LISTENING TEAM REPORT Comprehensive Review Presentation prepared by Jacob Black-Lock

Listening Report Overview  Introduction & Context  Clarifying Information  Listening Report  Approval  Cautionary Issues  Critical Issues  Action Plan The video presentation of this report at the BC Conference General Meeting can be found online at &v=Bv750xX0oQM &v=Bv750xX0oQM This presentation begins at time 2:07

Introduction & Context  At the BC Conference General Meeting in May 2015, the Reports and Proposals related to the Comprehensive Review were discussed.  A Listening Team was appointed to gather responses, concerns, and issues raised at the meeting.  This presentation summarizes the key topics heard by the Listening Team.

Sources of Information Gathered  Verbal comments at microphones during conversation in court  Written responses from table groups  Proposals to General Council from within BC  Casual conversations with people at the meeting  Comprehensive Review Team report, motions, and backgrounder documents

Clarifying Information

Clarification about College  The group of 20 representatives mentioned in the Report will be the Board of the College. These people will set the policies and standards, but the majority of administrative work will be done by others.  The College is not to be confused with the Association of Ministers

What we Heard…

Three types of responses Approval – for the most part, we all agree with the spirit of these recommendations Cautionary issues – these topics need to be clarified or further developed to address concerns Critical Issues – if these issues are not resolved, the Comprehensive Review recommendations will not pass remit

Three Court System  There is general support for the movement to a three council model  (with some conditions)

Isolation  There is a strong concern that by eliminating Presbyteries, communities of faith will become increasingly isolated.  However, there is no indication that people feel this is a reason to continue operating Presbyteries.

Clusters and Networks – Defined *  Clusters are groups of Communities of Faith that provide support and community for each other and their leaders, focusing on worship, mission, learning, collegiality and strategic planning.  Networks link people working on specific issues (i.e., intercultural, youth, children, social justice, projects, etc.) *Slides titled “Defined” are relaying information from the Comprehensive Review Task Force documentation.

Clusters and Networks  There is concern that inter-congregational collegiality will not actually happen.  Some regions in BC Conference are already successfully forming these networks or clusters.  Many other areas face barriers including geographic distribution, poor relationships, and lack of energy, time or interest.

Special Ministries  There are concerns about what will happen to ministries that are currently funded by contributions from Conference or Presbytery budgets.  i.e., youth ministry, children’s ministry, campus ministry, community support ministries, etc.  These ministries could be supported by the Regional Council, with funding through assessments to Communities of Faith.

Covenanting and Oversight – Defined *  Regional Councils will…  Covenant with each Community of Faith, outlining mutual responsibilities for the life and mission of the Community of Faith,  Review and periodically audit the self-assessments of Communities of Faith (oversight), and  Assume control in extraordinary circumstances. *Slides titled “Defined” are relaying information from the Comprehensive Review Task Force documentation.

Covenanting and Oversight  There is agreement that Communities of Faith need to have a relationship with the Regional Councils.  There are concerns about the need to renew this covenant every year (i.e., too frequent).  There needs to be a robust process for Communities of Faith to be accountable to the Regional Councils.  Concerns expressed about whether self-assessment and occasional audits are sufficient oversight.

Pastoral Relations Authority  The Comprehensive Review Report recommends that recruiting, choosing, calling, appointing, and covenanting with ministry personnel reside with Communities of Faith.  We have heard a strong reaction that employment authority should not reside solely with the Community of Faith.  Calls and the ending of pastoral relationships should involve the Regional Council.

Format of Regional Councils  Concerns expressed about the number, geography, and size of Regional Councils.  There are concerns regarding the staffing levels of Regional Councils (fear there will not be enough) and what access Communities of Faith will have to these staff resources.  We would need answers to these questions before the final adoption of this plan.

Membership of Denominational Council  There is concern that the potential size of the Denominational Council (4,000+) is too large for effective decision-making.  We heard the suggestion that Regional Councils should elect representatives to the Denominational Council and that number should be closer to the size of the current General Council (~380).

College of Ministers  General support for consistency regarding professional standards, accreditation, and disciplinary processes.  There is a feeling that much of this work is being done effectively already by BC Conference and General Council, and a College wouldn’t serve any additional purpose.  Concern that the assessment of candidates should be administered more regionally (e.g., Regional Council).  Suggestion that the Regional Council operate similar to BC’s Effective Leadership pilot.

College of Ministers  There is a great deal of confusion resulting from the term “College”, when it is really a committee of General Council.  There is concern about what position retired ministers will have with respect to the College and the United Church.

Financial Implication  There is a concern that the recommendations of the Comprehensive Review Report will not sufficiently cut costs to address current problems.  There is a feeling that there is a lack of clarity regarding responsibility and source of funding for the changes to the courts  Desire for strategic planning, transparency, and accountability of the financial implications  Concern about what will happen to legacy funds, bequests, and investments that are currently held by Conference.

Other Issues  Property Management  Communities of Faith should not be able to sell their properties without the approval of the Regional Council.  Cost to Communities of Faith  There is a general concern that costs are being downloaded to Communities of Faith Added assessment Cost of attending regional or denominational gatherings Need to also sustain networks and clusters

Action Plan

Listening team next steps 1. Write a letter to the General Council Sessional Committee with the responses we have just shared A letter will stand out from the proposals and may help the Sessional Committee to organize the proposals from all Conferences to ensure our concerns our heard. 2. Draft a proposal to address the issue regarding which court approves and dissolves pastoral relationships.

Credits  The listening team consisted of the following members  Dave Anderson  Marion Best  Jacob Black-Lock  Yoko Kihara