Remit 1 Three council model the governing structure of the United Church

THE CURRENT MODEL Four “courts” or levels of governing bodies: 1. Pastoral charges. Can be made up of more than one preaching point. They should be financially viable, receptive to covenant with ministry personnel and able to undertake local outreach work. Funded by local donations. 2. Presbyteries. Larger regional division made up of ministry and lay representatives of the pastoral charges. Presbyteries oversee ministry personnel, pastoral charges, church property and undertake larger mission projects. Funded by pastoral charge assessments. 3. Conferences. Largest regional division that oversees presbyteries. Conference staff handle larger issues of ministry personnel and pass on denominational policies to the presbyteries and pastoral charges. Funded by General Council grants. 4. General Council. Denominational leadership in everything from governance, finance, ministry, missions, faith and education. Funded by M & S.

THE PROPOSED MODEL Three councils: 1. Communities of faith. provides for new concepts of gathering like outreach ministries, house churches, online communities. more freedom in membership; decisions on governance, mission and property; ministry and staff. 2. Regional councils. combines the work of current presbyteries and conferences: support and oversee communities of faith in pastoral relations, property, outreach; prepare, train and ordain/commission ministry personnel; intervene in disputes or if a faith community isn’t functioning properly. about 12 – 15 in number. Meet annually like conferences. staff deployed regionally, and may serve more than one council. 3. Denominational council. continues the current role of the General Council: elect a Moderator, global identity of the church, setting denominational policies and direction on theology, missions and governing structure. much smaller executive. Staff determined available resources.

Additional structures a) Clusters. - local communities of faith that support each other in worship, mission, learning, planning. b) Networks. - groups in different parts of the country working on specific issues (i.e. intercultural ministry, supportive housing) or projects (i.e. events).

PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT MODEL an extensive system of decision-making checks and balances throughout all levels. requires a large membership and volunteer base, as well as significant financial resources, to operate. changes come about slowly because of the complex governance structure. OF THE PROPOSED MODEL provides a more flexible, sustainable and simplified structure. relaxes some checks and balances, allowing more local decision-making. retains conciliar model for local ideas to make their way up to the denominational level. fewer committees needing fewer volunteers. able to respond more quickly to current needs as changes come about.

Category 3 Remit significant, denomination-shaping change that affects the Basis of Union. sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. absolute majority of pastoral charges must vote in favor, not just a majority of those that vote. pastoral charges that don’t vote are considered against the proposal. Question Does the pastoral charge agree that: The United Church be re-organized into the three-council model approved by the 42nd General Council in 2015; and that The Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change?

Elimination of transfer & settlement Remit 2 Elimination of transfer & settlement how ordered ministry personnel are placed

THE CURRENT MODEL Both pastoral charges and candidates/ministers can request transfer and settlement. Transfer Committee of General Council matches requests with specific Conferences. Settlement Committee of Conference matches up individuals and pastoral charges according to skills, gifts and ministry needs. Settlement Committee considers recommendations for each call from presbyteries and decides whether to approve it. Transfer Committee transfers the minister from current Conference to the one requesting settlement.

THE PROPOSED MODEL A community of faith seeks a minister, conducts a needs assessment and a search process. Vacancy is posted. Candidates and ordered ministry respond by sending applications to specific ministries. In cooperation with the region, interviews are conducted and the decision made to offer a call. Since 2009 Transfer and Settlement has been a option for candidates and ordered ministry. Since then, fewer and fewer requests for T & S have been received (i.e. in 2015 only one minister and no candidates chose T & S, and only two pastoral charges in Canada applied for T & S).

PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT MODEL larger number of volunteers for the T & S and Settlement Committees. candidates and ordered ministers still have a choice if they desire that option. It originally was a way to allow pastoral charges with less desirable access to ministry personnel to be able to staff their needs. OF THE PROPOSED MODEL fewer volunteers needed with the elimination of T & S and Settlement Committees. speaks to the reality of what candidates and ordered ministers are already doing. may make it more difficult for communities of faith who have relied on this method to find a minister.

Category 3 Remit significant, denomination-shaping change that affects the Basis of Union. sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. absolute majority of pastoral charges must vote in favor, not just a majority of those that vote. pastoral charges that don’t vote are considered against the proposal. Question Does the pastoral charge agree that: The process 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 The Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change?

Remit 3 Office of vocation how ministry personnel are trained and governed

THE CURRENT MODEL Structure - each of the four “courts” elects people to do education, pastoral relations, oversight and discipline. Candidates - conferences and presbyteries have Education & Student Committees and Interview Boards that ensure candidates fulfill the requirements for ordination/commissioning. Other committees look into objections raised by candidates. Support and oversight of candidates and ministry personnel - volunteer committees at the top three levels make recommendations and decisions on ordination and commissioning, admissions from other denominations, and that training has been completed. Discipline of ministry personnel - volunteers in all four courts respond to issues by conducting investigations, running formal hearings, and hearing appeals.

THE PROPOSED MODEL Structure Office of Vocation is part of the denominational council made up of 12-16 ministers and lay people with a variety of skills from across the church. Candidates Board of Vocation establishes standards for education, training, admissions, and accreditation. This Board makes the decision on whether candidates will be ordained/commissioned/recognized. regional boards accompany candidates, making recommendations as to fitness and readiness for accreditation. Support and oversight of candidates and ministry personnel regionally elected members support candidates through their discernment and training. the Office maintains a registry of accredited ministry personnel. establishes standards for admitting ministers from other denominations. Discipline of ministry personnel Board investigates conduct of ministers, convenes hearing panels using trained investigators.

PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT MODEL - large number of volunteers needed in all committees and processes throughout the four “courts”. - inconsistency in practice possible with duplicate committees at each level. OF THE PROPOSED MODEL fewer committees and volunteers needed. Those that remain would be used more effectively. would consist of paid and volunteer staff handling procedural and administrative matters. greater consistency in practice across the church. candidates would continue to be supported and interviewed by volunteers at the regional level.

Category 3 Remit significant, denomination-shaping change that affects the Basis of Union. sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. absolute majority of pastoral charges must vote in favor, not just a majority of those that vote. pastoral charges that don’t vote are considered against the proposal. Question Does the pastoral charge agree that: 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 in 2015; and that The Basis of Union be amended to reflect this change?

Remit 4 Funding a new model how the church is financed

THE CURRENT MODEL General Council, not able to assess pastoral charges directly, is funded through Mission and Service, investments, bequests and donations. Its grants to Conferences and presbyteries help with the expenses of these levels. Presbyteries assess pastoral charges for funding of their expenses. Pastoral charges receive income through donations, bequests, investments and other local sources. Mission and Service (M & S) this amalgamated fund is used for regional, national and international missions and ministries, education and worship resource development, support for theological schools and learning centers, as well as financing the General Council, Conferences and presbytery grants.

THE PROPOSED MODEL Denominational council (General Council*) would assess pastoral charges directly for funds to cover administration at the regional and national levels. This is the way most denominations in Canada are financed. - Regional investments/other funding sources won’t be affected. They may choose to levy an additional assessment on top of the national one. Revenue-based assessment formula: total revenue minus outward giving (M & S donations, local appeals/outreach, bequests, asset sales) = net revenue times 0.045. Communities of faith (pastoral charges*) would have the option of full implementation or phased-in over a two-year period. Multi-year averaging will continue to be used to smooth out unusual year-to-year fluctuations in income. For most, assessments will increase. Mission and Service (M & S) to be used only for regional, national and international missions, and ministries (i.e. chaplaincies). Administration finances will come from assessments as described above. * If Remit 1 doesn’t pass

PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT MODEL presbyteries use over 30 different formulas to assess pastoral charges, many of them complex based on operating cost, membership, number of donors, households, etc. requires substantial giving to Mission and Service to fund both mission work and administration. This has become unattractive to many who want their funds to go to mission work, not governance. OF THE PROPOSED MODEL communities of faith would bear a more equal share of costs associated with running the regional and national levels, these growing or shrinking in response to income. revenue-based assessment is a fairer, more transparent and easier-to-explain way of funding upper levels of administration, especially for small rural communities of faith. Mission & Service may attract a new and younger donor base because of its clearer purpose.

Category 3 Remit significant, denomination-shaping change that affects the Basis of Union. sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. absolute majority of pastoral charges must vote in favor, not just a majority of those that vote. pastoral charges that don’t vote are considered against the proposal. Question Does the pastoral charge agree to a new funding model for the United Church with the budgeting process guided by the following principles: 1) use Mission & Service to fund ministry and mission activities; 2) fund governance and support services of other councils (courts*) by assessing communities of faith (pastoral charges*); 3) share assessments equitably across the whole church; 4) permit regional councils (Conferences/presbyteries*) to use additional resources for regional purposes; 5) encourage sharing of all resources across the church. *if Remit 1 doesn’t pass

Remit 6 One order of ministry training and accreditation of ministry personnel

THE CURRENT MODEL Streams of ministry and their educational pathways: ordained. Following completion of a M.Div. degree (3-5 years) from an accredited theological school, the candidate is ordained to a ministry of word, sacrament and pastoral care. diaconal. Following completion of a Diploma in Diaconal Ministry (4-5 years at Center for Christian Studies, Winnipeg), the candidate is commissioned to the work of Christian education and service. designated lay ministry (DLM). Following completion of a Diploma in Lay Ministry (3 years at St. Andrews College, Saskatoon), the applicant is recognized by presbytery for work in congregational ministry. Aboriginal ministries. Following completion of a Diploma in Aboriginal Ministry (5 years at Sandy-Saulteaux Spiritual Center, Beausejour, MB), the candidate is commissioned to work in a First Nations setting. Renumeration for ministry personnel - ordered ministry (ordained/diaconal) have the highest pay scale, followed by recognized DLM. All students have a pay scale lower than fully accredited ministry personnel.

THE PROPOSED MODEL a continued commitment to an educated clergy in keeping with the church’s reformed heritage. all ministry personnel would be ordained, regardless of the educational stream they were trained in. the diaconate would retained its distinctive character within the ministry. DLM training program would be revamped to reflect equivalent preparation with the other two streams: a 5 year Diploma in Pastoral Ministry. This stream would be eliminated as part of ordination. minimum salary scale for all ministry personnel, regardless of educational pathway, taking into account the reality that everyone is doing basically the same thing: solo ministry on a pastoral charge that involves word, sacrament, and pastoral care, as well as education and service. Why this model is being considered very little functional difference currently between the streams, including the sacraments. most congregations are more concerned about effective and faithful ministry than the minister’s title and the educational path that was taken. inequity for DLMs being paid lower for the same work than ordered ministry.

PROS AND CONS OF THE CURRENT MODEL three different streams recognize three different approaches to Christian ministry: vocational (ordained), education and service (diaconal), local leadership (DLM). However, these can form barriers between streams as one may think of itself as “better” than the others, even though all are doing similar work. higher renumeration in keeping with the more intense and longer educational periods of ordered ministry can be seen as unfair towards DLMs doing similar work. OF THE PROPOSED MODEL ensures that the M.Div. or equivalent prepares Christian leaders with the necessary training and education. although some identity differences that characterize the current streams will be lost, this will be replaced by a new equity that all are “real” ministers, regardless of the educational background. equalizing renumeration among all ministry personnel allows congregations to hire ministers based on qualifications and local need, not pay scale. Congregational designated ministers (CDM) will continue to function in limited capacity, working with ordained ministers in specific leadership roles. They won’t be ordained.

sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. Category 3 Remit significant, denomination-shaping change that affects the Basis of Union. sent to all presbyteries and pastoral charges for a vote. absolute majority of pastoral charges must vote in favor, not just a majority of those that vote. pastoral charges that don’t vote are considered against the proposal. Question Does the presbytery/pastoral charge agree that there should be one new order of ministry encompassing the present categories of recognized designated lay ministers, diaconal ministers, and ordained ministers, with ordination to the ministry of word, sacrament, education, service and pastoral care as the single rite of entry, and with provision for the continued identity of the diakonia within the ordained ministry?