The ministry and mission of Vero Beach First UMC is "to know Christ and to make Him known." It is the goal of all ministries and programs of our church, of which The Early Education Center is a vital one, to provide fertile ground in which the gospel can grow within our walls. Furthermore, it is our goal to disciple God's children so that they can move beyond the walls of our church to carry the gospel to those in the world. This compels us to witness to Christ in our relationship with the ministry team of the Church and The Early Education Center and to seek to enable them to meet their professional responsibilities in the Church and The Early Education Center by providing a work environment and policy that reflects Christian teaching. We believe that those who work for the Church or The Early Education Center should understand their employment in terms of ministry and not simply as a job. Hence, all paid staff members and employees will be referred to as ministry team members. It is our desire that all ministry team members will find their work desirable and rewarding. And it is unto this goal that these policies have been established.

Therefore, it is our intent to:

• Provide management that is skilled, fair, and concerned about the welfare of our ministry team members;
• Competitively compensate each ministry team member in accordance with assigned responsibilities, personal/professional ability, cooperation, and development;
• Fill vacancies or new positions, when possible, by transfer or promotion from within our existing ministry team;
• Discuss willingly and frankly any problems, complaints, or questions concerning policy;
• Keep all ministry team members informed in advance of public notice, whenever possible, of any changes that may affect them or their families; and,
• Provide equal opportunity to all applicants and ministry team members regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, handicap, marital status, or veteran status.