Boards and Agencies of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland

The Union Commission

The Union Commission acts on behalf of the General Assembly in allocating ministers and financial resources to congregations for ordained ministry. Membership is drawn from presbyteries all over Ireland, together with representatives of allied Boards and Committees. It usually meets in the Board Room, Church House, on the last Tuesday of September, October, November, January, February, March, May and third Tuesday of June.

The formal rules concerning the Union Commission are found in the Code, Paragraphs 128 and 274.

Its work can be broken down as follows:

Vacant Congregations (that is, those without a Minister): the Commission receives deputations from congregations, reviews their circumstances, and agrees an appropriate initial stipend and ministerial expenses. It ensures that definite decisions have been taken concerning what work, if any, is needed on the Manse. It then issues 'Leave to Call' which means that the congregation can proceed to look for a new Minister. Where it is appropriate for two or more smaller congregations to share a Minister the Commission will agree terms of linkage and ensure that income from any redundant Manses is used in accordance with the General Assembly's guidelines. Where the workload is light, a congregation may be given leave to call under the Part-Time Ministry Scheme. Where factors in the long-term future of a congregation are uncertain, Leave to Call under Re viewable Tenure may be given: this means that after five years the whole situation can be reviewed. Sometimes the Commission will meet informally with representatives of congregations to discuss the future provision of ministry or the Commission sends a deputation to an area to gather more information or to discuss particular issues.

Associate Ministers: the Commission receives deputations from congregations seeking to call an Associate Minister, decides whether there is appropriate work for an Associate Minister to do, and agrees Salary, Expenses and Housing Allowance.

Additional Pastoral Personnel: the Commission receives requests from congregations for the creation or renewal of pastoral positions additional to ministers and deaconesses, such as youth workers and family workers and decides whether to grant approval.

Extra-Parochial Work: The Commission approves applications from Ministers for permission to undertake paid work outside the congregation.

Special Arrangements: The Commission makes special arrangements for grants from Central Ministry Fund in situations where ministers resign or retire for health or other special reasons.

Expenses: In some cases local resources are not enough to reimburse the Minister for expenses incurred in the performance of his or her duties. The Commission awards grants on application to bring expenses paid up to an appropriate level.

Fees: The Commission annually sets the recommended level of Travel Expenses payable to Ministers and reports to the General Assembly the Pulpit Supply Fee.

Manses: The Commission agrees arrangements with congregations for the use of income from the sale or letting of Manses and of land held for the benefit of the Minister.

Reviews: The General Assembly requires that Stipend and Expenses be reviewed seven full years after the installation of a Minister. The Commission carries out these reviews. In addition it provides comment for Presbyterian when Visitations, Consultations and reviews of resources are carried out in congregations. Where there is short-term uncertainty over the financial resources of a congregation given leave to Call, a shorter-term review (often three years) may be included in the terms.

The Commission has five in-house Committees and it is appropriate to contact the relevant Secretary or Convener concerning any particular item of business in the first instance: