Minutes of a meeting of the Methodist Council held on 11-13 April 2015 at Woodland Grange Conference Centre, Leamington Spa
Present:The President, the Vice-President and 42 voting members as follows:
The Revd Dr Martyn D Atkins, the Revd J A Jade Bath, Ms Rebecca Belshaw, the Revd Christopher P Briggs, Deacon Andrew Carter, the Revd Olufemi R W Cole-Njie, the Revd Nigel Cowgill, the Revd Rachel D Deigh, Mr Jack Delbridge, the Revd Graham M Edwards, Dr Martyn C Evans, Mr Andrew Fairlamb, the Revd Catherine Gale, the Revd David Gamble, the Revd Ruth M Gee, Mr Andrew G Gibbs, the Revd David M Goodall, the Revd Graeme J Halls, Dr Nigel Hardwick, the Revd Dr Paul Hill, the Revd Jacqueline A Horton, Professor Peter D Howdle, Mr Sandy Laurie, Mr Tim Layhe, Professor David R Matthews, the Revd Loraine N Mellor, Dr Daleep S Mukarji, the Revd Edwin T Myers, Mrs Anita Nicholson, the Revd Lionel E Osborn, Mrs Idy Osibudu, the Revd Gareth J Powell, Mrs Heather Shipman, the Revd D Paul C Smith, Mr Doug Swanney, Dr Alan Sykes, the Revd Kerry W Tankard, Dr Val Turner, the Revd Dr Roger L Walton, Mr Ian White, the Revd Dr Stephen D Wigley, the Revd Steven J Wild.
Apologies:The Revd Caroline R Ainger, Dr B Jill Barber, Mrs Jean Jackson, Mr Christopher Stephens, the Revd Dr Joseph B Suray, Mr Eric Watchman, Mr Arfon Williams, the Revd Michaela A Youngson, Mr Ted Awty
Substitutes:The Revd Stephen J Burgess, the Revd Jacqueline P Evans, the Revd Henry Lewis, the Revd Sue Smith, Ms Helen Woodall
Observers:Mr Martin Ashford, Ms Jude Levermore, Mr Nick Moore (members of the senior leadership group of the Connexional Team), Mr John Chastney (Chair of the Audit Committee), the Revd David Grosch-Miller (URC observer), the Revd Nicola V Price-Tebbutt (Secretary of the Faith and Order Committee), Mrs Louise C Wilkins (Conference Officer for Legal and Constitutional Practice), the Revd Helen D Cameron (nominated to the Conference as Assistant Secretary of the Conference)
In attendance:Ms Jane Bates (Minutes), Ms Anna Drew (Media Officer), Ms Louise Taylor (Administration)
15.2.1Appointment
Under SO 326A, the Council appointed Mr Brian Rollins as Convener of the Candidates Appeal Committee for 2015.
15.2.2Minutes of the Methodist Council
The minutes of the Methodist Council held on 26-27 January 2015 were agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.
15.2.3Matters Arising [MC/15/27]
Gareth Powell presented MC/15/27.
27/1.The Council noted the report.
15.2.4Decisions made since the last meeting of the Council [MC/15/28]
Gareth Powell presented MC/15/28.
28/1.The Council received the report.
15.2.5Merging MIST/MAST – The Developing Story [MC/15/62]
David Deeks, Chair of MIST and MAST, presented MC/15/62.
62/1.The Council received the report.
The Council declined resolution 62/2.
15.2.6Report of the Strategy and Resources Committee [MC/15/29]
Peter Howdle, Chair of the Strategy and Resources Committee (SRC), presented MC/15/29.
29/1.The Council received the report.
29/2.The Council accepted the recommendations in paragraph 14.
29/3.The Council directed the Ministries Committee to oversee a review of the practices and policies relating to Ministers of Religion coming to Britain from overseas, with the aim of formulating a coherent and comprehensive policy relating to such ministers serving in the British Connexion.
15.2.7Pension and Assurance Scheme for Lay Employees of the Methodist Church (PASLEMC) Valuation Results [MC/15/31]
Amanda Amor, Pensions Manager, presented MC/15/31.
31/1.The Methodist Council agreed to the Statement of Funding Principles, including the economic and demographic assumptions proposed by the Trustee of PASLEMC as the basis of the Actuarial Valuation and authorised it to be signed on its behalf.
31/2.The Methodist Council agreed to the Recovery Plan and authorised this to be signed on its behalf.
31/3.The Methodist Council agreed to consult with members in May and June 2015 with regard to linking the normal retirement date to the male State Pension date for service from 1 September 2015.
31/4.The Methodist Council agreed to the Schedule of Contributions.
31/5.The Council agreed to consult with members in May and June 2015 with regard to amending the definition of pensionable salary to change from the current deduction of Basic State Pension to 75% of the new single-tier State Pension from 6 April 2016.
31/6.The Methodist Council delegated the final consideration and decision on the benefits change which needs to be implemented from 1 September 2015 to the Finance Subcommittee of the Strategy and Resources Committee which for the purposes of considering this matter shall be supplemented by Dr Martyn Evans and Professor David Matthews being members of the Council.
15.2.8Pensions Valuation for the Methodist Ministers’ Pension Scheme (MMPS) [MC/15/32]
Amanda Amor presented MC/15/32.
32/1.The Council agreed, on behalf of the Conference, to the Statement of Funding Principles, including the assumptions proposed by the Trustee of MMPS as the basis of the Actuarial Valuation and authorised it to be signed on its behalf.
32/2.The Council agreed to the Recovery Plan and recommended to the Conference that a contribution of £1million per annum from 1 September 2015 continue to be made from the Pension Reserve Fund to MMPS for the duration of the recovery period ie a further 6 years.
32/3. The Council agreed to the Schedule of Contributions and recommends to the Conference to retain the existing Church contribution rate of 26.9% of standard stipends from 1 September 2015.
32/4.The Council recommended to the Conference that a consultation be initiated with members on a change to benefits to link the pension increases awarded in relation to both past and future service to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than the Retail Price Index (RPI) from 1 September 2016.
The Council noted that this would be subject to further consideration at the 2016 Conference if, subject to consultation with members, it was subsequently agreed.
15.2.9Report from the Senior Leadership Group
Doug Swanney, the Connexional Secretary, gave an oral report from the Senior Leadership Group (SLG) of the Connexional Team.
The Council noted that:
The SLG had received a paper from All We Can which contained wide ranging recommendations.
The SLG had agreed to respond warmly to the report, and to ask two or three members of the Council to work with them on the recommendations and to bring a substantive report to the October meeting of the Council.
The following pool of names was agreed from whichan appropriate group would be formedbased on availability for the necessary dates: the Revd Nigel Cowgill, the Revd Catherine Gale, Professor David R Matthews, the Revd Lionel E Osborn, Mr Ian White.
15.2.10Report from the Connexional Leaders’ Forum
The Secretary of the Conference and General Secretary, and the Connexional Secretary reported on the March meeting of the Connexional Leaders’ Forum (CLF).
The Council noted that:
Major items discussed had been developments in the training of local preachers and worship leaders, the past cases review, reflections from the Youth President regarding her term of office, and 3Generate.
The CLF had spent substantial time following up on the input at the January meeting from Bishop Robert Schnase.
Four areas for further work were identified as being to:
- identify what changes the Methodist Church needs to make in culture, processes and patterns of practice to encourage and enable ministers to flourish;
- devise and develop a robust Methodist model for supervision;
- create a code of professional conduct for ministers;
- explore what needs to be done articulate a deeper expectation of fruitfulness and growth within the Methodist Church.
15.2.11Joint Policy Statement on Safer Recruitment [MC/15/34]
Hilary Walker, Interim Safeguarding Adviser, presented MC/15/34.
The Council observed that some correction to the grammar of the policy statement would be necessary.
34/1.The Council approved the Joint Policy on Safer Recruitment.
15.2.12Practice Guidance on Carrying Out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Checks as part of Safer Recruitment [MC/15/35]
Hilary Walker presented MC/15/35. The Council was informed that there were some appendices to this report, which had not been circulated to the Council. These appendices also need to be approved on behalf of the Council.
Resolution 35/1 was therefore agreed in the form below.
35/1.The Council delegated responsibility for the approval of the practice guidance on carrying out Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks as part of Safer Recruitment to a sub group composed of the Chair of the Council, the Revd J A Jade Bath, the Revd Dr Paul Hill, Mrs Heather Shipman, Mrs Louise C Wilkins.
15.2.13Past Cases Review 2013-2015: Summary Report [MC/15/36]
Jane Stacey, Project Manager of the Past Cases Review presented MC/15/36.
Thanks were expressed to her for her commitment to this work and for her professionalism.
Past Cases Review: Implementation [MC/15/36A]
Gareth Powell presented MC/15/36A.
36A/1.The Council received the report.
36A/2.The Council recommended to the Conference the establishing of a Past Cases Review Implementation Group.
15.2.14Consolidated Accounts [MC/15/30]
John Chastney, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented MC/15/30.
The resolution numbers below refer to those printed for the January 2015 meeting of the Council.
9/1.The Council authorised the Chair of the Council to sign the Letter of Representation addressed to the external auditors.
9/2.The Council received the report of the Audit Committee [presented to the January 2015 meeting of the Council] and its appendix.
8/1.In accordance with SO 212(1), the Council adopted the consolidated accounts for the year ended 31 August 2014, and directed that a unified statement of connexional finances be presented to the Conference as required by SO 360.
9/3.The Council appointed Baker Tilly as external auditors for the year 2014/15.
15.2.15Response to Notice of Motion 206 (2012)[MC/15/45]
Doug Swanney presented MC/15/45.
45/1.The Council received the report.
15.2.16Legal Case
Louise Wilkins, Conference Officer for Legal and Constitutional Practice, updated the Council on a legal claim which is being made against the President of the Methodist Conference.
15.2.17Positive Working Together [MC/15/37]
Tony Tidey, Connexional Wellbeing Adviser and Alison Tomlin, a member of the task group, presented MC/15/37.
37/1. The Council received the report.
37/2.The Council adopted the Guidelines for promoting good working relationships and managing conflict within the Church.
37/3.The Council made the following recommendations to the Conference:
- The Conference directs that the Guidelines for promoting good working relationships and managing conflict within the Church be promoted in appropriate ways.
- The Conference directs that each District appoints a suitable person to provide information but not advice about the options available to an individual experiencing bullying and harassment issues.
- The Conference directs each District to ensure that its District Reconciliation Group receives annual training and appropriate support, so that it is equipped to deal with bullying and harassment issues should they arise.
- The Conference directs that a sum of £65,000 be made available in the 2015/16 connexional year from the Fund for Training for the implementation of Positive Working Together, followed by £50,000 in 16/17 and £25,000 in 17/18.
15.2.18CONFIDENTIAL ITEM
15.2.19The President and Vice-President [including MC/15/38]
The President and Vice-President of the Conference each shared some reflections from their year of office. As part of that, they presented MC/15/38 which was noted.
15.2.20Connexional Team appointment[MC/15/70]
Gareth Powell presented MC/15/70.
70/1.The Council recommended to the Conference that the Revd Alan J Bolton be appointed to serve half time, pursuant to SO 315, for an initial period of five years from 1 September 2015 as a member of the Connexional Team.
15.2.21Connexional Grants Committee [MC/15/39]
Helen Woodall, Chair of the Connexional Grants Committee, presented MC/15/39.
39/1.The Council received the report.
39/2.The Council approved the new way of assessing Heritage grant applications as set out in paragraph 25.
39/3.The Council approved the modifications to the World Church stream structures for a trial basis in 2015/16.
39/4.The Council appointed the members of the Connexional Grants Committee, its subcommittees and streams, as set out, for the connexional year 2015/16.
15.2.22Ministries Committee [MC/15/40]
Leo Osborn, Chair of the Ministries Committee, presented MC/15/40.
40/1. The Council received the report.
40/2.The Council commended the proposed replies to M7, M8, M9 (2011) to the Conference.
40/3.The Council commended the proposed replies to Resolution 7/4 and M12 (2011) to the Conference.
Resolution 40/4 was not put.
Resolution 40/5 was withdrawn.
40/6.The Council recommended that SO 32A0(4) be amended to enable new members to be appointed to the Ministries Committee for an initial period of three years which can be extended for a further period of up to but not exceeding three years and requests that the Law and Polity Committee bring a revised Standing Order to the 2015 Conference.
15.2.23Inter Faith Relations [MC/15/58]
Doug Swanney presented MC/15/58.
58/1.The Council received the report.
15.2.24Review of the Council Pay Scales and Grading Process [MC/15/41]
David Goodall, Chair of the Grading and Remuneration Subcommittee(GRSC) presented MC/15/41.
41/1.The Council received the report.
41/2.The Council agreed to change the Pay and Grading Structure for Lay Employees of the Methodist Council.
41/3.The Council directed the Grading and Remuneration Subcommittee to bring detailed proposals for new policies and procedures using the Hay Job Evaluation Scheme and based upon this report, to the October 2015 meeting of the Council.
41/4.The Council directed the Grading and Remuneration Subcommittee to consider the pension arrangements for employees of the Council as part of the development of the new policies and procedures.
41/5.The Council delegated to the SRC the authority to appoint a further member of the Grading and Remuneration Subcommittee with expertise in pensions and to report the appointment to the October Council.
41/6.The Council noted Mr Norman Mann’s resignation from the Grading and Remuneration Subcommittee and thanked him for his commitment to this committee and his work as Chair of the previous Job Evaluation Panel.
It was agreed that the paper should be made available to employees of the Council.
15.2.25Connexional Central Services Budget [MC/15/42]
Peter Howdle outlined the scrutiny which had already given to the budget proposals through the Finance Subcommittee and the SRC.
Nick Moore presented MC/15/42, explaining that this represents the first year of a three year budget.
42/1.The Council endorsed the proposed Connexional Central Services Budget and recommended it to the Conference.
42/2.The Council recommended the payment of £448k from the Pension Reserve Fund into the PASLEMC in September 2015.
42/3.The Council recommended to the Conference that the existing structure of management charges on the main restricted and designated funds be replaced by a series of three bands and a fixed charge of 0.1% of capital values.
42/4.The Council recommended to the Conference the District allocations of the assessment to the Methodist Church Fund as set out.
15.2.26Review of the Connexional Priority Fund (CPF) Levy Policy [MC/15/48]
Louise Wilkins presented MC/15/48.
48/1.The Council received the report.
48/2.The Council recommended to the Conference an amendment to the CPF Levy policy to allow the Council to grant exceptions to the application of the CPF Levy.
48/3.The Council agreed that a group should be appointed to assist with the decision making process for the classification of replacement projects, and delegated its appointment to the SRC.
48/4.The Council instructed the Connexional Team to produce amended guidance for replacement projects in consultation with the Connexional Grants Committee.
15.2.27Power to vary the application of Standing Orders to Methodist premises that are subject to a commercial lease [MC/15/50]
Louise Wilkins presented MC/15/50.
50/1.The Council received the report.
50/2.The Council recommended to the Conference that where a commerciallease is being entered into of Methodist premises that are no longer required for model trust purposes, the restrictions on the sale and consumption of alcohol will be amended to allow a lease for any class of use other than A4 Drinking Establishments or a nightclub.
50/3.The Council recommended to the Conference that where a commercial lease is being entered into of Methodist premises that are no longer required for model trust purposes, the restrictions on commercial gambling be amended to allow for the sale of scratch cards and lottery tickets as part of a tenants business, but not for a lease to a betting shop or an equivalent.
50/4.The Council recommended to the Conference that where a full repairing lease for a period of 10 years or more is being entered into of Methodist premises that are no longer required for model trust purposes, there be no requirement for the managing trustees to undertake a quinquennial inspection of the leased premises.
50/5.The Council recommended that the Conference direct the Law and Polity Committee to bring the necessary Standing Order amendments to the 2016 Conference.
50/6.The Council directed the Connexional Team to review and report to the Council in January 2016 on the classification of land held as an investment and whether there continues to be a justification for exempting such property from the Connexional Priority Fund levy.
15.2.28Nominations and Appointments [MC/15/56]
56/1.The Methodist Council, acting under Standing Order 320(1)(ii), nominated to the Conference the following persons as members of the Ministerial Candidates Selection Committee:
The Revds Joanne Archer-Siddall, Peter E Barber, Dr Christopher Blake, Alan R Boyd, Rachel A Burgess, Richard J Byass, Jane H Carter, Deborah A Cornish, Dr Jane V Craske, Stephen Dunn, Matthew R Finch, Vivienne M Gasteen, Susan J Griffiths, Gareth J Higgs, Dr David Hinchliffe, Christine M Howe, Ian J K Hu, Dr Jonathan R Hustler [SO 320(1)(i)], Philip J Jackson, Prof Teddy Kalongo, Susan M E Lawler, Dr Jane Leach, Julie A Lunn, Jonathan E Mead, Andrew C Moffoot, Dr Ian D Morris, Nicholas A Oborski, Malcolm Peacock, Stephen E Robinson, Barbara T Routley, Dr Calvin T Samuel, Kathryn Stephens, Neal H Street, Dr Joseph B Suray, Nutan Sandhya J Suray, Rose A S Westwood, Susan J Wigham, D Paul Wood [SO 320(1)(i)]
Deacons Richard Beckett, Andrew Carter, P Jane Gibson, Richard D Goldstraw, Eleanor Griffin, Sylvia R Phillips, Myrtle A Poxon, Ann Shephard, Angela Shereni, Janet Stafford, Lynne R Sylvester-Tonge, Janet H Thomas
Miss Victoria Aggasild, Mrs Akua Agyepong, Mr Richard Armiger, Mr Rob Cooper, Mrs Janet Dobinson, Mrs Sylvia Gnanapragasam, Mrs Glena Griffin, Mrs Elaine M Grout, Mrs Christine Haigh, Ms Sylvia Hart, Mrs Veronica Hickox, Miss Sharon Lam, Mr Rene Lamisere, Mr Phil Langdale, Mrs Dorothy Lumley, Mrs Hayley Moss, Mr Alfred Philpott, Mr Colin Ride, Mrs Maxine Scott, Dr Rachel Starr, Mrs Karen Stefanyszyn, Dr Margaret Williams, Mrs Alison Wood, Dr Bart Woodhouse