The General Assembly, noting the recommendation of the Mission Board, and recognising the key role of Presbyteries in the oversight of congregations within their bounds, and desiring to revise and update the current arrangements for the quinquennial visitation of congregations, enact and ordain as follows regarding congregational health:
A.CONGREGATIONAL HEALTH
1.Congregational Health Assessment
Presbyteries will carry outa congregational health assessment visit of all congregations within their bounds once every five years.
2.Assessment Areas
The assessment will cover the following areas:
2.1.Congregational Ministry – focusing on preaching, mission and strategy, evangelism, discipleship, and focus on global mission.
2.2.Congregational Leadership – focusing on the Kirk Session, its membership and ministry, pastoral oversight, leadership training, and the Kirk Session’s support of the minister.
2.3.Congregational Life – focusing on public worship, prayer life, the unity and harmony of the congregation, and Christian fellowship.
2.4. Congregational Finance – focusing on the work of the Deacons’ Courts as Charity Trustees, compliance with the Church’s Remittances Scheme and their responsibility to cover the Minister’s accommodation costs and ministerial expenses.
2.5. Congregational Feedback – the Mission Board and Presbyteries will put in place a suitable process for submission of feedback from the members of the congregation.
3. Congregational Health – Meetings
The Congregational Health Assessment Committees will arrange meetings with the Minister, the Kirk Session, the Deacons’ Court or Finance Committee, and the congregation.
4.Congregational Health – Scope
4.1. Miscellaneous. For the avoidance of doubt, congregations with part-time ministerial arrangements and Church Plants will be included in the congregational health assessment programme.
4.2. Employees. Presbyteries will ensure that congregational health assessments will include consideration of congregational employees where such are in place, including Ministers-in-Training.
B.RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Presbyteries
The Presbytery will make the following arrangements to enable regular oversight of congregations:
1.1.Congregational Health Coordinators. They will appoint at least two congregational health coordinators to lead the congregational health programme.
1.2.Congregational Health Assessment Committees. They will appoint congregational health committees, chaired by the congregational health coordinators.
1.3. Congregational Health Assessment Visits. They will arrange a programme of congregational health assessment visits to ensure that all the congregations within their bounds are visited once every five years.
1.4.Congregational Health Concerns. Presbyteries may arrange a congregational health assessment outside of the regular programme when they are made aware of congregational health concerns.
2.Mission Board
The Mission Board will support the congregational health programme as follows:
2.1.Training. They will provide suitable training for congregational health coordinators.
2.2.Guidance. They will provide guidance and a handbook to assist Presbyteries in the implementation of the congregational health assessment programme.
2.3.Resources. They will provide suitable resources to support Presbyteries for each area of the assessment of congregations.
C.COMPLIANCE, PROPERTY & MISCELLANEOUS
1.Presbyteries. Presbyteries will check the following in their annual examination of congregational records and the annual examination of the Trustees’ Report and Statement of Accounts.
1.1.Finance. They will check for compliance with the Church’s remittances scheme and for compliance with the requirements of the Charities’ Regulator, OSCR, in the recording and reporting of financial activities.
1.2.Trustee Responsibilities. They will confirm that charity trustees and property trustees are aware of their responsibilities and that details on OSCR and the Registers of Scotland are up to date.
1.3.Safeguarding. They will check for the ongoing implementation of the Church’s safeguarding policy in all areas of congregational activity.
1.4.Risk Management. They will confirm that all Deacons’ Courts have in place a risk assessment and a risk management policy.
1.5.GDPR. They will confirm compliance with General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
1.6.Health & Safety. They will confirm that the congregation has a Health and Safety policy in place.
1.7.Property. They will confirm that property transactions have been handled appropriately and that the congregation has a programme for ongoing property maintenance.
1.8.Insurance. They will confirm that the congregation has a suitable Charity Insurance policy in place.
1.9.Employees. They will confirm that the congregation has suitable arrangements in place for any employees.
1.10. Miscellaneous. They will confirm compliance with other regulations as they are identified.
2. Compliance Officer. Presbyteries may appoint a suitably qualified Compliance Officer to assist in the monitoring of the items listed in Paragraph 1 above.
3. Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees Compliance Group and the Finance Group will provide support and guidance to Presbyteries and congregations on compliance and finance matters.
4. Central Office. Presbyteries will confirm annually to the Central Office when submitting Accounts that they have confirmed the congregations’ compliance in the areas listed in Paragraph 1 above.
D.REPEALS
The General Assembly repeal Act 29, Class 2, 1978 and Act 15, Class 2, 1983.