- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- Part 1 - Terms of Reference
- Part 2 - Common Provisions
- Section 1 - Ministry in Cooperative Ventures
- 211 The ministry of the whole people of God
- 212 The ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral oversight
- 213 Locally Provided Ministry
- 214 The ministry of deacons and of self supporting appointments
- 215 Authorised lay workers
- 216 Parish councillors
- 217 Collegiate appointments
- 218 Letter of appointment
- 219 Code of Ethics
- Section 2 - Parish life, order and mission
- Section 3 - Worship
- Section 4 - Financial matters
- Section 5 - Property resources
- Section 6 - Dissolution procedures
- Section 7 - Amendments
- Part 3 - Guideline agreements
- Part 4 - Guideline papers
- Part 5 - General information
- Part 6 - Checklists
- Index
Green Pages
216 Parish councillors
216.1 Office
The ministry of the church is exercised by the whole people of God, among whom both individuals and groups may be called to particular forms of witness and service. Elected councillors join with the ordained minister(s) in the leadership of the parish.
216.2 Name
The term parish councillor is used to include all titles such as elder, steward, and warden who may also for constitutional or other reasons be required to distinguish various functions and offices.
216.3 Qualities
Persons appointed and commissioned as parish councillors are members and possess gifts and qualities which make them clearly suitable for the work, faithful in their attendance at public worship, known in the congregations for their Christian faith and love, their reliability and competence, their discernment and good judgement.
216.4 Election
Councillors are elected at a parish meeting, hold office for a previously determined term (See 222.9) and are eligible for re-election.
216.5 Commissioning
Those elected, as parish councillors will be commissioned when elected for the first time and on subsequent election be received or inducted in an act clearly different from commissioning. An order of commissioning is found in 411. See Code of Ethics (219)
216.6 Doctrine
Councillors undertake to uphold the doctrine expressed in The Faith We Affirm Together, to respect the doctrines and practice of the Partners, and accept the authority of the parish council and courts of the Partners.
216.7 Standing
a) In co-operating parishes, the constitutional requirement to be able to form the vestry, parish meeting, or session can be met only from those elected and commissioned - as in 216.5 and 216.6
b) Subject to constitutional requirements representation on the regional and national courts of the Partners shall normally be elected from amongst the parish councillors.
Note: The Anglican, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches recognise all those elected, and commissioned as qualified to represent the parish. For an electoral synod, and matters relating to alterations to the constitution and formularies, only elected Anglican representatives may participate.