Pastoral Relations

“We are each given particular gifts of the Spirit. For the sake of the world, God calls all followers of Jesus to Christian ministry.” - A Song of Faith

Structure

Pastoral relations policy governs search, selection, calls, and appointments between ministry personnel and communities of faith within The United Church of Canada. Pastoral relations policy is set by the General Council and implemented cooperatively by communities of faith and regional councils.

In Chinook Winds Region, the work and decision making are accomplished cooperatively by the Pastoral Relations Minister and the following council and working groups:

Pastoral Relations Processes

Accountable through the Pastoral Relations Minister to the Executive Minister, the Pastoral Relations Council establishes Regional policies for fair and effective pastoral relations and personnel work in Chinook Winds Region and oversees and supports the work of the working groups of the Council. The tasks include:

Establishing Region policy as they relate to Pastoral Relations:
- Pastoral Relations policies
- Marriage Licences
- Licencing for Administering the Sacraments
- Licenced Lay Worship Leaders
Assuming control of Communities of Faith in extraordinary conditions [C.2.3.g]
Ordering of J8/J9 Reviews
Receiving and responding to Review of Communities of Faith [J.8]
Receiving evaluation of Interim Ministers and Interim Ministries [I.7.6]
Overseeing the successful functioning of its working groups.
Overseeing Community of Faith Self-Evaluations

Current Members

Pastoral Relations rep:	Doug Powell*
Finance rep:	Sue Brodrick
Ministry Personnel Support:	Nancy Nourse*
Pastoral Relations rep.	Sally Salter
Property rep.	Mary Axworthy
Member at Large:	Julia Kimmett*
Member at Large:	Shari Hanson
	* ministry personnel

Accountable through the Pastoral Relations Minister to the Executive Minister, this group has responsibility for these tasks:

Approving Community of Faith profiles and declaring vacancies;
Approving all ministry positions [I.1.2.6.4, I.1.3.2 ];
Approving changes in the terms of Calls or Appointments ( I.1.9);
Receiving and approving requests from ministry personnel to end their pastoral relationship [I.3.1.4];
Ending calls/appointments with ministry personnel and other staff in cooperation with the Community of Faith [C.2.8.a,b];
Initiating the ending of a pastoral relationship when so notified by the Office of Vocations [I.3.1.7];
Deciding whether a position is accountable to the governing body or Region;
Categorizing Congregational Designated Minister positions [I.1.11.2]
Approving any leave more than 3 months [I.2.3.6] and sabbaticals [I.2.3.5];
Appointing Interim Ministers;
Approving supply appointments [I.1.8];
Approving renewal of supply appointments [I.1.8];
Licensing and re-licensing to administer the sacraments for Sacraments Elders, Designated Lay Ministers, and candidates (C2.9).

Current Members

Chair:	Doug Powell*
Member at Large:	Sally Salter
Member at Large:	Aldeen McKay*
Member at Large:	Susan Wilkinson-Matticks*
Member at Large:	Carrie Symondson*


	* ministry personnel

Accountable through the Pastoral Relations Minister to the Executive minister, the Ministry Support Working Group is concerned with encouraging and supporting Ministry Personnel toward health, joy and excellence in ministry practice. Its tasks include:

Initiating and/or promoting programming to enhance health, joy and excellence in the practice of ministry;
Organizing pastoral care processes for ministry personnel and their families experiencing loss or hardship;
Recognizing and celebrating retirements of ministry personnel [C.2.10];
Organizing pastoral care processes for retired members [I. 3.2].

Current Members

Chair:
Member at Large:	Nancy Nourse*
Member at Large:
Member at Large:
	* ministry personnel

Accountable through the Pastoral Relations Minister to the Executive Minister, this group is charged with providing ongoing leadership training for lay people within the Region. Its tasks are:

Maintaining a list of all Congregational Designated Ministers working in the Region;
Approving the licensing of Licensed Lay Worship Leaders [I.1.11.15];
Providing training and ongoing support and oversight to Licensed Lay Worship Leaders [I.1.11.15];
Providing training and assessment of Sacraments Elders [I.2.4.c].

Current Members

Chair:	Wilma Clark
Member at Large:	Irene Milton
Member at Large:	Barbara Lieurance*
	* ministry personnel

Regional Council Liaison

The work of pastoral relations in the Communities of Faith is accomplished with the help of very important participants – the Regional Council Liaisons.

The Regional Council Liaison guides the Community of Faith through the pastoral relations process from the first notice of change in ministry personnel, through the writing of the Community of Faith Profiles and Living Faith Stories, and the position description; to the search and covenant processes.

Training for Regional Council Liaisons is provided by the Region.

Ministry and Personnel Committees

Training for Ministry and Personnel Committees (M & P 101) is provided by the Region.

Pastoral Charge Supervisors

Pastoral Charge Supervisors are appointed by the Pastoral Relations Working Group when a community of faith is without an incumbent ministry personnel. Training is provided by the Region.

Contact This Office If

There is a change or imminent change in ministry personnel in the Community of Faith (either the ministry personnel or community of faith asking for a change of pastoral relations, retirement, etc.)
There is a possibility of a new ministry personnel position being created.
You are writing a Community of Faith Profile which is either a result of a ministerial change or may lead to a change in ministry personnel.
You would like to request that your ministry personnel be granted sacraments privileges (for students or Sacramental Elders).
You, as ministry personnel, would like your marriage licence to be activated or inactivated.
You would like to be a Regional Council Liaison to a Community of Faith.
You have questions about the Pastoral Relations process
Your M & P Committee would like training or a refresher

Rev. Dr. Karen Medland

Pastoral Relations Minister

Phone: 403-306-0192 Ext. 6103
Toll-free: 1-800-268-3781