DATE: July 21, 1998
MEMO TO: Pension Committee
FROM: Jim Boyles, General Secretary
RE: Comments from Forums at General Synod
____________________________________________________
The following comments were recorded on newsprint and relate to the work of your committee:
Care for Church Employees (From New Ways of Working Forum)
Concerns
* Sask. must pay first $850 for drugs before government plan kicks in.
* Establish extended health and dental for all retirees - some dioceses not covered currently (W. Nfld have outside carriers and others)
* absence of consultative process when changes made to benefits (sometimes)
* concern re environments that lead to "excess" number of stress claims under LTD plan
* ACPO process/standards should receive periodic review as times change
* better mechanism to permit clergy to take sabbaticals
Interim and Part-time Employees (From New Ways of Working Forum)
* more support for part-time
a) continuing education
b) supervision
c) covenant and guidelines
* not a way to get cheap ministry - is more prone to abuse but has much to commend it
* interim ministry - "trained" specialized natinally?
* perform a special function different from maintenance ministry.
Shape of Future Ministry (From Anglican Identity Forum)
1. Usage of local people
* team ministry where lay and ordained work together
2. Team needs outside guidance and coordination (sic) / supervision
* i.e. Paul's letters to the churches
3. Vision for lay involvement - requirement of certain standards - so that individuals would have a foundation
4. Discernment process - Asking parish to identify those individuals who are qualified and accepted to take on these roles for ministry.
5. Develop ministry development coordinator.