Imago Dei Church Policies
About Our Policies
Church policy is designed to help our church leadership with effective management of our church and its business and ministry, with decision-making, and with accountability. This tool will also help us manage legal risks and possibly protect us and our church from litigation. Whether we are a small, medium, or large church, or even a new church plant, we will face the issues that Policy Manuals address.
An official policy creation, review, acceptance, and update process has been created so that everyone in the organization understands and participates in the policy process. The life cycle of a policy is:
- A policy need is identified.
- A draft is created and reviewed.
- The appropriate level of management approves the new policy.
- The policy is distributed.
- The policy may be revised.
- The policy may be rescinded.
Policy additions or revisions are communicated using official forms. To request a form, just click this link: policy (at) imagodeimcc (dot) org
Administrative Policy
Policies discussed here are general statements of direction and purpose that allow us to exercise good judgment in the daily operation of the church. They promote the efficient use of resources in the organization. Policies explain what and why things are done. Procedures, on the other hand, are specific statements designed to provide direction in actions necessary to support the policies of the organization. Procedures explain how things are done.
Policies and procedures are not meant to be restrictive, but to offer parameters within which we may organize and develop our common life and witness to the Gospel. We hope that these reflect our understanding that our faith community is grounded in a covenant relationship with God and with one another that allows all to grow into full maturity in ministry. Our policies and procedures will also reflect the commitment of the church to our vow to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being.
Employee Handbook
As a church or ministry begins to hire employees, it becomes critical that the organization develops and maintains an official Employee Handbook. This Handbook will address and guide the employee in a broad range of employment-related issues. The employee is provided with links that direct them to related policies found in the official Administrative Policies Manual. Links are also provided to administrative forms as found in the official Administrative Forms Manual.
Administrative Forms
Documentation is the ministry’s representation of the past, present and future. This manual brings consistency to the many applications of church operations. It includes illustrative forms, reports, worksheets, checklists, etc. which support the various operations of the church.
Small Groups
A healthy, growing small group ministry will produce a healthy, growing church. People learn to interact together in appropriate ways. Newcomers are welcomed and easily acclimated into the life of the church. Small groups provide a path for people on their spiritual journeys. They challenge people to grow spiritually and to think outside the box. Small groups provide a place where people can discover and develop their unique giftedness.
Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Small Group Coach Guidelines
The small group coach identifies small group leaders, builds them up, gives them resources, authority and responsibility and then turns them loose to achieve.
Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church Small Group Leader Guidelines
Without a leader, a Small Group is like a ship at sea with no captain. A ship without a captain is at the mercy of the prevailing current and is unable to prepare for what may lie ahead. However, a ship with a captain has its course mapped out, and there is always someone at the helm ready to respond if necessary. So it is with a Small Group. The leader serves the others in the group by working to chart the best course as they together pursue being God’s people on earth.
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