Ministries

The Committee is responsible for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments, Church Related Community Work and Lay Preaching. It is concerned with central care and conditions of service, chaplaincies in industry, higher and further education and in the armed forces and ‘special category’ ministry. It has concern for the pastoral support of ministers, church related community workers and lay preachers, including supervision, appraisal, self-evaluation and counselling. It oversees the work of the National Assessment Board. It is assisted by five sub-committees.

Accreditation Sub-Committee

Maintaining the roll of ministers, this sub-committee accredits those applying for inclusion after training and those coming from other denominations. It is concerned with numbers and recruitment. It also deals with applications for Special Category Ministries.

Church Related Community Work Programme Sub-Committee

It is responsible for supporting the Church Related Community Work Ministry and Programme under the terms agreed in the Church Related Community Work Covenant. This includes the accreditation of Churches-in-Community.

Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee

It is responsible for the advocacy of lay preaching and support of lay preachers in the United Reformed Church.

Maintenance of the Ministry Sub-Committee

Advises on the level of stipend and ministers’ conditions of service through the Plan for Partnership. It is also concerned with pensions through its associated Pensions Sub-Committee.

Retired Ministers Housing Sub-Committee

Works in association with the United Reformed Church Ministers Housing Society Ltd.

Committee Members

Convener: Mr John Ellis Secretary: Revd Christine Craven

Mrs Alison Biggs, Mrs Joan Trippier, Mrs Darryl Sinclair, Revds Pauline Barnes, Stuart Brock,

Peter Noble, Paul Whittle

Our Work

1. When the Ministries Committee meets, we usually give the largest share of time to a major issue affecting the future shape of the Church’s various ministries. Through Bible passages, our prayers and discussion together we seek to discern what God would say to us, given our resources and context. Much of the rest of our meetings is taken up with servicing existing programmes.

2. This balance between preparing for a new future and servicing current structures is paralleled in our report to Assembly. The report of the Future Patterns of Ministries Working Party, Equipping The Saints, (Appendix 2) offers a vision of how our ministries might evolve. We hope Assembly will make this a main focus of its attention.

3. Our other resolutions seek to tidy up particular issues that have arisen from experience. Our Sub-Committee reports outline some of the detailed work they do on the Church’s behalf.

Chaplaincies

4. At least a third of our ministers exercise some form of Chaplaincy, although this work is often unsung. By Resolution 37, the 2001 Assembly asked us to review the support given to Chaplains. We have had helpful meetings with representatives of the Chaplains.

5. Not all the ideas which emerged are feasible given our limited staff resources, but several practical steps are in train. We are encouraging Synods to recognise the Chaplains in their midst. We are encouraging Chaplains in the same sector to establish their own networks. Our workplace Chaplains now have an opportunity to join in the annual training conference for their Methodist counterparts. We will continue to keep the question of support under review.

6. One of the many responsibilities of the Secretary for Ministries is to represent the United Reformed Church on the United Board. The Board brings together senior armed forces chaplains with representatives of the Baptist Union, the Congregational Federation and ourselves. The Board offers support to forces Chaplains through a prayer letter and an annual conference. The 2003 and 2004 conferences were salutary experiences as several of our Chaplains have been on duty with their units in Iraq.

7. Members of Assembly are encouraged to attend the fringe meeting where some of our Chaplains’ stories will be unpacked.

Special Category Ministry

8. Ten of our full-time Chaplains are supported under the Special Category Ministry scheme which allows stipendiary ministers to be appointed to work outside normal deployment quotas. One of the most exciting parts of our Committee’s work is hearing of the progress of imaginative, pioneering ministries under this scheme and we welcome enquiries about possible future posts. Current work ranges from research on rural ministry in Northumbria through ministry from a lightship in Cardiff Bay to work in Liverpool city centre.

Church Related Community Workers

9. While twelve of the thirteen Synods make use of the Special Category Ministry scheme, several still do not have any Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs). The programme grows more slowly than we would like and we hope that our joint project with the Church and Society Committee, Assets for Life, being launched at Assembly, will stimulate new awareness and enthusiasm.

You and Us

10. While we are glad to talk to members of Assembly about our work, we are disappointed at our limited contact with Ministries Committees (under that name or another) in Synods, Areas and Districts. We would welcome more contact. If your local Committee would like to invite a member of the Committee to visit you to hear what are the key concerns and opportunities in your area, we would be glad to see what might be possible. Please contact the Ministries Office if you do not know any member of the Committee personally.

Squadrons of Saints

11. If we do visit you, we could also set out more fully the range of tasks undertaken on your behalf. The denominational work of the Committee relies on six paid staff and over sixty volunteers who give their skills and energy to work of sub-committees and related bodies. We are grateful to God for terms of service recently completed, not least by the following colleagues: Peter Cruchley-Jones, Carol Dixon, Diana Herbert, the late John Pugh, Clifford Wilton and Geoffrey Wood.

Accreditation Sub-Committee

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Revd Ken Chippindale Secretary: Revd Christine Craven

Mrs Judith Booth, Mrs Darryl Sinclair Mrs Sheila Telfer, Revds Keith Argyle, Adrian Bulley, Tony Wilkinson

1. During the past year the usual pattern of the work of this committee has substantially changed and a new area of responsibility has been added.

2. Because of the Assembly decision of 2003 that the target number of ministers on the payroll should track the number of members of the United Reformed Church, and the projection of the target number as far as 2008, based on candidates accepted for training for the ministry, it has not been possible to grant any Certificates of Eligibility in relation to stipendiary ministers since April 2003. However, the committee has decided that applications for Certificates of Eligibility by ministers not seeking a stipend will be considered.

3. In view of the reduced workload resulting from this situation, the committee has been given the task of assessing applications for Special Category Ministry posts, and any appropriate reviews, work hitherto carried out by the Ministries Committee as a whole.

4. The committee has reviewed the procedure regarding applications for re-instatement to the Roll of Ministers after deletion or resignation. As a result of this review we are making our proposed revised procedure the subject of a resolution for the approval of Assembly.

5. Admissions to the Roll of Ministers (from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004)

a) By Ordination and induction: -

i) to stipendiary service: Deborah Anderson, Edward Butlin, Peter Clark, Andrew Coyne, Richard Eastman, Kate Gartside, Kate Gray, Susan McKenzie, Brian Norris, Colin Phipps, David Poulton, Robert Sheard, Janet Sutton, Christopher Tolley, Susan Walker, Michael Walsh, Robert Weston

ii) to non-stipendiary service: Franziska Herring, Edward Rawlins

b) By Transfer from other Churches to non-stipendiary service: Kenneth Blanton, Carla Grosch-Miller

6. Changes within the Roll of Ministers (from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004)

a) Non-stipendiary to stipendiary service:

Neil Eldridge, John Mackerness, Deborah McVey, Jay Phelps

7. Deletions from the Roll of Ministers (from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004)

a) By Resignation and/or Transfer to other Churches: Phillip Jones, Ian Knowles, Brian McDowell (transferred to Church of Scotland), J Howard Reed (transferred to Presbyterian Church, USA), Brian Sturtridge, Marie Thistle, Christopher Tonge

8. Admission to the List of Church Related Community Workers (from 1 April 2003 to 31 March 2004)

By Commissioning: Dennis Neville, Helen Stephenson

9. Lay Preachers

The following members have successfully completed their course of study and have been Nationally Accredited between 1 April 2003 and 31 March 2004.

Northern Synod:- Carole Durose, Tony Porter,

Tim Rogers

North Western Synod:- Eddie Allman,

Michael Aspinall, Elizabeth Brueck, Douglas Clements, Carol Sutcliffe

Mersey Synod:-

Yorkshire Synod:- Anne Parker

East Midlands Synod:- Betty Werry, Sheila Yaxley

West Midlands:-

Eastern Synod:- Andrew Davidson, Gordon Doyle,

Ann Eland, Andrew Mann

South Western Synod:- Barbara Cory, Geraldine Mann, Peter Scott, John Stones, Pauline Tiller

Wessex Synod: - Margaret Bridgett, Peter Pay,

David Smith, Martin Stock

Thames North Synod:- Lilian Evans, Anne Graham,

Jo Prior, Dorothy Stanton, Tony Thomas

Southern Synod:- Emma Brothwood, Terence Cooke-Davies, Debra Miles, John Stewart

Wales:- Edwina Davies, Astrid Drennan

Scotland:- Dorothy Donald

Assessment Board

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Mrs Darryl Sinclair Secretary: Revd Christine Craven

Revds Susan Armitage, Marilyn Allen, Craig Bowman, Graham Hoslett and Kevin Watson, Prof David Cutler, Dr Jean Stevenson, Mrs Joyce Sutcliffe, Revds Rachel Poolman, Tom Heggie, Michael Mewis, Peter Poulter and Hilma Wilkinson, Miss Sarah Dodds, Mrs Wilma Frew and Ms Pat Poinen, Revds Roy Fowler, Diana Cullum-Hall, Nigel Uden and Simon Walker

1. Since the report to General Assembly 2002 there have been several changes in the membership of the Assessment Board and the Ministries Committee wishes to record appreciation of the commitment of all who serve on the Assessment Board.

2. Six Assessment Conferences and four Re-Assessment days were held between September 2001 and June 2003.

2.1 72 candidates attended the Assessment Conferences in this period:

36 for stipendiary service

18 for non-stipendiary service.

4 for Church Related Community Workers

4 Re-Assessment (transfer from non-stipendiary to stipendiary service)

2.2 61 were finally accepted for training or transfer as a result of Assessment Conference recommendations and Synod decisions:

30 for stipendiary service

15 for non-stipendiary service

3 Church Related Community Workers

3 for transfer from non-stipendiary to stipendiary service

3. Criminal Record Bureau disclosures are now a requirement at the start of training and at the point of call to a church or other post. This is in line with Government directives and the process now works smoothly.

4. A concern over the financial implications of training for candidates formed part of the agenda at the 2003 Board Meeting. For a few students this becomes a matter of some difficulty. The Board recommends that each Synod appoint a person who could have an informal discussion about financial matters with each candidate at the beginning of the process. Just as the need for the required educational qualifications can prolong the candidating process, it may be that some candidates need to take time to sort out their financial affairs. This may well avoid problems during training.

5. The annual November consultation at Windermere continues both to provide valuable training for those involved with candidates and to develop co-operation between the Board and Synod Committees.

6. Because the Assessment Board works on behalf of Assembly for the United Reformed Church in three nations the word National will not in future be part of the name.

Church Related Community Work Programme Support Sub-Committee

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Revd Alison Hall

Revd John Burgess, Mrs Janet Holden, Mr Chris Lawrence (CRCW), Mrs Adella Pritchard (CRCW), Mr Pete Twilley

1. Church Related Community Work Programme

1.1 In the past two years, the number of Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs) in post has risen from fifteen to eighteen. However unless four students start this year, we shall have difficulty in achieving the target of two CRCWs in each Synod by 2008. Transfers via Certificates of Eligibility may solve the problem. Four accredited posts are currently vacant. For the first time an application for accreditation came from a District Council rather than a local church for what is an innovative project. We also saw an application from a project in a setting more rural than the usual inner city one.

1.2 Mission Council accepted in February 2003 a proposal (originating from the Sub-Committee) that the model of devolution of management to Synods it agreed in October 1998 should be modified to a model of partial devolution. We are convinced that this decision will have a beneficial effect on the running and the development of the Church Related Community Work Programme.

1.3 The Development Workers have taken forward new proposals for the Church Related Community Work Programme.

• A proposal to open up the possibility of having Non-Stipendiary Church Related Community Workers will be put to Assembly by Mission Council.

• A new Training for Learning and Serving Programme for volunteers involved in community work is being devised in conjunction with the Training for Learning and Serving Co-ordinator.

• A joint project with Church and Society and TocH, “Assets for Life” will be completed in time for its findings to be launched officially at the General Assembly. Its aim is to enthuse churches not presently engaged in community ministry to take up the challenge and to help them identify methods and resources which will enable them to do it effectively. It is also looking to provide churches who wish to develop their existing ministry with further ideas.

2. Staffing

We are pleased that Mission Council has agreed that the Development Worker post will continue in existence until at least June 2006, and that both Development Workers are happy to continue with the job share arrangement. This will allow them to drive forward Mission Council’s policy of embedding the Church Related Community Work Programme in every Synod; maintain consistency of standards; develop the practical implications of the 2002 General Assembly decision to integrate CRCW Work as a ministry in the United Reformed Church; and analyse the impact of this ministry on the Church.

3. Certificates of Eligibility

At the 2002 General Assembly, Resolution 7 was carried:

“General Assembly asks the Ministries Committee to re-examine the way in which the criteria for the issue of Certificates of Eligibility to potential Church Related Community Workers are applied, to consider whether any changes are needed and to report to the Assembly.”

The matter was discussed by the Sub-Committee, which submitted comments to the Accreditation Sub-Committee. After considerable discussion, the Accreditation Sub-Committee came to the view that there was no need to change the present system, which had allowed four people to transfer from other denominations.

4. Consultation Day

All CRCWs in training, as well as representatives of all Local Management Committees and members of the Programme Sub-Committee are invited to this. In 2002, we went to South Wigston United Reformed Church, Leicester, where we heard about the CRCW project there. We also held two workshops: on the Core Competencies required of a Church Related Community Worker; and on the Concerns, Support and Development of Local Management Committees. In 2003, a well attended Consultation Day was held in Hallwood Ecumenical Parish in Runcorn, Cheshire, when the keynote presentation was given by Jim Robertson of the Churches Community Work Alliance.

5. Church Related Community Work Residentials

It is helpful for all CRCWs to be given the opportunity of meeting up with each other for reflection and discussion. Two very successful residentials have been held in October 2002 on Lindisfarne and in September 2003 in Badger House, Shropshire.

Lay Preaching Support Sub-Committee

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Dr Phil Theaker Secretary: Mrs Judith Johnson

Mr Bernard Bentley, Dr Graham Campling, Dr Berta Doodson, Mrs Debbie Ensor, Mrs Ann Simcock,

Revd Dr Janet Tollington

1.1 Following the survey carried out to help understand the depth of involvement of Lay Preachers in the worship of our Church, a strategy to develop the lay preaching ministry and recruit new Lay Preachers was accepted by Assembly 2002 and is now under the responsibility of the Synods to implement. Each Synod will develop its own ideas and those that are implemented successfully will be shared. To recruit eight hundred people for training by the end of the decade is a tremendous challenge.

1.2 The annual consultation meetings of the Synod and District Commissioners have covered topics affecting the support and development of individual lay preachers and their ministries.

a) In-service training is important but has not necessarily been emphasised in the past and should be carried out so that it encourages, affirms and supports.

b) Co-operation in teams and worship groups is vital and needs to become something to look forward to, not viewed with reluctance.

c) Being able to carry out an appraisal of one’s ministry also aids development. Not everyone is comfortable with this, but it brings greater self-understanding, rather than self-criticism.

1.3 A range of guidelines to support the lay preaching ministry have been developed and published:

a) Guidelines to help the individual and the District/Area test and affirm a call to lead worship.

b) Guidelines to help Districts/Areas to search out, train and recognise Lay Preachers.

c) Self-Reflection Guidelines: this process enables Lay Preachers to reflect on their ministry and their own spiritual journey with the goal of enriching them, affirming their gifts and identifying areas for further development.

1.4 The use of modern methods of communication has been discussed and information about Lay Preaching is now available on the United Reformed Church web site. It is hoped to make these pages available from Synod web sites as well.

1.5 Following close co-operation between the Sub-Committee and the Training Committee we were delighted to see the publication of Training for Learning and Serving ‘Local Introductory Training Experiences’. This material will enable those with time constraints or unsure about training to get involved in a very practical and challenging way.

1.6 On the ecumenical front, the United Reformed Church has been involved in meetings to redefine the remit of the Joint Lay Readers/Preachers Committee set up some years ago by Churches Together in England. The Sub-Committee is also represented on the Executive of the College of Preachers, a body involved in training of all types, from sessions for Lay Preachers to MTh studies.

1.7 The Sub-Committee intends to make two changes in terminology: ‘National Accreditation’ should become ‘Assembly Accreditation’ and that the ‘National Lay Preaching Commissioner’ should become the ‘Assembly Lay Preaching Advocate’. Now that the United Reformed Church exists in three nations it seems more inclusive to use a term other than ‘National’ and since Accreditation is something authorised by General Assembly the term Assembly Accreditation seems an appropriate alternative. In the same way the post now known as National Lay Preaching Commissioner has responsibility within the entire United Reformed Church and is appointed by General Assembly. The title Advocate rather than Commissioner accurately reflects the nature of this post, which is one of advocacy.

Retired Ministers Housing Sub-Committee

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Revd Simon Swailes Secretary: Mr Tony Bayley

Mrs Edith Tolley, Mrs Pauline Mewis, Revd Elizabeth Caswell, Mr Malcolm Lindo

1. This Sub-Committee continues to be responsible for policy in matters of the provision of retirement housing for ministers and their spouses. It uses the United Reformed Church Retired Ministers Housing Society Limited as its agent for the implementation of policy and the practical steps associated with the provision of housing.

2. During 2003 20 properties were purchased and 10 were sold increasing the number of properties under management to 358 at the year end.

3. Properties are normally purchased in the name of the Society but in all cases are managed by the officers of the Society. Where tenants have a financial stake in the property this is recognised by means of a Declaration of Trust. The maximum contributions made by the Society are determined annually on a county by county basis by reference to average house prices during the preceding year.

4. In 2003 the standard rent payable was £78 per calendar month. Existing tenants will pay £86 per calendar month in 2004, while new tenants in 2004 will pay between £100 and £150 per calendar month depending upon the amount of capital employed by the Society.

5. The Committee is particularly grateful for the donations and legacies received during the year which amounted to approximately £503,000.

6. It is expected that during 2004 assistance will be required for 15 retiring ministers. After allowing for re-housing and the needs of widows/widowers it would be prudent to anticipate up to 22 applicants in all. This could involve an outlay of up to £2.5million and thus the importance of a continued high level of receipts from donations and legacies cannot be over-emphasised.

7. During 2003 visits were made by the officers of the Society to approximately 110 applicants, tenants and other properties. In addition, we continue to rely heavily upon, and are grateful for, the commitment of those members of local congregations who generously give oversight to our retirement properties and who assist those who live in them. We would like to hear from anyone who would be prepared to volunteer their assistance in this respect.

8. Retirement Housing continues to figure prominently in the Pre-Retirement Courses run at the Windermere Centre by Ministries. In 2003 three courses were run and three more are planned for this year. The housing sessions are designed to be of benefit to all, regardless of whether or not financial assistance with housing will be needed. In addition, private discussions on individual needs are provided.

Maintenance of the Ministry

Sub-Committee

Sub-Committee Members

Convener: Revd John Piper Secretary: Ms Avis Reaney

Messrs Eric Chilton, Victor Hughff, Barry Swift and Patrick Hickey, the Revds Pauline Parkin and Roger Woodall

1. Level of the minister’s stipend

The Sub-Committee advises each year on the level of the basic stipend. Mission Council, at its autumn meeting, sets the stipend for the following year on behalf of General Assembly. It is a difficult challenge to set the stipend at a level that is both fair to the ministers and affordable within what churches are willing to pay. The Sub-Committee has come to the view that there is no single inflation index that is ideal and it is reviewing the way in which it reaches its annual recommendation on the level of the stipend.

2. Plan for Partnership in Ministerial Remuneration

The Sub-Committee keeps the Plan under review and is proposing a number of changes this year. These are all matters of clarification rather than changes of policy or principle.

Resolution 27: Equipping the Saints

General Assembly:

a) welcomes the report Equipping the Saints

b) challenges every congregation to respond locally to recommendations 1 and 2;

c) invites comments on recommendations 3 to 13 from churches, Area/District Councils and Synods to be sent to Ministries Committee by 31st December 2004; and

d) requests further work to be done by Ministries Committee in co-operation with the Catch the Vision Review Group and others so that formal proposals can be brought to the 2005 meeting of General Assembly.

The report appears as Appendix 2

Resolution 28: Entry Qualifications

a) General Assembly reiterates its belief that ordination to the stipendiary Ministry of Word and Sacraments should take place by the age of 55 and to non-stipendiary Ministry of Word and Sacraments by the age of 60. The same ages should apply to the commissioning of Church Related Community Workers.

b) General Assembly notes that given the current candidating and training procedures, these maximum ages imply that the large majority of candidates will need to have made formal application five years before. Thus normally the latest date for application for stipendiary service will be age 50 and for non-stipendiary service age 55.

c) General Assembly nonetheless recognises that occasionally candidates have prior qualifications and experience that might shorten training. If any Synod wishes to present an application from a candidate who is already less than five years from the maximum age of ordination, Assembly requests that Synod contact the Secretary for Training before doing so, in order to gain an indication of whether a shorter period of training is a realistic option.

d) General Assembly, having set minimum ages for commencing training for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments, confirms that the minimum age for commencing training for Church Related Community Work ministry shall be 21 years.

1. After full discussions at its 1996 and 1997 meetings, Assembly agreed age limits for candidates for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments. The minimum age for training for stipendiary service was set at 18 while for non-stipendiary service it was decided it should normally be 25. The maximum ages for ordination were set at 55 for stipendiary service and at 60 for non-stipendiary service.

2. Given these maximum ages, and the normal length of time taken from first candidating to the completion of training, Assembly also set the maximum ages for candidating at 50 for stipendiary service and 55 for non-stipendiary service. In practice a few candidates with qualifications and experience which could shorten their training have come forward after the maximum age set by Assembly for candidating and there has been uncertainty about their treatment.

3. The Ministries Committee believes that there should be some flexibility in the maximum age for candidating to take account of such people. The first purpose of our resolution is therefore to make clear that such flexibility exists.

4. However, we need to emphasise that the normal routes through training mean that it will take five years and exceptions are likely to be few. To avoid generating false hopes and the possibility of deep disappointment later, we would want Synods to consult the Secretary for Training at the earliest possible stage if they were contemplating putting forward a candidate who was above the normal maximum age for candidating. In some cases a conversation with the Secretary for Training may make clear that an accelerated route is not a realistic possibility. Of course, no guarantees about training could be given at this stage. Nonetheless, the second purpose of the resolution is to underline the importance of this informal discussion.

5. Assembly has never set explicit ages for the ministry of Church Related Community Workers (CRCWs), although informal guidelines have developed in practice. We believe the opportunity should be taken to remedy this anomaly. Setting clear ages for CRCWs is the third purpose of the resolution.

Resolution 29: Reinstatement of Ministers

General Assembly approves the following procedure regarding applications for reinstatement to the Roll of Ministers of the United Reformed Church.

a) Ministers who have been removed from the Roll of Ministers by resignation or by Assembly decision, and who wish to apply for re-instatement, shall in the first place consult the Moderator of the Synod of the area where they reside. The application procedure may not normally commence until five years have elapsed from the date their name was removed from the Roll.

b) The Secretary for Ministries shall be informed by the applicant, who will be advised of the procedure to be followed.

c) The Secretary for Ministries will notify the relevant Synod officer where the applicant resides of the application, and will ask the Synod and District/Area Council to arrange an interview with the applicant. The Secretary for Ministries will ask the Synod that the following documents be obtained by them:

i) A personal statement from the applicant which covers :

• the reason(s) for the deletion or resignation, and a reflection on the circumstances surrounding it

• an outline of the applicant’s personal development and journey of faith since the deletion or resignation

• current employment

• the reasons for seeking reinstatement, including their current conviction of call to the ministry.

ii) At least two personal references in support of the applicant

ii) A commendation from the applicant’s local church

iv) A statement from the Moderator of the Synod where the applicant resides, or an equivalent officer in an overseas church, where appropriate

v) A medical report

d) The Synod will forward these papers (except the medical report) to the District or Area Council where the applicant now resides, and ask them to interview him/her and report their observation as to his/her suitability for re-instatement.

e) It should be noted that where the applicant has moved into a different Synod or Area/District since their name was removed from the Roll, the Synod handling the application will seek the observations of the present Moderator of their previous Synod, and of their previous District. The purpose of this enquiry is to place the present application in the context of the exercise of the applicant’s last ministry.

f) All these papers (except the medical report) will be sent to the Ministries Committee of the Synod where the applicant now resides, who will interview him/her, and report to the Secretary for Ministries.

g) All these documents, including the medical report at this stage, will be made available to the Accreditation Sub-Committee, which will interview the applicant. Following this final interview the Sub-Committee will decide whether or not to re-instate. The Secretary for Ministries will inform the applicant and his/her Synod of the decision as soon as possible.

h) On receipt of the decision of the Accreditation Sub-Committee, it shall be open both to the applicant and to the Synod to request a further hearing by the Ministries Committee. This hearing will be before a group from the Ministries Committee composed of members who have had no previous involvement with the reinstatement request. Such an application must be made to the Secretary for Ministries not more than 21 days after the date of the notification of the decision of the Accreditation Sub-Committee to the applicant. There shall be no appeal from the decision of the Ministries Committee.

1. A small number of ministers are removed from the Roll of Ministers as a result of a disciplinary process or because they resign. These people cease to be ministers of the United Reformed Church and can only return to the Roll of Ministers if they apply successfully through a reinstatement procedure. This resolution relates to that procedure.

2. Other ministers leave the roll as a result of asking for a transfer to another denomination. If they seek to transfer back onto the United Reformed Church roll at a later date they may be asked to work through this procedure, although we expect that in some cases the Accreditation Sub-Committee would decide that this is unnecessary.

3. The current reinstatement procedure predates the introduction of the Section O process for ministerial discipline. It has therefore been reviewed by the Ministries Committee and we seek Assembly approval for a revised process as set out in the resolution. The principal change is to introduce an interview with the Accreditation Sub-Committee.

Resolution 30: Plan for Partnership

General Assembly amends the Plan for Partnership by inclusion of the words in italics, as follows:

Para 6.1.4 Pulpit supply fees: when the Maintenance of the Ministry Office has been advised that a minister remunerated under the Plan is unable to work due to ill-health or is on maternity leave or is absent on a sabbatical term which lasts for a period of more than four weeks or is suspended under the Section O Process or is the Moderator of General Assembly, the actual pulpit supply costs incurred by the church arising because of the absence will be reimbursed to the limit shown in Appendix A. In group pastorates and part time pastorates, reimbursement will only be in respect of services which would have been conducted by the absent minister. Claim forms for the reimbursement of pulpit supply costs can be obtained from the Maintenance of the Ministry Office.

Para 6.3.4.5 Where, following an introduction by a Synod Moderator, a minister / Church Related Community Worker visits a pastorate or community post in vacancy other than in connection with a preaching engagement, the cost of travel shall be paid by the pastorate visited. The pastorate shall be reimbursed from the Ministry and Mission Fund the actual costs of travel, not exceeding the recommended lower Inland Revenue mileage rate, of the minister / CRCW and spouse within the UK for a maximum of two visits.

Para 7.1 (currently Para 7) Ministers / Church Related Community Workers are entitled to 5 weeks holiday in each calendar year and one further Sunday away from the pastorate. When a minister / Church Related Community Worker only serves for part of a year the holiday provision should be pro rata. One week of holiday may be carried forward to the following year. Holiday entitlement is not affected by sick leave, in-service training courses or sabbatical leave. Such periods of leave / absence may result in more than one week’s holiday being carried forward into the following year.

Para 7.2 If a minister / Church Related Community Worker resigns from a pastorate or post immediately following any such period of leave / absence, stipend should be paid for any outstanding holiday entitlement untaken at the date of resignation, which may include outstanding holiday entitlement from the previous year, always provided that District Council concurs with the arrangements.

Para 9.1.2 Except at the time of a minister / Church Related Community Worker’s initial induction (when a full resettlement grant is payable) where the pastorate is part-time the grant shall be pro rata according to the scoping of the pastorate to be served. A full retirement resettlement grant will be paid to ministers / Church Related Community Workers who have completed 10 years service up to their retirement date, whether this is at the age of 65 or earlier. The grant will be reduced pro rata where the minister / Church Related Community Worker has not been in stipendiary service for 10 years, or the years of service have not been full-time.