Information Session REMITS 1-4 Structural Change

What is a Remit and Why Should I Care? Out of the Comprehensive Review Process, the Comprehensive Review Team made recommendations to the 42nd General Council in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. General Council authorized 5 Remits to be considered by Pastoral charges. A Remit is a vote that gives permission to the General Council to change the Basis of Union or the guiding principles for organizing the United Church of Canada, as found in “The Manual”

Opening Comments These remits are proposals that are “as they stand”… in other words, they are to voted on as worded…not “I will vote YES if they will change this” or “I need more details to vote YES”. We understand some details will need to be worked out … remember, these are principles not detailed plans When you think about how you will vote, the guiding principle is “if you can live with it”

Process for this Evening I trust you have read the study guides, so I will offer a simple overview of each remit. You will then be asked to take a few moments in groups of 2 or 3, to formulate questions that would prevent you with coming up with a “YES” or “NO” answer and jot them down on the “Graffiti Wall. If I am able to respond immediately, I will do so, if I need to research the answer, I will do so and get back to you.

Remit 1 A Three Council Model

Remit 1 From Four Courts to Three Councils The intent of this reorganization is to create a sustainable and workable church structure in the face of a declining volunteer base and financial resources.

We Are a Concilliar Church Currently we have a Four Court System consisting of : Congregations Presbytery Conference General Council Each Court has its own authority or role to play in the United Church of Canada

Pastoral Charge - worship and membership Presbytery -Life Cycle of Congregations and Pastoral Charges -Pastoral Relations -Property -Oversight and Support of Pastoral Charges and Ministry Personnel Conference - Making and unmaking of Ministers General Council -Denominational Policy and Polity -Public Voice of the church

Changes Proposed Pastoral Charge Presbytery Conference General Council Community of Faith Regional Council Denominational Council (smaller Executive)

Now: Two “Middle Levels” According to the Manual Presbytery Life Cycle of Congregations and Pastoral Charges Pastoral Relations Property Oversight and Discipline of Pastoral Charges and Ministry Personnel Conference Making and unmaking of ministers

Proposal: One Middle Level: Regional Council Life cycles of communities of faith Pastoral Relations (in cooperation) Property (in cooperation) Oversight and discipline of pastoral charges Decisions surrounding making and unmaking of ministers moves to the Office of Vocations

The Change for Communities of Faith… Covenant with the Region Annual Self-Assessment

All Councils Mission Governance, Administration and Finance Spiritual Life

Connections Clusters – communities of faith and their ministry personnel within a geographic region Networks – like-minded communities of faith and people committed to a particular interest/mission

Remit 1 The Question: Does the Church Council / Official Board agree that: (a) the United Church be re-organized into the three-council model approved by the 42nd General Council 2015; and that (b) the Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change? Divide into groups of 2-3, and discuss…if you have any questions that would prevent you with coming up with a “YES” or “NO” answer, please jot them down on the “Graffiti Wall”.

Transfer and Settlement Remit 2 Transfer and Settlement

Once upon a time… Ordinands and Commissionands (as a requirement to becoming a Minister), along with any other member of the Order of Ministry who so chose… were TRANSFERRED from their home Conference to another Conference And SETTLED to a Presbytery accountable ministry

Examples Ask your minister how it was handled for them personally Think of other ministers – do you know what happened there?

Transfer – 13 Conferences

NO LONGER REQUIRED!!! Since 2009, transfer and settlement have become optional, and few have submitted to it. Now ordinands and commissionands have the option of finding their own call or appointment— No matching done by the church! This remit dismantles a matching system that is no longer needed (one candidate 2015, none 2016) and in fact is no longer being used.

But what about the Settlement Committee? In the Effective Leadership and Healthy Pastoral Relations test, Pastoral Relations are the responsibility of the Conference. Though the Settlement Committee no longer “settles” ministers, it continues to approve all calls and appoints. This would no longer happen. Pastoral relations would happen in cooperation with the Regional Council.

Remit 2 The Question: Does the Erie Presbytery agree that: (a) the processes of transfer and settlement for members of the order of ministry within the United Church be eliminated, including the elimination of the General Council Transfer Committee; and that (b) the Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change? Divide into groups of 2-3, and discuss…if you have any questions that would prevent you with coming up with a “YES” or “NO” answer, please jot them down on the “Graffiti Wall”.

The Office of Vocations Remit 3 The Office of Vocations

Setting Standards Yellow indicates who does this now For training and accreditation of ministry personnel - General Council (GC) For Continuing Education – all levels Formation – GC Professional Development – GC of ministry personnel For admitting and re-admitting ministers - GC

Fitness and Readiness Determining a person’s fitness and readiness for accreditation to ministry = Presbytery/Conference Note: Conference Assessment Board (see Candidacy Pathways Remit) to accompany and make recommendations

Status as Ministry Personnel Maintaining registry of accredited ministry personnel – Presbytery/Conference Disciplining of Ministry Personnel including formal hearings and complaints – Conference Administering the Discontinued Service List (Voluntary and Disciplinary) - GC

Resourcing Maintaining a list of trained Conflict Resolution Facilitators – Conference Maintaining a list of Designated Interim Ministers - Conference Maintaining a list of those trained in the Ministry of Supervision - Conference Supporting and responding to request for assistance from the Region - GC

Benefits of Creating an Office of Vocation Same standards and practices across the church Staff resourced Expertise in discipline practices Fewer committees and volunteers across the church – there will be one Board of approximately 20 volunteers from across the church (lay and ministry personnel)

Remit 3: The Question: Does the Church Council / Official Board agree that: (a) a denominational office of vocation be established in the structure of the United Church, with responsibilities and structure as approved by the 42nd General Council 2015; and that (b) the Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change? Divide into groups of 2-3, and discuss…if you have any questions that would prevent you with coming up with a “YES” or “NO” answer, please jot them down on the “Graffiti Wall”.

Remit 4 Funding a New Model

Have you ever? Used one of The United Church’s worship resources? Voices United; More Voices; Celebrate God’s Presence, special services… Supported a United Church event for The Canadian Foodgrains Bank Sponsored a refugee family

Used a United Church study resource: book (Bullseye), video (M&S Minute for Mission video’s) curriculum… Donated to disaster relief through the United Church Been served by a minister trained in a United Church theological school (yep, that’s me!)

Then you understand the value of… BEING A DENOMINATION

The United Church of Canada

How do we fund being a denomination? Currently Mission and Service Fund supports ministry and mission AND governance and administration Investments and retail sales Remit 4 Mission and Service Fund would support ONLY ministry and mission Assessments would support governance and administration Investments and retail sales

Assessment Remit 4 Currently M&S funds mission and ministry Assessment funds administration and governance Assessment split between Region and Denomination Currently Conference assesses Presbyteries (up to 3% of Line 40) AND Presbyteries then assess Pastoral Charges

Why Change? Switching to an assessment method would make a clear distinction between funds used for the governance of the church and those used for M&S.  Donations to M&S will only be used for mission and ministry expenditures made regionally or nationally, including grants to global partners and community ministries in Canada.  Considering how vital M&S is to this church, it can be hoped that congregations or donors do not choose to decrease M&S donations in order to pay for a higher assessment. The clearer purpose for M&S may also attract new and younger donors.

Benefits Mission and ministry fundraising is separated from governance and administration; All share the cost of governance and administration - not just M&S donors Stable assessment for Manitoba west; increased Ontario east – level the church can bear

Assessment Rate Revenue Based – better serves rural and smaller congregations All revenue received minus outward giving (M&S, refugee sponsorship) one-time amounts (e.g. bequests) Up to 4.5% of Line 32D – 36, 37, 38, 39 averaged over three years

So, What does that “amount to” for the Jarvis-Garnet Pastoral Charge. Based on the calculations Norma Cronkwright (treasurer of Erie Presbytery) provided for illustration purposes, the proposed National Assessment for JGPC would be $ 1,720 increased over the presbytery assessment...a 59% increase, and given that the increase would be more the 10%, there would be a transition or phase in time.  One of the Q&A documents that came out indicates a ' 10 per cent cap on assessment increases in the first year is being proposed, with that level to be frozen for the next two years. 'which might mean no more than a 10% percent increase in year two over year one and another 10% in year three over year two.

Remit 4 The Question: Does the Church Council / Official Board agree to a new funding model for the United Church with the budgeting process guided by the following principles? (1) use Mission and Service to fund ministry and mission activities; (2) fund governance and support services of other courts/councils by assessing communities of faith/pastoral charges;

Remit 4 (cont’d) (3) share assessments equitably across the whole church; (4) permit Conferences/presbyteries/regional councils to use additional resources for regional purposes; and (5) encourage sharing of all resources across the church Divide into groups of 2-3, and discuss…if you have any questions that would prevent you with coming up with a “YES” or “NO” answer, please jot them down on the “Graffiti Wall”.

MORE INFORMATION www.gc42.ca/remits