staff members and the Lay-Leaders of the Small Group Ministry positions will be permanent members based on their organization roles. Ruling Elders and Lay Shepherds will serve up to four consecutive one-year terms. Regular rotation is desirable, with no more than two members rotating off each year. The Committee Chair can extend a member for one year if, in his judgment, the member(s) expertise, experience, and spiritual maturity are critical to dealing with an ongoing or upcoming situation. Conversely, non-staff members agree to yield their committee roles when the SC agenda calls for different skills or experiences.

The Chair will submit the recommended slate of candidates to the GC for approval each May. Terms will run from June to May, which aligns with the ministry calendar.

Committee Responsibilities

1. The Chair will meet with the Pastor of Ministries in August to obtain input on setting specific and measurable goals for the coming year.
2. The SC will work with the GC/Session, through the Chair, to ensure that the Strategic Plan Initiatives address shepherding needs and programs.
3. The SC will strive to ensure that each member can be in a small group or have a lay shepherd.  The primary direction is for Covenant to be a church of small groups. The SC will recognize situations where members are being discipled through other ministries.
4. The SC will manage a process to identify and deploy future Team Leaders, Small Group Leaders, and Lay Shepherds to keep a pipeline of gifted people ready to lead new groups or replace vacant shepherding roles. New leaders will receive orientation for their roles.
5. The SC will provide the information, instruction, and inspiration to develop and support shepherding. Shepherds will be encouraged to know their sheep and their current needs. A training plan rooted in scripture will be prepared to ensure sound and balanced teaching. The bi-monthly group meeting will be the core venue for this effort.
6. The SC will meet with Team Leaders after every large group meeting to elicit feedback and encourage active leadership. The five ministry goals listed in Addendum 1, achieving the rhythm of shepherding in Addendum 2 and roles and responsibilities in Addendum 3 will be the basis for assessing leadership.
7. The SC will update the Shepherding Guide annually, a primary tool for training and resource purposes.
8. The SC will work with the CCN staff to create and implement a technology plan to enhance shepherding.
9. The SC will work with the Shepherding Pastor to assess possible discipline cases at CCN.
10. The SC will oversee the Domestic Abuse Policy, including appointing a lead contact and ensuring adequate resources to support the policy.
11. The SC will maintain a succession plan for the committee to ensure that it is fully and adequately staffed to meet its responsibilities.
12. The SC will assess its charter and performance each April. In May, the assessment results, any recommended changes to the charter, and the candidate slate will be provided to the GC.

Meetings

• The SC will meet at least ten times per program year (June-May).  An agenda and minutes will be prepared for each meeting and available to the GC.
• Each meeting requires a quorum, defined as a majority of its members attending either in person or virtually.
• Recommendations to the GC and Session require majority approval.

Delegation of Authority
The SC may form and delegate responsibility to a subcommittee of two or more committee members to study shepherding ministries or address shepherding issues, including church discipline.  The subcommittee may include subject matter experts outside of the SC. Any subcommittee recommendations will be sent back to the SC for review and approval

Addendum 1: The Five Goals of the Shepherding 

1. To help new members get connected to the church. Ensure that every member knows and feels connected to their shepherd.
2. To serve as a communications conduit to ensure members are informed about critical churchwide issues and decisions.
3. To support members through difficult times and help them identify additional resources through the church’s various ministries when requested.
4. To encourage each person to be a more fully devoted Christ follower who practices the Rhythm of Discipleship: Worship, Grow, Serve, and Go.
5. To grow and increase the effectiveness in serving our Lord Jesus Christ and his people.

Addendum 2: The rhythm of shepherding

1. Pray for their members weekly.
2. Connect with their members monthly.
3. Meet in person (face to face) either bi-annually (LS) or annually (SGL).
4. Contribute to the ministry's growth and effectiveness through regular participation in training sessions and team meetings.

Addendum 3: Team Leader Responsibilities

1. Pray for their members weekly.
2. Connect with their members monthly or when it is appropriate to communicate church information.
3. Meet in person (face to face) either bi-annually (LS) or annually (SGL).
4. Contribute to the ministry's growth and effectiveness by regularly participating in training sessions and leading team meetings. (Attend 2/3 in person or by Zoom)

1. Participate in SC meetings by providing input and feedback.
2. Develop gifts and talent as measured by people taking on leadership roles in the ministry.
3. A willingness to serve a term on the SC if asked. 
   

We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.
– Psalm 100:3