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GLEN WAVERLEY UNITING CHURCH COUNCIL

1. Information about the Joint Nominating Committee process

This page started life as JncWhatsHappening2010, which describes the Joint Nominating Process for RosemaryCarter's placement. It seems appropriate to start a new page that describes the process of a Priority Placement, since there are some differences in the process.

This page is also designed to address any confusion over the distinction between Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Pastors, and Youth Workers. Who is able to administer the sacraments? What is the composition of the JNC? What instructions are we able to give them? And so on. This document is an attempt to address these questions, and is framed as a Frequently Asked Questions document.

2. Latest News (14 Jul 2013)

• (20 Aug 2013) JNC have informed the Congregation that they would like to make a presentation to the Congregational meeting on 25 Aug 2013.
• (14 Jul 2013) A new name has been identified by Placements Committee at its meeting on 12 Jul 2013. JNC will be meeting over the next few weeks to have a conversation with this person.

3. Steps in the JNC process

This is presented as a table contrasting summarised versions of the Synod's normal process with the shorter Priority Placement process. Currently (14 Jul 2013) we are at step 7 in the priority process (second time around).

It will be seen that the process is very similar, except for the number of names that the JNC is to consider. This is because a Priority Placement seeks to shorten the process by preselecting someone with the right skills. It would be unusual for a priority placement nominee or JNC to turn down the request for priority placement.

The congregation will be kept up to date with the steps and developments of the JNC via regular reports. We are currently at step 5 in the priority process.

Here is GregCrowe's summary of progress up to 5 Jun 2013.

1. Originally the Presbytery was to seek appropriate supply Ministry and then a 2 year Interim Minister (as per Carolyn's report to the Congregation)
2. Alanee got together the retired Ministers and this seemed to cover the need for supply Ministry
3. Presbytery sought the availability of a suitable Intentional Interim Minister. There are no suitable Ministers with the Skills and expertise required for GWUC available - we sought advice from around the country.
4. Presbytery moved to lodge GWUC as a Priority Placement - with a initial term of 2 years with the option of continuing subject to a review. Presbytery lodges the profile and request for Priority Placement with Placements Committee 12th April
5. Placements Committee approves GWUC for Priority Placement but changes the Terms of Placement from an initial 2 years to the normal undefined for up to 10 years (which means the normal period of a minimum term of 5 years up to 10 years)

4. The 2013 JNC Committee

At the Congregational Meeting on 12 May 2013 (spread over 5 services), the following nominees to the JNC were approved. They were forwarded to the Presbytery on 13 May 2013.

• PeterBaker

• LynneBoyer

• JacobDavey

• GeraldineFleming

• HerbFleming

• VidaFoo

• JudyLowe

• KayeMorgan

• JitTan

5. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who is able to administer the sacraments?
A: Normally, only an ordained Minister of the Word. In special circumstances, Presbytery can give permission for non-ordained people to administer certain specified sacraments, under specific constraints. For example, Ross Mackinnon was originally granted permission to preside at holy communion only at the 8am services. Only last year was that permission extended to preside at all services. On the other hand, while Alison is able to preside at any "Seniors' Service", she does not have permission to preside at regular non-seniors services. Confusing, isn't it? (JohnHurst)

Q: Why can't retired ministers in the church help out?
A: They can, but we cannot expect them to. They are retired, after all, and entitled to some privacy! It would be quite inappropriate to expect periods of ministerial team leave to be covered automatically by retired clergy. (JohnHurst)

Q: How long must MOW or Youth Placements be for?
A: A congregation must guarantee funding for 5 years or the term of appointment, but placements are usually seen as a 10 year placement. At the 5 year mark, there is an opportunity for either party to seek to be released from the placement, whereas if either party wishes to end the relationship before the 5 year mark, either a case has to be made to Presbytery or there has been unacceptable behaviour. (WarrenGreenwood)

Q: Can a Youth placement, Pastor or Lay preacher Baptise people, Perform marriage ceremonies, Perform funerals or last rites?
A: No. See also "Who is able to administer the sacraments?" above (JohnHurst)

Q: What is the composition of the JNC? Are there special skills required?
A: Not really. The Placements Handbook identifies no constraints on the individuals, other than they are "two to six persons appointed by the Congregation(s) or other body/ies." Presbytery may authorise a larger group in special circumstances, such as "the size and complexity of the placement". Glen Waverley would have a prima facie case for such expansion. (JohnHurst)

Q: What type of committee are we looking for?
A: The are no preconceived ideas about the composition of the group nominated for the JNC, other than that they bring the right set of skills to the committee, and that they are representative of as many views in the congregation as possible. (JohnHurst)

Q: Are we selecting a team - or individuals on their own merit?
A: See the answer to the previous question. Council is adopting a French Presidential style election from the list of nominations so that as representative a group as possible might be elected. This process involves electing only two nominees per round of voting, so that councillors can revise their votes in the light of the those elected so far, with a view towards ensuring that a balance of representation in the remaining members-to-elect is achieved. (JohnHurst)

Q: Who makes the final selection and what is that selection based upon?
A: The Congregational Meeting has that responsibility. At its meeting on Monday 12 Apr 2010, the Congregation approved a motion delegating the actual selection to Council. See the previous questions on how the selection of members of the JNC is to proceed. (JohnHurst)

Q: Can a member of the ministry team be nominated?
A: This is not strictly excluded, but advice from the Presbytery is that such a nomination is unlikely to be approved. (JohnHurst)

Q: What are the differences between a Minister of the Word, a Youth placement, a Deacon/Deaconess, a Pastor. without special permissions what can each do and not do?
A: (being researched)

• Minister of the Word: Ministers of the Word serve the church in a wide range of ways. Many give leadership to congregations in diverse settings, rural and urban. Others serve in chaplaincy in hospitals, aged care centres, schools, the defence forces, and other settings. Ministers also provide pastoral, missional and educational leadership in church agencies.

• Ministry of Deacon: The Ministry of Deacon is an ordained ministry within the Uniting Church, alongside the Minister of the Word. These are mutually complementary ministries. Deacons serve the Uniting Church in many roles and settings - chaplaincy in prisons, with people with disabilities and mental illness, as youth and community workers, in congregational leadership, in community service agencies, schools, and many other places.

• Ministry of Pastor: Pastors undertake significant ministries on behalf of the church – sometimes in congregations and sometimes in other settings. A Pastor may undertake general pastoral and worship responsibilities in a congregation, be a youth worker, an evangelist or a family and children’s worker.

• Youth & Children's Ministry: The Uniting Church has had a specified ministry of youth worker for several years, however this lay ministry came within a new lay ministry of Pastor in 2008. Workers in children and family ministry roles may also be appointed as Pastors. Some pastors are employed as part-time or full-time children, youth or family workers in congregations; some as school chaplains; others with church agencies.

Only ordained minister may normally administer the sacraments (Baptism and Holy Communion), but occasionally, permission is granted for lay leaders to be able to do this. This permission is given by the Presbytery. For example, RossMackinnon in our congregation is authorised to administer Holy Communion. (JohnHurst)

Q: As I understand it Alanee is a youth work not an ordained minister, does she have special permission to administer the sacraments?
A: Your understanding is correct. No, she does not have special permission. (JohnHurst)

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