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Assembly Policies
PRINCIPLES TO GUIDE THE GENERAL SECRETARY
TO EXERCISE HER/HIS MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Principle 1
The Assembly has responsibility for determining the directions, values,
goals and policies for the Assembly. Between meetings of the Assembly
the ASC fulfils this responsibility, and as part of its general oversight,
the ASC also has the role of articulating and monitoring the directions,
values, goals and policies determined by the Assembly.
Principle 2
At its first meeting following each Assembly the ASC will carefully clarify
and spell out the directions, values and goals identified by the Assembly
in its various decisions, and so provide:
- i. a focus for the work of the ASC for the following triennium, and
- ii. a framework to enable Assembly agencies to be clear about the
directions required of them for the ensuing term.
Principle 3
Implementation of the directions, values and goals of the Assembly is
a shared responsibility of the ASC, agencies, committees and staff. It
is the responsibility of the General Secretary to co-ordinate, oversight
and manage this implementation, and this responsibility is limited only
by those matters or processes determined by decision of the Assembly/ASC.
Principle 4
As an expression of the accountability of the General Secretary to the
Assembly/ASC, the General Secretary will present to each ordinary meeting
of the ASC a detailed report on the way in which a selection of agencies
are fulfilling the goals, directions and values of the Assembly, ensuring
that within each triennium there is at least one report on each agency.
Principle 5
The ASC will adopt a policy of “GENERAL SECRETARY LIMITATIONS”
as follows:
The General Secretary’s ministry shall be exercised
in ways which are consistent with the authority and roles inherent in
the position description, and which respect the authority and roles of
others (e.g. the President). Within the management function of this ministry
the General Secretary shall not:
- Make and/or implement decisions in ways that are inconsistent with
the Basis of Union, Constitution or Regulations of the Uniting Church
in Australia
- Disregard the authority and decisions of the Assembly/ASC.
- Act in contravention of Federal or State legislation.
- Act outside the budget directions given by the Assembly/ASC
- Change the geographical location of the principal office of the Assembly
or the location of particular staff/agencies without the prior permission
of the ASC.
Principle 6
The General Secretary has authority to appoint and dismiss all staff,
subject only to the following:
- Congress Personnel do not fall under the management authority of
the Assembly General Secretary.
- The Associate General Secretary shall be appointed by the Assembly
Standing Committee.
- National Directors shall be appointed by the General Secretary, after
following JNC processes, with a JNC Chaired by the General Secretary
(or nominee) and including two other voting members of the ASC, appointed
by the ASC. All appointments of National Director be reported to the
ASC for information.
- All other staff shall be appointed by the General Secretary –
but on the understanding that the General Secretary may delegate the
selection to a National Director or other senior staff. Where the position
is one which may be filled by a Minister of the Word, Deacon, Youth
Worker or Lay Pastor the processes of a JNC should be followed as far
as practicable.
- Subject to the provisions of industrial legislation, termination
of the appointment of the Associate General Secretary or any National
Director, related to performance, may be decided only as a result of
a review initiated by the General Secretary. The review shall be undertaken
by a team of three persons consisting of the General Secretary and two
others (at least one of whom will be a member of the ASC) appointed
by the President.
- Termination of the appointment of other lay staff, related to performance,
will be as agreed by the General Secretary and the person’s supervisor,
provided that the provisions of industrial legislation are followed.
- Termination of the appointment of ministers in placement, related
to performance, will be initiated by the General Secretary, in consultation
with the minister and other bodies concerned [Reg 2.7.8 ( c )]
- When a member of staff is within the first four months of the last
twelve months of their term of appointment the General Secretary will
arrange for a review of the appointment. For those positions in which
the ASC has participated in the selection and/or appointment of the
person, the ASC will select two of its voting members to participate
in the review and determine if re-appointment should be offered. This
assumes that as a matter of course the General Secretary has, as a matter
of good management practice, determined if the position should be maintained/altered
in terms of the goals set by the Assembly.
Principle 7
All Assembly staff are ultimately accountable to the General Secretary.
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