28. STANDING COMMITTEE RE CHURCH STRUCTURES (report C6)

That the Assembly:

28.1 adopt the following statement of core functions of councils of the Church:

"CONGREGATION
(Basis of Union 15a; Constitution 22)

Distinctive Responsibilities
To be the embodiment in one place of the one holy catholic and apostolic church, worshipping, witnessing and serving as a fellowship of the Spirit in Christ. [Reg 3.1.1(a)]
Formation of a Church Council [Reg 3.1.11-3.1.27]

Lead Roles [Regulation 3.1.1(b)]
Worship, witness and service
Nurture of people in faith hope and love
Education of members in Christian faith and discipleship
Planning equipping and resourcing for mission and evangelism
Response to community and personal needs through pastoral care, liturgies, and local community development/action
Fostering co-operation with congregations of other denominations

PRESBYTERY
(Basis of Union 15c; Constitution 26)

Distinctive Responsibilities
Pastoral and administrative oversight of congregations, Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Deaconesses, Youth Workers, Lay Pastors and Community Ministers (Regulation 3.4.4)
Ordination of Ministers of the Word and Deacons (Regulation 2.3.1)
Recognition of lay preachers (Regulation 2.8.6),
Commissioning of Youth Workers (Reg. 2.9.19) community ministers (Regulation 2.12.13) and lay pastors (Regulation 2.7.22).

Lead Roles (Regulation 3.4.4.)
Oversight and support of congregations
Promotion of the wider aspects of the work of the Church
Development and oversight of regional mission strategies
Instruction of Church members towards a better understanding and a fuller participation in witness and service
Placement and oversight, including discipline, of Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Deaconesses, Youth Workers, Lay Pastors and Community Ministers.

SYNOD
(Basis of Union 15d; Constitution 32)

Distinctive Responsibilities
Administration and co-ordination of physical resources, including property and finance (Regulation 3.5.11)
Provision of specialist staff
Formation and dissolution of presbyteries [Regulation 3.5.12(b)]
Oversight of the Church's schools and colleges

Lead Roles (Regulations 3.5.11 and 12)
General oversight, direction and administration of the church's worship witness and service.
Development and promotion, with presbyteries, of a vision for mission.
Oversight of and liaison with presbyteries.
Response to complaints and grievances.
Provision of ministerial education and forma-tion, including determination of applications for candidature.
Development and promotion of ecumenical relationships ministry and mission.
Support of the national and international life of the church.
Establishment of such boards and agencies as are appropriate for carrying out its
responsibilities.

ASSEMBLY
(Basis of Union 15e; Constitution 38)

Distinctive Responsibilities
Determining responsibility for doctrine, worship, government and discipline (Constitution 38a)
Ecumenical relationships, including measures towards the wider union of the church (Constitution 38b)
Establishment of standards of ministerial education (Constitution 38a)
Determination of standards for the reception of ministers from other communions (Constitution 16)
International relationships (Constitution 38b)
Formation and dissolution of synods

Lead Roles (Regulation 3.6.5)
General oversight and promotion of the life and mission of the church
Education of Church members in the matters for which the Assembly has distinctive responsibility
Liaison with Aboriginal and Islander Australians
The address, by word and action, of matters of national importance
Guiding decisions on the tasks and authority to be exercised by other councils
Ensuring the provision of ministry in remote areas of Australia."

28.2 welcome the increasing development across councils/sectors of the church of more flexible structures, both formal and informal, through which there is a greater sharing of resources and engagement in the life and mission of the church;

28.3 request synods, in the exercise of their responsibilities under Reg 3.5.12(a) and (b), to ensure that each presbytery is equipped with or has access to the human and financial resources required to fulfil the presbytery's diverse pastoral, missional and administrative functions;

28.4 request synods and presbyteries to consider further which of their functions can be exercised in co-operation, or by one synod/presbytery on behalf of other synods/presbyteries, to achieve greater efficiencies and effectiveness in the use of human and financial resources;

28.5 require the Standing Committee to regularly re-evaluate the distribution of human and financial resources in the Assembly and, after receiving advice from the Management Advisory Group, report to the Assembly whether any non-core functions are being continued.

Rationale:
See report C6.