Role Description for Convenor of Ministries
Committee

Role Description

Role Title

Convenor of Ministries Committee

Governance Area

Ministries (as outlined in the Terms of Reference)

Main Points of Contact

Connected Roles

Deputy General Secretary (Ministries)

Convenor of the Ministries Committee is a member of General
Assembly and Assembly Executive

Sources of Support

Secretary to the committee is the

Deputy General Secretary
(Ministries)

Location

The majority of meetings will be online. Where meetings are
in person, these are likely to take place at a central location

Time Commitment

4 online meetings and 1in person meetings per annum (dates
and times suitable for the membership of committee) plus
additional follow-up work between meetings.

Remuneration

General Assembly residential meeting (Fri to Mon) in June/July,
Assembly Executive one evening in November and a residential
meeting (Fri-Sun) in February each year.  The Convener is also
a member of the Accreditations Sub-Committee and the MoM
Sub-Committee.

Volunteers are not remunerated. The URC will ensure financial
expenses incurred by volunteers while supporting the work of
the Ministries Committee will be reimbursed, in accordance with
the URC expenses policy.

Background:  The committee is responsible for the ministry of the Word and Sacraments,
Church Related Community Work, Assembly Accredited Lay Preaching, Assembly Accredited
Lay Pioneers and Eldership. Through its main committee and sub-committees, it is concerned
with facilitating the ministry of the whole people of God in the United Reformed Church through
working to promote the policies of the church; advocating ministry in its widest sense; supporting
ministry in its varied forms; facilitating the formation, training and learning for accredited
ministries of the church.

The committee is intentionally committed to taking seriously the place of safeguarding, equality,
diversity and inclusion, Net Zero and being an anti-racist church in all we discuss and decide and
listening intently to all voices.

Committee Summary:  The Ministries Committee carries the General Assembly’s responsibility
and care for the Ministry of Word and Sacraments, Church Related Community Work, Assembly
Accredited Lay Preaching, Locally Recognised Worship Leading, Pioneering both lay and special
category, and Eldership;

This responsibility includes all life-long learning for the accredited ministries of the church named
above including funding and other educational elements. It is concerned with  central care and
conditions of service of chaplaincies in industry, healthcare, higher and further education, prisons
and in the armed forces and ‘special category’ ministry; along with Synods it has concern for the
well-being of Ministers of the Word and Sacraments, Church Related Community Workers,
Assembly Accredited Lay Preachers, Locally Recognised Worship Leaders, Assembly Accredited
Lay Pioneers, Special Category Pioneers and Elders including supervision where appropriate,
appraisal, self-evaluation and counselling; it has a number of interlinked and interdependent
areas, and works closely with the Faith in Action Committee, the CYDO+ team, the Synod
Training and Development+ Network, the College Connective and the Ministries and Learning
Forum; Ministries Committee has oversight of the Assessment Board and all relevant sub-
committees.

Principal  responsibilities  and  duties

Convening and Running Meetings

1.  Work with the Secretary of Ministries to ensure that the agenda covers the appropriate

2.

3.
4.
5.

6.

items for discussion throughout the year;
Ensure that the work of the committee remains within its approved Terms of
Reference (and delegated authority from General Assembly or URC Trust);
Enable equal participation from the membership of the committee;
Approve minutes of each meeting for timely circulation to its members;
Ensure that the Committee’s risk register is reviewed at appropriate
intervals during the year and any necessary actions taken;
Submit the Committee’s up-to-date risk register as part of the annual
review;

7.  Work with the Secretary to develop, and keep under review, the five-year

plan of committee work and matters to go to General Assembly, and
submit to Business Committee as required.

General  Assembly/Assembly  Executive

1.

2.

Ensure appropriate papers for General Assembly and/or Assembly Executive are
provided to the Business Committee by the relevant deadline.
Present papers and associated resolutions to General Assembly or Assembly
Executive with support from Secretary for Ministries as appropriate.

Oversee Committee Membership

1.

Ensure that the membership of each committee is diverse and meets the URC’s
current expectations in terms of Equality Diversity and Inclusion.

2.  Work with the committee Secretary and appointed Church House support to

follow safer recruitment procedures in seeking new members of the committee as
vacancies arise.
Provide a list of appropriate names to Nominations Committee for them to make
final nominations to General Assembly.

3.

Training
Undertake training in key areas as highlighted within the induction and through

ongoing conversation with the Senior Leadership Team, such training to include
anti-racism training.

Working with other Committees and Volunteers

This section lists the type and level of interaction that this role has with committees and
other groups. It may vary from time to time and as directed by the Business Committee/
General Secretariat.
The Convenor of Ministries Committee will also attend:
The Accreditations sub-committee
MoM sub-committee

Expected Standards

This section refers to the way in which the role should be done as opposed to the duties/
responsibilities themselves.

1.
2.
3.

4.

Promote a culture of open and effective communication.
Actively foster an environment which nurtures equality and cherishes diversity.
Take responsibility for own personal development and develop skills and
knowledge applicable to this role.
Ensure compliance with safeguarding practice.

This role description reflects the overall scope and responsibilities of the role. However,
it may change and evolve over time in order to meet organisational needs and this job
description will therefore be subject to periodic review and change if required.