Headlines from Mission Council held on 25/27 November 2011

 

UNITED REFORMED CHURCH:  MISSION COUNCIL (MC)

Headlines from the Meeting held from 25/27 November 2011

 

1. 1.                   Campaign of Radical Welcome

• Revised launch date = 9 May 2012
• Internal Launch + 1 for Synods needing further advocacy (not needed for NW Synod)
• 485 churches registered so far
• Costs to be clarified on FAQs section of website but MC advised main costs to local church would be local publicity such as a banner for outside church, local press publicity cover etc.   Local churches are invited to cover the travel and printing costs for their Companion (but only if church cannot afford such costs)
• The shortage of Companions was noted and in response to questions the General Secretary advised MC there are contingency plans

 

1. 2.         Nestlé Boycott rescinded

• General Assembly 2010 resolution:  General Assembly resolves that if Nestlé obtains listing on the FTSE4Good index, Mission Council be instructed to rescind the boycott of Nestlé products outlined in the Assembly 1992 resolution.
• Nestlé obtained FTSE4Good listing in March 2011 and their marketing and management systems verified.
• MC received copies of correspondence from Baby Milk Action and FTSE and the Treasurer reported that Nestlé’s activities in two ‘higher risk’ countries – Zambia and India – were examined.  The resulting report stated that Nestlé was making good and reasonable efforts to implement good practice in both countries and highlighted 4 areas for improvement (1. Influencing 3^rd Parties, 2. Nestlé activities that may be regarded as promotional, 3. Board Reporting, 4. Transparency).
• MC resolved, Mission Council, in accordance with the instructions of General Assembly 2010, rescinds the boycott on Nestlé products outlined in the Assembly 1992 Resolution and Mission Council to monitor Nestlé’s responses raised in the PwC Assessment Report and their compliance with the FTSE’s BMS criteria in higher risk countries and will advise Mission Council of any changes to their current status.

 

1. 3.         Review of Ecumenical Relations

• MC received an update of the Review process and invited to discuss, in small groups, 2 questions:  1. What is our current understanding of ‘organic unity’ and how this should be expressed?  & 2. How should our ecumenical vision be articulated in programme activity, representation and resource allocation?

 

1. 4.         Vision 2020

• MC received updates from all 13 Synods, outlining how they are engaging with vision2020

 

1. 5.         Presbyterian Church of Ghana/Homosexuality and Same-sex Marriage

• MC was advised that the General Assembly of the PCG (meeting in summer 2011) had condemned homosexuality and same-sex marriage and its intention to ‘sever partnerships with churches that ordain homosexuals’.  The PCG General Assembly Council had met in November and modified its stance by restricting it ‘only to congregations which allow for same sex marriage or tolerate homosexuality’.   A Task Group had also been set up to look at the implications of the rewording.
• MC members were circulated with a copy of the letter of the (URC) General Secretary to the PCG expressing the hope that continuing dialogue and partnership between URC & PCG would be possible
• MC recognised that if PCG doesn’t recognise part of the URC it divides the URC up
• Important for URC to respect PCG/its diversity
• World Council of Reformed Churches also consulted as other  Presbyterian Churches have made similar statements – e.g. Presbyterian Church of Mexico vs. Presbyterian Church USA
• MC to be updated

 

1. 6.         Staffing/Review of Church House Management Processes

• Review requested following the resignation of Michelle Marcano as Head of HR
• Staffing Advisory Group will be responsible for proposing interim arrangements to cover Head of HR’s post during review period
• Staffing Advisory Group authorised by MC to conduct review and report back to MC in Autumn 2012.

 

1. 7.         Role of the Synod Moderator

• Update received
• Two further meetings scheduled for the Review Group with a view to bringing resolutions to 2012 General Assembly

 

1. 8.         Olympics/More Than Gold

• Two presentations – from churches in Bristol and London – illustrated the outreach and hospitality potentials associated with Olympics

 

 1.       9.         Resourcing Ministry

• Ministries Committee invited MC members to respond, in small group discussions, to alternative models for deployment/funding of ministers

 

1. 10.     Education for Ministry – EM2 and EM3

• Joint Education & Learning and Ministries resolutions expressed commitment to training that is ‘rigorous, bespoke and flexible’
• Resolution re. EM2:  All entrants to public ministry as ordained Ministers of Word and Sacraments or commissioned Church Related Community Workers in the United Reformed Church are required to engage actively in the Education for Ministry Phase 2 programme for three years after ordination or commissioning.  At the end of this period the Synod will decide whether to issue a Certificate of Completion or to extend the period of EM2 training.  This requirement will be stated at the time of entry to Education for Ministry Phase 1.
• Resolution re. EM3:  There will be occasions on which it is right for General Assembly to make certain training mandatory for particular groups of Ministers of Word and Sacraments and Church Related Community Workers.  It will be for Mission Council to agree the nature, duration, and monitoring of such training.

 

1. 11.     MIND Advisory Group

• MC agreed amendments to the procedure – from present practice where both Synod Appointees are appointed from the Synod Panel to having one appointed from the Joint Panel and the other from the Synod Panel.
• MC authorised co-option of Hartley Oldham to Advisory Group to continue process of bringing together Parts I and II of MIND Process.

1. 12.     Ecumenical

• Cumbria Ecumenical County affirmed by MC
• 350^th Anniversary of Dissent – special service at Westminster Abbey, for Church of England & URC, on 7 February 2012, 6.15 p.m. (Tickets via Ecumenical Department)

 

1. 13.     Human Sexuality Task Group (HTSG)

• Report on Consultation at Westminster College and value of bringing together people of different views noted – a model commended to Synods
• How we talk and listen to one another is important – easier in small groups vs. larger gatherings
• Key commitment:  Deepening Dialogue while Living with Difference
• MC Advisory Group to consider in what form HTSG continues its work beyond Assembly 2012 and to report to March 2012 MC meeting

Registration of Civil Partnerships in Religious Buildings

• General Assembly to decide on URC response to legislation
• Resolution:  Mission Council, in recognising that any discussion and resolution by General Assembly responding to the Government’s regulations which allow religious authorities to apply for approval for the registration of civil partnerships to be registered on their premises will require careful advance preparation,

(a)   requests the Human Sexuality Task Group to prepare materials for the local churches which will promote wider knowledge and understanding of the 2007 General Assembly Commitment on Human Sexuality;

(b)   requests Synods to create opportunities for preparation that are appropriate to their situation;

(c)    asks the Assembly Arrangements Committee to consult widely in deciding how best to present this particular matter in the Assembly agenda.

 

1. 14.     Finance

• Support for the Lay Pension Scheme affirmed
• Ministers’ Pension Fund:  MC warned that as the 2011 valuation approaches it is likely that further support from Synods will be needed.  Resolution [paraphrase]:  In the light of the 2011 evaluation of the Pension Fund Mission Council requests Finance Committee to consult with the 13 Synods regarding the possible extension of the current request for special pensions support from Synods.
• Westminster College Appeal (for £7 million):  to date £3.1 million received (including £2 million from 10 Synods + 3 more meeting in March)
• Ethical Investments:  MC agreed that ethical investment work be the responsibility of the ecumenical Churches’ Investors’ Group (with wider influence) pp. Ethical Investments Advisory Group
• Budget 2012:  projected deficit of £1 million
• Stipend increase for 2012 (2%) is itself a cut as it is lower than inflation rate and average private sector pay award for 2011 (2.2%)
• Key question – How do we meet the challenge of income falling whilst costs are not?
• Discussion groups considered what was ‘wanted’ from ‘the centre’ and what might be cut.
• Resolution:

Mission Council

(i)                 requests the Assembly Committees and the General Secretariat to each offer to the Treasurer by 9 March 2012 an outline of how they would deploy their Committee budget with the vision2020 framework if from 2013 onwards their budget was reduced, in real terms relative to 2012, by (a) 25% or (b) 50%

(ii)               requests Mission Council Advisory Group to develop an appropriate process for Mission Council to bring recommendations to the 2012 General Assembly for the shape of the 2013 budget in the light of these outlines and other relevant factors.

• From among the suggestions arising from group discussions:

                                On Assembly Sunday 2012 local churches be invited to use the same (Assembly) Communion liturgy and take up an Appeal offering;

• Revisiting Minister Numbers:  To assist resolving budget deficit Assembly could be asked to support the reduction in the number of paid ministers.  Finance Committee suggesting that MC considers that the costs of supporting stipendiary ministers move in line with membership instead of the overall minister numbers.  Resolution:  Mission Council asks for a proposal to be brought to the 2012 General Assembly to amend the policy on stipendiary minister numbers so that it links trends in overall costs falling on the Assembly budget, rather than trends in overall Church membership.  [The Treasurer underlined the point that this is a ‘symmetrical’ policy – i.e. if membership numbers/giving to M&M rise the number of ministers can also rise again]

 

1. 15.               Equal Opportunities

• MC offered chance to respond to draft document for Guidelines for Responding to Allegations of Bullying or Harassment

 

1. 16.               Book of Reports (General Assembly 2012)

• Further Option, responding to feedback from Synods and MC: 

For 2012 only:  option 5 at cost of £19,500 + production and p&p of user-friendly booklets

As in 2010, a hard copy of the Book of Reports is sent to all Assembly members with the contents posted on the URC website.  A CD-Rom is sent to all churches.  A user-friendly booklet outlining the major themes coming for Assembly decision is prepared and sent to every church in February as a discussion tool for Church Meetings and Synods.

Additionally:

Letter to be sent to Synods for circulation to all churches not using IT enabling them to request hard copies.

[Synods may choose to notify ministers so they are aware that the CD-Rom/hard copy options are being sent to their Church Secretaries]

Mailing to also include HSTG material

1. 17.               Synod Resolutions

• Mersey Synod – MC to give thought to the number of denominational initiatives it is authorising and how these are communicated to local churches
• Wessex Synod – a resolution requesting ID cards for ministers/CRCWs was withdrawn following concerns expressed by MC re. resources/implications.