Terms of Reference (as of August 2011)
MANDATE (refer Regulation 3.4.36)
The Committee will be responsible for the exercise of the ministry of the Presbytery in the provision of pastoral care and oversight for congregations which are part of the Presbytery and for ministers who are members of the Presbytery or otherwise placed under its pastoral oversight. As set out in regulation 3.4.38
RESPONSIBILITIES
PRC has the responsibility under regulation 3.4.38(c):
(i) To have oversight on behalf of the Presbytery of the pastoral relations between the Ministers and Congregations within the Presbytery;
(ii) to be accessible to Ministers and Congregational representatives to give counsel on matters relating to pastoral relationships and responsibilities;
(iii) to counsel Ministers for their encouragement and enrichment in the fulfilment of their ministries, including reference to the Code of Ethics;
(iv) to provide such reports as may be required by the Presbytery, with due regard to the confidentiality of information given to the Committee;
(v) to confer with Ministers and Congregations to ascertain relevant information in all cases where changes in placement are involved and to advise the Presbytery accordingly;
(vi) to deal with matters relating to the placement of Ministers as may be delegated to it;
(vii) to deal with complaints as set out in the Regulations on Church Discipline;
(viii) to make provision for the appropriate pastoral support and accountability of Ministers in active service who are not in approved placements;
(ix) to review the list of Ministers under its care who are awaiting placement with a view to either assisting such Ministers to return to active service or to make other appropriate vocational decisions or suggesting to a Church Council that an invitation be extended to the Minister to become a Minister-in-Association;
(x) to determine the manner of appointment of persons to preside at worship and preach in a Congregation during times when there is no Minister in placement.
DELEGATION
- In the fulfilment of its responsibility the Committee may exercise any authority of the Presbytery conferred on the Presbytery by the Constitution and Regulations of the Uniting Church in Australia and not specifically reserved to a full meeting of the Presbytery.
APPEAL
- When the Committee makes a decision under Responsibilities any member of, or any body within, the Congregation or Agency affected by that decision may request that it be reviewed by a full meeting of Presbytery provided that such request is made within thirty (30) days of the decision being notified to them.
- Where the Committee resolves to make a recommendation to the Presbytery it will give parties substantially affected by the recommendation at least fourteen (14) days notice of the recommendation prior to its consideration by a meeting of the Presbytery.
APPOINTMENT
- Membership with appropriate gifts and skills appropriate to the objectives of the Committee shall be appointed by the Presbytery on a three year rotational basis. Provided the committee has at least two ministerial and two lay people amongst its membership.
- Appointed members of the committee shall retain membership for a maximum of nine consecutive years
- More than half of the Committee shall be members of the Presbytery
- The Presbytery Chairperson, Presbytery Secretary and Presbytery Minister shall be ex-officio members of the committee.
- The Chairpersons (or their alternates) of Ministry Committee, Cross Cultural Committee and Consultations Committees shall be ex-officio members of the committee.
- The Committee is to nominate its own chairperson annually, to be appointed by Presbytery. The chairperson will be an ex-officio member of Standing Committee.
- Committee to comprise no less than six members
- Committee may invite additional members where appropriate but invited members to always be less in number than appointed members
- Presbytery Standing Committee has the right to remove a member of a Committee at any time
MEETINGS
- To be held no less than once every two months.
- Additional meetings may be convened by the Committee Chair according to need or if requested by two Committee members or the Chairperson of Presbytery
- Only Presbytery appointed members and ex-officio chairpersons (or alternates) of Cross Cultural, Consultation and Ministry Committees may vote
- Quorum shall be 50% of members plus one other member
- Minutes and Action Log to be prepared after every meeting
- Minutes to be presented to the next PRC after the Committee meeting
- Minutes to be available, on request to any member of Presbytery – subject to observance of any privacy or commercial interests
PROCESS FOR REVIEW
- Committee Terms of Reference to be reviewed annually by the Committee and then submitted to Presbytery Standing Committee for ratification
- Presbytery Standing Committee has the right to amend the Terms of Reference at any time
