Priestfield Parish Church The Unitary Constitution

The ‘Model Constitution’ Internal Ministry Reaching Out Student Ministry BF Refurb

Concerns about Status Quo  Overlap between the work / jurisdiction / responsibility of Board and Session  Artificial separation of spiritual/temporal  Recruitment of elders and Board members  Who makes decisions about strategic direction - and when?

Structure under UC Business Forum: committee reps to help smooth working and generate ideas Student Ministry Reaching Out Internal Ministry Business Forum

Committee Structure  This structure will only work with clear remits, appropriate delegation and accountability in a spirit of trust – no constant multiple discussion  We need to make sure that we have the right committees to carry forward the work we want to do

Purposes of the Business Forum  A place to coordinate the work of Committees – identify overlap, smooth rough edges, supportive critical assessment  A place to generate ideas – iron sharpening iron, reflecting on the ‘big picture,’ ‘blue-sky thinking’ Committee Structure

Concerns for Future under UC  Would Fabric & Finance dominate KS discussion?  What would be the future role of current Board members?  How can we take account of the ‘democratic deficit’?  How would this affect me?

How will it work? Concern Would Fabric & Finance dominate KS discussion? Requires management of the agenda and a culture of trust – don’t discuss everything at least twice!

How will it work? Concern What would be the future role of current Board members? All Board members elected by congregation would be invited to be elders – when consulted most indicated they would decline the invitation, but are willing to serve on a committee.

How will it work? Concern How can we take account of the ‘democratic deficit’? Have several Congregational Meetings in the year to report and invite comment.

How will it work? Concern How would this affect me? Most Congregational Members would not notice the difference to the running of the Church.

Relationship of Committees to Kirk Session The Kirk Session is the body charged with making any decision regarding congregational affairs, and any challenge [to the decision of a committee], whether by dissent or appeal, would be against the decision of the Kirk Session, not a committee. The Kirk Session is, therefore, responsible for any decisions made on its behalf. GUIDELINES FOR OPERATING THE DEED OF CONSTITUTION (UNITARY FORM)

Review A review of the Committee Structure of the Kirk Session could take place after some time, mindful of the guidelines attached to the UC.

Where do we go from here?  Think – is this a path we want to take?  Present resolution to the Congregation for approval on 10 Oct – recommended by Session and Board  Convey to the Presbytery for acceptance and forward transmission to the Delegation of Assembly  Delegation of Assembly grants Deed of Unitary Constitution (Aim for 1 January 2011)

The Process of Change: Towards being a Missional Church  We have already made some minor changes to how we work  The adoption of the UC would be a logical step forward to rationalise meetings and free up time  We need to continue to adapt our priorities and ways of working in line with the terms of the Reviewable Tenure