presbyterian.org.nz: Session 10

The Rev Dr Eldin Villifañe presented the fourth in his series of addresses to the Assembly.

Facilitation Group

Facilitation Group members Mrs Alison Grimshaw and the Rev Hamish Galloway reported Dialogue Groups responses to Motions [00.90], [00.96], [00.102] and [00.104]. They indicated that there was divided opinion, lack of support, and widespread concerns about these motions.

The Rev David Brown, Business Committee Co-convener, sought and was granted leave to withdraw the four motions, and replace them with Notice of Motion [00.128].

[00.090] (Overture 4 -withdrawn)
That this General Assembly itself appoint a Special Commission on Governance comprising senior and respected Ministers and Elders (a total of five in number and otherwise uninvolved in the new structures) who, with adequate resourcing from the Book of Order and Judicial Committee will investigate, address and within eight months will provide to the Presbyteries and Parishes a copy of the Report containing their observations and Recommendations which the Commission will make in full to the next General Assembly after 2000 upon the issues which have been raised in this Overture on Constitutional Governance generally and which are creating unease and giving increased concern to many on the principle of continued conciliar Governance of this Church through its three Court conciliar structure which is hierarchical only in terms of authority: and concerning the place and direct reporting role of the five major Policy Groups/Committees to the General Assembly, Presbyteries, and the Parishes who ultimately breathe life into the missionary impetus of our Church.

That the conveners of the Policy Groups and of the Nominating Committee be appointed to their positions by preferential ballot of the General Assembly
That candidates be nominated by at least three Presbyteries
That other details for the operation of the system, and the rules to apply, be determined by the Council of the Assembly in consultation with the Book of Order and Judicial Committee.

[00.102] (Overture 16 - withdrawn)
That the General Assembly:
(1) Request that the Council of Assembly review the system of Policy Groups, Work Groups, Reference Groups, and Task Groups with a view to making reforms that would significantly produce greater transparency, accountability, and democratisation, including provision for lower courts to nominate and endorse membership of all national policy and task groups and committees, and that the General Assembly bring back proposals to the 2002 Assembly.
(2) Request that the Book of Order and Judicial Committee draft appropriate regulation changes, to give effect to the Council proposals.

[00.104] (Overture 18 - withdrawn)2. That the Council of Assembly consist of one person commissioned by and from within each of the Presbyteries or Union District Councils and Te Aka Puaho, who shall have one vote; plus the Associate membership of any leaders of the Church that the Council of Assembly determines, who shall not have a vote. Due consideration shall be given by the Council, with guidance to the Presbyteries, Union District Councils and Te Aka Puaho to endeavour to maintain a balance of gender, between ministers and elders, and to represent the cultural balance of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

2. That the Order of Reference for the Council of Assembly be strengthened to include:- setting the priorities of the mission of the Church- ensuring that the mission of the Church is monitored and encouraged- guiding the Church in carrying out the decisions of Assembly
- interpreting the mind of the Church and making such decisions that are necessary on behalf of the Church between Assemblies- monitoring or making such public statements on behalf of the Church between Assemblies as are deemed necessary
3. That Assembly ask the Council to examine the feasibility of Presbyteries, Union District Councils and Te Aka Puaho meeting the travel costs of their representatives on a shared cost basis.

[00.128] Replaces withdrawn notices of motion [00.090], [00.096], [00.102], [00.104] (Overtures 4, 10, 16, 18)

That Assembly, mindful of concerns raised, commit this church to work for increasing transparency, fairness, and accountability in its selection of people to serve on Work Groups, Reference Groups, Task Groups, Commissions, Council of Assembly, Nominating Committee and other bodies.
That Council of Assembly appoint a Task Group with the following terms of reference:
To review and consider the Church's processes of nomination with special reference to:
the open and fair election of the membership of the Nominating Committee by Presbyteries and United District Councils
the time-frame necessary for the Nominating Committee to do its work
the selection of the widest possible range of able people
the provision and circulation to the Nominating Committee - of brief accurate written information on prospective appointees to the above groups
whether or not the Council of Assembly should have discretion to overrule the Nominating Committee
the processes of consultation between the Nominating Committee and Presbyteries/United District Councils to ensure they are effective
the possible distribution to Assembly of the draft lists early in the Assembly, and the provision for Assembly commissioners to have input
To consult widely
To send the draft report to Presbyteries/United District Councils for comment
To submit its recommendations to the Council of Assembly by September 2001.

Overture 19

The Very Rev Graeme Murray reported that there had been mixed responses from Dialogue Groups to Motion [00.108] (Overture 19).

a) That the General Assembly affirm the long standing principle of Presbyterian Churches that power should not be concentrated in the hands of one person, or even of a fewe) That the Council of Assembly be requested to order its affairs and conduct its business with greater respect for these traditions of our Churchf) That the Moderator of the General Assembly be also the Moderator of the Council of Assemblyg) That the Conveners of the appropriate Policy Groups be responsible for conducting employee performance reviews for ministerial and other senior staff employed by the national Church.

The Rev Dr John Roxborogh sought, and was granted, leave to withdraw clause (c) of Motion [00.108].
Dr Roxborogh also sought, and was granted, leave to replace the word 'greater' in clause (b) with the word 'due', and to withdraw clause (d), to be replaced by Notice of Motion [00.131].

[00.108] (Amended Overture 19)
a) That the General Assembly affirm the longstanding principle of Presbyterian Churches that power should not be concentrated in the hands of one person, or even of a few
b) That the Council of Assembly be requested to order its affairs and conduct its business with due respect for these traditions of our Church.

Assembly Employees: The Service Team

In introducing Notice of Motion [00.131], Dr Roxborogh sought, and was granted, leave to withdraw from clause (2) on Performance Reviews the words 'for appointments made by the Council and', and to amend the words 'the relevant Policy Group' in that clause to 'a relevant Policy Group'.

[00.131] Assembly Employees: the Service Team(Replaces Notice of Motion [00.108] clause d.)That the new Book of Order Appendix on Assembly Employees: The Service Team (as per Assembly Papers E3-50, 51) be amended as follows:
d) 1) That clause 2 on page E3-50 under the heading the Council of Assembly and Assembly Executive Secretary be amended to read: The Council of Assembly has power to delegate to the Assembly Executive Secretary the functions set out in the AES position description including the power to sub-delegate. In relation to the Service Team the functions for which the AES is accountable include performance of the Service Team Leaders, leadership of the Service Team, matters of employment and ensuring there is... good communication between the Policy Groups of the Council and the Service Team,... and policy advice is provided by the Service Team.
d) 2) That the section on performance reviews be amended to read:
Performance Reviews1. The performance of employees shall be regularly reviewed by the person or persons to whom they report.2. For Service Team Leaders, the performance review will be conducted by the AES and the Convener and / or a member of a relevant Policy Group or Reference Group.3. Appropriate training will be provided to all parties involved in performance reviews.
There was considerable debate and clarification.

Transition Task Group

Mrs Grimshaw reported responses from the Dialogue Groups on Motions [00.41], [00.42], [00.43], [00.44], [00.45]. The motions were open for debate.

[00.041] That the Appendix - Responsibilities and Accountabilities - be included as an Appendix in the Book of Order replacing Appendices E- 11, E-20, E-21, and E-25.

[00.042] That Appendices E-12 and E -13 in the Book of Order be replaced with Appendices E-12 and E-13 as attached to the report to Assembly of the Transition Task Group.

[00.043] That Book of Order Appendix E-17 be amended as follows:a. Section 1 Order of Reference to read:"The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand will maintain an effective Ministry of Word and Sacrament to serve the Church as part of the ministry which belongs to the whole people of God by:a) challenging Church members with the call to ordained ministryb) receiving ministers from overseas as well as from other Churchesc) encouraging development of a variety of opportunities for continuing education and in-service traininge) keeping under constant review the basic stipend, car allowance scales and general living conditions of everyone in the Ministry of Word and Sacrament."b. 2.2.6 Remove first sentence.
d. Last sentence of 2.2.6: Replace "Continuing Ministry Formation Workgroup of the Mission Resource Board" with "Mission Resource Team".d. In 2.3.4 (b), and subsequent references replace "Mission Resource Board" with "Mission Resource Team".e. 3.4.3 Remove "and reported to the Mission Resource Board."g. 4.1.5 and other references "Personnel Workgroup of the Mission Resource Board" to "Personnel Work Group of the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group".

2. Page 8
Regulation 34
Lines 1,2 "Mission Resource Board" Change to "Resourcing for Mission Policy Group"
2. Page 8
Regulation 35
Lines 3, 5, 8 "Church Union and Inter-Church Relations Committee" Change to "Resourcing For Mission Policy Group"
3. Page 32
Regulation 172(d)(x)
Line 3
Delete: "only after receiving a report from the Church Worship Committee on the project;"5. Page 36Regulation 182
Line 7 and subsequently "Education for Ministry Committee" Change to "Principal"
6. Page 36Regulation 185Line 4-6Delete "The committee may, should it deem necessary, accept the candidate provisionally for one trial year of study. (Appendix E-13, Section 3.12)"
10. Page 37
Regulation 186
Line 2-4
Amend to read, "Students become communicant members of a Congregation in the area where they are studying, and inform the School of Ministry accordingly."Delete "The Committee has power to grant exemption in special cases."
11. Page 38Regulation 192Line 5-6 and subsequently "Personnel Work Group of the Mission Resource Board"Change to "Personnel Work Group of the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group".
12. Page 76Regulation 384Line 1Delete "All" before "committees", and add "may" before "require" so the first line reads: "Groups or bodies of the Assembly employing agents for work in any capacity may require..."13. Page 96Regulation 516 delete

[00.045] That the Book of Order be amended as follows:App E-14 School of Ministry Staff Leave3. p 213 No.1 c) Line 1 and subsequently"Theological Hall Committee" to "Principal of the School of Ministry"App E-22 Regional Conferences - delete entire sectionApp E-28 Response - delete entire section

[00.046] That the Book of Order Reference Group be given authority to make consequential editing changes to the Book of Order to give effect to the Assembly decisions arising from recommendations 1 to 5 in the Transition Task Group Report.
There was no debate.

[00.047] That the Terms and Conditions for Lay Positions set out in Appendix E -19 of the Book of Order are to be read subject to the provisions of the Employment Relations Act 2000 and any replacement legislation. Where the terms and conditions are inconsistent with the Act and replacement legislation, the provisions of the Act and replacement legislation shall prevail.
There was no debate.

Sessional Committee on Overture 12

The Rev Dr Robert Eyles presented the report of the Sessional Committee on Overture.

That the terms of reference of the Joint Public Questions Committee be amended to ensure that where its member Churches held different or divergent positions on matters of public interest, then any declaration or submission made by the Joint Public Questions Committee should adequately represent the different positions held by the Churches that are constituted in the Public Questions Committee membership in the form of different submissions.

[00.139] Sessional Committee on Overture 12
That Assembly decline clauses 1 (a), (b), and (c) of Overture 12.

186 voted for, and 184 voted against the motion, which was declared to lie on the table.

[00.140] Sessional Committee on Overture 12
That the Assembly grant the prayer of clause 2 of Overture 12.

Connecting with Society

Mr Richard Davis and the Rev Max Reid presented the report of the Connecting with Society Policy Group.

[00.060] That the Public Questions Committee be renamed the Churches' Agency on Social Issues.

[00.62] (Withdrawn)
That Assembly endorse the Ecumenical Decade to Overcome Violence, and commit itself to working on this initiative at national, regional and local levels.

[00.061] That Assembly adopt the proposed Terms of Reference for the Churches' Agency on Social Issues, as set out in the Connecting with Society Policy Group's report to Assembly.

The Rev Mark Keown gave notice of his intention to bring a separate motion. Mr Keown moved, and it was seconded:

Mr Reid sought, and was granted, leave to replace the wording of notice of motion [00.61] with the wording of the motion put forward by Mr Keown.

The Moderator made a statement to the Assembly regarding events preceding his election as Moderator. Mr Yule apologised if any of the events leading up to his election as Moderator caused hurt and reaffirmed his commitment to being a fair and impartial leader of the Church.

Session 10