121 Forum of Cooperative Ventures

121.1 Preamble

The Church in Aotearoa New Zealand works and lives in unity in Christ. The nation is founded on Te Tiriti 0 Waitangi, which provides the context within which the church pursues God's mission. The Forum of Cooperative Ventures is one catalyst in this mission.

121.2 Forum Purpose

The Forum of Cooperative Ventures:

• Promotes the unity of the Church by whatever actions are necessary.
• Proclaims local, regional and national expressions of unity and mission as authentic
• Pursues the ecumenical intention expressed by the Partners in the Act of Commitment 1967.
• Administers the Guide to Procedures in Cooperative Ventures

In pursuing its purpose the Forum recognises with patience and understanding the difficulties and the complexity inherent within the journey to unity.

121.3 Forum Composition

The Forum is made up of

a) Two representatives of each Cooperative Venture wishing to participate

b) Two representatives of each Joint Regional Committee

c) Two representatives of each of the Partners:

the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia,

the Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand;

the Congregational Union of New Zealand,

the Methodist Church of New Zealand  Te Hahi Weteriana 0 Aotearoa

and the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand.

d) Members of Standing Committee

e) Observers, including resource people and invited guests, who do not have voting rights

At least six months prior to each meeting of the Forum, Standing Committee will issue invitations to all Cooperative Ventures, JRCs, Partners and other interested bodies.

121.4 Forum Decision Making

Decision making should be by consensus. Should voting be necessary, each Forum member present shall have one vote.

121.5 Forum Leadership

Two facilitators, appointed by Standing Committee shall facilitate the biennial meeting of the Forum.

The chairperson of Standing Committee will act as convenor of business at the biennial meeting of the Forum.

121.6 Standing Committee Functions

There shall be a Standing Committee of the Forum, which shall pursue the purpose of the Forum promote and support Cooperative Ventures promote and support the work of the Joint Regional Committees present reports including an Annual Report and Financial Statement and also recommendations on behalf of the Forum to the national courts of the Partners encourage unity through the sharing of new understandings in worship, spirituality, theology, mission, inclusiveness and cohesion relate the quest for unity to other developments within the Church promote the development of Local Ecumenical Projects (LEPs) relate to other agencies in the interests of unity.

121.7 Standing Committee Composition

Standing Committee is made up of

Ten members representing Cooperative Ventures and elected directly at each biennial meeting of the Forum

Two representatives of each Partner appointed by whatever mechanisms each Partner has for making such appointments

The Executive Officer of the Forum of Cooperative Ventures

121.8 Appointing the Cooperative Venture members of Standing Committee

a) At least six months prior to the biennial meeting, each Cooperative Venture will be invited to nominate appropriate candidates 

b) The nominations are to be facilitated by and forwarded to the local JRC accompanied by a person profile. CVs can submit names to Forum office if so desired.

c) Each JRC will collate the nominations and forward them to Standing Committee.

d) The complete list of nominated candidates will be circulated to all Cooperative Ventures.

e) Nominees need to attend the biennial meeting of the Forum

f) If for any reason sufficient nominations are not received by the due date the Forum may take appropriate steps to obtain necessary nominations.

g) If no more than 10 nominations are received for the Standing Committee, then the Biennial meeting of the Forum will be asked to approve the appointment of those nominated.

h) If more than 10 candidates are available for election to the Standing Committee then regional caucuses will be used to rank candidates in order of preference.  The highest-ranking candidates will be presented to a plenary session of the Biennial meeting of the Forum for final approval.

i) Standing Committee may co?opt up to three members in order to promote the balance and diversity of Standing Committee membership.

j) Standing Committee members shall not hold office for any continuous period of more than six years.

121.9 Leadership of Standing Committee

At each biennial meeting of the Forum, the new Standing Committee will meet to appoint a Chairperson and Vicechairperson and announce that decision to the Forum.

No person shall hold office as Chairperson or Vicechairperson for more than two consecutive terms.

121.10 Meetings of the Standing Committee

The newly elected Standing Committee will be commissioned at the biennial meeting of the Forum. Standing Committee will meet at least three times a year in the year the Forum is not meeting and at least twice in the year Forum meets.

The venue would usually be in Wellington.

121.11 Forum Structure

In fulfilling its governance role the Standing Committee has three policy committees as follows –

a) Personnel Committee – to ensure maintenance and continuity of management and administration of the Forum through personnel governance. The committee may be required to Recommend the terms of appointment of the Executive Officer to the Standing Committee Set the employment policies of the Forum in consultation with the Executive Officer and the Standing Committee Participate on a panel for the selection and appointment of the Executive Officer for the Forum Participate in the review and performance appraisal of the Executive Officer and in his/her contract review or termination.

b) Finance Committee – to assist the Executive Officer to establish and maintain sound financial and organisational practices and policies. The committee may be required to Review and evaluate the financial policies of the Forum Assist the Executive Officer to gain income for the Forum from the Partner Participate with the Standing Committee in the approval of the national annual plan and budget and monitor expenditure and income on a regular basis Assist the Executive Officer to negotiate facility leases as appropriate.

c) Guide to Procedures – is responsible for administering the Guide between meetings of the Standing Committee. The committee may be required to Review procedures and make recommendations to Standing Committee and to the Partners Give opinions and make decisions until recommendations are accepted by the Partners

121.12 Partners' relationship to the Forum of Cooperative Ventures

Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia.

The appointment of the two Anglican representatives to the Forum will be made by the Standing Committee of the General Synod / Te Hinota Whanui on the recommendation of the Council on Ecumenism. Provision is to be made for these two representatives to have direct access to the Council on Ecumenism.

Associated Churches of Christ in New Zealand

The Administration Team will take whatever steps are necessary for the Forum of Cooperative Ventures to present reports and make recommendations to any Conference of the Associated Churches of Christ.

The Congregational Union of New Zealand

The Union will take whatever steps are necessary to provide for the Forum of Cooperative Ventures to present reports and make recommendations to any Assembly

The Methodist Church of New Zealand/Te Hahi Weteriana o Aotearoa

The Forum shall have the right to present a report annually and to make recommendations as appropriate to the Methodist Conference.

The Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

The Forum has the right to report directly to Assembly with recommendations. The Standing Committee of the Forum is to be a Committee of the Assembly.