9th Assembly Proposals Standing Committee (15)

15. STANDING COMMITTEE (General report - C4)

That the Assembly:

15.1 Review of the ministry of deacon

establish a review of the ministry of deacon within the Uniting Church in Australia, with the following terms of reference:

Purpose of the Review
the overall purpose of the review is
· to clarify the Uniting Church's understanding of the ministry of deacon,
· to assess the church's experience of the ministry,
· to seek ways of further enhancing the ministry of deacon,
· to further the diaconal ministry of the church, and
· to bring a report to the 2003 Assembly.

The review will include consideration of:
1. the vision for the diaconate expressed in section 3.6.2 of the 1991 report "Ministry in the Uniting Church in Australia";
2. the Church's objectives in diaconal ministry, and what changes are needed for the Church to meet those objectives more effectively;
3. the education and training of deacons;
4. deacons and the processes of ministerial placement;
5. support structures for deacons;
6. the accountability of deacons;
7. how the ministry of deacon is enabling the Church to develop its theology and praxis of service in a needy world;
8. how deacons contribute to the wider life and mission of the whole church, including the participation of deacons in synod, Assembly and ecumenical bodies;
9. other factors and issues which the review group believes are relevant to the purpose of the review.

Among documents to which the review group refers shall be:
§ the Report on Ministry in the Uniting Church in Australia 1991;
§ the Constitution and Regulations of the Uniting Church in Australia 1999;
§ the interim rules for the course of study for the ministry of deacon 1992.

The review group shall arrange for research and consultation as appropriate, within the constraints of the annual budgets approved by the Standing Committee. Among those consulted shall be:
§ deacons
§ those with whom deacons have been and are in ministry
§ ministers of the Word
§ candidates for the ministry of deacon
§ synods
§ presbyteries (not necessarily all presbyteries)
§ Ministerial Education Commission working group on ministry of deacon
§ Assembly agencies
§ theological colleges
§ community service agencies.

The review group shall be appointed by the Standing Committee in 2000 and will include:
§ one nominee of Diakonia UCA;
§ one member of the Assembly Task Group on Ministry 1988-1991;
§ one Synod Secretary;
§ one nominee of the Ministerial Education Commission;
§ one member of the Standing Committee;
§ up to two others; one of whom shall be designated by the Standing Committee as chairperson and at least three synods are to be represented in the membership.

The review group is to bring its report and recommendations to the Tenth Assembly in 2003, and may make progress reports to the Standing Committee. The budget is expected to be around $25,000 for the period of November 2000 to May 2003, and is to allow for two or three meetings per year of the review group, commissioning of research and processes of consultation. The provision of administrative support may be negotiated with the National Secretariat.

Rationale:
See report C4 paragraph 31.1. These proposed terms of reference follow an initiative of Diakonia UCA. Standing Committee slightly amended the proposed terms of reference which had been approved by the National Executive of Diakonia UCA, following consultation with Synod Secretaries. Diakonia UCA has prepared a summary of the key elements of the 1991 vision for the ministry of deacon, from the 1991 Report on Ministry, which will be passed on to the review group.

15.2 Referral of matters to the incoming Standing Committee

refer to the Standing Committee, the following matters which have been considered but not concluded by the outgoing Standing Committee:

· inter-conciliar relationships;
· matters relating to the rental costs and location of the Sydney Assembly office;
· membership in the Uniting Church - definitions, categories, privileges and responsibilities;
· agreement on cross-Tasman relationships;
· future of the Cato Visitor Committee;
· approval of the policy document "Policy for dealing with a complaint of sexual misconduct made against a member or adherent of the Uniting Church in Australia" ;
· more equitable distribution of resources across the councils of the church;
· levels of financial contributions to the Assembly from synods and possible new and increased sources of income for the Assembly;
· consideration of policy matters arising from contracts between the Federal Government and Wesley Uniting Employment;
· consideration of recommendations from the national consultation on public relations strategy;
· any follow-up after comment is received on possible concerns re the ministry of Youth Worker;
· possible amendments to Regulations on Ministerial Education Boards and the Ministerial Education Commission;
· the promotional and financial needs of the Northern Synod.

Rationale:
In relation to the matters listed in proposal 15.2, see report C4 paragraph 41.1. Reference is made in paragraph 41.1 to the progress report on each item found within report C4. See also report C5 paragraph 5.5. Note that Standing Committee has power to act on these matters, under Constitution clause 47 and Regulation 3.6.26, unless the Assembly determines otherwise. This proposal thus leaves it to the discretion of the incoming Standing Committee to decide whether it takes immediate action on any of the listed matters or waits to bring a report and proposals to the Tenth Assembly.