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PROCEDURES RELATING TO RE-ASSESSMENT OF THOSE APPLYING TO TRANSFER BETWEEN STIPENDIARY AND NON--STIPENDIARY SERVICEThe General Assembly in 1990 recognised that there will be some movement either way between stipendiary and non-stipendiary ministers, and agreed procedures accordingly.
A revision of these procedures is offered below for the sake of clarification and in the light of experience. (It should be noted that in 1990 Assembly agreed that it is 'advisable for ministry according to the initial training to be exercised for a reasonable period first'.)
1. Those who seek to transfer must contact the Moderator of Synod to discuss the possibility of applying.
2. Synod Office shall call for the following:
i) A personal statement from the candidate giving reasons for applying to transfer, an account of their development through training and ministry since they were accepted for training in the first place, their understanding of the ministry for which they are applying to transfer.
ii) A Commendation from the District Council following a meeting between the applicant and a group representing the District Council to consider the possibilities of transferring).
iii) A report from the Director/Principal of the training programme on which they are enrolled, or on which they trained or, in the case of non-stipendiary students/ministers the Synod’s Director of Training.
iv) A commendation from the Moderator of Synod.
3. In the case of a request for from those already in post Synod office shall also call for:
ii) A report from the local church or post where the ministry is exercised; ii) A report from a ministerial colleague.
4. When these reports are to hand and providing the District has commended the candidate, they shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the National Assessment Board who shall arrange for the candidate to meet with a Re-assessment Panel.
5. The National Assessment Board shall: (i) Arrange an interview with the candidate in order to prepare a report with recommendations to the Synod, in order to assist the Synod to come to a final decision. (ii) Ask the Secretary for Training to arrange an interview with the candidate in order to prepare a report on any additional training required.
6. The final decision about a transfer shall be taken by the Synod. Any changes to the training recommended by the National Assessment Board shall be a matter or negotiation between the Synod and the Training Committee.
7. It is the responsibility of the District Council to watch out for transfer situations and not to concur in any call until it has been established that the minister has completed satisfactorily the recommended training.
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