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Minutes of the General Assembly 2002

Session 12
St Patrick's College, Silverstream, Wellington
Thursday, 26 September 2002 at 7.00 p.m.

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

Reception of Overseas Guests
The Rev Arthur Pihigia, General Secretary of Ekalesia Niue, was introduced. Mr Pihigia addressed the Assembly.

The Rev Temere Poaru, representative of the Cook Islands Christian Church, was introduced. Mr Poaru addressed the Assembly.

Reasons for Dissent
The Clerk moved, and it was seconded:

[02.190] That the Rev Chris Nichol and Ms Helen Beaumont be asked to prepare reasons for dissent to motion [02.025] clause g, for recording in the minutes of Assembly.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Church Membership

Notice of motion [02.133] having been moved in an earlier session, the Rev Alistair McBride, Resourcing for Mission Policy Group Co-convener, spoke to it.

[02.133] [replacing notice of motion 02.026]
That the following amendments be approved and referred to Presbyteries/UDCs under the Barrier Act:

a.  That regulation 46 be amended to read:
All members and associate members shall be entitled to a vote in congregational meetings.

b.  That regulations 47 and 48 be repealed

c.  That regulation 55 be amended by deleting the word "communicant".

d.  That regulation 65 be amended by deleting the word "communicant".

e.  That regulation 67 be amended to read:
Members (not associate members) shall be eligible to be elders or Parish Councillors. It is not competent for a person to be disqualified at any stage on the basis of gender or ethnic origin.

f.  That regulation 236 be amended to read:
Members and associate members on the roll alone have the right to vote on the recommendation or on any motion in connection with it. The vote of members and associate members shall be reported to the Presbytery. In cases where members are unable to attend, written votes may be accepted at the meeting of the Congregation.

Rev Brett Johnson moved an amendment, which was seconded:

[02.151] That regulation 236 be amended to read: Members and associate members on the roll alone have the right to vote on the recommendation, or on any motion in connection with it. The vote shall be reported to the Presbytery. In cases where members and associate members are unable to attend, written votes may be accepted at the meeting of the congregation.

Following debate, leave was granted to withdraw notices of motion [02.133] and [02.151], and to reinstate notice of motion [02.026], which had been withdrawn in an earlier session.

Mr McBride moved, and it was seconded:

[02.026] That the Book of Order and Judicial Reference Group draft any amendments needed to give effect to the decisions of motion [02.025].

The motion was agreed to.

Presbytery Oversight of Congregations
Motion [02.027] having been moved in an earlier session, Mr McBride spoke to it.

Leave was granted to add the following words to the motion:
After report add "as guidelines and they be sent down to presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils and the Pacific Island Synod for study and response".

[02.027] That General Assembly adopt the proposals outlined in the paper Presbytery Oversight of Congregations (Appendix 2 in the Resourcing for Mission Policy Group report) as guidelines, and they be sent down to presbyteries/UDCs and sessions/parish councils, and the Pacific Island Synod for study and response.

There was debate.
The motion was carried, with 184 votes (65%) in favour, and 96 (35%) against.

Financial Accounts
Financial Services Manager Mr Geoff Bell presented a report.

The Rev Brian Williscroft moved, and it was seconded:

[02.191] That the report on the Financial Statements be received.

There was extensive debate.
The motion was carried.

Reappointment of Assembly Executive Secretary

Leave was granted to delete the words "a further period up to" from notice of motion [02.022].

Council of Assembly Convener Rev Shirley Fergusson moved, and it was seconded:

[02.022] That the Rev Dr Kerry Enright be appointed as Assembly Executive Secretary of the Presbyterian Church for four years.

There was affirmation of the work of the Assembly Executive Secretary.
The motion was agreed to.

The Moderator paid tribute to the work of Dr Enright.

Assembly Business Work Group duties
Mrs Fergusson moved and it was seconded:

[02.023] That regulation 367 be amended by deleting paragraph (b) and regulation 364 be amended by adding the following clause (g) To receive and determine applications by Assembly Commissioners for leave of absence from Assembly and to receive and adjust claims for travelling expenses.

There was no debate.
The motion was agreed to.

Lay Ministry
Facilitation Group member Mrs Nola Stuart reported Dialogue Group responses to notices of motion [02.55 to 02.66] (recommendations of Lay Ministry Task Group). She reported general support.

Leave was granted to withdraw notice of motion [02.057] and replace it with notice of motion [02.165]; to amend notice of motion [02.061] by deleting all but the first sentence; to amend notice of motion [02.063] by deleting the words "in light of the above" and "as an interim measure".

Notices of motion [02.055], [02.056], [02.057] having been moved in an earlier session, the Lay Ministry Task Group Co-conveners, the Revs Sally Carter and Tom Waight spoke to the motions.

[02.055] That Assembly affirm the ministry of the laos (the whole people of God) as the core of ministry within the Presbyterian Church, and the equipping of the laos for ministry as a priority for the Church

[02.056] That Assembly affirm the importance of a well-trained ordained ministry of word and sacrament to resource, enable and empower the ministry of the laos. (Ordained ministry is charged with the responsibility to be a sign of the heritage and catholicity of the church.)

The motions were debated.
The motions were agreed to.

Ms Carter moved, and it was seconded:

[02.165] Replacing Notice of Motion [02.057]
That Assembly affirms the centrality and significance of the role of eldership and reminds Presbyteries to take up their responsibilities for the on-going training and support of elders.

The motion was agreed to.

Notice of motion [02.058] having been moved in an earlier session, Ms Carter and Mr Waight spoke to the motion.

[02.058]
That Assembly recognise four strands of ministry of word and sacrament within the Presbyterian Church as proposed in this report - these being:

a.  National Ordained Ministry (NOM) - nationally recognised through national assessment and training and confirmed through a call to a particular ministry charge.

b.  Local Ordained Ministry (LOM) - recognised through a careful process of discernment at congregation and presbytery level and confirmed through ordination and induction.

c.  Local Ministry Team (LMT) - A team of people inducted to fulfil the tasks of ministry, recognised through a careful process of discernment at congregation and presbytery level and confirmed through presbytery commissioning as a team ministry. Within such a team individuals may be recognised by presbytery for training and ordination to a ministry of word and sacrament. These people would not be commissioned apart from a team

d.  Amorangi ministry - self-supporting ministry in Te Aka Puaho, as outlined in the BoO, Appendix E-29 B

There was debate.
The clauses of the motion were voted on separately. Clauses a, b, d were agreed to, clause c was carried.
The motion was declared carried.

Notices of motion [02.059], [02.060], [02.061], [02.062] having been moved in an earlier session, Ms Carter and Mr Waight spoke to the motions.

[02.059] That the Council of Assembly develop and adopt guidelines for presbyteries on the selection, ordination and training for LOMs and LMTs as suggested in this report.

[02.60] That the Council of Assembly develop and adopt appropriate training requirements and guidelines for the support of LOMs and LMTs as suggested in this report.

[02.061] That Assembly ask the Council of Assembly to develop and adopt an approved course in the celebration of Communion that is available locally or extramurally through presbyteries. This national assessment and recognition should ensure a consistent standard of training for all in the Presbyterian Church who are allowed to celebrate communion. Completion of this course to a satisfactory standard should be a pre-requisite for all who officiate at communion

[02.062] That the Council of Assembly develop and adopt nationally recognised and assessed training modules (e.g., Baptism, Presbyterian Government or those courses deemed as necessary for those who enter LOM) for local use in Presbyteries.

The motions were debated en bloc.
The motions were agreed to.

The Rev Bob Reid was granted leave to withdraw notices of motion [02.179] and [02.180], which had sought to replace the word "adopt" with "trial'.

Notices of motion [02.063], [02.064] having been moved in a previous session, Ms Carter and Mr Waight spoke to the motions.

[02.063] That Assembly allow LOMs to have full membership on Presbytery, except where there is more than one LOM in a particular parish. Where a parish has more than one LOM then each parish has one full Ministry seat on Presbytery, which would be shared or allotted as appropriate.

[02.064] Where a parish chooses to form a LMT, then that parish has the right to one full "ministry" seat on Presbytery (along with their elder's seat) which is allocated to one member of the LMT, or shared between more than one member of the LMT of that parish.

Ms Carter moved, and it was seconded:

[02.185] Where Presbytery agrees to a congregation establishing a Local Ministry Team,
Presbytery will appoint an experienced minister to be a resource minister to the congregation and those sharing the ministry. The resource minister will act as a ministerial advisor to the ordained ministers in the team, and help the development of collaborative ministry in the team. The resource minister has a role in encouraging and supporting individual and shared learning.

Motions [02.063], [02.064] and [02.185] were debated.
The motions were agreed to en bloc.

Notices of motion [02.065], [02.066] having been moved in an earlier session, Ms Carter and Mr Waight spoke to the motions.

[02.065] That Assembly ask presbyteries to consider running at least two half day courses each year on relevant areas of pastoral care, preaching, and worship

[02.066] That Assembly ask the Beneficiary Fund Committee to look at the implications and requirements of LOMs joining the Beneficiary Fund, and under what conditions they could join.

Ms Cater moved, and it was seconded:

[02.183] That General Assembly, in affirming the work of the Lay Ministry Task Group reported to this Assembly, ask the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group to establish a Task Group to investigate and propose further ways of enhancing and equipping the eldership and lay ministries of the church

Motions [02.065], [02.066] and [02.185] were debated.
The motions were agreed to en bloc.

Forum of Co-operative Ventures
Facilitation Group member Mrs Nola Stuart reported Dialogue Group responses to notice of motion [02.030].

Notice of motion [02.030] having been moved in an earlier session, Mr Ian Omundsen spoke to it.

[02.030] That General Assembly support the ministry of the Whole people of God and develop models of lay ministry consistent with, and acceptable to, the Partners in the Forum.

The Rev Verna Healy moved, an amendment, which was seconded:

[02.161] That the General Assembly support the ministry of the Whole people of God and development of the lay ministry in consultation with and due regard to the partners in the forum.

The amendment was debated.
The amendment was carried.
When put as the substantive motion, the motion as amended was carried.

Overture 7: Lay Ministry
Facilitation Group member Rev Neal Whimp reported Dialogue Group responses to notice of motion [02.079].

Leave was granted to amend the motion by the insertion of the word " assessed" to clause 2, and inserting the word "national" before "ordination' in clause 2 d . {Notice of motion [02.173] which had sought this change, was then withdrawn.)

Motion [02.079], having been moved in an earlier session, was debated.

[02.079]

1.  That the General Assembly affirm and acknowledge the tremendous contribution that lay ministers are making to our Church.

2.  That the Church develop a custom-built process whereby people in lay ministry can be assessed, trained and ordained that:

   a.  fully recognises existing qualifications of candidates

   b.  takes into account and fully values the previous experience gained in ministry situations

   c.  includes only those components that are considered to have not been covered by previous training or experience and avoids unnecessary duplication

   d.  requires minimum of disturbance, through the provision of suitable modules etc (many of which are already available) that allow candidates for national ordination to be equipped for ministry in a way that both allows them to continue in their position wherever possible, but also meets the church's ordination requirements.

3.  That the Assembly commission the Equipping the Leadership Policy Group to design and implement this process and to report back to the next Assembly including any required legislative amendments.

The motion was carried, with 196 (68.3%) votes for, and 91 (31.7%) against.

Closing devotions were led by Moderator's Chaplain Mr Chris Purdie.

The Assembly adjourned to meet again on Friday, 27 September at 8.15 a.m.

The Moderator pronounced the Benediction.

Michael Thawley, Moderator
Kerry Enright, Clerk

Go to Session 13

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