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Pastoral excellence team in place
Ann Plumley
> Return to main story on pastoral excellence team Ms. Ann Plumley Job description: To facilitate and coordinate the work of the 11 church and ministry committees to establish an intentional and consistent process of ministerial formation across the Conference. To promote continuing clergy development and develop and adopt clear guidelines for clergy conduct and continuing education. Experience: Education: |
April, 2003
Ann Plumley is excited about the opportunity to combine her experience in business consulting with her church and association experience to fulfill a new role as part of the Pastoral Excellence Program team.
Plumley will serve as the full-time Associate for Church and Ministry Concerns, and will be responsible for coordinating the work of the Conference’s 11 church and ministry committees.
Plumley said when she read the description for the position, she immediately saw its similarities to her consulting work in the business world.
Most recently, Plumley has worked with several mid-sized businesses to provide executive development workshops, communication programs and redesign plans.
“I have had a great time as a consultant,” she said. “But my thought now is that I can apply the kinds of skills I have with clients – helping them to make things better for themselves – to an environment that has much more meaning attached to it.”
Susan Dickerman, the program coordinator, said Plumley helped the search committee to see how this new position is about consulting.
“She comes with very strong listening skills, and with the ability to assist those she works with in discerning new and better ways to do what they do,” she said. “Just like in the business world, she won’t be coming to the church and ministry committees with a plan – she’ll be helping them to develop their own plan.”
Plumley served as vice chair of the Metropolitan Boston Area Committee on Ministry for two years. “I’m well aware of the MBA chafing points, and I’m sure some of those are shared by other committees,” Plumley said. “I’ll be looking to help them take the best that each of them does.”
Plumley said there will also be the larger question of how committees can best pave the way for people to have successful first ministries, and support settled ministers throughout their careers.
“These are questions that haven’t really been focused on, not for lack of good intention but because these committees haven’t even had the time to breathe,” she said. “We’ll look at how these 11 different committees can do their jobs with less wear and tear.”
Plumley has served as moderator and diaconate member at the
Pleasant Street Congregational Church in Arlington, and
has led both a
long range planning
process and a capital campaign there.