Clarifying Congregational Personnel Practices

The congregation/agency to which an intern is assigned is expected to clarify the personnel practices it considers to be a proper norm.  While the ministry is not a nine-to-five profession, and schedules cannot be strictly adhered to, for the sake of good order and to lessen possible later misunderstandings, agreement should be reached on such items as:

1. Hours the intern is to be in the office (usually only morning hours).
2. Type of garb appropriate for work.  If clerical shirts are expected daily wear, please inform the seminary student prior to his/her arrival.
3. Day the intern is to have off each week (except in emergency).  Note: That the intern is to have a day-off each week is non-negotiable as set forth in the Guidelines Governing Internship document.
4. Specific tasks and routines which apply to everyone in the office staff  (for example: leading in office devotions, preparing coffee, procedures regarding the mail, etc.).
5. Vacation dates available to the intern (a total of two weeks during a twelve-month internship is guaranteed by the Guidelines document).
6. Total amount of remuneration and its division among the categories of stipend, housing/utilities, professional expenses (including car).  Make sure you have on file with the congregational treasurer a completed W-4 form entitled "Employees Withholding Allowance Certificate."  Also get clarity about the day(s) of the month when the remuneration will be paid.
7. Time and place for weekly supervisory session.  Also get clarity about what you will allow to interrupt or cause you to reschedule your weekly expected time together.
8. Clarify your mutual commitment to attending the Internship Cluster meetings.
9. Clarify the ways and means of getting to local ministerial, conference, and synodical meetings as well as to retreats and training events that may be desirable.
10. Other matters that are contextually specific....