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Council of Assembly News Brief

<typohead type="3">From the Council meeting, 18 – 20 June 2004 </typohead>

The Council of Assembly met in Wellington over the weekend 18 - 20 June.

Commitment to developing and nurturing healthy congregations as the focus for mission was central to discussions. Policy group reports addressed key aspects of healthy relationships with a particular emphasis on developing and supporting leadership. A salutary reminder about healthy relationships with the wider environment – the whole of creation – was provided in a presentation pointing to the urgency for stewardship of creation and a challenge for the church to exercise this role. Directions 2003 - 2006 continued to prove its worth in reviewing what had been planned and considering future action.

The budget dominated the discussions. A budget for the 2004/2005 financial year was adopted.  Figures are being finalised as a result of the decisions made.  Policy group reports focussed on aspects of healthy congregations and the resources of people, facilities and finance required for mission:

<typohead type="2">The Budget</typohead>

The Church, in line with past policy, has been running annual operating deficits over several years so long as reserves have existed to cover them. This year the Church is facing a large deficit. Expenditure is slightly over budget, while income, especially in contributions to the Mission and Ministry Fund, is well below expectations. The deficit is manageable and the Church is able to meet all of its financial commitments. In recognition of the financial responsibility it has, the Council is managing this deficit and is moving to a balanced budget as soon as possible, in the 2005/2006 financial year.

The Council adopted an Assembly budget for the next financial year (1 July 2004 to 30 June 2005) that balances the need for ongoing financial prudence and maintaining core functions for mission. Priorities for mission are developing and resourcing healthy congregations for mission, leadership formation and development (through the School of Ministry), youth ministry, communications and global mission.

Highlights include:

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Funding of the mission resourcing of presbyteries/UDCs and parishes requires review and will be the subject of further discussion with representatives of presbyteries/UDCs, Te Aka Puaho, the Pacific Islanders Synod, and the Council of Asian Congregations.  We will need to look at different forms of partnership between local and regional groups, and the Assembly.  Council will meet again on 19/20 August, and report to the General Assembly – no final decision will be made until after the General Assembly 19 –24 September.

Funding of the Youth Ministry position with an intern continues

Funding of the Global Mission Office will involve the GM Secretary position being funded through the Assembly budget as at present, and the operational expenditure being funded from Trust funds, with a view to the Office being fully self-funding in the second year (subject to budget decisions in the 2005/6 year)

Funding of the School of Ministry will continue in accordance with a plan recently adopted, with a funding reduction to be implemented towards the middle of 2005.  Funding of the Lay and Recognised Ministry position continues to be provided by the Synod of Otago and Southland.

Funding of the Communications Team will be on the basis of two full-time equivalent positions, sPanz will reduce to four issues, and there will be a review of sPanz undertaken as soon as possible

Council will be going to the General Assembly with proposals to reduce the size of the Council of Assembly and the number of Policy Groups.

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In moving toward the necessity of a balanced budget some staff positions will be affected.  Council noted that there has already been some discussion with people who could be involved.  Budget decisions are subject to consultation with all affected employees.  Employment agreements including provisions relating to redundancy and notice periods will be honoured.

Council will be in a position to communicate further after the August meeting.

<typohead type="2">Te Aka Puaho</typohead>

Te Aka Puaho reported their concerns about the societal context in which young people are growing up. They are encouraged by emerging leadership in a group of their young people and will report on further developments. The Moderator of Te Aka Puaho endorsed the proposal that Te Komiti Takawaenga o te Haahi (Joint Committee of General Assembly and Te Aka Puaho) work with Connecting with Society policy group to arrange a national church hui on the Treaty of Waitangi today.

<typohead type="2">Policy Groups</typohead>

<typohead type="3">Equipping the Leadership Policy Group (EtheL)</typohead>

EtheL reflected that healthy congregations require effective leaders and reported on initiatives through the School of Ministry to supplement present residential training with a distance based learning programme and to manage this within a reduced budget. The Local Ordained Ministry Programme has started officially on 1 June 2004. Ministry appraisals have been developed and successfully trialled and are available for immediate use – obtainable from the Presbyterian website. The Competency framework will be available on the website in the near future.

<typohead type="3">Resourcing for Mission Policy Group (ReforM)</typohead>

ReforM challenged the church to see the present financial situation as an opportunity to explore new ways of being church with the questions:

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Does this enable our mission?

Is this a core function? Is this what we are called to do?

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Their work addressing these questions focussed Council discussions on options for the budget.

<typohead type="3">Connecting with Society Policy Group (ConSoc)</typohead>

ConSoc commended work on the Decade to Overcome Violence (DOV) with a Kereru kit developed by the Conference of Churches in Aotearoa New Zealand planned for distribution to Presbyteries/UDCs and including a board game now becoming available. In response to Council’s request for policy development on human rights the Policy Group recommended a task group be established to address theological, legal, cultural and contextual issues and report back in 2005 with the aim of bringing a policy to Assembly 2006.

<typohead type="3">Overseas Mission and Partnerships Policy Group (OMP)</typohead>

OMP noted that Glenn Barclay had returned from Israel Palestine and was speaking with groups around the country on her experience. The Global Mission office has been strengthened with the employment of a link co-ordinator thanks to an APW donation of $10,000.

<typohead type="3">Administration and Finance Policy Group (A&F)</typohead>

Council is taking steps to move Financial Services to being a high performing team and has retained a highly qualified short term contractor to work with the Assembly Executive Secretary and the Policy Group to facilitate that process.

Important outcomes include timely, accurate and relevant financial information. Council has also appointed a special task group which continues to work with the groups and people engaged in the process, providing support and monitoring progress for Council.  

A&F also presented the draft budget which was discussed with considerable care and focus. This is covered more fully earlier in this “Council News”.

<typohead type="2">Other News</typohead>

<typohead type="3">A Safety and Protection Policy</typohead>

A policy (procedures and strategies to help the Presbyterian Church to protect the children and young people in our care) in draft form was considered. It provides a good model for congregations to use as a basis for their own policies. Congregations are expected to have policies and protocols in place and this model with minor amendments will be available at Assembly.

<typohead type="3">The Book of Order Rewrite</typohead>

The Book of Order Rewrite Task Group has made considerable progress with a draft being available on the website. However, in view of the importance of having time for adequate feedback and response, Council agreed to the Task Group recommendation that the process be changed to give more time for this to happen.  The Task Group is likely to recommend to the General Assembly that the New Book of Order be presented to a Special Assembly in September 2005.

<typohead type="3">The Nominating Committee</typohead>

The Nominating Committee noted that they were still waiting for responses from Presbyteries for their representation on the Nominating Committee for Assembly – so far the nominations have predominantly been of male clergy. Once the nominations are in the work of seeking for nominations for vacancies in Policy and other groups can begin. Another concern is the lack of nominations for Council of Assembly from the lower South Island.

21 June 2004

 

<typohead type="2">Contacts</typohead>

For questions and more information about these items please contact:
Convener, Rev. Shirley Fergusson at 495 Puketaha Road, RD1, Hamilton (ph 07 855 2598) e-mail:
ferg(at)wave.co.nz  or
Secretary, Kerry Enright at PO Box 9049, Wellington (ph. 04 381 8281) e-mail:
aes(at)prebyterian.org.nz.