Frequently Asked Questions

Youth


FAQs - Pastoral Relations
An occasional newsletter of *Frequently Asked Questions* in the area of Pastoral Relations … What does it mean to be ‘Retained on the Roll of Presbytery’? When a person enters the Order of Ministry, the person becomes a member of the Presbytery in which they are settled. If a member of the Order of Ministry is not serving in a Pastoral Charge but is exercising their ministry in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry, they are then ‘retained on the roll’ of the Presbytery. The person must apply annually to be considered for this. The Presbytery must then consider the nature of the work and the person’s relationship to the pension fund. (The Manual 2004 314 (d),ii ) The Presbytery votes, as a court, on the action to retain those names presented to it. The requirement to apply annually does not apply to a member of the Order of Ministry who is serving a United Church appointment (e.g. General Council staff, United Church Professor at a Theological school, Chaplain, Overseas Personnel or Outreach Ministry). What is a Presbytery Recognized Ministry? The definition is set out in The Manual Section 001. “Presbytery Recognized Ministry means a Pastoral Charge or any other ministry recognized by a Presbytery as a valid exercise of Christian ministry, in accordance with criteria developed from time to time by the appropriate General Council unit.” It does not have to be a United Church Ministry or accountable to the Presbytery but rather one recognized by the Presbytery as a valid exercise of Christian ministry. What is the meaning of the phrase “covenanted relationship”? Section 314(d)i. Of The Manual states: “A member of the Order of Ministry who is not serving in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry must be in a covenant relationship with a Congregation or other Presbytery Recognized Ministry in order to be considered for the retention of their name on the roll of the Presbytery, unless the Presbytery grants an exception.” In an Opinion (September 26, 2002) General Secretary Jim Sinclair states, “The Presbytery has a duty to provide an Act of Covenant where the relationship involves a United Church ministry accountable to the Presbytery. There is a duty to provide an Act of Covenant for Presbytery Recognized Ministries, other than United Church ministries accountable to the Presbytery. In my opinion, Section 314 (d)i. contemplates that the Presbytery has the option – but not the duty – of creating a covenant relationship where the member of the Order of Ministry is serving in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry. If the member is serving a Presbytery Recognized Ministry the member will only be eligible for retention on the roll in the Presbytery which has exercised this option to create a covenant relationship.” Well, then what are the circumstances for Presbytery to grant an exception? No specific criteria are set out in Section 314 of The Manual. In making this decision the Presbytery could consider any relevant circumstances. For example, the reason that the member of the Order of Ministry is not in a covenanted relationship, the type of work in which the member is currently engaged and whether that work arrangement is expected to be short-term or indeterminate. If a person is on a disability leave are they automatically retained on the roll of Presbytery even if they are no longer in a pastoral relationship? A person who in on Long Term Disability but continues in a pastoral relationship is automatically retained on the roll of Presbytery and does not need to apply for retention on the role. However, if a person is on Long Term Disability and the pastoral relationship is severed than the minister needs to apply annually to be retained on the roll. The action to retain those on the roll in these cases should be initiated by the Presbytery so they can be fully aware of all those under their care and oversight. This includes Lay Pastoral Ministers. Is a Member of the Order of Ministry who retires considered ‘retained on the roll’? No. That person, in retirement, continues to be a member on the roll of the Presbytery in which they reside. The Manual 2004 310 (a) iv. Is a Lay Pastoral Minister/Staff Associate retained on the roll after their retirement? No, as of Oct. 4, 2004. At the 28th General Council, which met in 2003, a remit was passed which states that when a Lay Pastoral Minister retires or is without appointment, they revert to being a member of the congregation. Previously, a Lay Pastoral Ministry/Staff Associate was a member of the Presbytery in which they retired if they were in an appointment at the time of their retirement. There have been instances over the past years when a Lay Pastoral Minister has transferred between Conferences and have then been considered Lay Pastoral Ministers and members of the presbytery in their new community. This will no longer be the case. With the enactment of the remit, Lay Pastoral Ministers/ Staff Associates who are without appointment or who retire will become members of a congregation. A Presbytery could name the person a ‘Member-at-Large’ if they chose to do so.

FAQs - Pastoral Relations

An occasional newsletter of Frequently Asked Questions in the area of Pastoral Relations …

What does it mean to be ‘Retained on the Roll of Presbytery’?

When a person enters the Order of Ministry, the person becomes a member of the Presbytery in which they are settled. If a member of the Order of Ministry is not serving in a Pastoral Charge but is exercising their ministry in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry, they are then ‘retained on the roll’ of the Presbytery. The person must apply annually to be considered for this. The Presbytery must then consider the nature of the work and the person’s relationship to the pension fund. (The Manual 2004 314 (d),ii ) The Presbytery votes, as a court, on the action to retain those names presented to it. The requirement to apply annually does not apply to a member of the Order of Ministry who is serving a United Church appointment (e.g. General Council staff, United Church Professor at a Theological school, Chaplain, Overseas Personnel or Outreach Ministry).

What is a Presbytery Recognized Ministry?

The definition is set out in The Manual Section 001. “Presbytery Recognized Ministry means a Pastoral Charge or any other ministry recognized by a Presbytery as a valid exercise of Christian ministry, in accordance with criteria developed from time to time by the appropriate General Council unit.” It does not have to be a United Church Ministry or accountable to the Presbytery but rather one recognized by the Presbytery as a valid exercise of Christian ministry.

What is the meaning of the phrase “covenanted relationship”?

Section 314(d)i. Of The Manual states: “A member of the Order of Ministry who is not serving in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry must be in a covenant relationship with a Congregation or other Presbytery Recognized Ministry in order to be considered for the retention of their name on the roll of the Presbytery, unless the Presbytery grants an exception.”

In an Opinion (September 26, 2002) General Secretary Jim Sinclair states, “The Presbytery has a duty to provide an Act of Covenant where the relationship involves a United Church ministry accountable to the Presbytery. There is a duty to provide an Act of Covenant for Presbytery Recognized Ministries, other than United Church ministries accountable to the Presbytery. In my opinion, Section 314 (d)i. contemplates that the Presbytery has the option – but not the duty – of creating a covenant relationship where the member of the Order of Ministry is serving in a Presbytery Recognized Ministry. If the member is serving a Presbytery Recognized Ministry the member will only be eligible for retention on the roll in the Presbytery which has exercised this option to create a covenant relationship.”

Well, then what are the circumstances for Presbytery to grant an exception?

No specific criteria are set out in Section 314 of The Manual. In making this decision the Presbytery could consider any relevant circumstances. For example, the reason that the member of the Order of Ministry is not in a covenanted relationship, the type of work in which the member is currently engaged and whether that work arrangement is expected to be short-term or indeterminate.

If a person is on a disability leave are they automatically retained on the roll of Presbytery even if they are no longer in a pastoral relationship?

A person who in on Long Term Disability but continues in a pastoral relationship is automatically retained on the roll of Presbytery and does not need to apply for retention on the role. However, if a person is on Long Term Disability and the pastoral relationship is severed than the minister needs to apply annually to be retained on the roll. The action to retain those on the roll in these cases should be initiated by the Presbytery so they can be fully aware of all those under their care and oversight. This includes Lay Pastoral Ministers.

Is a Member of the Order of Ministry who retires considered ‘retained on the roll’?

No. That person, in retirement, continues to be a member on the roll of the Presbytery in which they reside. The Manual 2004 310 (a) iv.

Is a Lay Pastoral Minister/Staff Associate retained on the roll after their retirement?

No, as of Oct. 4, 2004. At the 28th General Council, which met in 2003, a remit was passed which states that when a Lay Pastoral Minister retires or is without appointment, they revert to being a member of the congregation. Previously, a Lay Pastoral Ministry/Staff Associate was a member of the Presbytery in which they retired if they were in an appointment at the time of their retirement. There have been instances over the past years when a Lay Pastoral Minister has transferred between Conferences and have then been considered Lay Pastoral Ministers and members of the presbytery in their new community. This will no longer be the case. With the enactment of the remit, Lay Pastoral Ministers/ Staff Associates who are without appointment or who retire will become members of a congregation. A Presbytery could name the person a ‘Member-at-Large’ if they chose to do so.