Presbytery Standing Committees
BUSINESS & FINANCE
So to order the business of Presbytery as to ensure that it carries out its duties as a Court of the Church; to nominate membership of Presbytery Committees and other representatives of Presbytery when required; to supervise Presbytery finance; to oversee any ongoing modifications necessary to the structure of Presbytery.
[Convener: Maureen Simpson]
PARISH DEVELOPMENT
To promote a positive policy for the Mission of Presbytery by taking account of changing congregational resources and social patterns as they relate to the General Assembly/Aberdeen Presbytery Plan in accordance with Act VII 2003.
[Convener: Ian Aitken]
RESOURCES FOR MISSION AND TRAINING: “REFORMAT”
(a) To promote Christian Education of children, young people and adults by congregational programmes, all-Presbytery initiatives, public education and religious education.
(b) To welcome new Presbytery Elders.
(c) To provide training for Elders, Session Clerks, Clerks to Financial Courts, Treasurers and Property Conveners (planned jointly if necessary with other committees)
(d) To make congregations aware of developments in worship and encourage initiatives and exploration of worship within the Presbytery.
(e) To give opportunities for training to those involved in Children’s and Young People’s Ministry
(f) To supervise the requirements of Child Protection.
(g) To deal with the elements of the remit of the Mission and Discipleship Council as they relate to Presbytery and are not allocated to other Committees.
(h) To keep Mission at the centre of the life of both Presbytery and Congregations and to encourage evangelism in appropriate and sustainable ways, in ecumenical partnership.
[Convener: Lorna Glen]
MINISTRY
To have oversight of all aspects of the work of the Ministries Council as it relates to Presbytery:
- Selection and Training for Ministry.
- In Service Training and Study Leave
- Supervision of Chaplaincies, Deacons and Parish Assistants.
- Pastoral Support for all who work for or within the Presbytery.
[Convener: Keith Blackwood]
WORLD CHURCH
(a) To inform congregations of the Church of Scotland's partnership in World Mission and to encourage participation through World Mission Teams in congregations, links with Missionary Partners and other exchanges, and to nurture prayer for the mission and missionaries of the Church around the world.
(b) To support the work of Christian Aid and the Regional Ecumenical Team.
(c) To keep a watching brief on inter-faith dialogue, and to promote and support local initiatives of inter-church activity.
[Convener: Stephen Taylor]
VISITATION AND OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
(a) To fulfill the requirements of Presbyterial Superintendence by Five Yearly Visitations as laid down by Acts of the General Assembly;
(b) To provide such other assistance to congregations as may be required.
[Convener: Andrew Jolly]
CONGREGATIONAL STEWARDSHIP
(a) To supervise the annual oversight and attestation of Congregational and Presbytery Records (to be reported by 31 March annually).
(b) To inform and encourage Congregations in every aspect of Stewardship including the use of Promoters and Consultants.
(c) To supervise and support congregational contributions to central funds
(d) To ensure that congregations comply with all requirements set out by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator in relation to the Church of Scotland
(e) To arrange for the completion of financial schedules in connection with vacancies.
(f) To provide the Presbytery Treasurer with such statistics as are necessary for calculating annual Congregational Assessments.
[Convener: Nigel Parker]
PROPERTY
The committee provides oversight and guidance with regard to all church properties in Presbytery according to the Acts of the General Assembly and Regulations set by Assembly Committees.
[Convener: Donald Brown]
CHURCH AND SOCIETY
(a) To provide a local forum for matters raised by the General Assembly's Church and Society Council and to consider and promote awareness of issues of local, national or international public concern.
(b) To reflect, encourage and promote the work of Crossreach.
(c) To participate in the caring ministry of the Church through direct involvement with social agencies both Church of Scotland and other bodies.
(d) To consider issues of personal morality.
(e) To keep the issues of poverty and the possible responses of churches to them before Presbytery and Congregations.
(f) To initiate and promote the Mission of the Church in Industry in close co-operation with the Aberdeen Industrial Council of Churches.
[Convener: Hugh Wallace]
[September 2009]