As United Methodist Christians, we have individual and corporate obligations to hire, employ, and treat employed staff with justice and in alignment with civil law. The Staff/Pastor Parish Committee acts on behalf of the congregation to carry out biblical and Disciplinary mandates in relation to employed staff. The church has the opportunity to model for the world the fair treatment of all employees, lay as well as clergy. The Social Principles, included in the Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church, are "a prayerful and thoughtful effort" to speak to issues of contemporary life such as rights of all people, including persons with disabilities, women, and minorities; right to health care; right to a job at a living wage; and basic freedoms.

Congregations are advised to have an employee policy handbook related to issues of employment. The website for the General Council on Finance and Administration (http://www.gcfa.org) has sample policies and advice that aligns with the Book of Discipline and federal regulations. The resources are arranged alphabetically and are updated and added to frequently. For example, you will find clergy compensation and expenses worksheets, sexual harassment investigation checklists, clergy tax and housing allowance information, screening volunteers and paid staff who work with children, and more.

Several websites offer information related to federal law. For information about state laws refer to webpages in your area. A lawyer should advise you for your specific location.

The United States Department of Labor website (www.dol.gov) offers assistance for compliance with federal labor laws.

Title I of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) protects health insurance coverage for workers and their families when they change or lose their jobs. Information is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa1/default.asp?.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (www.eeoc.gov) provides information in seven languages to related to issues of discrimination.

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