Marion Pardy (Very Rev. Dr.) Chairperson Conference Nominations Committee

Transcription

1 Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Expression of Interest Information Sheet For Opportunities to Serve Conference Committees, Task Groups, Represented Positions Mandates/Job Descriptions for Opportunities to Serve are posted on the Newfoundland & Labrador Conference website circulated to all Pastoral Charges, sent to all delegates of East and West District and any other avenues at our disposal. Upon receipt of this information, you are requested to circulate this information as widely as possible. You are invited to submit an Expression of Interest yourself and encourage others to do so, especially those you think have the interest, time and skills for a particular committee, task group or represented position. Term of Office: Two years renewable once. Skills and Experience: The Conference Nominations Committee is looking for people with the following characteristics: - committed to the mission of The United Church of Canada; - active participants in a local Pastoral Charge or Outreach Ministry (in some cases, official church membership is required); - familiar with or willing to learn the governance model of our Church; - desire to work co-operatively in committee and to involve, inasmuch as possible, persons who will seriously be affected by decisions into any decision making process. Expressions of Interest: Take a look at the committee/task group mandates. Do you have a sense of God calling you for this work or a sense of yearning/interest to be involved? If so, please consider sending an Expression of Interest. If you are interested in more than one position, please indicate your order of preference, and indicate your particular interest in each position. Use the following points (or attached form) to organize and guide your response in one page, if possible.. Name of your home Pastoral Charge/Congregation. Why does this opportunity to serve interest you?. A brief summary of your experience and skills as they relate to the particular position, referring to the mandate and needs of the position. Your current and past involvement in The United Church of Canada (Pastoral Charge, District/Presbytery, Outreach Ministry, Conference or General Council). The names of two or three people who have agreed to provide a reference, if necessary, and who can speak to your interest and involvement in the Church. Your Expression of Interest should be sent by regular mail to: Newfoundland and Labrador Conference Nominations Committee, The United Church of Canada, 320 Elizabeth Avenue, St. John s, NL A1B 1T9 or by to: lindabb@nf.sympatico.ca.

2 To allow the Conference Nominations Committee to discern in an open, transparent and prayerful manner, it is necessary to have complete information (as per the above Expression of Interest ) by the deadline date of May 7, We thank you for your willingness to offer yourself to serve our Conference in this way. Marion Pardy (Very Rev. Dr.) Chairperson Conference Nominations Committee

3 Name and Address: Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Opportunities to Serve Expression of Interest Form Telephone Number(s): Name of Pastoral Charge/Congregation: Committee of Interest and Position: Why does this particular opportunity to serve interest you? Please provide a brief summary of your experience and skills as they relate to the particular position, referring to the mandate and needs of the position. Please describe briefly your current and past involvement in The United Church of Canada (Pastoral Charge; District/Presbytery; Outreach Ministry; Conference and/or General Council):

4 Please provide the names and address of two or three people who have agreed to provide a reference, if necessary, and who can speak to your interest and involvement in the Church: The deadline for Spring 2010 is May 7, 2010

5 Summary of Opportunities to Serve Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Committees Spring 2010 (Please refer to the mandate for these specific committees and use the Expression of Interest form as per the guidelines. Thank you.) Nominations Committee Chair; Secretary Connector/Editorial Board Chair Book Store Committee Secretary; 2 Members Conference Interim Ministry Committee Secretary Interview Board Professional Counsellor; Member Education and Students Committee Secretary Conference Coordinating Committee on Sexual Abuse Secretary NEW COMMITTEE Incorporated Ministries Committee Chair; Secretary; Members (To date, we have a person from the legal profession to serve on this committee) (Term of Office for Committees: 2 years, renewable once) Please reply by May 7, 2010 NEW TASK GROUP Task Group Models of Ministry (Mandate not included in package; it requires approval by Conference Executive/Sub-Executive

6 Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Connector Editorial Board Mandate/Job Description Mandate: The Connector Editorial Board is accountable to the Conference through the Conference Executive. The Connector Editorial Board has the following responsibilities: - to provide support for the publication of the bi-monthly Conference/Districts The United Church Observer insert the Connector; - to give direction to the Editor on content/layout; - to liase with the East and West Districts Communications Committees. Membership: The membership, with the exception of the Chairperson, is by position on East and West Districts Communication Committees. It is as follows: Chairperson Chairperson, East District Communications Committee Chairperson, West District Communications Committee Editor, the Connector Staff Support, Executive Secretary Skills and Experience: - ability to plan and preside at meetings (Chairperson); - interest in the United Church Observer and the Connector as an engaging, communication resource for the Conference/Districts and for the whole Church; - skill in layout and design is an asset; - ability to evaluate content. Expectations: Six meetings are held per year following the Connector deadline dates: January 15 th March 15 th May 15 th July 15 th September 15 th November 15 th (Conference Wide Vacancies: Chair. Use Expression of Interest Form. Deadline is May 7, 2010)

7 Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Book Store Committee Mandate/Job Description Mandate: The Conference Book Store Committee is accountable to the Conference through the Conference Executive. The Book Store Committee has the following mandate: - to establish policy concerning suitable resources for the Book Store/AVEL; that is, establishing policies concerning the purchase and sale of resources that is consistent with the educational and theological perspective of The United Church of Canada; - to provide on-going review and critique of resources in stock; - to be an advisory group to assist Book Store/AVEL staff in the most helpful ways to serve congregations and pastoral charges (promotion; accessibility; hours of operation, etc.) - to be supportive and helpful in other ways in carrying out the work of the Book Store/Avel. Membership: The membership of the committee is as follows: Chairperson; Secretary; Member; Staff: Program and Leadership; Book Store; Business Administrator. The Chairperson: presides at all meetings; reports to Conference Executive as necessary; plans agenda for each meeting in consultation with Secretary and Book Store staff person; advises on promotion strategies and the selection of materials. The Secretary: records minutes of all meetings and distributes to members; attends to correspondence; prepares agenda for each meeting in consultation with Chairperson and Book Store staff person; advises on promotion strategies and the selection of materials. The Committee member: attends all meetings; advises on promotion strategies and the selection of materials. Skills and Experience: - knowledge of United Church theology in order to examine, critique and select resources; - interest in printed and audio visual resources as a vital educational and theological tool of the Church; - other skills as noted above for Chairperson and Secretary. Expectations: Meetings are held bi-monthly and/or when necessary. (Approved November 18, 2009, Conference Executive) (Conference Wide Vacancies: Secretary; 2 Members Use Expression of Interest Form Deadline is May 7, 2010

8 Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Interim Ministry Committee Mandate/Job Description Mandate: The Conference Interim Ministry Committee is accountable to Conference Executive. The overall mandate is to provide supportive oversight and counsel to all Interim Ministries and committees within the Conference. Specifically, the committee has the following responsibilities: - to receive applications of persons recommended for Interim Ministry from the Districts (a member of the Order of Ministry or a Lay Pastoral Minister seeking to be an Interim Minister must be recommended by their District in which their membership resides); - to interview the applicant seeking designation as an Interim Minister, to determine their suitability for Interim Ministry and to determine appropriate Interim Ministry training and education; - to make recommendation to Conference Executive, for or against the designation of the applicant as an Interim Minister. The Conference Executive shall make a Decision and shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the Decision; - to interview the Interim Minister following each period of Interim Ministry, to evaluate the person s effective and to make a recommendation to the Conference Executive, for or against the continued designation of the person as an Interim Minister, with or without conditions. The Conference Executive shall make a Decision and shall notify the person, in writing, of the Decision; - to provide annually toe the appropriate General Council working unit a list of those persons designated as Interim Ministers; - to provide for consultation about and co-ordination of Interim Ministry policies and procedures for East and West Districts; - to liaise with the appropriate General Council working unit on policy matters. (The Manual , a, b,c) Membership: Chairperson; Secretary; members. The membership shall include Ministry Personnel with experience as Interim Ministers and lay persons with experience of Interim Ministry. Skills and Experience: - a commitment to Interim Ministry within The United Church of Canada; - interview skills; - supportive facilitation, effective communication and organizational skills are important for the Chairperson; - computer skills are a valuable asset for the Secretary. In addition to the skills and experience, gender balance is an important consideration in recommending persons. The Personnel Minister staffs this committee. Expectations: Meetings are to be held in order to fulfill the responsibilities listed above. As this is a new committee, the Chairperson and committee members, in consultation with the staff person, would need to decide on meeting dates. (Conference Wide Vacancy: Secretary. Use Expression of Interest Form. Deadline is May 7, 2010)

9 Conference Education and Students Committee Mandate/Job Description Mandate: The Education and Students Committee is accountable to Conference for action and to other church bodies as outlined in The Manual (2007, 462 a, 026d, 424) and in the Education and Students Policy and Procedures Book ( 3.4). The primary role of this committee is, on behalf of the whole United Church, to recommend Candidates for the Order of Ministry to the annual meeting of Conference who have been recommended by their District and have been granted Testamur of a United Church theological school and who have demonstrated readiness for ordination to ordained ministry or commissioning to diaconal ministry. Particular responsibilities, based on The Manual (2007, 462 a) are: - to receive reports on all Inquirers and Candidates from East and West District and to report their names to the appropriate General Council working unit; - to receive the District reports on each Candidate recommended for ordination or commissioning; - to examine separately each Candidate recommended for ordination or commissioning; - to report to the Conference Executive for information and to the Conference for action its recommendation concerning each Candidate for ordination or commissioning; - to receive and to consider a recommendation from a District to designate a Lay Pastoral Minister-in-Training as a Lay Pastoral Minister, to conduct an interview of the Lay Pastoral Minister-in-Training, and to make a recommendation to the Conference; - to review the District reports on a diaconal minister or equivalent or an ordained minister from another denomination recommended for admission to the Order of Ministry of The United Church of Canada by a District of the Conference, to conduct a final interview of the applicant, and, if satisfied, to recommend that they be admitted by the Conference. (See E&S Policy and Procedures Handbook 3:1 Role for additional information) Membership: The membership, with the exception of the Chairperson and Secretary, is by appointment by East and West Districts: Order of Ministry East District Lay Representative East District Order of Ministry West District Lay Representative West District

10 Note: A number of extra people usually are co-opted to help conduct the interviews, the number being determined by the number of Candidates and the time frame for the completion of the interviews. Skills and Experience: - facilitation and organizational skills are important for the Chairperson; - computer skills are important for the Secretary; - training and experience in effective interviewing and ability to make difficult decisions with sensitivity and care; - knowledge of polity and procedures of The United Church of Canada, or willingness to study and learn, in relation to Education and Students. Expectations: Meetings are held yearly, usually over 2-3 days in order to conduct interviews with the candidates. There is substantial work to be done by the Committee Chairperson and Secretary to prepare for the yearly meeting. (Conference Wide Vacancy- Secretary (Use Expression of Interest Form) Deadline, May 7, 2010)

11 CONFERENCE INTERVIEW BOARD Mandate/Job Description The Conference Interview Board exists to assist Inquirers and others referred to it in assessing their vocational goals and/or general suitability for ministry within The United Church of Canada (The Manual 457a). It is responsible for setting up assessment and supportive measures for: Inquirers seeking candidacy for Ordered Ministry or status as a Lay Pastoral Minister or Staff Associate Those seeking re-admission to Ordered Ministry in The United Church of Canada Those seeking admission from another denomination Persons recognized for initial appointment as Ordained or Diaconal Supply The membership of Conference Interview Board is set out in The Manual (456). It is a committee independent from other interview groups and committees who relate to inquirers and candidates. Its role is to give advice to District Education and Student Committees concerning candidacy and status. The membership of CIB should be, where resources permit: At least one of each Diaconal Minister, Ordained Minister, Lay Pastoral Minister and a Staff Associate A person qualified in Supervision A professional counsellor or equivalent At least four lay persons who have had significant experience of life and work in the church As much as possible, there should be equal representation from each District An appropriate Conference Staff Person as a non-voting staff resource A Chairperson and a Secretary appointed by the Conference Such additional specifically qualified persons as the Chairperson, in consultation, may seek to call on from time to time The District may ask CIB to interview an individual and seek advice from the CIB in the following areas: Suitability for ordered ministry: A District will decide whether a person is suitable for status as a Candidate for ordered ministry. Capacity and Appropriateness for a particular educational program: The E&S Committee will recommend to the District whether a residential or ministry based educational program is appropriate for a particular candidate, and whether the Candidate has demonstrated the capacity to engage in that pedagogical/learning style. As well, CIB would interview to offer advice in

12 recommending whether an individual is ready and has met the requirements for the Shorter Course program. Readiness for appointment: For those seeking a ministry based education program or student supply appointment readiness is for a student appointment, not readiness for ordination. Meetings: The Newfoundland and Labrador Conference Interview Board seeks to meet two times per year the first weekend in November and the first weekend in May. There may be other times when it is necessary to meet, and that would happen at the call of the Chair, in consultation with the Personnel Minister. Conference Wide Vacancies: Secretary; Professional Counsellor; Member - (Use Expression of Interest Form) Deadline, May 7, 2010

13 Mandate: Newfoundland/Labrador Conference Nominations Committee Mandate/Job Description The Conference Nominations Committee is accountable to the Conference through the Conference Executive, except for the annual meeting of Conference. The Nominations Committee has the following mandate: - to ensure that there are job descriptions for all committees/task groups; - to recruit to fill any vacancies through informing the constituency of vacancies, job descriptions and inviting people, through discernment, to respond by completing an expression of interest form; - to determine that the expression of interest is compatible with the job description and make the necessary recommendations; - to confirm with committee chairs, secretaries and members, unless District appointed, that they will serve a second term; - to report to Conference Executive for decision-making concerning all Conference wide recommendations. (To be noted a number of the vacancies pertain to representation from the Districts and it is the responsibility of the District Nominations Committee to recruit such persons, using their own District procedures. Also, to be noted that United Church ministries that are incorporated require that their Board membership is approved by Conference/Executive. These names also are processed through the Nominations Committee). Membership: The membership of the committee is as follows: Chairperson; Secretary; Chair of East District Nominations Committee; Chair of West District Nominations Committee; NL Conference GCE rep who sits on the General Council Nominations Committee Staff: Executive Secretary The Chairperson: presides at all meetings; reports to Conference Executive or Conference; plans the agenda; ensures that the Nominations list is updated; with the secretary, ensures that the package of material re vacancies, job descriptions, expression of interest forms are sent to all District delegates in a timely fashion (note: the Conference office does the support staff work necessary concerning printing, collating, mailing, etc.). The Secretary: assists with all of the above, except the presiding at meetings.

14 Skills and Experience: - appreciation for the recruitment/discernment process of The United Church of Canada; - committed to the value of volunteers for the ministry of the Church; - administrative and organizational interests and skills; Expectations: While the work is ongoing (as vacancies occur), most of the work is seasonal, especially in the Spring (prior to District/Conference meetings) and in the Fall (prior to District meetings). Meetings may be held face to face (as budget permits); most work can be completed by way of s and telephone. (Conference Wide Vacancies Chairperson; Secretary - (Use Expression of Interest Form) Deadline, May 7, 2010)

15 Newfoundland and Labrador Conference Incorporated Ministries Committee Mandate/Job Description Mandate: The Incorporated Ministries Committee is accountable to the Conference, through the Conference Executive, although the Chairperson is not a member of Conference Executive (Minutes, Conference Executive, November 2009). The Chairperson will report to each meeting of Conference Executive and write a report for the Spring meetings of Districts and/or Conference. The Incorporated Ministries Committee has the following overall mandate: - Following Section 429 Guidelines for Incorporated Ministries (November 2008 or any revised guidelines), to oversee incorporated ministries of The United Church of Canada within Newfoundland and Labrador Conference. Specific responsibilities include: - prior to the deadline of December 31, 2011, to ensure that all current recognized Incorporated Ministries have officially declared to Newfoundland and Labrador Conference their preferred option of Incorporation; - to respond to requests for assistance in relation to the various options from the boards of Incorporated Ministries; - to supervise all recognized Incorporated Ministries within the Conference, responding in a supportive way when there isn t compliance with a particular article or by-law; - to ensure that all annual forms and reports, required by both government and Church, are submitted prior to deadline; - to respond to new requests for Incorporation from other organizations, outreach projects, etc. of The United Church of Canada within the Conference. Membership: The membership of the committee is as follows: Chairperson; Secretary; 3 5 members in addition to Chairperson and Secretary. Staff: Executive Secretary, Newfoundland and Labrador Conference. At least one member of the total committee will be from the legal profession. The Chairperson presides at all meetings, consults, as necessary, with the Executive Secretary; reports to Conference Executive; writes a report for the Spring meetings of Districts and/or Conference; consults with the lead staff person and/or Chair of the Board of each Incorporated Ministry (or designates others to do so). The Secretary records minutes of all meetings and, after approval by the Chairperson, ensures that they are distributed in a timely manner (as soon after the meeting as possible) to all members; attends to correspondence in consultation with the Chairperson; prepares agenda for each meeting in consultation with Chairperson. The term of office is two years, renewable once. Skills and Experience: - effective organizational, administrative, consultative and pastoral skills; - a commitment to the outreach ministries of The United Church of Canada; - knowledge of, or openness to learn, the polity of The United Church of Canada. As this is a new committee, an orientation session will be held by the Executive Secretary for committee members re Section 429 Guidelines, the current Incorporated Ministries in Newfoundland and Labrador Conference, and the mandate of the committee. Expectations: Initially, the committee will meet as frequently as necessary in order to ensure that all present Incorporated Ministries meet their deadline. The committee would then meet at least twice a year, prior to meetings of Conference Executive. Other meetings would be at the call of the Chair, in consultation with the Executive Secretary and Secretary. Invited guests from any Incorporated Ministry might be invited to meet with the committee at any time. When established the committee might choose to meet via conference call. exchange would be an effective way of query, consultation and decisions not requiring official motion. (Conference Wide Vacancies: Chair; Secretary; Members. Use Expression of Interest Form. Deadline is May 7, 2010).

16 The United Church of Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Conference Coordinating Committee on Sexual Abuse Committee Mandate/Job Description Newfoundland and Labrador Conference Coordinating Committee on Sexual Abuse (CONSA) Mandate To fulfill the requirement outlined in The Manual (073, 2007 edition), namely, The United Church will not tolerate, and will seek to eradicate, any behaviour by its members, Lay and Order of Ministry, Adherents, or employees that constitutes sexual abuse or child abuse. Specifically, the committee supports the implementation of the Sexual Abuse Policy and Procedures of The United Church of Canada. Membership Members of the committee need not be members of the Newfoundland and Labrador Conference, although a majority should be. The committee may seek members with specific skills or knowledge in order to fulfill its mandate. The members of the committee are not the court of accountability in the case of a complaint, rather, they support the Sexual Abuse policy by ensuring that we can respond in a timely fashion to a complaint. Sexual abuse consultants are not members of the committee. Duties The duties of the committee are to understand the Sexual Abuse Policy of The United Church of Canada, to prepare officers of the court to function within that policy, to seek and train consultants to accompany complainants and respondents as per the policy and to inform pastoral charges and other ministries about the Sexual Abuse Policy. Reporting & Accountability Reports will be given at regular meetings of East and West District or Conference, when they meet. The Conference Personnel Minister is an ex-officio member of the committee. Legal Counsel for The United Church of Canada is a resource. (Conference Wide Vacancy Secretary - (Use Expression of Interest Form) Deadline, May 7, 2010)