Pastoral Relations Ministry Team — What Is it? What’s It Do?

Healthy communication builds a stronger church community. Established in Spring 2013 by our Elders, the Pastoral Relations Ministry Team (PRMT) works closely with our pastor to support and maintain a vibrant, open, and healthy relationship between leadership and the congregation.

Our team serves a dual purpose to enhance the shared ministry at Old First:

• We Support Our Pastor: We act as an active sounding board and advocate for the pastor’s leadership, helping the congregation understand pastoral roles, responsibilities, and needs.
• We Listen to the Congregation: We serve in an advisory capacity, safely sharing the suggestions, ideas, expectations, and concerns of our members directly with the pastor.

Confidentiality & Communication
We meet with the pastor quarterly—and more frequently as unique needs arise. Your voice matters, and we are easily accessible by text or email. To ensure a safe environment for open dialogue, all communications and discussions with the team remain strictly confidential.

We can imagine as Michael draws closer to retirement and Old First needs to move into a period of leadership transition and change, the Pastoral Relations Ministry Team’s  need to help the congregation understand pastoral roles might become more pronounced and important. Through the many changes that will ensue, there will be more ways Pastoral Relations can speak creatuvely about the interplay between a congregation and its pastoral leaders.

Team members:

Michael Caine, Pastor

Jane Styer-Acevedo, Chair

Greta Stewart

Bruce Connelly

Jillian Cuervo-Deller

Skip Waterbury