SECTION 6: COMMITTEE REMITS
STANDING COMMITTEES
Business Committee
a) To arrange meetings of Presbytery, coordinate the work of Presbytery through its standing and support committees and generally support the smooth running of the business of Presbytery, all to ensure that Presbytery carries out its duties as a Court of the Church.
b) To deal with any urgent business which arises and was unanticipated but requires action before the next scheduled meeting.
c) To ensure that OSCR regulations and all matters relating to civil and ecclesiastical legislation are communicated and fulfilled by congregations.
d) To ensure that the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) are adhered to and are audited at regular intervals.
e) To take responsibility for risk assessment, risk management and maintain a Risk Register on behalf of the Presbytery.
f) To bring forward to Presbytery names for appointment to committees and Presbytery positions, including but not limited to, the Moderator of Presbytery and the Conveners of committees, including nominating balancing and balancing elders, corresponding members and administering annual review of ministries registration categories in accordance with General Assembly legislation.
g) To approve recommendations to Presbytery from the Finance and Stewardship Committee in regard to applications to all Presbytery Funds.
h) To act, when appropriate, as the Presbytery’s Superintendence Committee in dealing with difficult situations in congregations.
i) To respond to potential breaches of the Presbytery Code of Conduct and to take whatever action may be necessary if a material breach has occurred.
j) To disseminate the resolutions, instructions, and deliverances of the General Assembly to congregations and give opportunities for discussion, information sharing and reflection by congregations and other groups regarding the topics and issues raised.
k) To oversee all aspects of communication within Presbytery, including in relation to the website, social media and liaison with the local and national media.
Finance and Stewardship
• Financial Oversight
➢ Exercise oversight of Presbytery finances.
➢ Manage the Presbytery’s investments and trust funds.
➢ Review and make recommendations to the Business Committee regarding approval by Presbytery of congregational applications for Presbytery Funds and, where necessary, external funds.
➢ Monitor congregational Giving to Grow contributions.
➢ Engage with the General Treasurer of the Church of Scotland, the Business Committee and the Planning Committee in regard to legislation in the Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act 8, 2021) on Insolvent Congregations.
• Stewardship
➢ Support the Finance Officer (FO) in informing and encouraging congregations in all aspects of Stewardship to include, for example:
▪ Using material provided by the national Stewardship and Finance department
▪ Co-ordinating assistance by the national Stewardship Consultants
➢ Promote stewardship by encouraging generous giving of time, talent, and money in all congregations.
• Strategy
➢ Develop a strategy to grow income and ensure Presbytery’s financial sustainability.
➢ Mitigate financial risks by identifying and monitoring appropriate control measures.
• Budget
➢ Support the FO in producing the draft Presbytery Budget and draft Congregational Assessments (Dues).
➢ Review draft Budget and Congregational Assessments and present to the Business Committee in time for submission for approval at the end of year Presbytery meeting.
• Presbytery Accounts
➢ Review the Annual Report and Accounts and make appropriate recommendations to the Business Committee to allow timely submission to Presbytery.
• Congregational Accounts and Attestation
➢ Identify a pool of independent examiners and auditors that congregations may call on as required.
➢ Via a subcommittee, ensure annual inspection of Congregational Accounts in accordance with the regulations of the General Assembly concerning congregational finance and the requirements of the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator.
➢ Advise the FO of any issues arising from the inspection of Congregational Accounts so that congregations may be given appropriate assistance.
• Dissemination of Financial Information
➢ Where necessary, provide financial information to Presbytery Committees.
• Training and Support
➢ Support the work of the FO.
➢ Provide training and support for Congregational Finance Committees and Treasurers, as required, to include ways of helping congregations develop strategies to grow their incomes and ensure financial sustainability.
➢ Create and maintain a database of external grant funding available to congregations.
Property
a) To approve works on buildings in line with the Delegated Powers as outlined in Standing Orders and to report these to the next Presbytery meeting.
b) To undertake annually a due diligence examination of Property Registers and Manse Condition Schedules of church properties within the Presbytery bounds.
c) To be the committee through which the Presbytery Buildings Officer reports to Presbytery. [Note: Line management of the Presbytery Buildings Officer is exercised by the General Trustees.]
d) To receive from the Presbytery Buildings Officer the professional surveys of all buildings within the Presbytery bounds.
e) To arrange the required inspection of manses in times of vacancy.
f) To provide oversight and guidance with regard to all church properties within the Presbytery bounds, in particular ensuring that congregations obtain the necessary permissions, including the permission of Presbytery and the General Trustees as per the limits in the Presbytery’s Standing Orders, before undertaking programmes of work.
g) To advise and help process applications for grants and loans in relation to property work.
h) To work with the Buildings Officer in advising on good practice and provide information on Health and Safety matters and to oversee all Health and Safety matters relating to Presbytery staff and the Presbytery Office.
i) To process applications from congregations to the Presbytery Sub-Fund of the Consolidated Fabric Fund.
Planning
a) 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 Presbytery Mission Plan Act 8, 2021.
b) To organise the implementation of the readjustment decisions agreed in the Presbytery Mission Plan.
c) To undertake the annual evaluation and development of the Presbytery Mission Plan in accordance with Section 2.2.2. of the Presbytery Mission Plan Act, 2021.
d) To approve the Job Descriptions of centrally funded posts which are part of the Plan, in consultation with the Staffing Committee.
e) To receive and consider all requests for adjustments to parish boundaries and to negotiate such adjustments with Kirk Sessions.
Church in Community
(a) To facilitate Presbytery engagement with and comment on local, national, international political and social issues where appropriate.
(b) To encourage and promote the work of CrossReach, Christian Aid, and Eco-Congregation
Scotland.
(c) To support the work of ecumenical bodies locally and nationally, promoting local inter-
church initiatives and activities.
(d) To support interfaith work, promoting the work of Interfaith Scotland and local
initiatives and activities.
(e) To work with the Property and Finance Committee and any other relevant committees
in responding to the challenge of climate change and the development of church buildings.
Safeguarding
a) Ensure that Presbytery implements the Church of Scotland’s Safeguarding Policy.
b) Ensure that Kirk Sessions adhere to the Church of Scotland Safeguarding Act 2018.
c) Exercise oversight of Presbytery safeguarding activity and provide a safeguarding update report to every Presbytery meeting, ensuring that Presbyters are aware of all safeguarding issues within the Presbytery and updates from the Safeguarding Service.
d) Oversee the implementation of the Safeguarding Learning Pathway and Training provision in the Presbytery and support the Safeguarding Presbytery Administrator, trainers and staff with a safeguarding remit to deliver on this for volunteers, trustees, safeguarding panel members and ministers and associated roles in the Presbytery.
e) Oversee the Annual Attestation of Safeguarding Records (including but not limited to the SG7 and SG11 and/or other documents as recommended by the National Safeguarding Service and associated follow up work regarding compliance).
f) Ensure that Presbytery, on an annual basis, submits its SG07a Safeguarding Presbytery Register to the Church of Scotland Safeguarding Office.
Staffing (a subcommittee of the Business Committee)
Purpose: to advise and support the Presbytery in the discharge of its employment responsibilities for staff employed by the Presbytery.
a) to advise on the creation of new posts, drafting job descriptions in liaison with the appropriate Presbytery committee(s) and advising on appropriate terms and conditions in consultation with the Human Resources Department in the Church Offices.
b) to coordinate recruitment, taking part in interviews as appropriate.
c) to oversee the arrangements for effective performance management of Presbytery staff, liaising with the Presbytery Clerk and conveners as appropriate.
d) to keep terms and conditions of employment under review, making recommendations to the Business Committee for updating when necessary and consulting staff as required
e) To put in place and regularly review all necessary employment policies.
f) to work closely with the Treasurer and Finance Group on remuneration issues, including conducting an annual review of salary levels in consultation with the Human Resources Department in the Church Offices.
g) to provide support and advice to the Presbytery Clerk and to conveners in themanagement of staff particularly in difficult situations and to take decisions on employment matters relating to staff.
h) to ensure that all issues relating to health and safety are dealt with in a manner that is compliant with Health & Safety at Work legislation and that these issues are completed as soon as possible.
i) to ensure that all members of staff have received suitable training in matters including health and safety, data protection and harassment to ensure that the Staffing Group appoint a ” competent person” to oversee all health and safety at work matters.
j) to co-ordinate and liaise with the Human Resources Department in the Church Offices on matters affecting the employment of Ministries Development Staff in the Presbytery to advise the Presbytery Clerk and conveners on any other staffing issues that may arise.
SUPPORT COMMITTEES
Mission
(a) To maintain an overall focus for mission in congregations and to highlight its fundamental relationships with worship, service, education and nurture.
(b) To take the lead in resourcing mission to the under 40s.
(c) To promote and support church planting, replanting and mission innovators.
(d) To promote good missional practice through holding events where practitioners share ideas and experiences.
(e) To oversee the work of the sub group for the Presbytery Mission Fund.
(f) To engage with congregations in the Seeds for Growth Fund application process and to sign off on applications where appropriate.
Ministries
Training
(a) To support continued Christian development in congregations through resourcing and encouraging growth of educated and equipped disciples.
(b) To organise training events in regard to worship, mission and faith formation for all ages.
(c) To provide training for Interim Moderators, Elders, Worship Leaders and Pastoral Care Teams.
(d) To maintain the Presbytery ‘Local Worship Leaders’ scheme and maintain a list of Local Worship Leaders approved by such a scheme.
(e) To ensure arrangements are in place in congregations where in-service Training or Study Leave is taking place.
Pastoral Support
(f) To support the Presbytery Chaplains in their role in pastoral care for Ministers, OLMs Auxiliary Ministers, Readers and Presbytery Staff.
(g) To provide pastoral support as required for candidates for all ministries during their training and up to their appointment or ordination.
(h) To oversee recruitment, selection and training for all Recognised Ministries in the Church of Scotland.
(i) To nominate as Candidates for Recognised Ministries those who have been accepted as Prospective Candidates by an Assessment Conference.
(j) To ensure that adequate support is given through named individuals to those in ministry in their first five years.
Oversight of Posts and Deployment
(k) In consultation with the Planning Committee, to oversee the deployment of Auxiliary Ministers, Ordained Local Ministers, Readers and Local Worship Leaders.
(l) In consultation with the Staffing Committee, to approve locally funded Ministry appointments.
(m) To oversee the inspection of log books for all appropriate Ministries.
Eductaion/School Chaplaincy
(a) To support the Local Authority Representatives on Education Committees and encourage Christian input into education including chaplaincy, Religious and Moral Education and Religious Observance.
Congregational Support
1. To support Kirk Sessions in the production of their five year Action Plans by: providing guidance on the requirements; evaluating and commenting on the Plans; engaging with Kirk Sessions in their annual reviews of their Plans. [Presbytery Mission Plan Act (Act VIII 2021 amended) section 2A refers.]
2. To support and encourage congregations and their Ministers, Deacons and office- bearers, including assisting to resolve conflicts and disagreements through mediation, facilitated discussion, guided reflection and review.
3. To arrange the Annual Inspection of Congregational Records.
OTHER COMMITTEES
Vacancy Procedure Committee
(a) To discharge the responsibilities of Presbytery in relation to relevant Vacancy Procedure legislation, including Act 11 (2025) and Act 1 (2015) (as amended).
(b) To arrange for the completion of Financial Schedules in connection with vacancies.
(c) To determine the number of members on a Nominating Committee, the overall number being an odd number up to a maximum of 13.
Note
The Presbytery Clerk shall act as Clerk to the committee but shall have no vote and committee decisions may take place by electronic means.
Complaints Committee
(a) To appoint a Complaints Committee for a specific purpose for matters relating to the Presbytery Complaints Process.
(b) To oversee all matters relating to Ministers, Deacons, Elders and local office bearers in terms of the Discipline Act (Act I 2019) and provide pastoral care to those involved in the discipline process.
(c) To hear and dispose of appeals against the decision of a Kirk Session.
(d) The committee shall be composed of the, Clerk, Depute Clerk, Business Committee Convener and Business Committee Vice Convener.