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Terms of call for local ministry teams
These terms of call are set out in terms of headings. Specific terms of call for a specific local ministry team need to have some content under each heading. Some of the headings relate to specific detail which will vary in relation to a specific position eg the designation of the position. Other headings will have specific content which will be the standard minimum expected.
These terms of call have two parts. Part 1 is the terms of call for the local ministry team as a whole. Part 2 is the terms of call for individual members of the team. The two parts need to be read in conjunction with each other and must be internally consistent.
These terms of call should form a document which is to be presented, with all details complete, to the congregation and then to the presbytery/UCC for approval.
The document should include the terms of call for the team and a set of terms of call for each individual member of the team.
Part One Terms of call for the team
Designation
The local ministry team for ___________ congregation/church/parish.
Status
The local ministry team fulfils the functions of the ministry of word and sacrament and pastoral care in this congregation/parish.
Position
One of the following options should be specified
· Collectively the team provides the equivalent of a full-time ministry position.
· Collectively the team provides the equivalent of a part-time ministry position (The percentage of time should be stipulated eg 50%, 75%)
Tenure
This local ministry team has a limited tenure position of _______ years
from ____ to ____.
The position will be reviewed not less than six months prior to the end of term by the parish and the presbytery and a decision made as to whether or not the term will be renewed.
Note 1 The maximum term is for five years with the possibility of renewal if renewal meets the current and projected needs of the congregation.
Note 2 The renewal may be for the team as a whole or for the team in a different configuration
Accountability
To the Presbytery of xxxxx.
Note: Where there is more than one person ordained in a local ministry team congregation it will be for the session/parish council to decide as to which minister and which elder take a seat in presbytery. Local Ministry Team ministers not on presbytery may be associated with presbytery or will be ministers within the bounds.
Working relationships
These should be specified and will include
· Session/parish council; Board of managers
· Congregation
· Presbytery
· Wider church
· Other
Expectations
· Key tasks are to be listed
This will include the learning agreement with the School of Ministry which will have been determined as part of the discernment process through which the local ministry team was established.
Appraisal
· An annual ministry appraisal will be required of the team as a whole and the individual members of it.
(The terms of call should specify the month in which this is to take place)
Supervision
· Monthly supervision is required with a presbytery-approved supervisor/presbytery appointed resource minister. Normally this supervision will be done with the whole team as a group.
Remuneration
The terms of call should specify whether the local ministry team is stipended or not.
If the team is non-stipendiary there should still be provision in the terms of call for the reimbursement of work-related expenses.
If the team is stipended this should be specified and the stipend and allowances specified. These will include
· Stipend or part thereof (as determined by the Assembly)
· Approved allowances (as determined by the Assembly)
· Housing Provision to approved standard (as per Assembly regulations
· Beneficiary Fund provision
· Reimbursement for approved expenses eg car, phone rental and work-related tolls
There should also be provision for appropriate secretarial/administrative assistance
Leave
The leave provisions should be specified and will include
· Annual leave, as per ministry regulations
· Study leave, as per ministry regulations
· Sick leave, as per ministry regulations
· Bereavement leave, as per ministry regulations
· Special leave (paid or unpaid), as per ministry regulations
If the team is non-stipendiary there still should be provision for leave (which will be unpaid)
Special Conditions
Specify here any particular provisions which might be included in the terms of call and haven’t been covered elsewhere in the document.
These terms of call are to be read in conjunction with the terms of call for each individual member of the team.
Date
Part 1 of these terms of call approved by the presbytery of ____________ on ____________.
Signed by Moderator ______________________________.
Part Two Terms of call for individual member of local ministry team
Designation
Member of the local ministry team of the ------------------- congregation.church/parish with particular responsibility for -------------------------.
Status
Member of the local ministry team
Position
This is a part-time position (state percentage of time) with particular responsibility for -----
Note: Though a team might collectively fulfill the requirements of a full-time ministry position the expectation is that all the individual members of the team would hold part-time positions
Tenure
This position has a limited tenure of ---------------- years from ---------to -----------.
The position will be reviewed, as part of the review of the whole team, not less than six months prior to the end of the term by the parish and the presbytery and a decision made as to whether or not the term will be renewed. This includes the possibility that though it maybe decided to continue with the local ministry team model particular positions within the team may not be renewed.
Note: The maximum term is for five years. A renewal of the term is possible if that meets the current and projected needs of the congregation.
Accountability
To the Presbytery of xxxxx
Working relationships
These should be specified and will include
· Other members of the team
· Session/Parish Council
· Congregation
· Presbytery and wider church
· Other individuals and groups (these should be identified) as required by the particular requirements of the particular portfolio.
Expectations
Key tasks should be listed for this particular position and the responsibilities associated with it.
It will include the learning agreement for this individual team member which will have been determined as part of the discernment process which established the team
Appraisal
An annual ministry appraisal will be required for each individual team member as well as for the team as a whole.
(The terms of call should specify the month in which this appraisal is to happen)
Supervision
Monthly supervision is required with a presbytery-appointed supervisor/resource minister.
Normally this supervision would be a group exercise with the team as a whole.
Remuneration
This individual position within the ------------- local ministry team is stipended/is not stipended.
If non-stipended.
The terms of call should specify what work-related expenses will be reimbursed, whether there are any budget limits on thie level of reimbursement and how the expenses are to be claimed and reimbursed.
If stipended
The terms of call should specify the stipend and allowances as noted in Part 1 of this template.
Leave
The leave provisions should be noted for the individual in terms of the leave provisions noted in Part 1 of this template.
Special conditions
Specify here any particular provisions which need to be included in the terms of call and which are covered elsewhere in the document.
Date
Terms of call approved by Presbytery of _____________ on _____________________
Terms of call signed by ___________________________Moderator
Trms of call signed by____________________________ Member of local ministry team in ______________ congregation/church/parish.