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2002 Reports Index
 

COMMITTEE ON MINISTRY AND HOME AFFAIRS GENERAL ASSEMBLY 2002 The report of the Committee this year has two distinct elements.  The first part of the report concentrates on the routine business of the Committee and is fairly brief.  The second part of the report is the product of the work of the Ministry Review Group set up last year with the promise of a report to this year's General Assembly. This review was both wide ranging and time consuming with the Group meeting on ten occasions since last Assembly as well as the considerable amount of time taken to discuss the issues raised by the group at full Committee meetings.  The Committee is therefore grateful to the members of the Review Group who have given much time and effort to this work. Much of the work of the Committee is routine but nonetheless important and the members of the Committee are conscious that decisions taken have an effect on the lives of individuals and their families.  It must be noted, however, that the Committee is often limited in the actions it can take and is, of course, bound by decisions of the General Assembly.  It is not, therefore, that the Committee is insensitive to the needs and requests of individuals but it must always comply with the expressed wishes of the Assembly. STUDENTS At present there is only one student in training for the ministry.  Mrs Amanda Reid is in the third year of a B. D. degree at Glasgow University and will complete her studies in 2004.  Mrs Reid is a member of our Millerston congregation. PROBATIONERS The Committee is always pleased to hear of the settlement of probationers whose progress it has followed during their years of study.  This year the Committee was delighted to hear of the Inductions of the Rev. Derry Meredith to Perth, Auchterarder and Balbeggie and the Call from the congregation of Lossiemouth to Rev. Alexander Ritchie. CONFERENCES The Committee arranged two events this year.  A meeting was held for students in the Autumn and an informal but worthwhile day was spent with the officials and Mrs Reid and Mr Ritchie.  A spring Retreat was arranged for new ministers, students and assistant ministers and pastors.  The Committee is grateful to all who assisted with these events. NEW MINISTERS The Committee would wish to express its appreciation of those who have acted as advisors to new ministers.  By all accounts the system of appointing advisors is proving beneficial to new ministers.  ENGLISH BIBLE EXAM The Committee is grateful to Rev. J. H. Alexander who has been the examiner for the English Bible Exam for a number of years.  Mr Alexander has indicated to the Committee his desire to be relieved of this task and the Committee wishes to place on record its appreciation of the work Mr Alexander has done.  Consideration is currently being given to the appointment of a new examiner. IN SERVICE  Following the closure of St Ninian's centre in Crieff, the In Service Conference for ministers and pastors was held at Carberry Tower, Mussleburgh.  A very worthwhile time of fellowship and discussion of pastoral matters was held.  Among those taking part in the programme were Vicki Shaver of ICC, Dr. Lesley McDonald of Vashti and Rev. Jim Neil.  There was some discussion and an opportunity for ministers and pastors to contribute to the discussions on the issues being addressed by the Ministry Review Group.  The Committee would continue to encourage all ministers and pastors to attend this very worthwhile event. AUCHTERARDER  The Committee continues to be encouraged by reports from our only Church Re-extension charge at Auchterarder; in particular the work among children appears to be bearing fruit. MINISTRY REVIEW GROUP REPORT The pattern of ministry in the church is changing!  The demands on ministers, the way their time is used and the nature of the job are changing.  Ministers today, in general, serve older and smaller congregations and, as people's social habits change, there is inevitably an effect on the ministry.  The population is aging but many older people remain active for longer; in families a larger number have both parents working and often for more irregular and longer hours.  This must have an effect on the pastoral work but also on the entire organisation of Church life.  So changes are inevitable.  Part of the challenge facing the ministry is how best to manage the changes forced upon us and how to set the agenda for other changes we may see as being desirable. In the United Free Church we face particular difficulties, in part at least, because of our smallness.  The number of vacancies has increased during the period of this review but the number of students has not!  A growing number of congregations find they can no longer support a full time ministry and some of those who can are finding it very difficult to do so.  Only a minority of our congregations are supporting a full time ministry on their own, a few can do so by means of a linkage and one or two more by receiving assistance from the central funds of the Church.  Some of the congregations which currently support a full time ministry can only do by drawing on capital funds which clearly are not inexhaustible.  For some other congregations the problem is not financial but a lack of human resources which means their future viability is in doubt.  In addition we have very few students and more ministers due to retire in the next few years.  This situation is not helped by the fact that there are so few young people in many of our churches thus a smaller pool from which new ministers are likely to come.  Clearly change is being forced upon us and these issues are so significant they question the future viability of the denomination.  This review of ministry is presented against this background and seeks, firstly, to state the principles on which the Church operates and which will form the basis for the future of ministry in the United Free Church.  The report will then go on to present ideas and proposals which the Committee believes are important to the development of ministry to address future and present needs and, in some cases, to amend the established practices and procedures of the Church. The United Free Church historically has recognised the distinctive nature of a Ministry of Word and Sacrament.  The Church believes that all Christians are called to service but there are some people who, in the view of the Church, have been called to and prepared for this form of service and who are set apart by Ordination for this distinctive ministry.  No attempt has been made to define 'ministry' too proscriptively but it is generally assumed to involve proclamation of the Word through teaching, preaching and pastoral care and the administration of the Sacraments The egalitarian principles of the founding Fathers of the 'continuing' Church made sure that the United Free Church was less 'clerical' than many other denominations but there was never any suggestion that the Church should not have people educated and set apart for the particular functions of the Ministry of Word and Sacrament.  The idea that anyone can do anything without regard to ability or education does not do justice to the gifts and abilities given to each individual.  The Committee would wish to reaffirm the belief that some individuals are called by God to be set apart for this particular ministry.  It is also our belief that such people need to be nurtured, educated and prepared for ministry.  The United Free Church has maintained high standards of education for the ministry and that is essential for the future well being of the Church. God still calls people to this purpose but the sense of calling needs to be explored and considered carefully and prayerfully.  It is clear that many people believe they are called but that view is not shared by others.  The church has not always been good at the difficult task of helping people who believe they are called to the ministry consider that God may not be calling them to this particular purpose.  It is often the case that those who are most anxious to become ministers may not always be those whom God is calling. Equally it is true that there are those whom God may be calling but who are not responding to the call.  It is important that every opportunity is taken to present the possibility of God's call before people so they may consider fully what God is calling them to.  It is worthwhile noting that in calling such great figures as Moses and Jeremiah, God encountered resistance and excuses and many of those God calls today may be equally reluctant to respond. Ordination  The word 'Ordination' means 'setting apart for a particular office'; in the church there is a sense of being set apart for a particular function and a recognition of certain gifts.  In its act of Ordination the Church sets people apart recognising these gifts and conferring a degree of authority.  In respect of this, therefore, the Committee firmly believes that Ordination should not be granted lightly.  It is a very significant event in the individual's life and it is the view of the Committee that Ordination should only be granted at the end of the period of preparation and when all concerned including the individual, Presbytery and the Committee agree that someone is ready for such a step.  It should never be regarded as a reward for long or distinguished service. Induction  At present most ministers are inducted to their charge, although there have been a number of instances of a minister being appointed for a particular period of time.  This raises questions about what we mean by the term 'induction'.  There are issues such as security of tenure which need to be addressed at a time when some congregations with an inducted minister are no longer able to support a full time ministry.  Any change to the status quo would have major implications for the church as a whole and for ministers in particular.  It is for this reason that the Committee has produced a discussion paper for consideration by the Church before legislation is brought to the General Assembly.  This discussion paper is found in Appendix 1. Future forms of Ministry The traditional picture is of one congregation with one minister but it is clear that this is changing and will continue to change and new forms of ministry are emerging.  There already exists a variety of models such as sole charge, linked charge, church re-extension, part time and pulpit supply, but more and different models will probably develop.  The temptation is simply to look at ways of keeping congregations in being and maintaining the system but we need to go far beyond that with imaginative ideas which will take account of the context in which the church is operating and which will connect with both the local community and society as a whole. Although the pattern will vary from place to place some suggestions of ways in which ministry might develop are offered: 1. Team Ministry: This could involve a Minister and Assistant Minister/Pastor or possibly a team of Readers covering two or three congregations.   2. Shared Ministry: At present there are number of congregations, some of which are formally linked who share a Minister.  This could be developed so that there is greater link between the congregations with some Kirk Session meetings becoming joint meetings. 3. It may be possible to share a Ministry with another denomination.  Cross denominational linkages have not happened in the U. F. Church but have worked in other small denominations.  If Presbyteries and local congregations are imaginative, new ways of working can often be found.  The Committee also needs to be proactive in encouraging new ideas and it might be helpful to hold an annual consultation between the Committee and representatives of the Presbyteries to consider a joint approach in some situations.  However, in some cases it has to be accepted that no viable form of Ministry can be offered.  It is not easy to accept that the useful life of a congregation has ended and that the members may be able to contribute more elsewhere, but that sometimes is the reality.  Too much time and finance can be spent in such situations.  As a Church we are not always very good at facing up to difficult choices but perhaps the time has come when we have to do so. Interim Moderators  Some congregations will continue to be served by an interim Moderator for a long period.  Sometimes people are confused both by the role and the title and it is worth restating what we mean when we use the term.  The word 'Moderator' in the Presbyterian Church refers to a chairman and so we have Moderators of all the church courts.  Both the General Assembly and Presbyteries usually appoint a Moderator for one year.  However the Moderator of the Kirk Session is, in most cases, the Minister of the congregation but where there is no minister the Presbytery appoints someone to act as Moderator in the 'interim' until a new minister is found.  An interim Moderator is appointed to chair the meetings of the Kirk Session and has the same authority that the minister would have as Moderator of the Kirk Session.  However the interim Moderator is in no sense an interim Minister and is not expected to carry out all the other ministerial functions. Most ministers currently are serving as interim Moderator in addition to their own charge.  The appointment of Assistant Pastors makes the situation more complex for they carry out many of the Ministerial functions but are not Moderators of Kirk Sessions The only exception to this is that where an Assistant Minister is an Ordained Minister of the United Free Church, the Presbytery may appoint them as interim Moderator.  There is a clear need for some training for all those appointed as an interim Moderator to make sure the there is a uniformity of practice and an awareness of regulations set down by the General Assembly. Professional Development The Committee is anxious to promote the personal and professional development of ministers and to encourage further study.  Ministers should be encouraged to take up Sabbatical leave and to that end some financial assistance might be considered by the Committee.  This might also be the case for part time courses. The ministry can be a very isolated profession and the old question of 'who ministers to the minister?' is a very valid one.  Alongside that is the need for all ministers to consider their own spiritual and professional needs and to make some kind of self evaluation of their work.  With this in mind it is proposed that each Presbytery appoint a suitable, experienced minister who would be available to offer Pastoral support to any minister in the Presbytery experiencing personal or professional difficulties. In addition it is recommended that the Committee appoints one to act as a Professional Advisor.  This Advisor would sit 'ex-officio' on the Committee on Ministry and Home Affairs and would meet yearly with all ministers in charges to consider their professional and personal needs.  The Advisor would require to have a good knowledge of suitable courses available and of particular conferences being held and should be able to offer advice from his or her own experience.  The Committee believes that some form of self-appraisal is necessary for ministers and view this appointment as a way of conducting this appraisal in a sensitive and positive way. Secular Employment  The Committee recognises that for some ministers some work outwith the congregation can be beneficial to both minister and congregation.  A number of ministers take on paid chaplaincies and others are involved in education.  The Committee has no wish to stop such appointments, nor is it aware of any problems relating to any such appointments, but wishes to be proactive in preventing any problems arising in the future and is therefore recommending that all such appointments are approved by Presbytery. Future needs At present there is clearly a need for more candidates for Ministry.  The fact that we have a shortage of ministers should not incline us to lower standards nor should it be a reason for changing selection practices or period of training.  There is a need for the call to Ministry to be placed before those in our Churches and for some means of encouraging those who may have a sense of calling.  Plans are underway for an 'Inquirers Course' to encourage people to consider the possibility they are being called to the ministry and to provide information for those seeking to explore the possibility. It may be worthwhile giving further consideration to the possibility of potential students spending some time with a minister in the period between his or her application and the interview with the Committee.  This could be a time of reflection while the applicant considers their call and an opportunity for the minister to give a report on how well they relate to people and how well they performed in any task given to them. New Ministers/Probationers It would seem to be important that the Committee continues to develop ways of helping new ministers in their first charge.  The recently introduced system of each new minister having an advisor seems to be proving very helpful.  As a matter of priority the Committee must give further thought and planning to In-Service training for new ministers. With different patterns of ministry emerging there is likely to be an increase in the number of Licenciates who are not Inducted into a charge.  In keeping with earlier statements in this report, in such situations Ordination should only be granted when accepting an appointment which specifically requires Ordination and only by the authority of the General Assembly or Commission of Assembly. When this happens the individual should no longer be regarded as an Ordained Probationer but a Minister of the United Free Church.  The term 'Ordained Probationer' seems no longer to have any practical significance and removing it would have little practical effect on new ministers without charge but would avoid unnecessary confusion. The rules governing the minimum stipend would require to be amended to allow a full status minister of the United Free Church, who is appointed to a congregation on a part time basis, to have their salary based on the minimum stipend rather then on the salary of an Assistant Pastor.   Assistant Pastors  The Committee is of the view that all ministers of the United Church, whether full time or part time, have the same status and also that there ought in practice to be no difference in the regulations between full time and part time pastors.  Accordingly the Committee proposes dropping the title 'Assistant' for those working on a part time basis. The Committee's policy with regard to full time pastors has, for many years, been to encourage, where possible, pastors to apply for recognition as students for the ministry.  This policy should now be extended to all applicants for part time positions.  Those appointed as Pastors should normally only be those who are not for whatever reason able to pursue such a course.  At present there would appear to be no need to employ full time Pastors. There is, however, a need to assist with the ongoing training of Pastors and the Committee is currently examining possible courses of study for Pastors.  It is likely also that successful future applicants will be expected to work with a minister for a couple of months before taking up an appointment. Neither of the above would require any changes in legislation; however there are areas which require important changes to be made.  Assistant Ministers/ Pastors are appointed for one year and are appointed to work with the interim Moderator and the Kirk Session.  There is no need for them to be elders in that congregation but they should normally be invited to meetings of the Kirk Session except, of course, when the Kirk Session meet to consider their view on whether or not the appointment should continue for a further year.  As stated earlier in the report, the interim Moderator is appointed by the Presbytery to chair the meetings of the Kirk Session and this practice must be applied uniformly.  Given that some of those appointed will not be elders and therefore not members of Presbytery or General Assembly, in the interests of equality all those appointed should be corresponding members of Presbytery with a right to attend and speak but not to vote. The only exception to this would be where an Assistant Pastor is an elder of the congregation and becomes the Commissioner to either Assembly or Presbytery.  It needs also to be emphasised that all matters relating to the selection and appointment of Assistant Ministers and Pastors should be done by the Committee.  If a congregation feels it would be helpful to advertise or knows of people who might be interested in such a position it should be done though the Committee as the employing body. Ministerial Formation  It is the considered view of the committee that it is not only best for the Church but also in the best interests of students themselves that the main thrust of education should be through the universities.  However it may be that, as part of our ministerial formation and ongoing training, consideration ought to be given to the use of the Scottish Churches Open College and the International Christian College for specialist courses. CONCLUSION There is much in this report that is of great importance to the Church, in particular with regard to future patterns of ministry.  It is to be hoped that the whole Church will give careful consideration of the issues raised and, where appropriate, they will be discussed by Presbyteries and Kirk Sessions.  It may be that the ideas in this report will provide a basis for a future vision of ministry in the United Free Church and it is therefore important that it is a vision for the whole Church.  The Committee is grateful to all who assist with its work and those who have contributed to the Ministry Review and in particular to the office staff.      In the name of the Committee      COLIN C BROWN,   Convener       MARTIN C KEANE,   Vice-Convener       DONALD MACKENZIE,  Vice-Convener       JOHN O FULTON,   Secretary

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