Since the creation of the Ministry Council by the 177th General Assembly, we have been working to define processes and workflow; efforts to share resources and reduce redundencies have been accomplished. This is a process that will continue to develop and be refined as we learn from our experience and continually strive to improve the coordination of programming ministries.

In order to promote a clearer understanding of the structure through which the programming ministry of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church will occur, the Ministry Council has created a diagram overview. During the process of developing the diagram, we identified some changes in terminology (subject to approval by the General Assembly) that help clarify the purposes of each of the working bodies.  Arrows on the diagram indicate that communication travels in all directions.

The Ministry Council is the visioning body of the Church and is accountable to the General Assembly. The Ministry Council serves as the primary long and short range planning agency of the church, striving to ensure that all segments work on a unified mission and that human and material resources are distributed and utilized to carry out the ministry of the church in an effective, efficient manner.

The Director of Ministries is under the direct employment of and responsible to the Ministry Council. This person gives executive leadership to the Ministry Council in accomplishing the duties defined in its Bylaws and supervises the Global Ministry Leadership Team.

The Global Ministry Leadership Team is made up of the Director of Ministry and the Ministry Team Leaders (executives of the pre-merger Board of Missions, Board of Christian Education, Commission on the Ministry, and Cumberland Presbyterian Publication Board). This body interprets the vision/mission of the church to the Ministry Teams, coordinating the ministries in a unifying, bridging manner.

The Ministry Teams (referred to as “Advisory Committees” per the 2007 General Assembly) provide planning and implementation of the programs of the Church.  Ministry Teams are made up of a Team Leader, Staff Team Members (paid employees) and Elected Team Members (members of the pre-merger programming boards). Ministry Teams are empowered to make real decisions regarding planning and implementation of the vision/mission that is discerned by the Ministry Council and coordinated by the Global Ministry Leadership Team. Ministry Team Staff members and Elected Members have equal voice within their respective Ministry Teams.

The Ministry Teams, with a brief definition, are:

• Communications Ministry Team—responsible for the publication of The Cumberland Presbyterian, web sites, and/or other publications.
• Discipleship Ministry Team—responsible for Christian Education and stewardship education.
• Missions Ministry Team—responsible for both USA and worldwide (referred to as “Global” per the 2007 General Assembly) missions, under the direction of the Missions Ministry Team Leader.
• Pastoral Development Ministry Team—responsible for the care of clergy, clergy spouses, and those seeking ordination.

These brief descriptions by no means encompass the full scope of the work of the organization structure.