Frequently Asked Questions

Youth


FAQs - Pastoral Relations
This newsletter is written for the use of Ministry Personnel and the Ministry and Personnel Committee of your congregation. Please see that it gets circulated accordingly. I understand that the General Council has set a standard minimum amount for Continuing Education for Ministry Personnel. What is the amount and when does it come into effect? Does the pastoral charge have to pay this much to the minister? Yes, the 2007 Salary Schedule explains that the General Council Executive has established a minimum yearly Continuing Education and Learning Resources Allowance. The minimum allowance for 2007 is $1200. This is an entitlement and the pastoral charge cannot pay less than this amount, but they may pay more. $1200 is established as a minimum amount. The money must be spent within the year budgeted and may not be rolled into a subsequent year unless previous arrangements have been made to this effect. The allowance is to be applied to the cost of attending workshops/conferences, purchasing books and obtaining electronic resources, among other similar things, relevant to the providing of ministry. It is the responsibility of the ministry personnel to submit the receipts for their Continuing Education and any resources purchased. As has always been the case, it is expected that the Ministry Personnel will discuss their plans with the M&P Committee so that appropriate education and suitable timing for the educational event can be agreed upon. If your ministry leadership is provided on a part-time basis, then the $1200 is pro-rated to reflect the level of service provided. For example, a quarter-time (1/4) ministry position would have a Con. Ed & Learning Allowance of not less than $300. In the December 2005 FAQ you explained about the new Sabbatical Policy for Ministry Personnel in the United Church. We are a small church we don't know if we can afford it. Can you offer any suggestions? It was at the 38 th General Council, held in 2003, that the church endorsed that we develop a Sabbatical policy. At the meeting of the General Council Executive in late October 2005, a policy was passed. This policy came into effect January 1, 2006. The full details of the policy can be found on the United Church web page www.united-church.ca (click on Ministry Personnel then on Pastoral Relations then Guides and Handbooks). The United Church policy states “that every pastoral charge shall provide a paid sabbatical of at least three consecutive months to those in paid accountable ministry who have completed at least five years of service in one call or appointment.” It also states that during the sabbatical time the pastoral charge will pay the ministry personnel's regular salary and housing allowance (or provide the use of a manse) and make the regular payments to The United Church of Canada for health and pension plans, and the Employee Assistance Program, as well as Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance, as of the day prior to the commencement of the sabbatical. It can be a challenge for any congregation to insure that worship leadership and pastoral care is provided during the minister's sabbatical; however, it can also be a tremendous opportunity. The policy states that there should be a year of preparation for the Sabbatical. This is to provide sufficient time to make plans and to allow the members of the congregation to prepare for their role in leading the congregation during this time. While some congregations may feel that the only option is to employ ministry personnel during these three months (perhaps a retired minister or a minister without appointment), another possibility is to look within. Our United Church congregations have many very capable lay leaders who can provide leadership and can ably provide worship leadership and pastoral care during the three months the minister is away. Another possibility is to approach neighbouring congregations and ask for their support during this time. In one situation the pastoral charge made arrangements with their neighbouring pastoral charge that they would make a Sunday morning visit for the worship service on one Sunday and then a subsequent Sunday hosted that pastoral charge while the neigbouring minister led worship in the hosting congregation. You could contact your Presbytery E&S committee and ask if there are Theological students who would like to lead your worship service for a Sunday. This gives the student an often sought after opportunity and allows you to meet a person preparing for ministry and learn about the programme for ministry preparation. As the Sabbatical Policy is lived out I am hearing of creative ways that pastoral charges are responding to this opportunity. If you have suggestions from your experience I would be delighted to hear form you. Has the travel allowance been raised for 2007? Yes, beginning January 2007 the travel allowance for ministry personnel will be 39 cents per kilometer travelled. Ministry Personnel are wise to maintain a travel log that notes the specific details of travel undertaken in relation to pastoral responsibilities. This record in invaluable in documenting a claim for travel expenses incurred and in justifying those payments to Canada Revenue Agency should an audit happen. Travel from home to an office in the church building is considered personal travel and is not eligible for reimbursement. However, the distance between churches on a multiple point charge and the kilometers traveled for pastoral care and other duties do qualify for payment. As travel allowance is not considered taxable income, should the ministry personnel receive payments in excess of what is justifiable, those monies are understood to be taxable and are subject to income reporting. There were policy changes made at the General Council held this past August. When do they come into effect? As mentioned in the last FAQ (Sept. 2006), any policy changes effected by a decision made at General Council 39 will come into effect 90 days after the publication of the Record of Proceedings from the General Council. Generally the new manual (The Manual 2007) is published at the same time as the Record of Proceedings. The time required to write and print these publications will take several months, so we can expect them to come out sometime in 2007.

FAQs - Pastoral Relations

This newsletter is written for the use of Ministry Personnel and the Ministry and Personnel Committee of your congregation. Please see that it gets circulated accordingly.

I understand that the General Council has set a standard minimum amount for Continuing Education for Ministry Personnel. What is the amount and when does it come into effect? Does the pastoral charge have to pay this much to the minister?

Yes, the 2007 Salary Schedule explains that the General Council Executive has established a minimum yearly Continuing Education and Learning Resources Allowance. The minimum allowance for 2007 is $1200. This is an entitlement and the pastoral charge cannot pay less than this amount, but they may pay more. $1200 is established as a minimum amount. The money must be spent within the year budgeted and may not be rolled into a subsequent year unless previous arrangements have been made to this effect. The allowance is to be applied to the cost of attending workshops/conferences, purchasing books and obtaining electronic resources, among other similar things, relevant to the
providing of ministry. It is the responsibility of the ministry personnel to submit the receipts for their Continuing Education and any resources purchased.

As has always been the case, it is expected that the Ministry Personnel will
discuss their plans with the M&P Committee so that appropriate education and suitable timing for the educational event can be agreed upon.

If your ministry leadership is provided on a part-time basis, then the $1200 is pro-rated to reflect the level of service provided. For example, a quarter-time (1/4) ministry position would have a Con. Ed & Learning Allowance of not less than $300.

In the December 2005 FAQ you explained about the new Sabbatical Policy for Ministry Personnel in the United Church. We are a small church we don't know if we can afford it. Can you offer any
suggestions?

It was at the 38 th General Council, held in 2003, that the church endorsed that we develop a Sabbatical policy. At the meeting of the General Council
Executive in late October 2005, a policy was passed. This policy came into
effect January 1, 2006. The full details of the policy can be found on the United Church web page www.united-church.ca (click on Ministry Personnel then on Pastoral Relations then Guides and Handbooks). The United Church policy states “that every pastoral charge shall provide a paid sabbatical of at least three consecutive months to those in paid accountable ministry who have
completed at least five years of service in one call or appointment.” It also states that during the sabbatical time the pastoral charge will pay the ministry personnel's regular salary and housing allowance (or provide the use of a manse) and make the regular payments to The United Church of Canada for health and pension plans, and the Employee Assistance Program, as well as Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance, as of the day prior to the commencement of the sabbatical.

It can be a challenge for any congregation to insure that worship leadership and pastoral care is provided during the minister's sabbatical; however, it can also be a tremendous opportunity. The policy states that there should be a year of preparation for the Sabbatical. This is to provide sufficient time to make plans and to allow the members of the congregation to prepare for their role in leading the congregation during this time. While some congregations may feel that the only option is to employ ministry personnel during these three months (perhaps a retired minister or a minister without appointment), another possibility is to look within. Our United Church congregations have many very capable lay leaders who can provide leadership and can ably provide worship leadership and pastoral care during the three months the minister is away. Another possibility is to approach neighbouring congregations and ask for their support during this time. In one situation the pastoral charge made arrangements with their neighbouring pastoral charge that they would make a Sunday morning visit for the worship service on one Sunday and then a subsequent Sunday hosted that pastoral charge while the neigbouring minister led worship in the hosting congregation. You could contact your Presbytery E&S committee and ask if there are Theological students who would like to lead your worship service for a Sunday. This gives the student an often sought after opportunity and allows you to meet a person preparing for ministry and learn about the programme for ministry preparation. As the Sabbatical Policy is lived out I am hearing of creative ways that pastoral charges are responding to this opportunity. If you have suggestions from your experience I would be delighted to hear form you.

Has the travel allowance been raised for 2007?

Yes, beginning January 2007 the travel allowance for ministry personnel will be 39 cents per kilometer travelled. Ministry Personnel are wise to maintain a travel log that notes the specific details of travel undertaken in relation to pastoral responsibilities. This record in invaluable in documenting a claim for travel expenses incurred and in justifying those payments to Canada Revenue Agency should an audit happen. Travel from home to an office in the church building is considered personal travel and is not eligible for reimbursement. However, the distance between churches on a multiple point charge and the kilometers traveled for pastoral care and other duties do qualify for payment. As travel allowance is not considered taxable income, should the ministry personnel receive payments in excess of what is justifiable, those monies are understood to be taxable and are subject to income reporting.

There were policy changes made at the General Council held this past August. When do they come into effect?

As mentioned in the last FAQ (Sept. 2006), any policy changes effected by a decision made at General Council 39 will come into effect 90 days after the publication of the Record of Proceedings from the General Council. Generally the new manual (The Manual 2007) is published at the same time as the Record of Proceedings. The time required to write and print these publications will take several months, so we can expect them to come out sometime in 2007.