Congregational Support committee

Congregational Support Committee

Convener: Frances Heafield contact

The Committee has responsibility for the five-year Action Plan which aims to get beside congregations and help them identify both a way forward and the steps necessary to get there. 

The remit of the Congregational Support Committee is to provide support and encouragement, as well as oversight and direction of the churches’ work in respect of mission, social theology in action and change within the rubric of the Church of Scotland.

As such, it seeks to undertake the following functions:

  • Carryout and oversee the five-year Action Plan within the Presbytery of Lothian and Borders. To follow up the Action Plan regarding implementation and development and to support congregations, Kirk Sessions, Lay Pastors and Ministers in developing mission, outreach and care in their parishes.
  • To facilitate the annual Inspection of Records
  • Other matters such as data protection, resolving of congregational disagreements and matters identified by the General Assembly.

Fan is Convenor for the Congregational Support Committee to Lothian and Borders Presbytery, covering the five-year Action Plan and Inspection of Records as well as support. Fan was previously Headteacher of a large secondary school in England. Fan was brought up as a daughter of the manse in Scotland and is now a Presbytery rep for Lothian and Borders on the “Faith Action Programme Leadership Team”

The Convenor is responsible for heading-up the Congregational Support Committee, sorting meetings, taking the lead in organising inspection of records and running the five-year Action Plan. This committee has responsibility for helping congregations do what they do better.

Membership: Convenor, Vice-Convenor plus 10 others.

Purpose and Responsibilities

The remit of the Congregational Support Committee is to provide support and encouragement, as well as oversight and direction of the churches’ work in respect of mission, social theology in action, pastoral care and organisational matters and changes within the rubric of the Church of Scotland.

As such, it seeks to undertake the following functions:

  1. To support and help maintain the well-being of congregations across the Presbytery.
  2. To provide support and help as well as a listening ear for Session Clerks, Kirk Sessions and Elders.
  3. To identify a member of the Committee to liaise with Session Clerks and Kirk Sessions and be a point of contact when difficulties, queries or just a chat are needed. (See further details at end of remit.)
  4. The Committee has responsibility for the oversight of the Action Planning process of each congregation. It will work beside congregations and help them identify both a way forward and the steps necessary to get there. To this end a member of the committee will be allocated between four and six charges to support.
  5. To follow up the Action Plan including supporting the implementation and developments of key aims and tasks. The Committee will oversee the annual Action Plan Review procedure.
  6. Identify Facilitators who will provide training in key areas
  7. To support Kirk Sessions and congregations when they are without a minister for a lengthy period of time or in vacancy
  8. Invite Elders to join our Committee for a meeting to discuss what their support needs are and how we can realistically provide assistance
  9. Work with the Mission Planning Committee to support congregations in changes to be made.
  10. Work with the Mission Committee to support the development of cluster groupings as well as the development faith and mission in every congregation.
  11. To facilitate the annual Inspection of Records, the writing of the five-year action plan and the annual review of the action plan.
  12. Other matters such as data protection, resolving of congregational disagreements and matters identified by the General Assembly.

Appendix

The Link Committee member will, in respect of their group of churches:

  1. Support the writing of the Action Plan and the annual review process
  2. Have a presence at Surgeries (this may be the Convenor) run by Presbytery
  3. Have a list of advisors with specialisms who will help with specific problems
  4. Have a list of possible support actions they may offer.
  5. Visit each church in their grouping or attend a Kirk Session Meeting at least once each year.
  6. Respond to any emails/ phone calls from their link churches and provide advice, a listening ear, suggestions of where further support can be gained
  7. Involvement with updated Elder training
  8. Advise (if required) on the remits of working groups or division of tasks within the church e.g. Property