421 The ways Partners appoint ministry

Note: These clauses are regularly under review – the emphasis in ministerial appointments is to meet the needs of the parish

421.1 Introduction

This section sets out the ways in which the co-operating Partners normally search for, select and appoint ordained ministers. It is offered for the guidance and information of ministers and parishes preparing for a change in ministry. More detailed information is available from the Partners concerned and normally it is not expected that an existing minister will be called upon to do anything more than explain the general procedure to inquirers.

The JRC and Forum Office are available for consultation where necessary.

It will be noted that each church in its own way

provides for local parish participation in the processes and decision
requires consultation with other participating Partners
lays down general requirements for the standards of clergy residence
provides for regional independent chairing of the selection committee
makes the minister accountable to a regional authority.

"Over time it has become apparent that CV’s experience considerable confusion around the differing appointments processes of the partner churches.

CV’s would be helped by a standardised process, while respecting the particularities of the partner appointment processes."

The proposed changes provide for an appointments committee to be constituted each time there is a change of ministry. This committee interacts with the appointing partner process.’

Settlement

When there is a proposed change of ministry other than LSM then in accordance with the Parishes established Mission Strategy then:

Parish Mission Strategy consultation will be convened.
In consultation with the JRC administrative group the congregation will decide the denomination that it wishes to exercise oversight.
A search committee is formed with the purpose of discovering the most appropriate ministry for the parish in the light of the Mission Strategy.
The search committee will consist of representatives of all the Partners involved in the Parish and members of the congregation or congregations.
In considering future ministry the committee will be searching for the best possible ministry to serve the Mission Strategy. Therefore this ministry will not be confined to the denomination of oversight. However the final recommendation must be acceptable to all of the Partners and the congregation or congregations.
The affirmation of this will be given within the present final appointment process.
If there is no change of ministry within ten years and there has been continuous oversight by one denomination then, at the end of ten years this oversight will normally change to the other or next denomination.
At that time all the Partners will review the incumbent ministry with the possibility of reaffirming the appointment.
Should the ministry remain the same then on the change of oversight the incumbent minister will, make every endeavour to primarily relate to the new church of oversight.

421.2 Anglican

(This information is provided by the diocese of Waikato and is similar in other dioceses)

Parishes

There is a diocesan board of nomination, which consists of the bishop of the diocese ex officio, two clerical, and two lay representatives. These representatives are elected biennially by the clerical and lay members of the diocesan synod, each order voting for its own representatives.

In each parish four persons are elected as parochial nominators following the annual meeting each year.

When a vacancy occurs or the bishop has accepted the resignation of the vicar of a parish the bishop convenes and presides over a joint meeting of the board of nomination together with the parochial nominators. No nomination is valid unless it is made by a majority of the whole of the members of the joint body. The bishop then conveys the offer of the Cure of the Parish to the person so nominated.

In practice there is usually a preliminary meeting when possibilities are discussed and the meeting may adjourn to give the parochial nominators time and opportunity to make further enquiries.

Note: Parishes are formed and boundaries defined by statute of the diocesan synod usually upon conditions, which include

i. There shall be a suitable parish church.

ii. There shall be an adequate vicarage and parish hall.

iii. Either there shall be no capital debts or satisfactory provisions shall have been made for the liquidation of such capital debts as there are.

iv. The proposed parish shall be able to provide for the vicar a stipend and other expenses and emoluments as shall for the time being having been fixed by resolution of synod.

421.3 Associated Churches of Christ

The Associated Churches of Christ are congregationally governed. Local congregations issuing a call to a minister and having that call accepted appoint ministers. It is usual for the elders of a local congregation to make the necessary enquiries and to present a recommendation to a church meeting that a call be sent to a particular minister.

A committee appointed by local congregations issuing a call to a minister and having that call accepted. It is usual for the elders of a local congregation to make the necessary enquiries and to present a recommendation to a church meeting that a call be sent to a particular minister.

A committee appointed by the dominion Conference has responsibility for assisting churches seeking to appoint a minister and ministers seeking the appointment. This committee is called the placement committee. It works by consultation with churches and ministers. Although it is in order for churches or ministers to take action to meet their needs in this regard, most churches and ministers have agreed to use the services of the placement committee. In the Associated Churches of Christ a minister is called for a particular term (normally five years). Near the end of that period, the term of appointment may be extended for a further period of years. In some cases, a ministry has continued over many years, with extensions being offered three or four times. The system of having a set term of years ensures that there is a regular review of the question whether the particular appointment should continue or be terminated.

Normally new ministries are begun on 1 February of the year and terminations of appointment take effect from 31 January. This provides for the minimising of gaps between ministries (for churches and ministers) and for consideration of schooling needs of ministers families.

Some 6 to 12 months is required to allow for the negotiations and other steps to be taken before an appointment is made. Time needs to be allowed for the placement committee to play its part.

If the church requires subsidy aid to sustain a ministry, the Department of Home Mission needs to be consulted and its approval of the proposed appointment sought. In some cases negotiations may include a visit by the prospective appointee to meet with local church leaders, before a decision is made to issue a call or before the call is accepted.

The General Secretary will advise Cooperative Ventures considering an appointment by the Churches of Christ on the appropriate steps to be taken.

421.4 Congregational Union

Churches within the Congregational Union are congregationally governed and therefore the highest courts within the denomination are the Church Meetings. Ministers or Pastors are appointed by way of the “call” system.

The local church members appoint a Pastoral Settlement Committee comprising some or all of the Deacons together with a few other church members in order to have a representative group of people. This committee usually consults with the Chairman of the Congregational Union as well as other experienced Congregational ministers to assist in locating a possible suitable person, culminating in the calling of a Special Church Meeting to propose the candidate be invited to preach with a view to call. During that visit discussions will be held with the Pastoral Settlement Committee concerning the vision of the local Church, their requirements and terms and conditions of service. A further Special Church Meeting follows to consider recommendations from the Committee and for the Church members to reach a decision whether or not to proceed with a call. Adherents or other persons are not normally involved in this process as only Church Members have the right to vote.

Upon acceptance of the call, the local Church arranges an induction service where the Chairperson of the Congregational District usually presides.

In the case of a person accepting the call to a first appointment following completion of the Congregational College Council Certificate of Proficiency, a combined ordination and induction service is held ordaining that person in the name of the Church and in the name of the Churches of the Congregational faith and order.

In the case of Cooperative Ventures, the Pastoral Settlement Committee will include representation from the participating Partners.

421.5 Methodist

These procedures are subject to variation by Conference.

In the case of a union or co-operating parish, once it has been confirmed by the JRC/Forum that the next appointee is to be a Methodist, the parish will be asked to complete parish profile/presbyter profile. The district superintendent or a deputy will then visit the parish to discuss the parish profile and parish hopes for their next period of ordained ministry.

At the same time presbyters who are moving are asked to fill in a presbyter profile form setting out their hopes for their next period of ministry. This is also discussed with the district superintendent or deputy. The profiles of all presbyters seeking appointment are shared with parishes seeking an appointment prior to Stationing. Parishes are asked to identify 3-4 possible matchings, and these are then discussed with the District Superintendent. Presbyters seeking an appointment follow a similar process. The Stationing Committee considers the parish profile, regional strategy and Connexional needs as part of its process. A parish seeking an appointment may send a representative to that meeting and presbyters seeking new appointments may attend.

Following the provisional matching meeting arrangements are made for presbyters and parishes so matched to have a face-to-face meeting with a view to confirming the matching. The results of that meeting are conveyed to the pre-conference meeting of the stationing committee and normally confirmed by Conference in November.

In the event of a mismatch the Director, Mission Resourcing (or equivalent) in consultation with the appropriate district superintendents may in the period between August and November seek to provide an alternative matching.

Once Conference has confirmed the stationing sheet parishes and presbyters are notified and the necessary arrangements are made for the new appointments to begin in February. Inductions normally take place prior to the second Sunday in February.

421.6 Presbyterian

When a vacancy is about to take place, the Presbytery appoints one of its ministerial members to act as interim moderator. The same practice is followed when the presbytery at the request of Forum has accepted responsibility to fill a union or co-operating parish. The interim moderator chairs the board of nomination acting as moderator of the session or parish council, and giving limited oversight to the parish. Where there is a second minister in the parish, the responsibilities of the interim moderator focus only on matters concerning the filling of the vacancy.

The board of nomination consists of four people appointed by presbytery (two ministers in addition to the interim moderator, and two elders) and eight people elected by the parish, three of who are to be members of the session/parish council. All parish representatives are to be communicant members. For co-operating parishes full members are eligible irrespective of their denomination.

The board's First task is to review the assessment carried out by the JRC on the viability of future ministry and prepare terms of call for approval by presbytery. Following this the board gives itself the task of selecting a nomination to put before the congregation with a view to call or appointment. Applications in response to the advertised vacancy as well as names of likely people coming up in the board's discussions are the usual ways of finding a suitable nominee to present to the congregation for its approval.

Opportunity is always made for the board and the session/parish council (and sometimes the congregation through preaching visit) to meet and talk with a nominee before a final decision is made. Where there is a continuing minister or ministers (team ministry) they cannot be part of the board of nomination but they have to be consulted and their assent to the nomination secured before it is brought to the presbytery.

In cooperative ventures careful discussion acknowledging specific needs and expectations and a face to face meeting with a prospective nominee should take place at a prior stage so that the ground rules for a working team relationship may be laid down.

Presbytery has to approve the nomination and is eventually responsible for inducting the minister on a date to be mutually agreed upon.

In the case of cooperative ventures, the Mission Resource unit is responsible for approving the proposed nominee before the matter is dealt with by the congregation. The appropriate bodies of the other Partners are consulted in the same way.

A set of detailed regulations governing this procedure is available to an interim moderator. These are contained in a separate publication Procedure in a vacancy and in the Book of Order of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.