CHURCH OF THE ASCENSION COVENANT OF MINISTRY

Under the shared governance of our church, the Vestry as the lay leadership works closely with the Rector in a mutually energizing and supportive manner, striving to reflect the relationship of the Holy Trinity as together we discern the call of God and conduct the business of the church.  Operating through acts of prayer, listening, and sharing, responding to the revelations granted, and accepting with deep gratitude the grace and mercy of God, we commit to act as channels of Christ’s love that enable us to lead our church, serve each other and the whole Ascension congregation as we collectively continue becoming beloved community.

Recognizing that the mission of the church is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ, acknowledging our call to serve and trusting to the wisdom and guidance of God for the outcome of our work, this covenant documents important mutual commitments.  As Vestry and Rector we agree to:

·       Pray regularly for each other and for the Ascension community.

·       Participate in worship and celebrate the Eucharist joyfully in a manner that enriches our
congregation.

·       Embrace and model the values that we have discerned as a community.

·       Communicate sensitively yet openly and clearly with each other.

·       Adopt the principles of appreciative enquiry.

·       Maintain a flow of information from and to the community and engage in conversations
intended to help the community strengthen its work and witness.

·       Work together in a process of formation aimed at helping the community grow and prosper.

·       Ensure a safe environment and foster an atmosphere of inclusion in which individuals feel they
can express themselves authentically.

·       Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and maintain a balanced yet critical approach when
considering financial matters, taking care to address, and not defer, challenging issues while
acknowledging God’s abundant blessings.

·       Work collaboratively to establish clear expectations of all parties thereby helping to identify
tensions and manage differences in a constructive and non-conflictual manner.

As the Vestry, recognizing that the role of Rector can be both pressured and lonely, we further agree to:

·       Support the Rector in a manner that not just safeguards but enables the maintenance of
spiritual and personal wellbeing.

·       Be alert and respond to signs of tiredness or distress.

·       Pay particular attention to the Rector’s health, encompassing physical and mental welfare.

·       Challenge and provide stimuli thereby encouraging a sense of whole-life vibrancy.

As Rector, recognizing the diverse nature and the historic and geographic context of the Ascension community, I further agree to:

·       Champion the participation of all, as they are able, in the ministries of the community.

·       Work to engender a spirit of gratitude as a key characteristic of the community.

·       Support work to cultivate a strong Episcopal identity.

·       Assume responsibility for the liturgical, pastoral and educational needs of the parish and the
administration of the Sacraments.

·       Support and promote leadership within the community.

·       Support the lay ministries of the church.

·       Take due care to promote and stimulate community growth and ensure an appropriate level of pastoral care.

·       Foster a closer relationship with local clergy especially those of our host church Emmauskirche.

·       Support the wider ecumenical community.

Bearing witness to the reconciling love of Christ, we set out this covenant before God and each other as a way of describing a dynamic and adaptable framework of how we wish to exercise care, offer mutual support and build community, as together we engage in servant leadership in, for, and with, the Ascension community.

April 2024