That the Assembly request the Standing Committee, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, to amend Regulation 2.13.11(c) to remove the normal ten-year maximum for recognition of a person as Lay Pastor.

Rationale:
The Sixth Assembly designated the ministry of lay pastor as a specified ministry of the Church [Minute 91.13.10 (b)]. The same Assembly determined that the "role of lay pastor be recognised as essentially a short-term one, and that a lay pastor should not normally continue in this ministry beyond ten years [Minute 91,13,10(f)]. This determination has been included in the Regulations, but not the Constitution.

This limitation does not apply to any of the other specified ministries.

In the nine years since the Sixth Assembly there have been many changes in the Church, and one of the most significant has been the burgeoning number of lay persons involved in full time or part time salaried or stipended ministry positions. The Uniting Church is or has been well served by lay persons serving as lay chaplain, children's ministry worker, pastoral assistant, presbytery minister, and (at least in Victoria) as parish assistants. Many of the people serving in these roles are graduates in theology and have made a long-term commitment to ministry.

A further change took place at the Eighth Assembly where the ministry of lay pastor was re-defined, to be seen as a ministry in its own right, and not simply to assist a Minister of the Word. This redefinition, and the new Regulations governing qualifications, training and accountability have given some synods new confidence to recognise lay pastors, and in particular to consider granting lay pastor status to some who have been in effective long term lay ministry in a salaried or stipended position.

However the present limitation of a normal maximum of lay pastor status to ten years is a disincentive to the church in encouraging suitable persons to apply for candidature, and to such persons accepting the challenge.

Removal of this limitation would open up the ministry to a larger number of people, and bring a larger number of lay persons into a ministry which gives the people concerned clearer status within the Church, brings the people concerned more clearly under the discipline of the Church, grants them membership of the presbytery in which they serve, and strengthens the Church's capacity to provide oversight of the ministry. ;

50. DELETION OF REGULATION 3.4.18 (Synod of Victoria)

That the Assembly request the Standing Committee, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, to delete Regulation 3.4.18, namely

"Term of Appointment
Lay persons who are members of Presbytery pursuant to Regulation 3.4.15(b)(ii) and (c) shall be elected or appointed for a period of one year and shall be eligible for re-election or re-appointment up to a total of ten consecutive years and shall not then be re-elected or re-appointed until one year after ceasing to be a member."

Rationale:
This proposal was brought by the Presbytery of Mitchell, a country presbytery which has sometimes had difficulty with key lay members being ruled ineligible for membership when their gifts and experience are very valuable to the presbytery.

The presbytery believes that the current regulations are inconsistent on this matter as people can remain as presbytery members by virtue of other regulations.

It is also discriminatory in that the regulation does not apply to ordained members of presbytery.

51. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSAL 16.3(f) (Strategic Planning Unit - report C21)

The Strategic Planning Unit advises it wishes to present proposal 16.3(f) in this amended form:

(f) identify potential regional congregations within their bounds, support the development of such regional congregations and report to meetings of the Synod on such developments;

52. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSAL 28 (Synod of New South Wales)

That the Assembly add the following to Lead Roles [Synod]:

"Co-ordination of placements.
Processing of applications for reception of ministers from other communions."

Rationale:
Placements issues are a major responsibility of Synods, through Placement Committees. There is a significant role which needs to be recognised. While Assembly determines standards for reception of ministers, it is the task of synods to process applications and to determine what further study etc is required before a minister can be received into the Uniting Church.

53. ALTERNATIVE TO PROPOSAL 34 (Synod of New South Wales)

That the Assembly request the Standing Committee, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, to amend Regulations as follows:

(a) amend Regulation 3.1.13 (b) by the addition of a new sub-section to read:
"(vi) permitting only such persons to preside at worship and preach as may be appointed in a manner determined by the Minister(s) of the Congregation or, in the absence of a Minister in placement, by the Presbytery Pastoral Relations Committee;"
and re-number the existing sub-sections (vi) - (xi) to (vii) - (xii);

(b) amend Regulation 3.4.38 (c) by the addition of a new sub-section to read:
"(x) to determine the manner of appointment of persons to preside at worship and preach in a Congregation during times when there is no Minister in placement."

Rationale:
The Executive Committee of the NSW Synod believes proposal 34 represents a change of polity from the previous regulations, and a shift in the way Minister and Church Council ought to share responsibility for worship. While it was in the regulations as a property issue, it can be developed as a worship issue.

Our proposal restores the provision which is found in previous Regulations, and respects the shared task that was in those Regulations. The phrase relating to the role of the PRC is a reminder of the responsibilities of Presbyteries during periods when there is no Minister in Placement.

54. INTENTIONAL INTERIM MINISTRY (Presbytery of Eyre)

That the Assembly:

54.1 recognise the importance of Intentional Interim Ministry for congregations where a long ministry is concluding or where there are special circumstances or difficult relationships which impede the life and mission of the congregation;

54.2 establish a working group to consider how the Church may best provide for Intentional Interim Ministry, including consideration of the need for training and resources to facilitate the ministry;

54.3 determine that the working group consist of five people, to be drawn from at least three Synods, to be appointed by the Standing Committee;

54.4 authorise the Standing Committee to act upon receipt of the report of the working group, including any necessary amendments to Regulations;

54.5 request the working group to report to the Standing Committee no later than July 2002.

Rationale:
Our Placements regulations acknowledge this ministry, and we understand that the Assembly (through the NSW Centre for Ministry) run training programmes to equip ministers with the practice and required skills at a basic level.

There does not seem to be provision for further training in Australia, and much of the Church does not as yet understand this ministry. Those who have been trained seek this further equipping.

The experience in the South Australian Synod is that those who were supported by the Synod to complete the training are all in recognised 'normal' placements and therefore not free to be appointed to placements requiring Intentional Interim Ministry. This has come about, partly, because there is no financial provision to support IIM's between placements.

We believe it is imperative that there be a debriefing and adjustment time between each placement because of the unique nature of this ministry. It would be useful for Assembly to suggest financial conditions which build into figures sufficient remuneration to allow up to two months stipend at the conclusion of each placement. This would effectively mean that IIM would be a more 'expensive' ministry, but nevertheless a very vital one.

55. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSAL 21 (Presbyteries of Swan and Stirling)

The presbyteries wish to alter the wording of the second part of proposal 21, following discussion with Unity and International Mission. The rationale is unchanged.

That the Assembly:

55.1 acknowledge the difficulties being experienced by small rural congregations in sustaining their ministry, and affirm the need for them to be given encouragement, freedom and flexibility to initiate/negotiate arrangements with other denominations which meet the needs of local situations, and
55.2 request Unity and International Mission, as a matter of urgency, to:
(a) initiate (or revive) dialogue with other denominations at the highest level to explore ways in which Christian ministry might be more effectively provided in small rural centres, and
(b) encourage Synods and rural Presbyteries to encourage and foster local ecumenical initiatives to enhance Christian life and witness in rural communities.