Priestfield Priestfield Parish Parish

ChurchChurch

The Unitary ConstitutionThe Unitary Constitution

The ‘Model Constitution’The ‘Model Constitution’

Steering Group

Property Committee

Finance Committee

Mission & Outreach

Leadership & Ministry

Faith & Worship

Organisations and Groups

Fellowship

Congregational Board

Kirk Session

Buildings and IdentityInternal Ministry

Reaching Out

StudentMinistry

BF

Refurb

Concerns about Status QuoConcerns about Status Quo

Overlap between the work / jurisdiction / Overlap between the work / jurisdiction / responsibility of Board and Sessionresponsibility of Board and Session

Artificial separation of spiritual/temporalArtificial separation of spiritual/temporal Recruitment of elders and Board membersRecruitment of elders and Board members Who makes decisions about strategic Who makes decisions about strategic

direction - and when?direction - and when?

Structure under UCStructure under UC

Property Committee

Finance Committee

Mission & OutreachLeadership

& Ministry

Faith & Worship

Organisations and Groups

Fellowship

KirkSession

Buildings and Identity

Steering Group

Business Forum: committee reps to help smooth working and generate ideas

StudentMinistry

Reaching Out

Internal Ministry

Business Forum

Committee StructureCommittee Structure

This structure will only work with clear remits, appropriate delegation and

accountability in a spirit of trust – no constant multiple discussion

We need to make sure that we have the right committees to carry forward the

work we want to do

Purposes of the Business Forum

A place to coordinate the work of Committees – identify overlap, smooth

rough edges, supportive critical assessment

A place to generate ideas – iron sharpening iron, reflecting on the ‘big

picture,’ ‘blue-sky thinking’

Committee StructureCommittee Structure

Concerns for Future under UCConcerns for Future under UC

Would Fabric & Finance dominate KS Would Fabric & Finance dominate KS discussion?discussion?

What would be the future role of What would be the future role of current Board members?current Board members?

How can we take account of the How can we take account of the ‘democratic deficit’?‘democratic deficit’?

How would this affect me?How would this affect me?

How will it work?How will it work?

ConcernWould Fabric & Finance dominate KS discussion?

Requires management of the agenda and a culture of trust – don’t discuss everything at least twice!

How will it work?How will it work?

ConcernWhat would be the future role of current Board members?

All Board members elected by congregation would be invited to be elders – when consulted most indicated they would decline the invitation, but are willing to serve on a committee.

How will it work?How will it work?

ConcernHow can we take account of the ‘democratic deficit’?

Have several Congregational Meetings in the year to report and invite comment.

How will it work?How will it work?

ConcernHow would this affect me?

Most Congregational Members would not notice the difference to the running of the Church.

Relationship of Committees to Kirk SessionRelationship of Committees to Kirk Session

The Kirk Session is the body charged with making any decision regarding

congregational affairs, and any challenge [to the decision of a

committee], whether by dissent or appeal, would be against the decision of the Kirk Session, not a committee.

The Kirk Session is, therefore, responsible for any decisions made on

its behalf.GUIDELINES FOR OPERATING THE DEED OF CONSTITUTION (UNITARY FORM)

ReviewReview

A review of the Committee Structure of the Kirk Session could take place after some time, mindful of the guidelines attached to the UC.

Where do we go from here?Where do we go from here?

Think – is this a path we want to take?

Present resolution to the Congregation for approval on 10 Oct – recommended by Session and Board

Convey to the Presbytery for acceptance and forward transmission to the Delegation of Assembly

Delegation of Assembly grants Deed of Unitary Constitution (Aim for 1 January 2011)

The Process of Change:The Process of Change:Towards being a Missional ChurchTowards being a Missional Church

We have already made some minor We have already made some minor changes to how we workchanges to how we work

The adoption of the UC would be a The adoption of the UC would be a logical step forward to rationalise logical step forward to rationalise meetings and free up timemeetings and free up time

We need to continue to adapt our We need to continue to adapt our priorities and ways of working in line priorities and ways of working in line with the terms of the Reviewable with the terms of the Reviewable TenureTenure