600 The Nature of the Local Church. (1) The Church exists to exercise the whole ministry of Christ. The local church, with its membership and larger church community, exercises this ministry where it is and shares in the wider ministry of the Church in the world. In this one ministry worship, fellowship, pastoral care, mission and service are essential elements. Administration and training enable their fulfilment. In the Methodist Church these various tasks are undertaken by the Local Church, through its Church Council and committees, in union with the ministry of the Circuit of which it is a constituent. It is represented in the Circuit Meeting and represents it locally. It engages in ecumenical work including, where appropriate, the support of ecumenical Housing Associations. For the meaning of the expression Local Church see cl. 1(xv) of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) as applied by S.O. 002(xii). For exceptions see S.O. 605 (2)-(5) and 942. (2) Since every member in the Local Church is as such a member of the Methodist Missionary Society, the purposes of the Local Church include the promotion of understanding of and support for the work of the Society to the end that every member may share actively in world mission. See Articles 2 and 4 of the constitution of the society (Book IVB, Part 3).
601 Its Size. (1) If a church is too small, by itself, to fulfil its functions it is encouraged to seek association with its neighbours for the discharge together of the things that cannot be attempted by one church alone. See S.O. 605, 612, 613(4). (2) The minimum number of members for a self-governing church in the terms of Standing Order 605 is set at a very low figure to meet the need of sparsely populated areas; in general it is to be desired that much larger numbers be achieved.
602 Its Government. In the government of the Local Church the several responsibilities must be exercised without the loss of the unity of the one ministry. The Church Council is constituted to unite the severally responsible members, officers and ministers in one working community. It has the authority to take decisions for the church and to manage its affairs to this same end. The General Church Meeting has a responsibility to consider the whole ministry of the church and every part of it and in making appointments to ensure the co-operation of the whole church in that ministry. This requires a proper representation of all the diversities present in the Local Church, including those who are newcomers to it.
603 The Church Council. The Church Council has authority and oversight over the whole area of the ministry of the church, including the management of its property. Aims and methods, the determination and pursuit of policy and the deployment of available resources are its proper responsibility. In many cases it will appoint committees which will have authority, in their own areas of responsibility, to initiate action, co- ordinate the work done in the church, advise the Church Council and report to it, being subject to its authority and oversight. For the constitution and specific functions of the Church Council see Section 61.
604 The Committees. The appointment of committees or officers is dictated by the need to express the variety of function in the ministry of the Local Church. The whole church family of all ages, whether members of the Church or not, needs pastoral care, worship, fellowship, training and opportunities for service. The church has a responsibility for its neighbourhood, involving evangelism, service, participation in the life of the community and co-operation with statutory, private sector and voluntary agencies serving human needs; where possible it engages in these activities ecumenically. The church is committed to the whole world, in service and mission, in prayer and giving and the help of those in need, at home and overseas. In the proper care of its property the church has to ensure that its work is neither hindered by inadequate or unworthy buildings nor embarrassed by the support of unnecessary ones, while its proper stewardship of finance means the right raising of money and the right spending of it, so that the one is seen as an invitation to Christian commitment and the other as an opportunity for real choice in the life of the Church. See Section 64.
605 Formation and Cessation. (1) No new Local Church shall be formed, nor former church reconstituted, having less than twelve locally resident members. (2) When the number of locally resident members of any church falls below six, and so continues for four successive quarters, that church shall cease to be recognised as a Local Church. See also S.O. 612. (3) For the purposes of clauses (1) and (2) a member is locally resident if resident in such a place that the Local Church in question is a natural centre for worship or fellowship. (4) Where there is a group of members insufficient to be recognised as a Local Church they shall be constituted as a Class and placed under the care of a leader, who may be chosen from their number or from the wider membership of the Local Church to which the Class is attached. A number of such Classes in a neighbourhood may constitute a Local Church or such a Class may be attached to a larger church, either neighbouring or central, but so that in either case there shall be a Church Council and Pastoral Committee sufficient to undertake the oversight of the members and the training of new members envisaged in this Part and Part 8. (5) The provision of opportunity for public worship for such Classes shall be kept under review by the Circuit Meeting which, in deciding whether or how often to sustain services in chapels where there is a Class but no Local Church, shall take into consideration the possibilities of growth in the area, the ecumenical situation, the sufficiency of numbers to form a worshipping congregation, facilities for travel and the stewardship of the resources of the Circuit and of the services of preachers.
606 Eligibility for Appointment. (1) The provisions as to eligibility for appointment to any office or membership of any official meeting, committee or other body (however described) in the Local Church shall be those set out in relation to the office or body in question, and may incorporate by reference one or more of the following categories of persons: (i) ministers, probationers, deaconesses, deacons and other persons (including those authorised to serve as ministers under Standing Order 766) who are stationed in the Circuit or residing in the Circuit for the purposes of the stations and are active in the life and work of the Local Church, so far as not otherwise eligible; (ii) where there is a local ecumenical partnership approved by the Conference or (if so empowered) by the Synod, and subject to Standing Order 010, members of any communion participating in the partnership; (iii) subject to Standing Order 010, persons named on the community roll of the Local Church. The persons within category (i) include supernumeraries without pastoral charge, ministers and probationers in other appointments or without appointment and those within S.O. 737(6)(c) or (d) (see S.O. 737 (2)(a)). S.O. 010 prescribes the doctrinal qualification for office in the Methodist Church. (2) In a duly constituted local ecumenical partnership having a Church Council constituted in accordance with Standing Order 611(1) eligibility for office or for membership of official meetings, committees or other bodies connected with the partnership shall, subject to Standing Orders 611, 630(1) and 644, but notwithstanding any other provisions of Standing Orders, be governed by the constitution of the partnership, so far as it makes provision for such matters.
607 Duration of Appointments. (1) Subject to clauses (2) and (5) below all appointments and elections connected with the Local Church shall unless otherwise prescribed by Standing Orders be for one year and take effect from the date specified in the resolution of appointment. (2) Subject to Standing Order 632(3), if a casual vacancy occurs the meeting with authority to appoint shall fill the vacancy with immediate effect for the remainder of the term of the appointment vacated. S.O. 632(3) concerns casual vacancies among the church stewards. (3) Subject to clause (4) below no person shall hold the office of church steward, church treasurer or secretary of the Church Council or Pastoral Committee, or be elected to the Church Council under Standing Order 623, for more than six successive years. (4) If the operation of clause (3) above would make it impossible adequately to fill an essential office in the Local Church the Church Council may by a 75% majority of those present and voting on a ballot vote re- appoint annually beyond the sixth year. (5) This Standing Order does not apply to the appointment of persons employed or engaged under a contract, nor to ex-officio membership.
608 Annual Covenant Service. An annual covenant service shall normally be held in every Local Church. At these services the sacrament of the Lord's Supper shall be celebrated. In churches where it is not possible to arrange for the annual covenant service to be held on a Sunday early in the new year the service may be held on a weeknight or, failing this, a service may be held for the members of two or more churches at one conveniently situated chapel.
609 Extended Communion. (1) A Church Council may annually appoint lay persons to lead acts of worship in homes (including nursing and retirement homes), hospitals and hospices during which elements set aside at a previous celebration of the Lord s Supper are received. (2) Persons so appointed shall, unless already instructed in the conduct of such services, be instructed by the Superintendent or by a minister appointed by him or her, the form of service for Extended Communion authorised by the Conference being used as a basis of instruction.
610 Constitution. (1) Subject to Standing Orders 511 and 611, the Church Council shall consist of: (i) the ministers and probationers appointed to the Circuit; (ii) any minister who has pastoral charge in the Circuit or, if a supernumerary, pastoral responsibility in the Local Church and any person residing in the Circuit for the purpose of the stations who is authorised to serve the church as a minister under Standing Order 766 or as a deacon under Standing Order 766A and who has pastoral responsibility in that Local Church; (iii) the deaconesses and deacons appointed to pastoral charge in the Circuit and any deaconess or deacon stationed in the Circuit who has pastoral responsibility in the Local Church; (iv) any worker appointed under Standing Order 570, 571 or 572 employed by the Circuit Meeting in work in the Local Church who is a member in the Circuit; (v) any worker employed by the Church Council under Standing Order 670 or 671 who is a member in the Local Church; (vi) the church stewards; (vii) the church treasurer; (viii) the secretary of the Pastoral Committee; (ix) the secretary of the council; (x) not less than six representatives nor more than fifteen elected annually by the General Church Meeting, or, where the membership does not exceed 49 and the Church Council so resolves, all members of the Local Church who are willing to serve; (xi) up to fifteen additional persons appointed by the council to ensure that all areas of the church's life are adequately represented; (xii) one circuit steward appointed by the circuit stewards. S.O. 511 concerns single-church Circuits. For the church stewards see S.O. 632-4. For the church treasurer see S.O. 635. For the General Church Meeting see Section 62. (2) Where all members of the Local Church who are willing to serve are to be members of the council under head (x) of clause (1) above the council shall annually enquire which of them are so willing and the result of that enquiry shall establish, for the ensuing year, the list of persons who, while they remain members of the Local Church, are members of the council under that head. (2A) (a) The persons eligible for appointment under head (x) of clause (1) above are those who are members in the Local Church not less than 16 years of age or are within category (i) of Standing Order 606(i) (b) The persons eligible for appointment under heads (ix) and (xi) of clause (1) above are those who are members in the Local Church or elsewhere in the Connexion or in another Methodist church or are within category (i) or (ii) of Standing Order 606(1). (3) The Church Council may invite other members of the Local Church and non-members who are active in the life of the church to attend meetings of the Church Council. Those who thus attend are not members of the council; they are entitled to speak but not to vote nor to propose or second any resolution.
611 Local Ecumenical Partnerships. (1) In local ecumenical partnerships, if the Synod so directs when designating the partnership or later, the Church Council for the purposes of clause 8 of the Deed of Union and of paragraph 2 of the Model Trusts and for any other purpose for which a Methodist Church Council may be required shall consist of the members of the ecumenical church council or other meeting (by whatever title) responsible for the general management of the partnership, together with (so far as not already members) the ministers and probationers appointed to the Circuit, the deaconesses and deacons appointed to pastoral charge in the Circuit and a circuit steward. Clause 8 of the Deed of Union concerns admission to membership and para. 2 of the Model Trusts provides that the Church Council are the managing trustees of local property. (2) During the currency of such a direction, which the Synod may at any time revoke, there shall be no other or separate Church Council constituted under Standing Order 610, and Standing Order 502(1)(b) shall not apply. (3) The Synod may exercise its powers under this Standing Order whether or not it was the body which originally designated the local ecumenical partnership in question.
612 Minimum Size. (1) When it is impossible to make up the number of members of the Church Council to include seven lay persons who are able and willing to act the Superintendent shall be informed. He or she shall nominate to the Circuit Meeting sufficient members of other churches in the Circuit, able and willing to act, to make up the number to seven. The Circuit Meeting shall then appoint that number of members to the Church Council for the ensuing year. (2) When the procedure in clause (1) above has been followed for two successive years the Circuit Meeting may apply to that church the procedure set out in Standing Order 605(4), so that the church will become a Class within another church. The Church Council of the church thus united will take on all the responsibilities of both Church Councils.
613 Meetings. (1) The Church Council shall meet at least twice in each year. (2) Before each meeting the minister or probationer in pastoral charge or, if none, the Superintendent shall, with the secretary of the Church Council, make out a list, by name, of the persons who are in their opinion members of the council under Standing Order 511, 610, 611 or 612, as the case may be, distinguishing those, if any, who are not of full age. At the meeting, before any other business is transacted, that list shall be laid before the council which shall, after making any correction which seems to the council necessary, adopt it, and the list as thus adopted shall be final and conclusive as to the persons of whom the council then consists. As to chairmanship and notice of meetings see S.O. 502. (3) The Church Council may resolve from time to time to go into closed session and to exclude visitors from all or part of the proceedings. (4) The Church Councils of more than one church may meet jointly from time to time without infringing the authority of each individual Church Council. Such a joint meeting could not exercise the functions of the Church Council as managing trustees of property.
614 Responsibilities. The general oversight of the Local Church shall be undertaken by the Church Council, exercising leadership over the whole field of the church's concern. See also S.O. 602, 603. For the council's functions in relation to property see S.O. 940 and 941.
615 Procedure. (1) Voting shall be open, except that voting by ballot shall be used on the following occasions only: (i) when these Standing Orders so provide; (ii) if the Conference so directs; (iii) if the meeting by the votes of two thirds of those present so resolves. (2) Subject to clause (1) the meeting may regulate its own procedure, but unless it adopts other rules of debate the rules comprising clauses (5) to (7) and (10) to (25) of Standing Order 413 shall apply, with the necessary substitutions. (3) Notwithstanding clause (1) above and any applicable rules of debate any member who maintains that a decision is or may be illegal or in contravention of the Deed of Union, the Model Trusts or Standing Orders or (in the case of managing trustees business) otherwise a breach of trust shall be entitled to have his or her dissenting vote recorded by name. See, e.g., S.O. 985, in particular cls. (5) and (6).
616 Irregularities. (1) When the rules of debate in clauses (5) to (7) and (10) to (25) of Standing Order 413 apply in accordance with Standing Order 615(2) they shall take effect subject to the provisions of this Standing Order. (2) No resolution or other act or proceeding of the council shall be rendered invalid, void or voidable by reason of any non-compliance with any of the provisions of clauses (6), (7), (10), (11), (16), (20), (21), (23), (24) or (25) of Standing Order 413. As to the validation of proceedings see also cl. 41 of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) and S.O. 126(2). (3) If before any resolution or other vote or proceeding of the council has been acted upon, or the minute recording it approved and signed, it comes to the attention of the chairman that there was any irregularity of a kind described in clause (5) below in or leading to the making of that decision, then unless satisfied that the irregularity could not have affected or influenced the decision the chairman shall ensure that the decision is not irrevocably acted upon until the council has been reconvened to reconsider the question and come to a regular decision upon it. (4) If any such irregularity does not come to the attention of the chairman until after the decision has been acted upon, or the minute recording it approved and signed, or if the chairman is satisfied that the irregularity could not have affected or influenced the decision, then the decision shall be as valid as if regularly made in all respects. (5) The irregularities referred to in clauses (3) and (4) above are the following: (i) failure to achieve the majority required by clause (17) or (22) of Standing Order 413, where applicable; (ii) an incorrect ruling that a greater majority is required than is the case; (iii) miscounting of votes; (iv) failure to put to the council a resolution, amendment or procedural motion which the mover and seconder are entitled to have put; (v) failure to comply with clause (18) of Standing Order 413 by requiring unnecessarily an immediate decision on a motion that the question be not put.
620 Constitution. (1) The voting members of the General Church Meeting are the members of the Local Church and persons within category (i) of Standing Order 606(1). (2) The meeting is also open to all other persons on the community roll of the Local Church.
621 Functions. The meeting shall be held for fellowship, for mutual counsel respecting the condition of the Local Church, including its financial affairs, for the election of church stewards and representatives and for any other purpose which the Conference may direct. In churches with members who are pupils in a Methodist residential school particular care shall be taken to ensure their inclusion in appropriate ways in the life of the meeting. As to the election of church stewards see S.O. 632. As to the election of representatives see S.O. 623 below. As to the last sentence see also S.O.s 630(1A), 631(3) and 801.
622 Meetings. (1) Subject to clause (2) below the meeting shall be held at least once in each year for the purpose of electing church stewards and representatives and as often in addition as the minister or probationer having pastoral charge of the Local Church, in conjunction with the Church Council, may think fit. (2) If under Standing Order 511(2)(vii) or 610(1)(x) no representatives are to be elected by the meeting in any year and if the Church Council is satisfied that the functions of the meeting can be adequately discharged by the council and that there will be adequate opportunities for fellowship and consultation available to everyone on the community roll, the Church Council may decide that the General Church Meeting be not convened in that year, in which case its functions shall be discharged by the council.
623 Election of Representatives. (1) Nominations for the election or re-election of representatives to the Church Council may be made by anyone who is entitled to vote. Notice of such nominations should be given in writing, not less than seven days before the meeting at which the election is to be held, to the minister or probationer having pastoral charge of the Local Church, who shall also have the right to nominate. If insufficient nominations have been received, further nominations may be made at the meeting. All nominations must have the previous consent of the persons nominated. Such elections are not required in certain small churches; see S.O. 610(1)(x). Representatives must be members in the Local Church and not less than 16 years of age (S. O. 610(2A) (a)). For those entitled to vote see S.O. 620(1). (2) Voting shall be open or by ballot, as the meeting determines. The number to be elected is not less than six nor more than fifteen (S.O. 610(1)(x)). (3) Casual vacancies occurring during the course of a year owing to death, resignation, removal or lapse of membership may be filled at a meeting specially convened for the purpose. (4) [. . .] (5) In nominating and electing representatives the members of the General Church Meeting shall consider the composition of the Church Council as a whole with regard to age, sex and ethnic origin. (6) Where the Circuit Meeting and the Church Council are constituted under Standing Order 511(2) the provisions of this Standing Order and of Standing Order 620(1) as to the election of representatives apply to both bodies and there shall be only one such election for both.
630 Class Leaders Appointment. (1) The Church Council shall annually appoint [. . .] class leaders and pastoral visitors to share in the pastoral care of all those whose names are on the community roll of the Local Church. Cl. 9 of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) provides that all members are to have their names entered on a class book and be placed under the pastoral care of a class leader or pastoral visitor. (1A) A person appointed as a class leader or pastoral visitor shall be a member in the Local Church of 18 years of age or more or a minister or probationer who is stationed or residing in the Circuit or is the chaplain to a Methodist residential school with pupils who are members in the Local Church, and where there are such pupils the chaplain shall in all cases be so appointed. See also S.O. 631(3) and 801. (2) Newly appointed class leaders and pastoral visitors shall be publicly recognised and commissioned at a service arranged for that purpose.
631 Class Leaders Responsibilities. (1) It is the duty of a class leader: (i) to exercise pastoral care over those committed to his or her charge; (ii) to meet the Class regularly; (iii) to visit those on his or her pastoral list regularly; (iv) to encourage members to fulfil their commitments as set out on the ticket of membership, and where appropriate to encourage others to consider the claims of membership; (v) to inform the minister or probationer having pastoral responsibility of any special need or change of address. For the duty of the circuit ministers to visit the Classes see S.O. 565 (1). As to meetings of class leaders see S.O. 644 (7). (2) A pastoral visitor undertakes the duty of a class leader, except that he or she will not be expected to meet a Class. (3) The Pastoral Committee shall allocate pastoral responsibility among the class leaders and pastoral visitors. Members who are pupils in a Methodist residential school shall be allocated to the chaplain of the school. See also S.O.s 621 and 801. (4) The Conference recognises that there may be variation in local procedure, but the spirit of the above clauses of this Standing Order is to be observed.
632 Church Stewards Appointment. (1) The General Church Meeting shall annually appoint as church stewards two or more persons who are members of the Local Church or supernumeraries stationed in the Circuit. Since the appointment gives a seat on the Pastoral Committee they should normally be at least 18 years old (see S.O. 644(5)). As to re-appointments see S.O. 607 (3). (2) Any member of the meeting entitled to vote may make a nomination if notice of such nomination has been given in writing to the minister having pastoral charge of the Local Church not less than seven days before the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may, however, nominate without previous notice. For entitlement to vote see S.O. 620 (1). (3) Should a casual vacancy occur during the course of the year owing to the death, resignation or removal of a church steward or his or her ceasing to be a member a successor may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of clause (2) above at any regular meeting of the Church Council or at a special Church Council summoned for the purpose, and fourteen days' notice shall be given of any such business.
633 Church Stewards General Responsibilities. The church stewards are corporately responsible with the minister or probationer having pastoral charge of the Local Church for giving leadership and help over the whole range of the church's life and activity. They are particularly charged to hold together in unity the variety of concerns that are contained within the one ministry of the Church. To this end it is their responsibility to uphold and act upon the decisions and policies of the Church Council. In the discharge of their responsibilities they are encouraged wherever possible to draw other members with appropriate gifts and skills into a leadership team to be appointed by the Church Council. The church stewards are entitled to appoint one of their number to any official meeting connected with the Local Church (S.O. 643 (2)).
634 Church Stewards Particular Duties. (1) The church stewards shall be responsible for seeing that all services, meetings and other engagements appointed on the circuit plan in connection with the Local Church are duly held, for welcoming and being in attendance upon the preacher before and after the service and, whenever necessary, arranging hospitality for him or her and the payment of his or her expenses and, in the unforeseen emergency of a failure on the part of a preacher or other responsible person to keep the appointment, for seeing that a service or meeting suitable to the occasion is actually held. For the circuit plan see S.O.521. (2) It shall be the duty of the church stewards before each service for public worship on Sunday to prepare for announcement by the preacher or some other person written notices of all services, meetings and other engagements appointed on the circuit plan or communicated by the ministers and to see that no announcement is made save such as is in accord with the general usage of the Methodist Church. As to political matters see S.O. 921. (3) The church stewards shall give due notice of all public collections, arrange for the taking of the collections, enter the amounts in a book kept for the purpose and without delay remit them to the treasurer or other persons authorised to receive them. All moneys collected for local church funds will be paid over to the church treasurer (S.O. 635 (2)). (4) The church stewards shall see that all necessary arrangements are made for the administration of the sacrament of baptism after due notice has been given to the minister or probationer having pastoral charge of the Local Church, in the case of children by the parents or guardians, in other cases by the candidate for baptism. As to baptism in relation to membership and to infants see cl. 6 of the Deed of Union (Book II Part 1).
635 Treasurer. (1) The Church Council shall annually appoint a church treasurer, who shall be a member in the Local Church or elsewhere in the Connexion or in another Methodist church or be within category (i) or (ii) of Standing Order 606(1). As to reappointment see S.O. 607 (3). (2) The church treasurer shall receive all collections, gifts, donations, subscriptions and other moneys raised for the general church fund, the benevolence fund or the property fund and any money arising for such other accounts as the Church Council may direct. He or she shall meet all financial obligations on behalf of the Church Council and present a statement of all such funds and accounts to the Church Council and to such committee or committees (if any) as the council may direct. While it is not necessary for the general, property and benevolence funds each to have its own separate bank account, the treasurer must ensure that these funds are accounted for separately, for example by means of a suitable system of column analysis in the cash book. On behalf of the Church Council he or she shall, eight working days before the beginning of each quarter, pay to the circuit stewards the sum required of the Local Church by the assessment of the Circuit Meeting. See S.O. 012A for the duties of treasurers generally. As to assessments on Local Churches by the Circuit Meeting see S.O. 532 (1) (i), 650 (4). The assessment includes the local contribution to the Methodist Church Fund. For the general church fund, benevolence fund and property fund see S.O. 650, 651 and 652 respectively. For general provisions as to the administration of church accounts see S.O. 012.
636 Auditor. The Church Council shall appoint an auditor or independent examiner, as appropriate, annually for the general, property and benevolence funds and all other funds under its jurisdiction. The auditor or examiner for the general, property and benevolence funds shall be the same person unless those funds have separate bank accounts and are accounted for separately. The appointment shall comply with the provisions of Standing Order 012(3) and the auditor or examiner shall report annually to the Church Council in accordance with the provisions of that Standing Order.
637 Communion Stewards. (1) The Church Council may annually appoint persons to serve as communion stewards or may assign the duties set out in clauses (2) to (4) below in other ways, and in those clauses communion stewards' includes any persons assigned to carry out those duties. (1A) The persons eligible for appointment are those who are members in the Local Church or elsewhere in the Connexion or in another Methodist church or are within category (i) or (ii) of Standing Order 606(1). (2) It shall be the duty of the communion stewards to make provision for the proper celebration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and for the holding of love-feasts whenever appointed. (3) The communion stewards shall attend at the celebration of the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and shall be responsible for directing the approach of communicants to the Lord's Table in an orderly and expeditious manner. (4) Where a separate collection is taken at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper or a love-feast, additional to the general collection at the service, if any, of which such a celebration forms part, the communion stewards shall take and record it and hand it to the church treasurer. All such collections shall be for the local benevolence fund unless, under the direct or delegated authority of the Church Council, a collection is made for some other charitable purpose and the congregation have been informed of that purpose before contributing. As to collections at the Lord's Supper see general direction 16 to the Sunday Service (Methodist Service Book, p. B3). For the local Benevolence Fund see S.O. 651. As to what are charitable purposes see the note to S.O. 650(5) and the text of S.O. 650(6).
640 Principles. (1) The ministry of the Local Church, with the leadership of its Church Council, is to care for the worship of God, for the church family, for its neighbourhood and for world service and mission and to exercise responsible stewardship of its property and its finance. Whatever committees or other official bodies are constituted for the government of the Local Church, their constitution and agenda shall express those functions and tend to their fulfilment, at the same time ensuring their inter-relation. See also S.O. 600 and 604. (2) While the establishment of committees is largely at the discretion of the Church Council, larger churches are encouraged to make as much use of committees as possible in order that every area of the church's life and witness may receive examination and encouragement, and to enable as many people as possible to make a contribution to the leadership of the Local Church. (3) In making appointments to local committees and other official bodies, or to offices which carry membership of them, appointing bodies shall consider engaging young people in such responsibilities.
641 Obligatory Appointments. The Church Council shall appoint class leaders and pastoral visitors, a church treasurer and a Pastoral Committee, together with any other officers or committees who may for the time being be required by Standing Orders, each with the responsibilities and powers prescribed by the Deed of Union or Standing Orders. As to class leaders and pastoral visitors, the church treasurer and the Pastoral Committee see S.O. 630, 635 and 644 respectively.
642 Discretionary Appointments. (1) The Church Council may appoint such other officers and committees, and with such responsibilities, as in its judgment are required for the furtherance of the work of the Local Church, and for effective communication with the Circuit, the District and the Conference in areas of special concern such as world mission and social responsibility. As to chairmanship and notice of committee meetings see S.O. 502. (2) The council may delegate to any of its committees any of its powers, except appointments under Standing Order 641, the approval of persons for membership of the Methodist Church and the accreditation of workers among children and young people under Standing Order 661. (3) The above powers of delegation are subject, in the case of the council's functions as managing trustees, to the provisions of the Model Trusts and Standing Order 911. As to the Model Trusts, see para. 16(k). (4) The persons eligible for appointment under this clause are those who are members in the Local Church or elsewhere in the Connexion or in another Methodist church or are within category (i), (ii) or (iii) of Standing Order 606(1).
643 Ex-officio Membership. (1) Subject to Standing Order 644 the ministers, probationers, deaconesses, deacons and others who are members of the Church Council under heads (i) to (v) of Standing Order 610(1) or heads (i) and (ii) of Standing Order 511(2) shall, ex officio, be members of every official meeting, committee or other body (however described) connected with the Local Church. (2) The church stewards shall be entitled to appoint one of their number to any such meeting.
644 Pastoral Committee. (1) In churches where the membership is 50 or more the Pastoral Committee shall, subject to clauses (3), (5) and (9) below, consist of the following persons: (i)the Superintendent; (ii) the ministers, probationers, deaconesses and deacons appointed to the Circuit; (iii) the church stewards; (iv) the class leaders and pastoral visitors and, in a local ecumenical partnership, any members of other participating communions who have similar pastoral responsibilities. (2) In churches where the membership is 29 or less the committee shall, subject to clauses (5) and (9) below, consist of the persons listed in clause (1) above, together with six members of other Pastoral Committees in the Circuit, appointed by the Superintendent. (3) In churches with a membership of 30 to 49 the Church Council shall decide whether the committee is to be constituted under clause (1) or clause (2) above. (4) When the committee is constituted under clause (2) above its functions (except when acting as a court of discipline) may be discharged by the Church Council. (5) No person may be a member of the committee while under 18 years of age. (6) The secretary of the committee shall be appointed by the Church Council from among the members of the committee. (7) The committee shall meet at least once in each year. It may meet at other times, as often as there is need, or the class leaders and pastoral visitors themselves may meet for the consideration of the responsibilities of their pastoral office and the increase of its effectiveness. As to chairmanship and notice see S.O. 502. (8) It shall be the responsibility of the committee: (i) to conduct an annual review of the membership and to prepare the annual returns of membership as at the 1st November; (ii) to take such part as the Church Council may require in arranging training for membership and to report thereon to the Church Council; (iii) to consider all other matters relating to church membership; (iv) [deleted] (v) to act as a court of discipline; (vi) to prepare a report on membership (but not including matters discussed in disciplinary proceedings) for the Church Council, and to put forward suggestions and recommendations; (vii) to encourage the practice of fellowship through class meetings and other groups among all members of the church family; (viii) to take all possible steps to increase the effectiveness of the offices of class leaders and pastoral visitors, to perform its functions under Standing Order 631(3) and to ensure that Standing Order 630 (2) is carried into effect. As to training for membership see S.O. 525(iv) and 802. As to admission to membership see cl. 8 of the Deed of Union (Book II, Part 1) and S.O. 803. For procedure in the committee in discipline cases see S.O. 028 and, for minute books, S.O. 020(7). As to the functions of the committee in relation to members who cease to meet see cl. 10 of the Deed of Union. S.O. 631 (3) provides that the committee shall allocate pastoral responsibility among class leaders and pastoral visitors. S.O. 630 (2) provides for a public service of recognition and commissioning of newly appointed class leaders. For guidelines for the business of the committee see Book VI, Part 2, Section 8. (9) When the committee is acting as a court of discipline its membership shall be confined to members of the Methodist Church and shall also where necessary be modified as follows: (i) if the number of ministers qualified to sit would be less than three the Chairman of the District shall appoint a further minister or ministers as required to bring the number up to three; (ii) if the membership of the full committee is twenty or more the membership for discipline cases shall be, subject always to Standing Order 020(4)(a), the ministers, probationers, deaconesses and deacons who are members under clause (1) or (2) above or item (i) of this clause together with eight lay persons appointed under clause (10) below; (iii) if, in a local ecumenical partnership, the number of lay members of the committee for this purpose is less than eight the responsible officer under Standing Order 027(1B) shall appoint a further lay member or members from among other Pastoral Committees of the Circuit, as required, to bring the number up to eight; (iv) the responsible officer under Standing Order 027(1B) shall be a member of the committee even if not otherwise qualified. See also S.O. 028(6). (10) Where clause (9) (ii) above applies the full committee shall each year appoint from among its members the eight lay persons required and those appointments shall continue for one year and thereafter, where appropriate, until fresh appointments are made for the ensuing year or until any pending disciplinary hearing is concluded. (11) For the purposes of the Deed of Union and Sections 80 and 81 of Standing Orders the meeting or committee having the responsibilities of a Pastoral Committee is: (i) the local Pastoral Committee composed in accordance with clauses (1) and (2) above, where constituted, or (ii) the Church Council, when entitled to exercise and exercising the functions of the Pastoral Committee under clause (4) above, or (iii) in a local ecumenical partnership with no such local Pastoral Committee, either an ecumenical pastoral committee required by the constitution of the partnership to discharge in relation to Methodist members the responsibilities of a Pastoral Committee under clause 10 of the Deed of Union and Section 80 and 81 of Standing Orders, or failing any such committee the circuit Pastoral Committee. Cl 10 of the Deed and Sections 80 and 81 of Standing Orders are concerned with training for and admission to membership, pastoral oversight and lapse from membership. For the circuit Pastoral Committee see S.O. 553.
650 General Church Fund. (1) The Church Council shall maintain a general church fund. (2) Subject to Standing Order 637(4) all collections at public services and meetings for worship of the congregation of a chapel shall be for the general church fund unless, under the direct or delegated authority of the Church Council, a collection is made for some other charitable purpose and the congregation have been informed of the purpose before contributing. As to what are charitable purposes' see the note to clause (5) below. It is suggested that unless a collection is being made for some other purpose the normal form of announcement should be for the general church fund'. The traditional words for the Work of God in this Church and Circuit' might be understood to exclude the support of wider causes. S.O. 637(4) concerns separate collections at the Lord's Supper. (3) All other money received by or due to the Church Council and not belonging to any other fund shall belong to the general church fund. (4) The first charge on the general church fund shall be the sums required of the Local Church by the assessment of the Circuit Meeting, which shall be paid into the circuit fund quarterly eight working days before the beginning of the quarter to which they relate. For the assessment see S.O. 532(1)(i), 635(2). (5) Subject to clause (4) above the general church fund shall be applied under the direct or delegated authority of the Church Council for the charitable purposes of the Local Church. Charitable' purposes are not in law confined to the relief of poverty or distress; they include, e.g. the advancement of the Christian faith. However, Methodist money cannot be used for any purpose which is not charitable in the legal sense. Not all good causes' are charitable in this sense; nor is the advocacy of political change. As to what are the charitable purposes of the Local Church see cl. (6) below. (6) The purposes of the Local Church include (without excluding or restricting any which would subsist apart from this clause): (i) those appearing from Standing Orders 600, 604 and 651 and Section 66. (ii) the support of any connexional, district, circuit or local fund of the Methodist Church; (iii) the support of any ecumenical work in which the Local Church is engaged. (iv) the support of the Methodist Local Preachers Mutual Aid Association; (v) subject to (i), (ii) and (iii) above, the support from the general church fund of any other charitable fund or body, except in so far as such support would be contrary to any purpose of the Methodist Church or to Methodist discipline. As to the meaning of charitable' see the note to cl. (5) above.
651 Benevolence Fund. (1) The purposes of the Local Church include the relief of poverty and distress and to that end the Church Council shall maintain a local benevolence fund. (2) The sources of the fund shall, subject to Standing Order 637(4), be the separate or additional collections, if any, made at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper and at love-feasts and allocations, if required, made by the council from the general church fund. (3) The fund shall be applied first for the relief of poverty and distress in the congregation and neighbourhood. The Church Council may adopt and implement a scheme of distribution, and payments may also be made, in any event, at the confidential discretion of the minister, probationer, deaconess or deacon in pastoral charge of the Local Church in consultation with the communion stewards, if appointed, or if not with the church stewards. (4) At its first meeting in each year the council shall consider the state of the fund and decide whether any monies are surplus to expected needs for the above purpose and, if so, what allocations shall be made out of the fund to the circuit benevolence fund, the district benevolence fund, the Methodist Relief and Development Fund and any other fund for the relief of poverty and distress, provided that no allocation shall be made which would be contrary to any purpose of the Methodist Church or to Methodist discipline. For the circuit benevolence fund see S.O. 527 and for the Methodist Relief and Development Fund S.O. 364(4).
652 Property Fund. The Church Council shall maintain a property fund, consisting of all model trust money, whether capital or income, of which the council are the managing trustees, and any allocations or contributions for property expenses from the income of the general church fund.
653 Other Funds. (1) Subject to Standing Orders 012, 635(2), 650, 651 and 652 and to clause (2) below organisations within the Local Church may hold their own funds, appointing a treasurer for each fund so held. S.O. 012 concerns banking and audit. S.O. 635(2) concerns the responsibilities of the church treasurer. As to the duties of treasurers generally see S.O. 012A. (2) The accounts of all organisations connected with the Local Church, as well as of its general, benevolence and property funds, shall be presented annually to the Church Council. The accounts shall clearly indicate the financial position of the funds as at 31st August in each year, including all investments, and loans due to and from the fund. (3) The treasurer and the Church Council shall ensure that the Local Church makes the contributions to connexional funds prescribed by Standing Orders. The general church fund contributes to the Methodist Church Fund (S.O. 361) by way of the circuit assessment (see S.O. 532(1)(i)).
660 Candidates. (1) Persons offering, or being invited, to serve as workers with children and young people shall be accepted as candidates by the Church Council. (1A) The persons eligible for acceptance under clause (1) above are those who are members in the Local Church or elsewhere in the Connexion or in another Methodist church or are within category (ii) or (iii) of Standing Order 606(1). (2) Normally they shall be at least 15 years of age for work with children and at least 18 years of age for work with young people. (2A) They shall be required to complete an application form and to accept and sign a form containing their job description and committing them to protect children and young people from harm in accordance with the policy of the Church. (3) The Church Council shall be satisfied of their commitment to Christ and His Church and of their appropriateness for this work. (4) They shall enter upon a probationary period, which shall normally be for twelve months, but which may be extended or reduced as required. (5) They shall agree to undertake preparation for service applicable to the work they wish to do.
661 Accreditation. Reports on their probation and preparation for service shall be made to the Church Council. If satisfied, the Church Council shall grant accreditation within the area of work among children or young people and shall signify this by a certificate. The fact of this accreditation shall be noted when the person is transferring from one Local Church to another. As to probation and preparation for service see the guidance at Book VI, Part 2, Section 7.
662 Service of Recognition. The Church Council shall make arrangements for the newly accredited workers to share in a service of recognition and commissioning.
670 Full-time Youth Workers etc. If a local appointment of a full-time youth worker, youth and community worker or worker with children is desired the provisions of Standing Orders 571 and 575 shall apply with the substitution of the Church Council for the Circuit Meeting.
671 Community Workers. If a local appointment of a community worker is desired the provisions of Standing Orders 572 and 575 shall apply, with the substitution of the Church Council for the Circuit Meeting.
672 Employment of other Persons. If it is proposed to employ a lay person for any local purpose otherwise than under Standing Order 570, 571, 572, 670 or 671 then such employment must be by the Church Council which shall, where Standing Order 438A applies, comply with its provisions and obtain the prior approval of the district Lay Employment Sub-committee under that Standing Order.
680 Consultation. (1) Where the appointment of worship leaders is under consideration for the first time in a Local Church the Church Council shall consult the Local Preachers Meeting of the Circuit as to the arrangements to be made by the council in relation to: (i) the procedure by which the council will obtain the advice of the meeting as to the suitability of would-be candidates; (ii) the training programme to be approved by the council and fulfilled by candidates; (iii) the procedure by which the council will obtain the advice of the meeting as to candidates progress in and completion of training and probation and suitability for accreditation; (iv) the establishment and expression of the responsibilities to be exercised by accredited worship leaders. (2) There shall be similar consultation before a change in any of the above matters. (3) Persons proposing the acceptance of others as candidates or offering themselves in that capacity shall ensure that the advice of the Local Preachers Meeting as to their suitability is obtained in accordance with the agreed procedure and made available to the Church Council.
681 Candidates. (1) Persons offering themselves, or being proposed, to the Church Council must be and remain members. (2) Before accepting a person as a candidate the council shall take into account the advice of the Local Preachers Meeting and satisfy itself as to the applicant s appropriateness for the work. (3) Accepted candidates shall enter upon a probationary period, during which they undertake the programme approved in accordance with Standing Order 680(1).
682 Accreditation. (1) Reports on the training and probation of candidates shall be made to the Church Council and the Local Preachers Meeting. (2) Upon the satisfactory completion of training and probation and after consultation with the Local Preachers Meeting the Church Council shall appoint the successful candidates as worship leaders within the life of the Local Church. (3) The council shall make arrangements for newly accredited worship leaders to share in a service of recognition and commissioning. (4) Appointment as a worship leader shall be subject to triennial review by the Church Council, which shall before each review obtain the advice of the Local Preachers Meeting.
683 Responsibility. Worship leaders shall share in the leadership of worship in accordance with the arrangements made by the Church Council under Standing Order 680(1). At each service in which a worship leader shares the person appointed on the circuit plan of preaching appointments shall retain overall responsibility for the act of worship, but shall seek to work collaboratively with the worship leader appointed to share in that service by the Church Council.