Synod 2013 gave the deputies Church Order and Church Law in relation to the Confidentiality Commission the task of "providing assistance by means of referral to bodies or regulations concerning matters such as legal status of ministers and church workers, sick notes, in-service training, as well as in the area of rights and obligations in the financial and legal fields. This task also includes referring to bodies to which pastors, church councils and congregations can turn when problems or conflicts seem to arise in a concrete problem situation."
References to
1 bodies or schemes concerning
a legal status
The legal status of ministers is regulated by church ordinances. Deputies see no reason to give further indication of this. As for church workers, they are employed by church councils. Their legal status is also regulated. One can find an example in Appendix 48 K.O. (2011 edition). Further information can be obtained from the Services Office In Veenendaal.
b sick leave
Our churches have been using the expertise of Church Work Support Centre. Church councils are urgently advised to take action as soon as possible after a sick leave of the minister to contact this Steunpunt in order to receive the necessary guidance, if possible on the way to a speedy recovery of their minister. This sick report is also important in order to take the path of emeritus status in the event of an unexpected failure to recover (see art. 13, paragraph 1c K.O.).
c CVT activities
For continuing education, deputies point to the following possibilities:
- A focused top-level study at TUA or another university, aimed at a PhD;
- Continuing education ministers, within the Reformed Churches (liberated);
- AKZ+: knowledge square for faith, church and theology;
- PThU continuing education: continuing education and postgraduate courses;
- continuing education at college level at Hogeschool Zwolle;
- idem at the Chr. Hogeschool Ede;
- Areopagus, a part of the Indigenous Missionary Union (IZB), specialising mainly in the field of equipping for proclamation. See http://www.izb.nl/wat-we-doen/voor-predikanten/cursusaanbod
d financial and legal rights and obligations
The rights and duties of pastors - and therefore also of their church councils - are laid down in the letter of appeal and any supplements to it. Deputies point out that for salaries and emoluments annually in December because of the deputies for financial affairs. It is important to point out that the concrete financial agreements may not have a lower level under any circumstances. Church councils will in any case have to adhere to these minimum agreements. Those who want to go above them are of course free to do so. And there are situations - measured by the stage of life in which the pastor finds himself (with his possible family) - in which a surplus if possible is highly desirable (see also Ambtelijk Contact November 2013, Adopt...? thank?).
The consultant of a congregation has a task in the appeal work. He will also sign the letter of appeal (art. 41(5) K.O.). Deputies emphasise that the counsellor should make sure that the financial paragraph of the letter of appeal at least passes the test of criticism, i.e. that the salary and emoluments offered are at least at the level indicated by deputies for financial matters.
Not every minister is equally well informed about (the consequences of) all kinds of financial arrangements made for them (for example, the financial section of the letter of appeal and the financial provisions after emeritus status). This also includes the completion of the annual tax return. Deputies can do no better than issue an urgent recommendation that pastors engage a consultancy firm for their financial affairs, preferably one that specialises in the financial aspects of pastoral work. The cost of the work done by these agencies pays off handsomely. They advertise regularly in the church magazines, but also contact the pastors through mailings. One inquires with colleagues or deputies about their experiences with concrete consultancies; not everything that appears on the market is equally useful. And... seeking advice does not absolve anyone, including a minister, from continuing to think for himself.
On its 'own' front, there is the Foundation for the Promotion of the Social Interests of Ministers. In addition, it regularly organises theme evenings (e.g. on burn-out prevention). Information can be obtained via info@jhvanduuren.nl.
Outside the 'own' church boundaries, attention can be drawn to the Union of Dutch Preachers (www.predikanten.nl) where issues such as legal status of pastors etc are also thoroughly considered. Initially, this Association was founded for PKN pastors and much of its advice and articles are tailored to this group. That said, pastors of other churches can also gain from it in concrete situations. In any case, there is also the necessary expertise there when it comes to a pastor's financial woes.
2 agencies in case of problems and conflicts
For counselling on problems and conflicts, the churches have several bodies that offer help.
- For conflicts between pastors and church councils, there is the national confidentiality committee, which when called upon in good time endeavours to prevent such a conflict from ending up on church meeting tables. Pastors, church councils and classes can all appeal to this committee.
- For conflicts between a church council and one or more church members, between church council members among themselves or between church councils/preachers and deputies, there are the disputes committees created by the various private synods at the request of the General Synod. They work within the framework of the regulations adopted by the synod, see annex 27 K.O.