GWUC Life and Witness Consultation

Recommendations for the next period of GWUC’s Life

That GWUC

  1. Recognise that the roles of Church Council is first and foremost spiritual oversight and leadership.

Basis of Union 1992 Ed
The Elder’s or Leaders Meeting - the council within a congregation or group of congregations consists of the minister and those who are called to share with the minister in oversight. It is responsible for building up the congregation in faith and love, sustaining its members in hope, and leading them into a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world.

Regulations 2012 RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH COUNCIL
3.1.2 (a) The Church Council shall give priority in its life to building up the Congregation in faith and love, sustaining members in hope, and leading the Congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world. This priority shall be reflected in the agenda of its ordinary meetings.

  1. In order to establish a church council with the focus above, resolve that
    1. The Congregation meeting to be held in June elect 10 confirmed members who will form a Church Council along with those in approved Presbytery Placements and up to 2 co-options as required in the regulations.

    2. All Church Council members be elected as Elders and fulfil the obligations of the office of Elder as outlined in the Regulations.

      • (All Current Elders and Church Council members, should they believe they are gifted and called, offer to stand for election to the proposed Church Council and as Elders. The term of the Current Church Council members will conclude upon the election of the new Church Council)
        (All elected members of Church Council will be elected as Elders to fulfil the UCA Regulations that at least half the Council be Elders.)
        (All Current Elders will continue as Elders for their elected term. Those who chose not to stand for election to the new Church Council may designate one of the Missional or Task groups of the Church where they wish to continue to exercise their ministry of Elder)

    3. 1/2 of the elected membership of The Church Council to be under the age of 55 (noting the requirement that they receive a majority vote from the congregation) (In the interviews it was pointed out by older people that there were many older people in the roles, that they are getting tired and that younger people should be stepping up. This new structure is an opportunity not only to go to a structure that younger people will be able to be a part of but to positively engage them in leadership as something more than “the youth representative”. There are many people in this age group exercising spiritual leadership who could contribute positively.) d. That the positions be for an initial 2 years with the option of re-election for another period of 2 years. e. The Congregation on recommendation from the New Church Council
      1. Appoint a Chairperson from those members elected to the new Church Council. The Chairperson of the Church Council will also be the Chairperson of the Congregation Meeting.
      2. Appoint or co-opt a Secretary, who will also act as Secretary to the Congregation meeting.
      3. Appoint from the new Church Council or co-opt a Treasurer.
  2. The Church Council will
    1. normally meet 10 times a year and appoint the missional groups and task groups as required
    2. ensure that each missional group, the finance and the property committee and ongoing task groups will have a member of Church Council amongst their membership and conversely each Church Councillor will be a member of one of the missional groups, finance or property groups or one of their permanent task groups. Church Councillors will be appointed according to their giftedness and calling.
    3. Establish a meeting structure where
      1. As far as is possible committees and task groups who find it best to meet at night will also meet monthly and will meet on the same night of the week as each other.
      2. Quarterly there will be a joint meeting where all missional groups, committees and task groups are asked to attend. There will be opportunities to pray, worship and share together the directions of the church
      3. There are 2 – 6 Congregational forums to explore directions for the future, offer input into the directions for the church on these matters and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
  3. The congregation
    1. shall continue to meet three times annually for the purposes of completing the governance matters of the Congregation as required by the regulations.

From GregCrowe 2013March8