DIOCESE OF WAIKATO AND TARANAKI STATUTE NO. 17 THE WAIKATO DIOCESAN STATUTE OF PASTORS 1993 [Updated to 2019] WHEREAS the 1992 General Synod/te Hīnota Whānui resolved to repeal in 1994 the Title A Canon II (now forming the Schedule to that Canon enacted in 1992); AND WHEREAS the Diocesan Synod under Clause 1 of Title A Canon II now has power to make regulations to govern the appointment and authorisation of ordained Ministry in this Diocese; BE IT ENACTED by the Bishop Clergy and Laity of the Diocese of Waikato, in Synod assembled as follows:- 1. SHORT TITLE Short Title of this Statute shall be "The Diocesan Statute of Pastors, 1993." 2. INTERPRETATION Unless inconsistent with the context, the following expressions shall throughout this Statute have these meanings: Diocesan Nominators: The Clerical and Lay representatives of the Diocese appointed pursuant to the provisions of this Statute. Parish Nominators: The four baptised parishioners of a Parish or Local Ministry and Mission Unit on a Board of Nomination elected at the Annual General Meeting of that Parish or Local Ministry and Mission Unit. Parish Unit: Any Parish as defined under the Parishes Statute 2009. Co-operating Ventures: Any Co-operating Parish or scheme of shared ministry or covenant for joint ecumenical activity set up under approved Diocesan or Negotiating Churches Unity Council guidelines and having oversight by a Joint Regional Committee. Ecclesiastical Office: Shall mean every office of Bishop (other than Diocesan), Dean, Regional Dean, Vicar or Co-Vicar of a local ministry and mission unit, Chaplain, Missioner, Deacon/Priest Assistant, Deacon/Priest Associate, Deacon/ Priest in Charge, Local Priest/Deacon, Vocational Deacon, Ministry Enabler and any other Office defined from time to time by the Standing Committee of the Diocese. Appointment: the arrangement by which clergy hold a spiritual Office in response to a call from God in this Church, including any provisions in respect of stipends, allowances, housing arrangements, pension and insurance arrangements, and any other benefits of office. Appointments within this Church: For centuries acceptance of an Office by a minister in Holy Orders has been recognised by the Church and by the ordained as an Office in the service of God. This Church now recognises that a number of ministers, although ordained and not holding an Ecclesiastical Office are employed. It is desired to restate the position of this Church as to the nature of an Ecclesiastical Office and in particular to confirm and reinforce that an 17/1 Ecclesiastical Office is an Office accepted as a result of a call from God rather than employment. Bishop: The Bishop with responsibility for Episcopal care and oversight and where there are two Bishops in the Diocese each with responsibility for a Bishopric, can mean the Bishops acting jointly. 3. BOARD OF NOMINATION (1) Whenever any person is to be nominated for an ecclesiastical office for a parish, a Board of Nomination shall be constituted consisting of the Bishop, the Deputy Vicar-General, the Parish Nominators for that parish and up to eight Diocesan Nominators. (2) The Archdeacon of the Parish Unit for which a nomination is being considered may attend the meeting of the Board at the Bishop's invitation as a consultant for that nomination. (3) The Bishop's Chaplain for Ministry may attend the Meeting of the Board at the Bishop's invitation as a consultant for any appointment. (4) The Vicar of the Parish Unit for which a nomination to an Ecclesiastical Office is being considered may attend the meeting of the Board at the Bishop's invitation as a consultant for that appointment. 4. DIOCESAN NOMINATORS (1) The Clerical representatives shall be ordained Ministers holding the Bishops’ Licence and the Lay members shall be baptised parishioners resident in the Diocese, and all members, both Clerical and Lay, shall be appointed by the Standing Committee at its first meeting after the first annual session of Synod, for a specified term, having regard to skills, gender balance, age and geographical location.” (2) Suggested names for appointment by the Standing Committee may be submitted to the Standing Committee prior to its first meeting after the close of the first annual session of Synod. 5. THE PARISH NOMINATORS (1) It shall be the duty of the Annual Meeting of Parishioners of every Parish Unit to elect four baptised parishioners of the age of 16 years or upwards who are members of the Parish Unit who shall be known as Parish Nominators and who shall represent the Parish Unit in all matters connected with the selection of a Dean, Vicar, Co-Vicar, Missioner, Associate Priest, Priest Assistant, Deacon Assistant or Permanent Deacon for such Parish Unit. (2) The person chairing the meeting at which Parish Nominators are elected shall forthwith after each election notify the Diocesan Manager of the Diocese the names and addresses of those Parish Nominators. (3) Any casual vacancy of the Parish Nominators shall be filled by the Vestry or the equivalent thereof. (4) If any Annual Meeting of Parishioners shall fail to elect four Parish Nominators under this Clause, Standing Committee shall appoint the 17/2 Parish Nominators for that Parish Unit for that year or so many of them as shall be required to make up the full number if less than the full number shall have been elected. Until the full number shall be elected the Parish Nominators previously duly elected shall continue in office. (5) In any Co-operating Parish the appointments provided for in Clause 5(1) and 5(2) hereof shall be arranged by the Parish Council and shall so far as possible provide congregational representation from the partner Church or Churches. 6. THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD (1) The Bishop shall be the convenor of every Board of Nomination and shall nominate up to four Diocesan Nominators as members of the Board of Nomination and shall prescribe the minimum number to constitute a quorum thereof. (2) Each meeting of the Board shall be chaired by the Bishop, or in the absence of the Bishop by the Vicar-General. If no Bishop or Vicar-General is present then those present shall determine who is to chair the meeting. (3) Prior to any appointment being made, the Board of Nomination shall be satisfied that there are sufficient means available for the stipend, allowances, housing provisions, pension and insurance arrangements for a nominee. (4) No appointment shall be made unless there is a consensus between the Diocesan Nominators and the Parish Nominators in their recommendation to the Bishop. (5) Prior to issuing a Letter of Offer, the Bishop responsible for issuing the licence shall be satisfied that the nominee is an appropriate person for the intended ministry by examination of the nominee's Letters of Orders, Letters Testimonial, and any other evidence, and, at the Bishop's discretion, by examination of the nominee. 7. THE APPOINTMENT (1) Letter of Offer The Letter of Offer shall include the following: (a) A description of the appointment and any special needs. (b) The names of other clergy licensed to work in association with the nominee. (c) The earliest date from which the appointment is available. (d) Any condition as to the length of term for which the appointment is to be held and when and how reviews are to be conducted. (e) The stipend and allowances and housing provisions and pension and insurance arrangements as certified to the Bishop. (f) Leave entitlement. (g) If the appointment to office is that of Co-Vicar, a statement or words to the like effect that the termination of the appointment of the other Co-Vicar or Co-Vicars, for whatever reason, will automatically bring about the termination of the appointment of the Co-Vicar on the same date. 17/3 (h) The Board of Nomination will consider the position of any Co- Vicar whose appointment to office is brought to an end by the previous Clause, with a view to: (i) Re-appointing that Co-Vicar; or (ii) Appointing that Co-Vicar as Vicar; or (iii) Recommending to the Bishop that the Co-Vicar be considered for appointment to another position in the Diocese; or (iv) Recommending to the Bishop that no further action be taken. (i) In making its decision, the Board of Nomination will consult with that Co-Vicar and with the local ministry and mission unit following (in the case of an appointment) the procedures laid down in this Regulation for nomination. (j) A statement that in the case of the appointment of Clergy being in receipt of a full stipend, the appointee may not engage in any paid employment or in any other occupation or profession except as the Bishop shall (with the consent of the Vestry or equivalent authority) approve. (k) A statement or words to the like effect that notwithstanding a Letter of Offer, and notwithstanding written acceptance of such offer, the appointment shall not be effective until the appointee is Licensed to the office of ......, and the appointee has signed the Declaration of Adherence and the Additional Declaration in the Schedule to the Pastors Statute 1993 whereby the appointee gives assent, adherence and submission to the General Synod/te Hīnota Whānui the Bishop of the Diocese, and obedience to the ecclesiastical laws and regulations in force in this Diocese; and acknowledges being bound by the obligations of Office in Title D Canon 1 Part A, Establishing Standards of Ethics in Ministry. (2) Acceptance of Offer and Appointment (a) If the Bishop is satisfied that the nominee is an appropriate person for the intended ministry and if the Letter of Offer is accepted, then the Bishop shall issue the appropriate Licence and the Bishop or some person duly authorised shall institute the nominee to the Ecclesiastical Office.