It is important for all congregational staff, whether members or not, to understand their role as a staff member – the unique staff identity, any boundaries or limitations on their membership as a result of being on staff, etc. For those that are both a member and staff, you are wearing two hats – but it’s the staff hat that shows.
Can we hire a member?
While there are no legal prohibitions against hiring a member, there are props and cons to doing so.
We explore the issue in the article, "When Members Become Employees." Some congregational leaders believe that it is a bad idea to hire a member
for any staff position. Some congregations only allow it under specific
conditions. Some have no limitations. For some congregations, and particularly for some part-time
positions, it may well be the best choice – or the only reasonable option.