CONSULTATION GUIDELINES
Presbytery of Sydney
(Revised January 2000)
1. Purpose of the Consultation
To allow congregations and Presbytery to explore possibilities for the future and allow planning, to offer encouragement, to encourage the use of gifts, evaluate effectiveness of ministry and to form links. The Consultation is a way in which the Uniting Church seeks to understand God’s will, to encourage that which promotes God’s will and to correct that which is erroneous in the Church’s life. The purpose is to:
Encourage the members
Encourage the ministers
Assist the Presbytery.
2. Application of Consultation Guidelines
It is important for Consultation Teams to recognise that there are guidelines. However they should not be seen as inflexible and should be used as a basis to work from, being adapted to suit both the congregation and the presbytery.
3. Suggested Procedures
* The Pastoral Relations Committee notifies the Congregation and minister (s) that a Consultation will be taking place during the year and informs the congregation of the team membership.
* The P.R.C. appoints a Team of (usually) three person, with two nominated by the P.R.C. and one by the Presbytery Property Committee.
* The Team meets together to discuss the plan and timetable for the Consultation.
* It may choose to seek information about the congregation (s) in advance.
This information could include:
* A report on the current membership and trends in membership over the past three years
* Information regarding the present financial position of the congregation and trends over the past three years
* Outlines of congregational programs and activities including all teaching programs
* Steps taken, or planned, with regard to the development of the ministry of the lay people
* Problem areas and difficulties that hamper the ministry and mission of the congregation.
* Aims and vision for the future
* Any other matters the congregation wishes to discuss
The Team then meets with the minister/s and congregational officers to receive their comment on the timetable and make any adjustments necessary to fit in with the Congregation.
4. Things to do are:
* Meet with the Church Council, and Elders (if a separate meeting is possible for elders).
* Meet with the whole Congregation if appropriate or necessary.
(by attending normally scheduled meetings if possible, but without the minister/s).
5. Matters which should be addressed with the Church Council are:
* State of the Membership rolls and general administration
* Lay Peaching review and arrangements as per Regulation 2.8.8
* What is their understanding of the role of an Elder and what training have they received to assist them to fulfill their responsibilities?
* Is worship a meaningful experience in their opinion. What priority is given to worship in the life of the Congregation?
* What opportunity for Christian Education, both for adults and children, is provided in the congregation ?
* Are any programs conducted to develop the gifts of the lay members of the congregation for various ministries?
* What emphasis is placed on the wider mission of the Church.
* Inspect all Congregational properties and note and report on the state of maintenance.
* Make sure Congregational accounting is being done in a satisfactory way.
6. Other matters which need to be addressed at appropriate times:
* Ask the Congregation to explain I’s life and mission in the area where it is, now and in the future.
* Encourage congregational planning and discussion if this is not done.
* Ask for a copy of the current Congregational Profile and if it is out of date encourage production of another.
* All Team members should attend at least one Worship Service in the Congregation (not necessarily all together) and be available to members for discussion. It is good to choose a time when the Congregation (s) has a “cuppa” before or after the Service.
* If the need is felt, then time can be set aside for people to talk to Team members privately. This probably only needs to be done if there seem to be problems.
* Talk to the minister/s, together if there are more than one and separately.
* Talk to minister/s spouse.
7. Minister (s) should be asked to consider:
* What are the highlights of your ministry in this placement?
* As you reflect on your own spiritual life, what steps have you taken to nurture your own spirituality?
* What have been your plans and goals for the congregation in the light of congregational needs?
* Do you believe there has been any progress towards achieving these goals?
* Are your needs both spiritually and physically being met and supported by the congregation and presbytery?
* Are there any matters in which the Presbytery can be of assistance.
8. Reporting
* Make a draft of the Report (to be submitted to the Pastoral Relations Committee) together with any recommendations the Team wishes to make.
* Discuss the Draft Report and the recommendations with at least two representatives of the Church Council and any minister in placement, and make any adjustments needed due to mistaken information that might be in the Report before presenting it to the P.R C. This does not mean recommendations should be changed because the congregation/minister don’t approve, but sometimes wrong impressions can be given or taken and these need to be corrected.
* Forward the final Report to the Secretary of the P.R.C. At least one member of the Team should be present at the P.R.C. meeting which receives the report.
* Arrange to present the final report to a meeting of the Church Council. At least one of the member of the consultation team should be present at the meeting of the Church Council, along with a member of the P.R.C., if the P.R.C. or the consultation team consider this to be necessary or advisable.
Presbytery of Sydney consultation guidelines: January 2000
