Session 8

Dunedin College of Education, Union Street, Dunedin
Tuesday 3 October 2000 at 7.00 pm

The Assembly met and was constituted with prayer by the Moderator.

Worship was led by the Rev Richard Dawson.

The Rev Tim Clarke, representing the United Reformed Church, addressed the Assembly. He exchanged gifts with the Moderator.

The Rev Eti Kine, President of Ekalesia Kelisiano Tuvalu, addressed the Assembly. He exchanged gifts with the Moderator.

Election of Moderator-Designate

The Rev Chris Elliott, Nominating Committee Convener, moved, and it was seconded:

That the report of the Nominating Committee be received.

The motion was agreed to.

Mrs Mona Riini moved and it was seconded:

That the Rev Michael David Thawley be Moderator-Designate of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

The motion was agreed to.

Mr Thawley and Mrs Dorothy Thawley were presented to Assembly. Mr Thawley addressed the Assembly.

Overture 3

The Rev Pamela Tankersley, Business Work Group Co-convener, read to the meeting a note from the Rev Les Carnew, requesting that Overture 3 be withdrawn.

Mrs Tankersley sought leave for Motion [00.089] (Overture 3) to be withdrawn.

[00.089] (Overture 3)That this General Assembly fall from the decision of the 1996 Assembly - (Resolution 96.150) - to protect the status of Ministers, Licentiates and Elders who are practising homosexuals.

The Assembly agreed to grant leave for the motion to be withdrawn.

Beneficiary Fund

Mrs Margaret Inch presented the report on behalf of the Convener.

Mrs Inch moved, and it was seconded:

[00.029] That the Beneficiary Fund Deed and Regulations as circulated be adopted as the Deed and Regulations of the Beneficiary Fund.

Mr Doug Langford, Financial Services Manager, responded to questions of clarification.

Mr Langford sought and was granted leave to withdraw Motion [00.127]:

[00.127] Amendment to Notice of Motion 29That the Beneficiary Fund Deed and Regulations as circulated be adopted, subject to the agreement of all members... as the Deed and Regulations of the Beneficiary Fund.

Pre-Assembly Commission on Reference 1

The Rev Alistair McBride moved, and it was seconded:

[00.126] That the Report be received.

There was no discussion.
The motion was agreed to.

Mr Don Stewart moved, and it was seconded:

[00.123] That Assembly having recognised the underlying intention of Reference 1, and having heard the Report of the Pre-Assembly Commission, refer the issues of our theological understanding of the call to ministry and stipend, and the attendant legal issues to legal opinion that is qualified in the matter of employer/employee contracts and compacts in foro conscientiae.

Mr Colin Pidgeon, the Rev Dr Clive Yates, Mr Langford, and Mr Stewart responded to questions of clarification.

There was considerable debate.
The motion was lost.

Beneficiary Fund

Motion [00.029] (Beneficiary Fund Deed and Regulations) was put:

[00.029] That the Beneficiary Fund Deed and Regulations as circulated be adopted as the Deed and Regulations of the Beneficiary Fund.

The motion was agreed to.

Stipends Task Group

Mr Cunny Atchison moved, and it was seconded:

[00.030] Standard Stipend
That the Assembly falls from the provision of Standard minimum stipend and replaces it with the provision of a standard stipend as a basis for "full-time ministry" and consequently ministry regulations E 17 II 2.1 and 2.1.1 should read:

2.1 Terms of Call/Appointment
2.1.1 Terms of Call/Appointment are defined as follows:

• Stipend as submitted to and agreed by Presbytery/UDC
• basic expense allowance
• car allowance, by way of reimbursement as per Assembly scale
• accommodation of an approved standard (refer 2.1.2 below)
• removal expenses
• free telephone other than private tolls
• secretarial assistance as required
  
• 5 weeks annual leave, with no more than 4 to be taken at any one time
• study leave as defined by Assembly unless otherwise stated and approved by Presbytery/Presbytery/UDC.

[The key reason for falling from a "minimum" stipend is to provide a standard from which an appropriate stipend can be set. The aim of the change is to remove from the setting of the terms of Call any inference that the stipend suggested is compelled and that Parishes with Presbytery approval may vary from that standard where appropriate.]

[00.031] Accommodation Regulations:That the Assembly adopts the following as regulations replacing 2.1.2 Appendix E17:Standard accommodation requirements.The accommodation shall provide:a) adequate living space separate from and in addition to space used for church activitiesb) facilities for offering hospitalityc) study/office with adequate public access and shelving (if not provided in other plant)d) washing machine and refrigerator with adequate freezer spacee) floor coverings in all roomsf) wardrobes in every bedroomg) drapes or blindsh) adequate heating for living areas and studyi) a house and grounds where, as appropriate, all practicable steps have been taken to eliminate, isolate, or minimise any potential hazards.
(Such hazards could include inadequacies in the exterior lighting, fencing, paths, steps, drainage, decking, or verandahs. Interior wiring, plugs, appliances, staircase railings, provision for safe leeking of dangerous substances, hot water temperature control, smoke detectors, emergency exits.)LocationThe accommodation will be located within a reasonable radius of the main worship centre of the Congregation or in a location determined by the Congregation/Charge and the Presbytery.
AlternativesThe accommodation may be provided in one of the following ways:(a) Accommodation of an approved standard owned by the Congregation/Charge(b) By leasing a house owned by the minister(The rental payable to the minister would be at the lower of the market rental of appropriate accommodation that is available within either a reasonable radius of the house owned by the minister or within a reasonable radius of the main worship centre)(c) By leasing a house from an independent owner
(d) By providing an accommodation allowance(The allowance payable to the minister would be at the lower of the market rental of appropriate accommodation that is available within a reasonable radius of the worship centre or within a location determined by the Congregation and the Presbytery).
AlternativesThe accommodation may be provided in one of the following ways:(a) Accommodation of an approved standard owned by the Congregation/Charge(b) By leasing a house owned by the minister(The rental payable to the minister would be at the lower of the market rental of appropriate accommodation that is available within either a reasonable radius of the house owned by the minister or within a reasonable radius of the main worship centre)(c) By leasing a house from an independent owner(d) By providing an accommodation allowance(The allowance payable to the minister would be at the lower of the market rental of appropriate accommodation that is available within a reasonable radius of the worship centre or within a location determined by the Congregation and the Presbytery).
[The key reason for these regulations is to provide alternatives to the traditional manse on a financial basis that is fair to all parties.]
[00.032] Part-time and Honorary MinistryThat Assembly agrees that Regulation 272 should read:(a) Part-time MinistryA Presbytery/UDC on its own initiative or following a request from the Session or Parish Council and Congregation of a parish may decide that circumstances warrant a part-time sole charge, associate, collegiate, assistant, paid or honorary ministry. The terms of call or appointment or any variation in the case of an existing ministry shall be related to the time spent in a part-time ministry and subject to an initial review at the completion of six months and each 12 months thereafter and when there is a change of ministry in the charge.
(b) Honorary Ministry (Part and Full time)A Presbytery on its own initiative or following a request from the Session or Parish Council and Congregation of a parish may decide that circumstances warrant a full-time sole charge, associate, collegiate, assistant, or full or part honorary ministry. The terms of call or appointment or any variation in the case of an existing ministry shall be determined by the Presbytery/UDC. Appointments to "honorary and part honorary" ministry shall be made by the Presbytery/UDC and subject to an initial review at the completion of six months and each 12 months thereafter and when there is a change of ministry in the charge.[The key reason for the change is to provide more frequent reviews to ensure that expectations and outcomes in regard to full and part-time honorary Ministry are reconciled.]
Mr John Trainor, the motion's seconder sought, and was grated leave to amend Motion [00.033] by adding the words "from 30 June 2001"

[00.033] Seniority Allowance(a) That the seniority allowance be retained as an annual payment paid centrally from a levy on the membership
(b) That from 30 June 2001 the seniority allowance be changed from an experience based to a combined age plus experience based approach, requiring that a particular age and a much reduced number of years of service be attained before a minister would qualify. It would be structured as follows:

Age Years of Service % of Basic StipendUnder 30 Nil30 - 39 2 2 %40 - 49 4 4 %50 + 6 6 %
(c) That ministers receiving seniority allowance at the time these changes are introduced not suffer a reduction in their allowance. They are to continue to be paid as previously until in due course, at a more advanced age, they become entitled to the same level of allowance on the new basis.
(d) All ordained Ministers of Word and Sacrament who hold full membership within their Presbytery and are in ministries recognised by their presbyteries should be entitled to a seniority allowance either in full or pro rata to the proportion of a full time ministry they are undertaking. However if they are employed in a charge where the party paying the stipend does not contribute to the levy supporting the seniority allowance fund, then the fund should not pay the seniority allowance. Negotiations should ensure that the paying party, as part of a total package, pay the appropriate 'seniority allowance equivalent' to the minister. In such circumstances the period of this employment should be recognised when calculating entitlement to the seniority allowance. Part-time service will be recognised as equivalent to full-time service for the purposes of calculating the length of service of a minister in this context.
(e) That an appropriate policy group investigate whether the level of the seniority allowance should be increased and bring recommendations to the next Assembly accordingly.[The key reason for this change is to relate the seniority allowance to age rather than time served with the church and in the process achieving congruency with the church's concept of stipend.]
The motions were referred to Dialogue Groups for consideration.

Overture 1

The Rev Dr Clive Yates sought and was granted leave to withdraw Notice of Motion [00.087] (Overture 1):

Overture 11

Mr Neil Walker moved, and it was seconded:

[00.097] (Overture 11)That the Council of Assembly ensure plain language is used in all Assembly documents and processes and ensure amendments to the Book of Order are proposed which enable that to happen.
Mr Walker responded to questions of clarification.

There was brief debate.
The motion was carried.

Commission of Assembly on Steele House Trust

Mrs Margaret Inch, a member of the Commission, moved, and it was seconded:

[00.107] That the Scheme of Variation of the Steele House Trust, amended as set out in paragraph 1.4 of the Report from the Commission of Assembly, be approved by the General Assembly pursuant to Section 16 of the Presbyterian Church Property Amendment Act 1996.

There was brief debate.

The motion was agreed to.

Moderator's Arrangements

The Rev Lynn Russell moved, and it was seconded:

[00.040] That the Council of Assembly review the terms of appointment of the Moderator and the support given to the Moderator's parish or other employing body.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Financial Statements

The Rev Brian Williscroft, Administration and Finance Policy Group Co-convener, moved, and it was seconded:

[00. 110] That the Financial Statements for the years ended 31 July 1998, the eleven months to 30 June 1999 and the year ended 30 June 2000 be adopted.

There was brief debate.
Mr Langford responded to questions of clarification.
The motion was agreed to.

The Assembly adjourned to meet again at 8.30 am Wednesday 4 October.

Robert Yule, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk