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Resolution 31 Assembly Welcome for Ministerial Transfers
Assembly agrees that from General Assembly 2003 it will receive and welcome alongside all newly ordained ministers of Word and Sacraments and newly commissioned church related community workers all those ministers from other churches who have been received onto the roll of ministers of the United Reformed Church. 1.1 For many years the United Reformed Church has been enriched by the varied experiences and different perspectives of ministers of other churches who serve our churches. 1.2 Some remain within their own denominational oversight and discipline whilst serving, for a period, in local ecumenical partnerships. 1.3 Others transfer on to the roll of ministers of the Word and Sacraments or the list of church related community workers after being given certificates of eligibility and subsequently receiving a call to a local church or post. Once on the roll or list they are within the oversight and discipline of the United Reformed Church. Some of them will serve this church for an agreed limited period. Others seek to serve for an unspecified length of time or are making a permanent transfer to the United Reformed Church for doctrinal and ecclesiological reasons. 1.4 The number of ministers who are admitted onto the roll of the United Reformed Church varies from year to year. 1.5 Mainly in the context of discussions about
non stipendiary ministry General Assembly has stated on a number of
occasions that we have only one order of ministers of Word and
Sacraments. That should be true also of the way in which ministers
are received amongst us, irrespective of route of entry. 1.6 The Ministries Committee believes that the commitment to the United Reformed Church by ministers from other churches should be fully acknowledged in the same way that we recognise men and women who are newly ordained and commissioned. Recognition is, of course, given within the Districts and Synods where ministers are serving but there should also be the opportunity for them to receive the welcome accorded by General Assembly to other new ministers and church related community workers. The committee strongly urges General Assembly as a matter of good practice to offer such a welcome. Resolution 32 Future Patterns of Ministries
General Assembly 1 welcomes the interim report of the Future Patterns of Ministries Working Party of Ministries Committee (Appendix 6) 2 remits it to local churches, districts and synods for consideration and response by the end of April 2003 3 requests Ministries Committee to present a further report to General Assembly in 2004 in the light of the responses received and the additional work to be done on outstanding issues.
Resolution 33 Certificates of Limited Eligibility
General Assembly authorises the Ministries Committee, through the Accreditation Sub-Committee, to grant Certificates of Limited Eligibility to ministers of other churches in order that they might serve local pastorates and posts in the United Reformed Church and receive a stipend from the Maintenance of the Ministry fund, on the following terms: a) Before granting a Certificate of Limited Eligibility the Accreditation Sub-Committee must be satisfied that the minister: > is from a member church of Churches Together in Britain and Ireland, or a church overseas which is a member church of the Council for World Mission or the World Alliance of Reformed Churches > will subscribe to the Basis of Union of the United Reformed Church > is in good standing with their own denomination. > has the appropriate training and experience or gifts to enable them to serve the United Reformed Church. b) Such Certificates shall relate to a particular appointment and be valid for a limited period not exceeding twelve months. c) A Certificate of Limited Eligibility will be endorsed with the name of the pastorate or post to which an appointment has been made as soon as it is known. It is valid for no other appointment. It also bears the date when the Certificate ceases to be valid. 1 There are ministers of other churches who serve the United Reformed Church in addition to those who transfer onto the Roll of Ministers by way of certificates of eligibility. 2 Some serve in local ecumenical partnerships and remain with and are funded by their own church that takes full responsibility for their oversight. No action is required by the United Reformed Church in relation to such ministers' status or support. 3 Others are willing to serve the United Reformed Church but for various reasons do not wish to transfer to our Roll of Ministers. These are some of the circumstances when this might arise; a) Where a minister of another denomination is
near retirement age and is willing to serve in a short term
appointment of not more than 12 months. b) Where there is a need for interim ministry
in a local United Reformed Church and the local church and District
wish to call a minister from another denomination for a period of not
more than twelve months. c) Where a minister of another denomination is in pastoral charge within their own denomination, or is in an ecumenical appointment, or is seconded by their denomination to a United Reformed Church sponsored appointment, and is willing to extend their ministry to give pastoral oversight to a local United Reformed Church. The Accreditation Sub-Committee will need to
establish that the applicant's denomination is willing to allow them
to extend their ministry beyond that work in which they are already
engaged, and is prepared to hold them under its own disciplinary
procedures for that part of their work which is carried out in the
United Reformed Church. d) Where a minister of another denomination is employed outside the structures of their own denomination, and is willing to give oversight to a local United Reformed Church on a non-stipendiary basis. In this case, a minister should apply for a Certificate of Eligibility in the usual way. If it were necessary (and not merely desired on the applicant's part) for the original denominational link to be maintained, then the minister should apply as for 3c above. 4 In relation to the circumstances detailed above, it is necessary for the Accreditation Sub-Committee to have granted a Certificate of Limited Eligibility before any formal agreement concerning ministry is entered into by the local church. The affirmations set out in Schedule C of the Basis of Union will be made by those to be inducted. 5 In no case shall the inclusion of a person's name in the List of Ministers of other Churches serving in the United Reformed Church confer a right to receive a call from any local United Reformed Church save that for which the Certificate of Limited Eligibility is granted. 6 If the minister wishes to extend his/her service in the United Reformed Church s/he will need to apply for a Certificate of Eligibility and transfer onto the Roll of Ministers of the United Reformed Church. Resolution 34 Church Related Community Workers General Assembly agrees to make the following changes to the Basis of Union: a) Add to the sentence at the end of paragraph 20: "and in the case of church related community workers be termed commissioning." b) Insert the following paragraph after paragraph 21 and renumber the existing paragraphs 22-25 as 23-26: 22. Some are called to the ministry of church related community work. After approved preparation and training, they may be called to be church related community workers in a post approved by the United Reformed Church, and are then commissioned and inducted to their office to serve for a designated period. This commissioning and induction shall be in accord with Schedules D & F. Church related community workers are commissioned to care for, to challenge and to pray for the community, to discern with others God's will for the well-being of the community, and to enable the church to live out its calling to proclaim the love and mercy of God through working with others in both church and community for peace and justice in the world. c) In the footnote to the paragraph currently numbered 24, which will become paragraph 25, replace "The provisions of paragraph 24" with "The provisions of paragraph 25". d) In the note at the start of Schedule B, replace "22" with "23". e) Add a new Schedule F as follows: SCHEDULE F (see clause 22 in the Basis of Union) Affirmations to be made by church related community workers at commissioning and induction. NOTE: The service will also include the reading of the Statement contained in Schedule D, and provision will be made for a statement to be made concerning the circumstances of the call. Church related community workers may also make a personal statement about their faith and sense of calling After the statement has been read the presiding minister shall then ask one of the following sets of questions: Either: VERSION I 1. A.B., Do you confess anew your faith in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? I do. 2. Do you believe that the Word of God in the Old and New Testaments, discerned under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, is the supreme authority for the faith and conduct of all God's people? I do. 3 Do you believe that Jesus Christ, who was born of Mary, lived our common life on earth, died upon the cross, and who was raised from the dead and reigns for evermore, is the gift of God's very self to the world? Do you believe that through him God's love, justice and mercy are revealed and forgiveness, reconciliation and eternal life are offered to all people? And will you faithfully proclaim this Gospel? By the grace of God this I believe and this I will proclaim.
I do. 5: Are zeal for the glory of God, love for the Lord Jesus Christ, obedience to the Holy Spirit and a desire for the salvation of the world, so far as you know your own heart, the chief motives which lead you to enter this ministry? They are. 6. Do you promise to live a holy life, and to maintain the truth of the gospel, whatever trouble or persecution may arise? Relying on the strength of Christ, I do. 7. Do you promise to care for, to challenge
and to pray for the community, to discern with others God's will for
the wellbeing of the community? By the grace of God, I do. 8. Do you promise as a church related community worker of the United Reformed Church to seek its well-being, purity and peace, to cherish love towards all other churches and to endeavour always to build up the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church? By the grace of God, I do. 9. Will you undertake to exercise your ministry in accordance with the statement concerning the nature, faith and order of the United Reformed Church? I will, and all these things I profess and promise in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Or: VERSION II 1. A.B., will you confess anew your faith? I confess anew my faith in one God, Father, Son and
Holy Spirit.
2. What leads you to this ministry? So far as I know my own heart, 3. Will you faithfully fulfil the duties of your charge? By the grace of God I promise to care for, to
challenge and to pray for the community,
1. The ministry of Church Related Community Workers was recognised by the following resolution of the General Assembly in 1987: "The Assembly acknowledges that in Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs) properly trained and appropriately employed, the Lord Jesus Christ is giving particular gifts for a particular ministry and is calling such individuals to exercise them in an office which is duly recognised in His Church" 2. Since then, Church Related Community Work ministry in the United Reformed Church has been supported and financed, and those called to it have been appropriately trained. 3. However, the decision taken by Assembly in 1987 has never been incorporated in the Basis of Union, where the "particular ministries" recognised by the United Reformed Church are described. The above resolution therefore seeks to put the seal on the decision taken 15 years ago and followed in practice ever since. 4. At the same time it is proposed that the affirmations to be made by Church Related Community Workers should be put in a schedule to the Basis of Union, alongside those made by church members, elders and ministers of Word and Sacraments. Resolution 35 Lay Preaching Strategy Proposal General Assembly commends the Strategy Proposal of the Lay Preaching Support Committee to District and Area Councils and local churches and urges them to implement the strategy proposal as soon as may be practicable. 1 Introduction 1.1 There can be no doubt that many people are finding great benefit from the Training for Learning and Serving courses, and that these are standing the Church in good stead for the future. However, the report on TLS given to Mission Council in the autumn of 2000 raised some important questions. Not least, is TLS delivering the number of new lay preachers the Church requires? 1.2 As no one seemed to know the answer to that question and a number of those present had a feeling that the United Reformed Church is about to fall into a black hole, Ministries asked the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee to commission an urgent survey into lay preacher numbers and future needs. An analysis of the results shows that there is a shortfall but that it varies from synod to synod and district to district. The figures indicate the need to recruit, train and have in active ministry about 850 new lay preachers by the end of the decade. This is a formidable challenge to our churches, and Ministries asked the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee to prepare a strategy to be brought to General Assembly in 2002. 1.3 The success of any strategy will depend on the ability of every district and synod to identify, train and support new lay preachers from within their local churches. The Church needs to develop a culture in which churches, ministers and lay preachers work closely together. Lay preachers are a valuable resource and it is important that ministers and churches recognise their value. Equally lay preachers should demonstrate that their ministry is important by not over-committing themselves in the life of their own church, and the churches should support them in this. In this way full encouragement will be given to the ministry of Word and worship exercised by lay people, and the hope that the considerable number of lay preachers needed will be raised up from within our local churches may be realised. 2 Strategy 2.1 Alongside the ministry of Word and Sacraments, the Church recognises the importance of the lay ministry of Word and worship, where some are called to be lay preachers, some to be worship leaders and some to be members of worship teams. It is important to recognise the current resources in the district for leading worship and for equipping others. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee therefore recommends that each district appoint a group to identify the needs of their district in order to support and maintain this ministry. 2.2 These resources will include Nationally Accredited and District Recognised lay preachers, as well as others with gifts and training in leading worship, and ministers of Word and Sacraments. It is essential to explore new ways of developing people's gifts by encouraging existing worship groups to include young people and to use the groups as 'seed beds' for growing worship leaders. 2.3 In response to the needs identified the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee strongly recommends that districts:- 2.3.1 Encourage local churches to challenge people of all ages to recognise and respond to the call to be involved in the ministry of Word and worship. 2.3.2 Encourage the setting up of worship teams in individual churches, groups of churches or the district as a whole, including young people wherever possible. 2.3.3 Identify training programmes appropriate to different people at different stages of experience and development, which could be delivered by district or in co-operation with synod training officers or ecumenical partners. 2.3.4 Support and encourage all those involved in this ministry by putting a support system in place and, where possible, encouraging churches to release those in training from other church tasks. 2.3.5 Identify and encourage the ongoing development of gifts as worship leaders or lay preachers through regular training opportunities. 2.3.6 Accept responsibility for testing and affirming the calling of those coming forward for the lay ministry of Word and worship. 3 Method 3.1 The strategy could be implemented through such things as:- A district enquirers day covering all aspects 3.2 The pattern of worship teams in a district would vary depending on a number of different factors such as number and size of churches, geography, availability of people able to train and lead teams but sharing between congregations would be seen as an important element to avoid a sense of isolation. In some situations sharing across district and synod boundaries should also be considered as many lay preachers already cross these boundaries in the course of their ministry. 3.3 A number of training programmes already exist at various levels and the Training Committee and Studies Panel are considering these with a view to validating them with an indication of the level both at the start and on completion. These programmes include such things as 'Starting to lead worship', 'Step-up', the Wimbledon district programme and others. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee is not suggesting that districts or synods should all devise their own programmes. In certain areas ecumenical schemes may be appropriate. The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will continue to work with the Training Committee in developing training opportunities for lay preachers. (Information about courses may be obtained from Training or Ministries at Church House) 3.4 Various forms of support might be used, e.g. mentoring - pairing an 'apprentice' with an experienced leader of worship, feedback sessions after leading worship, group support. Districts and synods will need to recognise that support will also involve ongoing in-service training and the consequent financial implications. The Lay Preaching Support Committee recognises with pleasure that some districts already provide their lay preachers with financial support and would encourage other districts and synods to adopt this practice. 3.5 Appropriate training is the route to obtaining District Recognition and/or National Accreditation as a lay preacher. In some synods the training officer could assist with this. People will be ready at different times for different types of training and recognition depending on circumstances. Ways of affirming and developing gifts also need to be found. 3.6.1 The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will develop guidelines to help districts test and affirm the calling to lay preaching. 3.6.2 In order to achieve these aims the Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee envisage the district will need a co-ordinator to liaise between churches, worship teams, lay preachers, the lay preaching commissioner, synod training/ development officer, and the TLS regional organiser. This could be the existing commissioner. 3.6.3 The Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee will continue to work in every way it can to encourage and support lay preachers, districts and synods and will produce as quickly as possible information about running Enquirers/Taster Days or Roadshows. 4 Conclusion 4.1 These proposals are all offered in the belief that God continues to call people to worship and praise. It will be an ongoing challenge and needs to be undergirded by prayer. Resolution 36 Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration General Assembly approves and adopts the Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration as set out in Appendix 5. 1.1 The Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration (Plan) was first approved by General Assembly in 1980 and has been revised from time to time. The Plan has now been updated and is presented to Assembly for approval. Some amendments are merely to rearrange paragraphs for ease of understanding or to amend wording for clarity. Some revisions are more fundamental and need to be highlighted. 1. The objects remain the same (Plan para.1). 2. The principles do not change but the practicalities of operation e.g. the change to the Ministry and Mission Fund and the budget procedure, are more clearly defined (Plan para.2). 3. The administration of the Plan is clarified (para.3 & 6) to confirm the responsibilities of Ministries Committee. 4. Throughout, the Plan has been amended to give full recognition of the ministry undertaken by CRCWs. 5. Allowances previously incorporated within the body of the Plan are shown in Appendix A, to enable annual rate changes to be made more easily. 6. A significant change is made to equate the treatment of part-time ministers in manse accommodation with that of part-time ministers in their own property. This relates to churches meeting a proportion of the charges in respect of manses occupied by part-time ministers and part-time CRCWs (Plan para. 6.3.2.2). 7. Following the recommendations made in the Report, the Fixed Car Allowance should be paid at the rate shown in Appendix A. 8. Holiday provision, previously in Note 2, has been included in the body of the Plan (para. 7) 9. The calculation for the retirement resettlement grant Ð the ten year rule, not previously set out in the Plan, is now included (para. 9.1.2). 10. The upper limit applied to the retirement removal grant has been removed (Plan para. 9.3). Resolution 37 Ministers' Pension Fund General Assembly amends the definitions of the Rules and the Rules of the URC Ministers' Pension Fund by the deletion of the words in square brackets and the addition of the words in italics in the Rules shown, and adds an Appendix to the Rules: Amend Definition 11 to read 11. Participating Bodies means such United Reformed Churches or any other body admitted to membership of the Fund, and the participating body in relation to any [minister] member means that participating body he/she is serving. Add a new Definition 27 to read 27. CRCW means any commissioned Church Related Community Worker. Add a new rule 12.6 to read 12.6 Commissioned Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs). Add a new rule 14.1.1.4 to read 14.1.1.4 From 1 August 2002 any CRCW under the age of fifty five years at the date of commissioning to stipendiary service remunerated under the Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration, may become a contributing member of the Fund. His/her contribution shall commence from the first day of the month following such commissioning. Amend Rule 14.1.2 to read 14.1.2 If a contributing member serving full-time reduces his/her commitment to that of part-time service whilst under normal pension age, the Pension Trustee may raise the Pensionable Service to the level applicable to a full-time minister or CRCW having regard to the length of any previous full-time service, to the age and health of the [minister] member, to the fraction of basic stipend being paid and to the purpose and pensionability of any other employment and shall in such cases allow full membership of the Pension Fund, contributions then being payable on the full basic stipend. 14.2 Every [minister] member who has ceased to be a contributing member under Rule 13.3 and who whilst under normal pension age is re-admitted to full-time or part-time service in the URC may become a contributory member of the Fund as is provided in the previous Rule. At the time of re-admission the Pension Trustee shall have discretion to aggregate for the purposes of Rules 18-23 that [minister's] member's previous period or periods of membership with the [minister's] member's latest period of membership PROVIDED that the [minister] member waives his/her right to any deferred pension and surviving spouses pension under Rule 29 in respect of such previous period or periods of membership and repays to the Fund an amount equal to the sum of Add a new Rule 17.4 to read 17.4 Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Fund documentation the options in Parts I, II and III of Appendix XII dated 08/2001 of the Inland Revenue document IR 12 (2001) may be applied to the benefits of Fund members with the consent of the Pension Trustee. Amend the first paragraph of Rule 20 to read
20. Ill-health Retirement In the event that a member retires before normal pension age on account of incapacity to undertake the duties of a stipendiary minister or CRCW due to ill-health duly certified to the satisfaction of the Pension Trustee, he/she shall be entitled to an immediate pension which shall be calculated as provided in Rule 18 but with the substitution of the date of retirement for the attainment of normal pension age provided always that when the period of pensionable service completed up to the date of retirement is less than twenty years, the amount of pension will be calculated on the basis of: Add a new Rule 30.4 to read 30.4 Following receipt of a Pension Sharing Order pursuant to the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 the Pension Trustee will transfer the defined proportion of the value of a member's pension benefit to an appropriate policy with an insurer of the Ex-spouse's choosing. If not chosen by the Ex-spouse within the specified period, the default option of the Pension Trustee arranging an appropriate policy with an insurer will operate. Appendix 1 hereto contains provisions relating to Pension Sharing under the said Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999. Add an Appendix to the Rules to read Appendix 1 - Pension Sharing On Divorce Rule 1 Definitions 'Ex-Spouse' means an individual to whom Pension Credit Rights have been or are to be allocated following a Pension Sharing Order, agreement or equivalent provision. 'Insurance Company' is as defined in Section 659B of the 1988 Act. 'Negative Deferred Pension' means the amount by which the member's pension or deferred pension under the Fund which arose/arises from service with the URC is reduced at the Relevant Date by s.31 of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999 following a Pension Sharing Order, agreement or equivalent provision. For this purpose, service with the URC includes all periods of service with other employers which have been treated as if they were service with the URC where a transfer payment has been made to the Fund in respect of that other service. 'Pension Credit' means a credit under s.29(1)(b), Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999. 'Pension Credit Benefit' in relation to a Fund, means the benefits payable under the Fund to or in respect of a person by virtue of rights under the Fund attributable (directly or indirectly) to a Pension Credit. 'Pension Credit Rights' means right to future benefits under a Fund which are attributable (directly or indirectly) to a Pension Credit. 'Pension Debit' means a debit under s.29(1)(a) of the Welfare Reform and Pensions Act 1999. 'Pension Debit member' means a member
whose benefits have been permanently reduced by a Pension Debit. Such
a member will either be:-
Rule 2 Assignment Rule 30 is amended by the insertion of Rule 30.4, to permit the assignment as therein provided of part or all of the member's retirement benefits or rights to benefits under the Fund to his/her Ex-spouse to the extent necessary to comply with a Pension Sharing Order, agreement or equivalent provision. Rule 3 Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Rules, the benefits for a Pension Debit member are additionally subject to the following limits, subject to compliance with Social Security legislation: (i) The pension shall not exceed the Aggregate Retirement Benefit in Part 1 of the Schedule less the Negative Deferred Pension in this Fund and the Negative Deferred Pension in any Associated Scheme and, furthermore in the case of a Class A member the Negative Deferred Pension in any Connected Scheme. (ii) The lump sum from this and any Associated Scheme shall not exceed: (a) for Pension Debit members who are Class A members or Class B members, an amount determined by 2.25 x the initial annual pension payable; (b) for Pension Debit members who are Class C members, an amount of the greater of: (I) 2.25 x the initial annual pension payable or, (II) an amount determined in accordance with Part I of the Schedule as if there had been no Pension Debit, less 2.25 x the Negative Deferred Pension. For the purposes of this Rule, the initial annual pension should be calculated on the following bases: (aa) if the pension payable for the year changes, the initial pension payable should be taken; (bb) it should be assumed that the Pension Debit member will survive for a year (cc) the effect of commutation should be ignored. (iii) On the death of the Pension Debit member, any pension for a Dependant shall not exceed 2/3 x an amount determined in accordance with Part 4 of the Schedule as if there had been no Pension Debit, less the Negative Deferred Pension and the Negative Deferred Pension in any Associated Scheme and, furthermore in the case of a Class A member the Negative Deferred Pension in any Connected Scheme. Where more than one pension is to be paid the total of all the pensions cannot exceed 100% of an amount determined in accordance with Part 4 of the Schedule as if there had been no Pension Debit, less the Negative Deferred Pension and the Negative Deferred Pension in any Associated Scheme and, furthermore in the case of a Class A member the Negative Deferred Pension in any Connected Scheme. Rule 4 The Pension Trustee must give full details of the Pension Debit and a lump sum certificate specifying the maximum permissible lump sum, to the receiving scheme/arrangement where the fund underlying the benefits for a Pension Debit member is transferred to another retirement benefits scheme approved under Chapter I Part XIV of the 1988 Act or a scheme approved under Chapter IV Part XIV of the 1988 Act. Rule 5 Where the Pension Trustee accepts a transfer payment and is informed by the transferor of the details of a Pension Debit relating to the transfer payment, the Pension Trustee must take account of the Pension Debit, if appropriate, in the calculation of any limit on benefits for that member. If a transfer of the fund underlying the benefits for the member is made to a scheme approved under Chapter I Part XIV of the 1988 Act or a scheme approved under Chapter IV Part XIV of the 1988 Act, the Pension Trustee must give full details of the Pension Debit to the receiving scheme/arrangement. Rule 6 If the Ex-spouse dies after a Pension Sharing Order, agreement or equivalent provision is made but before it is acted upon by the Pension Trustee, the following benefits may be paid: A lump sum death benefit may be paid to any person at the discretion of the Pension Trustee. The lump sum is limited to 25% of what would have been the cash equivalent of the fund which would have provided the Pension Credit Rights for the Ex-Spouse. The balance of the fund may be used to provide a non-commutable pension to a Dependant of the Ex-Spouse. The amount of pension payable to a Dependant is limited to a maximum of 2/3rds of the amount of pension that could have been paid to the Ex-Spouse at the date of death if the whole of what would have been the cash equivalent of the fund which would have provided the Pension Credit Rights had been used to purchase an annuity at an available market rate. Where more than one pension is to be paid the total of the pensions cannot exceed the amount of pension that could have been paid to the Ex-Spouse. Such pensions must be payable for life, except that any pension paid to children must cease on the attainment of age 18 or, if later on the cessation of full time education. Such pensions may be fully commuted, however, for a lump sum on the grounds of triviality at the time such a pension becomes payable. 1.1 Church Related Community Workers - in 1987 the General Assembly decided that CRCWs should be as fully integrated as possible. The development of the CRCW programme now requires further movement to achieve this. The Resolution provides for the inclusion of CRCWs as members of the URC Ministers' Pension Fund. 1.2 Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) - last year's Report drew attention to the change in Inland Revenue practice making it possible to have flexibility in the timing for drawing the benefit from AVCs. The Pension Fund Trustees indicated their intention to change the rules of the fund to accommodate this, allowing members to defer the drawing of AVC benefits up to the age of 75 (the limit permitted by the Revenue) if they so wish. The Resolution seeks to add this provision as Rule 17.4 following advice from the Actuary and Legal Advisers. 1.3 Pension Sharing on Divorce - again this issue was included in last year's Report. Following a change in the law the courts can now direct, as at the date of a divorce, that a transfer value be calculated and split between the member and ex-spouse in specified proportions. The member's benefit is then reduced and the ex-spouse must secure a pension benefit elsewhere. There are administrative difficulties in allowing the benefit to the ex-spouse of a member to be provided through the URCMPF and it is not proposed to allow this. For this provision to be incorporated into the Rules of the URCMPF there is a minimum wording requirement for the purposes of obtaining Revenue approval. The relevant wording, as slightly amended, is set out in Rule 30.4 and Appendix 1 of the Rules of the URCMPF. Resolution 38 Ministers' Pension Fund General Assembly gives its consent for the additional pensions of members of the URC Ministers' Pension Fund to be augmented under Rule 44, on condition that there are no adverse funding implications. 1.1 Augmentation and Provision of Further Benefits - under Rule 44 of the URC Ministers' Pension Fund, the augmentation & provision of further benefits may be considered by the Pension Trustee, after having taken the advice of the Actuary and having obtained the consent of the Assembly. 1.2 It is not usual to augment members' pensions. However, on occasion, the local church or participating body may wish to pay an additional contribution towards the provision of extra pension for the member. This extra pension is secured on a money purchase basis through the Additional Voluntary Contribution (AVC) scheme. The Fund Actuary has confirmed that the provision of benefits in this way does not have any adverse funding implications. 1.3 The Assembly is asked to give this consent for the augmentation of members' additional pension in situations as outlined above. |
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