The Port Huron District

Minimum Requirements for Present Parsonages

1. There shall be a safe and dependable hot and cold water system throughout the house, including water softening equipment when needed. Two or more outside spigots shall be provided.
2. There shall be a central heating system. The heating system shall have sufficient capacity to bring the entire habitable part of the house to a comfortable temperature. A humidifier shall be provided where necessary.
3. For responsible stewardship of energy and finance, the house shall be fully insulated, with storm and screen doors and windows.
4. All movable windows shall be in operating condition.
5. All utilities shall be provided. The local church shall pay basic telephone charges, and personal long distance costs are the pastor's responsibility. Utilities shall be secured in the name of the church to insure uninterrupted service during a change of pastors.
6. There shall be either a septic tank in good working condition, with adequate drainage area on the parsonage property; or sufficient access to a public sewer system. A sump pump shall be provided where there is basement flooding. There shall be a dehumidifier in the basement.
7. The grounds around the house shall be well drained. The parsonage shall be furnished with materials and equipment for care of the grounds, including lawn mower (consider a power lawn mower for large lawns), rake, ladder, hose, seed, fertilizer, snow removal equipment (consider power equipment or service where needed), etc. and storage space for the same.
8. Automatic clothes washer and dryer shall be furnished and maintained, along with stationary tubs, plus suitable space for indoor and/or outdoor drying of clothes. Plumbing shut-off valves should be provided at appliances.
9. There shall be an adequate television antenna or negotiated television cable service where geographic area warrants it.
10. There shall be adequate electrical power and outlets and safe wiring.
11. There shall be adequate shelter (in good condition and conveniently located) for the pastor's car.
12. There shall be a garbage disposal unit or service.
13. The rooms shall be furnished with curtain (or drapes). Carpets, appropriate floor coverings or finished hardwood floors shall be standard for all rooms.
14. The kitchen shall be furnished with good floor covering, and equipped with a good range, standard sink, automatic refrigerator with freezer space, and adequate storage cabinets.
15. There shall be a full bathroom and considerations given to an additional half bathroom in each parsonage. Each bathroom shall have washable walls or tiles, mirror, and adequate medicine chest and storage. Adequate linen storage shall be provided.
16. Adequate closet and storage space shall be provided throughout the house.
17. Each parsonage shall have at least a kitchen, living room, dining room or a living-dining combination, three bedrooms, bath, and an area for utilities. Consideration should be given to a family-recreation room. It is essential to have a study for the pastor, in the parsonage or the church.
18. The pastor's office (in parsonage or church building) shall be furnished with bookshelves, desk, chair, file cabinet, typewriter and stand, storage cabinet, private telephone line, extra office chairs, sufficient lighting, coat rack, and all necessary supplies. An outside entrance should be considered.
19. Long-lasting type fire extinguishers shall be furnished in the kitchen and near the heating plant.
20. The parsonage shall have adequate outside light.
21. The parsonage shall be of sound construction and sound foundations. Cracking walls and sagging floors are danger signs of structural unsoundness. Do not attempt to remodel existing parsonages if it involves extensive structural modifications, partition moving, or cutting of exterior walls.

Recommened Requirements for New Parsonages (built or purchased)

1. All the foregoing minimum requirements for present parsonages shall be met. The following additions may be desirable;
2. Zoned central heat with gas, oil, or electric fuel source.
3. Eaves troughs and down spouts, or metal flashing.
4. Automatic dishwasher with energy saving options.
5. Automatic defrosting refrigerator with minimum energy usage.
6. Two baths.
7. Hoods or exhaust fan in kitchen.
8. Wall-to-wall carpet, where appropriate.
9. Water spigot and drain in basement.
10. Outside storm drain tiles and footings.
11. Two-car garage, with automatic door opener.
12. Outside electrical outlets with inside switches.
13. Giving attention to sound conditions from room to room by offsetting heating and electrical outlets and providing sound-proofing insulation if building.
14. Including generous roof overhang for sun and rain protection.
15. Adjoining one of the bathrooms to the main bedroom.

Requirements from BOD 2004 - ¶2543.3.b)

1. After approving a purchase proposal, the charge conference shall be deemed to have authorized and directed the board of trustees to proceed with the purchase. In the case of the purchase of a parsonage, the board of trustees shall either:
   1. purchase a parsonage that has on the ground-floor level:
      1. one room that can be used as a bedroom by a person with a disability;
      2. one fully accessible bathroom; and
      3. fully accessible laundry facilities; or
   2. purchase a parsonage without the accessible features for persons with disabilities specified above and remodel it within one year's time, so that it does have those features.

Note: The Booklet on "Parsonage Planning," published by the National Division of the Board of Global Ministries should be used as a guide for square foot requirements for rooms.

Maintenance of Parsonage

Church's Responsibility

1. The parsonage committee shall arrange to consult at the parsonage with the family at least once a year about property and equipment.
2. The parsonage shall be regarded as the pastor's home and the privacy of the parsonage family shall be respected at all times. No unannounced "inspections" shall be conducted. Keys to the parsonage shall be limited to the parsonage family and the church office or a person mutually designated by the parsonage family and the Board of Trustees.
3. To better facilitate maintenance, we suggest a log of major appliances be kept by the parsonage committee including records of dates purchased, repairs, warranties, and service contracts.
4. A refurbishing and replacement schedule should be set up. We recommend that the church budget include a separate parsonage maintenance fund to be carried over and accumulated from year to year. Consider a percentage of parsonage value as a yearly goal.
5. At the time of a new appointment there shall be a contact person between pastor-parish relations committee and pastor, and a clear understanding of the procedures for maintenance:
   • which repairs and maintenance the pastor should expect to do.
   • which breakdowns should be reported for referral to get the job done (and whom the pastor should notify)
   • what amount is in the church budget in a separate parsonage maintenance fund (minimum of $500).
6. In the area of interior decorating, the parsonage committee and parsonage family shall work together before any changes are made. If non-washable drapes are used, cleaning responsibility is the churchs. Carpet repair, replacement, and periodic major cleaning is the responsibility of the local church unless damage is caused by carelessness of the parsonage family.
7. At the time of change of pastors, the parsonage committee shall take responsibility for seeing that the parsonage is in good condition for the incoming pastor. Needed cleaning shall be the responsibility of the outgoing pastor, but if this has not been cared for, the parsonage committee shall assume this responsibility. If needed cleaning is due to neglect of carelessness, the cost of said cleaning shall be paid by the outgoing pastor.
8. Ordinary mowing and trimming of lawn shall be the responsibility of the pastor. Fertilizing and lawn treatment, tree pruning and landscaping changes, if needed, or desired, shall be done by the church.

Pastor's Responsibility

1. The Parsonage family has the responsibility of not misusing the parsonage. They should keep the house in good repair and presentable to the public.
2. The parsonage shall be kept clean. This includes normal cleaning of walls, woodwork, carpets, drapes (if washable), and appliances as needed.
3. The pastor shall be responsible for his/her pet(s). All necessary precautions shall be taken to prevent pets from damaging the parsonage. Such damage must be corrected by the parsonage family.
4. The pastor shall negotiate with the parsonage committee an understanding of what separates minor repairs (pastor's responsibility) and major repairs (church's responsibility). The parsonage family is responsible for: cutting the lawn, shoveling snow, cleaning eaves troughs and doing minor plumbing and other repairs, putting up storm windows and doors. If the use of extension ladders are needed, the pastor should negotiate help from the church.
5. A pastor's move should be arranged as soon as possible after Annual Conference. Upon moving the parsonage family should do their part in leaving the house clean and in good order. A committee from the local church should come in to do last minute cleanup, but it should not be necessary to do major cleaning.
6. There should be submitted to the parsonage committee a monthly listing of what needs repairing, cleaning, and replacing.

Parsonage Inspections and Standards

1. The Pastor-Parish Relations Committee because of its special relationship to the pastor, shall be responsible to schedule an annual evaluation of the parsonage to determine needed maintenance and improvements.
2. At the time of the parsonage evaluation both the local church committee members and the pastor shall complete a "Parsonage Evaluation Form" (available from the District Office) and a copy of each shall be sent to the District Superintendent when the evaluation has been made. These forms shall be kept in the church conference file in the District Office as long as the pastor serves that charge.
3. At each Church Conference the District Superintendent shall ask if an evaluation of the parsonage has been made in the last twelve months and if it has not been done, make arrangements with the local church committee members to do so. He or she shall also ask if previous agreements for repairs and improvements have been made. If they have not, this should be recorded on the "Parsonage Evaluation Form".
4. The Pastor-Parish Relations Committee is responsible for inviting a newly appointed pastor to submit a list of items she or he feels ought to be repaired, replaced, or cared for. This list should be presented to the Parsonage Committee and/or the Board of Trustees for consideration. A copy of this evaluation shall be sent to the District Superintendent to be kept in the local church file.
5. The PPRC shall instigate an inspection by the Parsonage Committee and/or the Board of Trustees with the outgoing pastor at the time of vacating the parsonage, before the newly appointed pastor and her/his family moves in.
6. In the event there are damages to the parsonage beyond normal use, by the clergy family and/or pets, the local church may collect the cost of repairing such damages from the outgoing pastor.
7. If the local church committee members and the outgoing pastor cannot agree on reimbursement for the cost of repairing the damages, either party (or both) may consult the District Superintendent to help them arrive at a satisfactory agreement.
8. If there is an agreed upon payment for damages to the parsonage by the clergy family and payment is not made in full at the time the outgoing pastor leaves the charge, the church shall file with the District Superintendent a letter indicating the amount due and the payment schedule. This letter shall be kept in the pastor's file until the local church committee notifies the District Superintendent the obligation has been fulfilled.