Pastoral Committee

Fields of Responsibility:

There will be four meetings a year: 3 of the Core Group and one full annual meeting, at which the annual report will be received from each Area Partnership (AP). A further meeting will take place of the Convener; Secretary and APPAs, inviting those appropriate to the agenda to attend. Area Partnership Pastoral Advocates (APPA) will be encouraged to raise items on the Core Group agenda and will be invited to attend where appropriate.

Generally to sustain and develop an overall vision for the way the ministry of the church serves the cause of the gospel in the Synod, and in particular always asking what the ecumenical implications are:

1. to co-ordinate the work of those responsible for specific aspects of ministry in the Synod, including lay preaching, other lay leadership, training and care of retired ministers, their spouses or widows/widowers;
2. to oversee Ministerial Accompanied Self-Appraisals (MASA);
3. to oversee the process and to receive Local Ministry and Mission Reviews (LMMR);
4. to approve on behalf of Synod of candidates and ordinands for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments and of candidates for CRCW ministry;
5. to arrange Enquirers’ Conferences;
6. to make strategic decisions in consultation with pastorates, and give advice on constitutional and/or resource aspects of local situations, including commendation of Special Ministries, LEPs and Ecumenical Areas;
7. to encourage a strong Synod relationship to the whole ecumenical scene;
8. to handle related matters that are passed for comment or action by an Area Partnership/Area of Ecumenical Cooperation, Synod or General Assembly;
9. to consider special category ministers, CRCWs and deployment aspects of new church developments;
10. to provide TLS support;
11. to decide ministerial deployment within the target agreed with Assembly in consultation with Area Partnerships; and to manage the ministerial vacancy process, including giving (or where pastorally necessary withholding) concurrence to a call.
12. to exercise oversight and care of local churches by: (a) establishing Area Partnerships and Areas of Ecumenical Cooperation; and (b) giving concurrence to proposed church groupings

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Committee Members:

Core Group:

• Convener and Ministries Director - Revd Bill Mahood
• Secretary - Mrs Jean McAslan
• Advocate for Health & Healing - Revd Mary Irish 
• Advocate for Lay Preachers - Mrs Milly Dalgleish
• Advocate for Spirituality - vacant
• Director of Ministerial Training - Revd Trevor Jamison
• Synod Ecumenical Officer - Revd Prof David Thompson
• Synod Moderator - Revd Paul Whittle
• Synod Clerk - Mrs Linda Harrison
• Synod Treasurer - Mr Ian Hardie, or nominee   

Synod Staff in Attendance

• Training and Development Officer -  Revd Peter Ball  (TDO)

Extended Committee:

As above plus

All Area Partnership Pastoral Advocates and HAEBEA representative

County Ecumenical Officers:
Cambs: Revd Prof David Thompson;
Essex: Revd Michael Rigney;
Norfolk: (vacant);
Suffolk: (vacant)

Safe Church Advisor: - vacant

Other personnel available for consultation and task group service

• Children & Youth Development Officer - Mr Henry Playle (CYDO) 
• Link Person for Safeguarding - vacant
• LMMR Co-ordinator - Mr Mick Barnes
• MASA Co-ordinator - Mr Mick Barnes
• Advocate for Non-stipendiary Ministers (NSM) - vacant
• Training Specialists (skill-based representation from local churches and Westminster College)