Covenant With St. Stephen's

A Covenant for Cooperative Ministry

shared by

St. Stephens’ Church, Rochester,

the Church of St. Luke & St. Simon Cyrene, Rochester

and

the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester

Purpose of this Covenant

This covenant defines the terms of agreement for the sake of mutual ministry in and to the City of Rochester among the Vestries of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene and the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester. In addition, this covenant sets the conditions for a clergy team to be shared by the two congregations.

Cooperative Ministry

The relationship between the two congregations will be in the style of a “cooperative ministry” defined as “[several] congregations that covenant together to envision a shared ministry area as the place in which Christ is calling them into cooperative planning and ministry.” While each parish maintains its own Vestry, the covenant leads to shared ideas, energies, leadership and resources for ministry. The goal of a cooperative ministry is to maximize and focus the ministry of the participating congregations.

Vision and Values

The vision we hold for this cooperative ministry is to sustain and strengthen the ministry of the Episcopal Church to and with the people of the City of Rochester, both on the west side near our churches and throughout the city. The presence of the Church has diminished as congregations close and some denominations depart from sections of the city. This is occurring at a time of deepening poverty among city residences and amidst the growing violence and despair that poverty breeds. We have decided to stay in the city. The Episcopal Church is committed to continuing and strengthening ministry in the city and fostering the development of new and renewed ministries among our Episcopal congregations and with other agencies and communities of faith. We will build on the foundation of our existing ministries, ministries to school children, to hungry people, to neighborhoods, and to homeless families, among others.

Affirmations

1. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and the Church of St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene (Two Saints) are independent parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester.

2. Each congregation will share and develop its unique culture and identity.

3. Each congregation will be governed by its own vestry and will be responsible for its own budget and for the maintenance of its property.

4. Each congregation will worship in its accustomed location, except on those occasions when both vestries agree to alternative arrangements.

5. Both congregations will seek to discover ways in which their ministries may mutually support and enhance one another and will work together and with others as often as appropriate.

6. Both congregations seek the ministry of a clergy team made up of both paid and volunteer clergy whose work will be to enhance the ministries of both.

Responsibilities and Accountabilities

The Diocese of Rochester

1. The core of the clergy team will be two full time clergy, the Rev. Michael Hopkins, rector of Two Saints and priest-in-charge of St. Stephen’s, and the Rev. Mary Ann Brody, assistant at Two Saints and pastor at St. Stephen’s. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins will serve as team leader. The Bishop of the Diocese of Rochester will appoint the Rev. Mr. Hopkins as the priest-in-charge and the Rev. Ms. Brody as pastor at St. Stephen’s.

2. In consultation with the Bishop, the team leader may recruit other clergy to join the team, including clergy currently serving as deacons at St. Stephen’s and Two Saints, retired clergy associated with both churches, and other clergy as appropriate. The Bishop will make diaconal assignments and facilitate other agreements as appropriate. The team leader will develop letters of agreement with other team members.

3. The diocese will work with the congregations to develop a financial plan that supports the covenant during the trial period.

St. Stephen’s

4. St. Stephen’s congregation will support ½ the cost of supporting the Rev. Mary Ann Brody’s service as pastor according to the personnel guidelines of the Diocese of Rochester. The Rev. Ms. Brody, the wardens of St. Stephen’s, the priest-in-charge, and the bishop will sign an appropriate letter of agreement.

5. St. Stephen’s will affirm the appointment of the Rev. Michael Hopkins as priest-in-charge. The Rev. Mr. Hopkins, the wardens of St. Stephen’s, and the bishop will sign an appropriate letter of agreement.

6. St. Stephen’s will work collaboratively with the team in the scheduling of worship and of vestry meetings so that the priest-in-charge and the pastor can be at Two Saints for mutually agreed upon times of worship and decision-making.

7. St. Stephen’s will commit to an initial period of two years for the development of this cooperative ministry beginning with the signing of this covenant.

Two Saints

8. The Rev. Michael Hopkins will continue as the full time rector at Two Saints.

9. The Vestry of Two Saints will support ½ the cost of supporting the Rev. Mary Ann Brody’s service as assistant to the rector according to the personnel guidelines of the Diocese of Rochester. The Rev. Ms. Brody, the rector and wardens of Two Saints, and the bishop will sign an appropriate letter of agreement.

10. Two Saints will work collaboratively with the team in the scheduling of worship and of vestry meetings so that the rector and the assistant can be at St. Stephen’s for mutually agreed upon times of worship and decision-making.

11. Two Saints will commit to an initial period of two years for the development of this cooperative ministry beginning with the signing of this covenant.

Both Congregations

12. The relationship of the two Vestries and the members of the team will require the development of appropriate job descriptions for the team members. An operating plan will detail adjustments of vestry, office, and other policies and procedures, and this plan may be considered a work in progress that may be modified by mutual consent of the vestries. Both congregations acknowledge the Rev. Michael Hopkins as the canonical priest-in-charge of St. Stephen’s. The Rev. Mary Ann Brody will serve as the primary pastor and primary liturgist for St. Stephen’s. The working out of these relationships will require patience and flexibility.

13. The members of the ministry team, working with musicians and other worship leaders, will coordinate and share worship leadership as, in their judgment, is best for the development of ministry in both parishes.

14. The vestries will meet concurrently at least four times a year at a convenient location so that they may meet separately and together as the agenda requires. The vestries may meet together more frequently if the clergy and wardens deem it helpful or necessary.

15. Both congregations agree to consider the applications of other congregations to this shared ministry.

16. The Diocese of Rochester will facilitate annual Mutual Ministry Reviews to evaluate the progress of this cooperative ministry and will be part of the conversation when changes in membership of the shared ministry are considered.

17. Amendments to this covenant may be requested by any of the three parties, but changes will take effect only with the consent of all three parties.

18. All three parties will make every effort to maintain the cooperative throughout the initial two year period. The covenant may be renewed after two years. In the event that any party deems it necessary to leave the cooperative, that party will request a face-to-face meeting with the other parties. If it is determined that a change in membership is necessary, the parties agree to fund a three-month period of transition to minimize disruption to the congregations and to the clergy team.

Ministry Development

Since the goal of this cooperative ministry is to strengthen ministry, all parties desire to seek out opportunities to enhance existing ministries and develop new ministries utilizing appropriate resources from the congregations and the diocese. The cooperative will seek to employ a ministry developer at the earliest opportunity whose purpose will be to enhance ministry with the neighborhoods surrounding St. Stephen’s and Two Saints and to explore possibilities for new ministry.

Adoption

We adopt this Covenant and enter into it effective July 1, 2007.

______________________________ ______________________________

The Rev. Michael W. Hopkins The Rev. Mary Ann Brody

______________________________ ______________________________

James Fallesen, Senior Warden, St. Stephen’s Madeline Gamble, Warden, Two Saints

_________________________________ ________________________________

David Morse, Junior Warden, St. Stephen’s R. Bruce Colburn, Warden, Two Saints

_________________________________

The Rt. Rev. Jack M. McKelvey, Bishop of Rochester

We attest that this Covenant was adopted by each of our Vestries meeting is session June 21, 2007.

__________________________________ ________________________________

Mary Elizabeth Lewis, Clerk Sharon Nelson,

Vestry of St. Stephen’s Church, Rochester Vestry of the Church of St. Luke &

St. Simon Cyrene, Rochester