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Council News November 2005
Introduction
Last weekend the Council of Assembly met in Dunedin , hosted by the Synod of Otago and Southland. We enjoyed the beautiful grounds and facilities of Knox College as well as a presentation by the Synod on their mission-focused work. We also gained a greater appreciation, through guided tours, of the work done by the Presbyterian Archives and the Hewitson Library.
The Council faced a very full agenda, as we move into an intensive phase of work before next year’s General Assembly. The foundations laid during the past year are being built on, with much significant work being prepared to put before the wider church next year, both in terms of prior consultation and in reports that will be presented to General Assembly 2006.
A timetable setting out this consultation process is being prepared and will be circulated to Presbyteries next month. Much consultation will begin after the next Council meeting in March, when many final reports will be presented.
If you have questions or comments about any of the items in this update, please contact the Council of Assembly Secretary at aes@presbyterian.org.nz or Council of Assembly, PO Box 9049, Wellington.
Kerry Stotter and Helen Bichan
Convener and Deputy Convener
A future vision for the Church
Moderator Garry Marquand and National Mission Enabler John Daniel presented a paper highlighting ways in which the Church can renew its focus on mission.
A critical element of this was a discussion of networks, and the way in which groups of people gathered around a passion for mission can be more effective than institutional structures. Networks would be about building relationships across shared mission contexts and dynamics, sharing resources and complementing regionally focused work.
This is an ongoing process and Garry and John will reflect on feedback from Council as well as engaging in discussions that will be incorporated into their vision, which will ultimately be presented to GA06.
School of Ministry review
An interim report from the review team was discussed. The team have met with staff and students and were impressed by the quality of the people and the School’s forward focus. They note that many perceptions of the School are based on its previous forms rather than on its current operation.
From its Dunedin base, the School provides a two-year postgraduate residential programme for people seeking to become national ordained ministers. These ordinands complete their theological degrees elsewhere before joining the school. In addition to residential formation, the School provides training for presbytery and parish leaders; advice for existing ministers on matters such as study leave; guidance on local ordained ministry; and information about team ministry; as well as working with groups such as Te Aka Puaho on their training programmes.
The review is still in process, with its next stage involving consultation with some key groups and individuals. A report will be presented to the March Council meeting and consultation with the wider church will occur before a final report is completed in July for presentation to GA06.
Composition of the Council of Assembly
The decision made at Council’s meeting on 24 June 2005 to move to a smaller Council was confirmed. Presbyteries will be invited to provide feedback on the draft proposal before it is presented in its final form to GA06.
We have devoted considerable time, both between council meetings and at this meeting, to discussing what comprises an optimal council. One factor has been the opportunity to include new voices around the Council table, such as those of the Council of Asian Congregations and the Synod of Otago and Southland. Working smarter and ensuring effective liaison with regional and other interest groups will be hallmarks of the proposed changes.
Council recommends that its composition be:
Members:
- Convenor
- Deputy Convenor
- Moderator General Assembly
- Te Aka Puaho nominee
- Pacific Islanders Synod nominee
- Council of Asian Congregations nominee
- Six other members
- Conveners of the two sub-committees
Associates:
- Assembly Executive Secretary
- Church Property Trustees nominee
- Te Aka Puaho Moderator
- Synod of Otago and Southland nominee
Moderator’s report
Moderator Garry Marquand reported his recent attendance at the Conference of Presbyterian Schools and the Turakina Maori Girls College centennial celebrations.
He presented a report on ministers’ stress levels, in conjunction with National Mission Enabler John Daniel, which he said are “growing to levels that should cause serious concern”. Council spent some time discussing this report and ways in which ministers can be better supported.
Being a multicultural church
Council discussed the importance of both actively expressing our bicultural partnership and moving towards enabling diverse cultures to be properly honoured within the Church.
A discussion paper was presented to inform Council’s thinking. It contributed to discussion of other areas of the Church’s work during the meeting and will be refined for further discussion and presentation to the wider church before GA06.
General Assembly financial performance
Assistant to the AES (Finance) Andrew Jackson presented a paper on the financial turnaround achieved during the past 16 months. This includes the development of a balanced budget for 2005/2006, robust reporting, a problem-free audit of the 2004/2005 financial accounts and satisfactory year-to-date results against budget. Andrew’s role will reduce to one of oversight.
The Finance Newsletter, due out next week, will contain additional information on these topics and also, importantly, on the review of Assembly Assessment. More information about the 2004/2005 accounts is available here.
National services review
Council received an interim report, which will be presented in its final form to our next meeting after further information is gathered. This report will be presented to GA06.
Non-core services have been identified as being the administration of the Insurance Fund, Presbyterian Investment Fund and payroll, with the report suggesting that these can continue to be provided where they have a service linkage to the Church and are financially self supporting.
Stipend task group
A report was presented, with further clarification work necessary in order to bring a report to the March Council meeting, after which consultation with the wider church will start, before the final report is presented to GA06.
Assembly Executive Secretary’s report
AES Kerry Enright highlighted that Human Resources and National Mission Enabler positions were both under pressure in terms of workload. Ways and means of alleviating this are being actively considered.
We are about to farewell some staff, including Pacific Islands Mission Director Don Ikitoelagi, National Youth Coordinator Mo Mansill, and Senior Accountant Paula Rae, along with much-reduced role for Assistant to the AES (finance) Andrew Jackson. A review of the level of capability required in the finance department is underway in conjunction with the Church Property Trustees.
Alister Rae has been appointed Acting Principal of the School of Ministry for the time that Kevin Ward will be on study leave between mid January and mid May.
General Assembly meeting review
We received a comprehensive report from the General Assembly meeting review group, which will be doing further work on policy relating to General Assembly meetings. Some of its operational recommendations are being applied to preparations for GA06.
Information about General Assembly’s location and date will be confirmed next week.
Te Aka Puaho
Moderator Mille Te Kaawa expressed Te Aka Puaho’s delight at having nine people recently start Amorangi ministry training.
Council and Te Aka Puaho expressed their commitment to work together to strengthen the bicultural partnership, with a series of meetings underway.
Pacific Islanders’ Synod
The PI Synod Conference was held on 16-17 September, with much discussion of its desire for strengthening its relationship with the wider Church.
The death in October of the Rev Leuatea Sio, a prominent leader in Church and community, who encouraged the Synod’s development, was noted with sadness.
Council of Asian Congregations
A report from the Council of Asian Congregations enabled Council to start consideration of ways to better engage with that Council, including working through their preferences for participating in the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand. Council representatives will meet with the Asian Council in December to start this process.
Appointment process for the Assembly Executive Secretary
As previously communicated, existing AES Kerry Enright’s term ends at GA06.
Work is underway on updating the role’s position description, which Council expects to complete in time for sending to Presbyteries/Union District Councils for consultation and approval in mid December. The selection process will commence after Council’s March meeting.
The appointment will be made by GA06.
Sub-committees update
The Nominating Committee has successfully found members for the Resources sub-committee. However, finding people to serve on the Leadership sub-committee is proving a more difficult task and is still in process.
Deputy Convener Council of Assembly
Council farewelled Deputy Convener Helen Bichan and expressed deep appreciation for her dedication and contribution to our work.
On the recommendation of the Nominating Committee, Council appointed Council member Helen Beaumont as Acting Deputy Convener until GA06.