Presbytery of Sydney

Terms of Reference (as of August 2011)

MANDATE (see Reg. 3.4.36)

To advise and assist Church Councils in understanding legal requirements and the requirements of the Uniting Church in relation to administration of their properties and finances.

To encourage Congregations to maximise the use of their property and financial resources for the purposes of ministry. To protect and preserve our valuable properties for the future ministry of the Church.

All purchases, sales, building renovations and repairs and other property and finance issues must be referred to the Business and Property Committee for submission to Uniting Resources (Property Services) of the Synod. Presbyteries (through their Property Committees) are able to assess and approve property projects up to a price value or cost of $1 million.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Committee, subject to any relevant by-laws and directions of the Presbytery, shall:

• advise Church Councils and other bodies within the bounds of the Presbytery with respect to finance and property matters for which they are responsible;
• receive and consider applications from Church Councils and other bodies within the bounds of the Presbytery with respect to finance and property matters as provided by these guidelines having  regard to:
  • the mission of the Church within the bounds of the Presbytery
  • the policies of the Synod and the Presbytery
  • financial feasibility-in areas of church income/ expenditure/ property
  • design and location
  • any other relevant matter/s
• submit proposals from any Church Council or other body within the bounds of the Presbytery to the Synod Property Board with recommendations for final decision;
• initiate proposals in regard to property matters within the bounds of the Presbytery;
• regularly inspect or arrange for regular inspection of properties for which the Presbytery and other councils and bodies within the bounds of the Presbytery are responsible and propose and report to Presbytery such action as may seem desirable to ensure that the properties are maintained in good and safe condition.
• Responsible for administering the ISDF and notifying the Mission & Strategy Committee of funds available to be allocated each year.
• Seek ways to fund the missional priorities of the Presbytery based on input from the Mission and Strategy Committee
• Make a written report to Presbytery meetings

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

• More than half of the Committee shall be members of the Presbytery.
• Appointed members of the committee shall retain membership for a maximum of nine consecutive years

• The Presbytery Chairperson, Presbytery Secretary, Mission and Evangelism Resource Officer and Presbytery Treasurer, are ex-officio members of the Committee
• The Committee is to nominate its own chairperson annually, to be ratified by Standing Committee. 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 monthly.
• 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 Presbytery Chairperson 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 Presbytery Standing Committee 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