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 can be some challenges along with opportunities when doing so.
We explore the issues in two articles, "When Members Become Employees" and "On Hiring Members." 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.