October 5, 2003 - John Vespa

Succession Plan for the Senior Pastor

Your Board of Directors has recently unveiled its plan to communicate regularly with the congregation about variety of issues and projects. Recently, John Vespa, a member of your Board talked about the "Succession Plan for the Senior Pastor"

Our pastor has no plans to leave MCC Toronto. However, as you are aware people often leave organizations for a variety of reasons. Sometimes those reasons are planned departures over time, such as a retirement. Other times the departure is unplanned, such as in case of tragedy, crisis or resignation.

It is good management for an organization to have a plan established and in place, should one of these circumstances arise MCC Toronto has had such a plan in place for several years. The basic elements of the succession plan are as follows:

Planned Departure:

Retirement

• search for a potential replacement would commence 5 yrs. in advance of the retirement

• this would ensure a smooth transition and adequate  training

• the Board of Directors would act on your behalf as a search committee, recommending an appointment for confirmation by the congregation

Unplanned Departure

Tragedy

• provision grief counseling to congregation and staff

• search for an interim replacement pastor with the skill to manage through the tragedy

Crisis

• provision of counseling to congregation and staff

• search for an interim replacement pastor with the skill to manage through the crisis

• active presence of your Board to provide support and reassurance

Resignation

• 3 months notice would be requested

• search for an interim replacement pastor for a period of one year with a permanent pastor search to be conducted during that time.

This succession plan will be regularly reviewed by your Board to ensure it is current and appropriate as MCC Toronto changes and evolves over time.

Your Board regularly manages these types of governance issues on your behalf. We want you to be informed and we welcome your questions and views. You may send emails to your Board at Boardofdirectors@mcctoronto.com or talk to Board members directly after worship.

September 13, 2003

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the church, I'm happy to announce an initiative to increase our profile within the congregation. This effort is being done for two reasons:

1. We will increase the transparency to all congregants of the Board's decisions, priorities and contributions; and

2. You will know who to talk to if you have ideas or concerns. 

In terms of communications, we are undertaking the following efforts:

• First, over the course of the fall, there will be a series of small announcements presented before the Sunday services.  These announcements will be made by members of the Board, and each announcement will give an overview of one of the key priorities which the Board is focusing on this year.  In an effort to reach as many congregants as possible, each announcement will be printed in the following Sunday's Sunday News - this message is the first example of more to come.

• Second, there will be a bulletin board mounted in the social hall with the pictures and key responsibilities of Board members.  Similarly, each Sunday News will now carry the names and responsibilities of each Director.

• Third, a confidential email address is being established where congregants can send comments to the Board directly.

• Fourth, in addition to the Annual General Meeting and the presentation of the budget, Brent in a few months will make an annual "state of the union" presentation to the church which will summarize where the church is at and some of the key priorities going forward.  Stay tuned for more details on this one.

Finally, let me take this opportunity to mention the current members of the Board and some of the responsibilities that each performs:

• Brent Hawkes:   Moderator, Member of the Executive and Nominating Committees

• Brian Rolfes:  Vice Moderator & Chair, Member of the Executive and Nominating Committees

• Gilles Charett:  Communications and Congregational Giving

• Tom DaSilva:  Member of the Finance Committee

• Beth Hitchins:  External Fundraising

• Darrell Jensen:   Member of the Executive and Finance Committees

• John Vespa:   Human Resources,, DNA Implementation

• Bev Wybrow:   Financial Development

On behalf of the Board, we thank you for letting us play a part in the wonderful home that is MCC Toronto.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please speak to any Board member.   Enquires may be directed to the Board's confidential e-mail:  boardofdirectors@mcctoronto.com.

Thanks!
Brian Rolfes