One of the medium-term tasks for all partnerships will be to undertake a full review of the property that exists within the partnership area and to arrive at proposals for how it might be used to best effect in fulfilling the mission of the Church. The review will cover all churches, Human Resources presbyteries, halls and other property and land within the partnership area. The development of partnerships will inevitably have implications for the human resources we deploy in our Reviews will include a prayerful and parishes and across the wider partnership reflective exploration of the needs of the area. The partnership structure provides local community and how the property us with an opportunity to make best use within the partnership might help to meet of such resources. While some roles will these needs. continue to be more appropriately linked to a specific parish, taking a It is recommended that this is not seen as wide perspective with most roles will an early priority for partnerships as it is make for a more efficient and ‘joined-up’ important to build strong relationships arrangement. When considering any new first. Property issues can be emotive and or replacement posts we should all now introducing such issues too early in the be thinking wider than the parish. life of a partnership could undermine efforts to establish greater co-operation. In supporting the development and smooth running of partnerships we see Support will be available to assist the need for two specific functions that partnerships when the time is right for the may well translate into paid or voluntary review to be undertaken. This will include roles across a partnership area. These a detailed ‘toolkit’ and advice and support functions are Partnership Development from the newly appointed Property and Partnership Administration. Outreach Advisor. Partnership Administration is Before any major building projects are concerned with ensuring that a approved a partnership would need to partnership area runs as efficiently as provide evidence that a full property possible. It could include areas such as review has been carried out. a single point of contact for Where emergency repairs and renewals administration, joint bulletins/ are required these should continue to communications, standardised follow existing procedures. systems etc. Think Partnership. Even before a full Partnership Development is the work review of property takes place it is to support the Partnership important to consider the potential Development Group in a practical implications of any property decisions - sense to implement its decisions and not just for the parish it involves - but for move from a ‘partnership on paper’ to neighbouring communities and the an active and effective arrangement partnership as a whole.
One of the medium-term tasks for all partnerships will be to undertake a full review of the property that exists within the partnership area and to arrive at proposals for how it might be used to best effect in fulfilling the mission of the Church. The review will cover all churches, presbyteries, halls and other property and land within the partnership area. Reviews will include a prayerful and reflective exploration of the needs of the local community and how the property within the partnership might help to meet these needs. It is recommended that this is not seen as an early priority for partnerships as it is important to build strong relationships first. Property issues can be emotive and introducing such issues too early in the life of a partnership could undermine efforts to establish greater co-operation. Support will be available to assist partnerships when the time is right for the review to be undertaken. This will include a detailed ‘toolkit’ and advice and support from the newly appointed Property Outreach Advisor. Before any major building projects are approved a partnership would need to provide evidence that a full property review has been carried out. Where emergency repairs and renewals are required these should continue to follow existing procedures. Think Partnership. Even before a full review of property takes place it is important to consider the potential implications of any property decisions - not just for the parish it involves - but for neighbouring communities and the partnership as a whole. Human Resources The development of partnerships will inevitably have implications for the human resources we deploy in our parishes and across the wider partnership area. The partnership structure provides us with an opportunity to make best use of such resources. While some roles will continue to be more appropriately linked to a specific parish, taking a perspective with most roles will make for a more efficient and ‘joined-up’ arrangement. When considering any new or replacement posts we should all now be thinking wider than the parish. In supporting the development and smooth running of partnerships we see the need for two specific functions that may well translate into paid or voluntary roles across a partnership area. These functions are Partnership Development and Partnership Administration. Partnership Administration is concerned with ensuring that a partnership area runs as efficiently as possible. It could include areas such as a single point of contact for administration, joint bulletins/ communications, standardised systems etc. Partnership Development is the work to support the Partnership Development Group in a practical sense to implement its decisions and move from a ‘partnership on paper’ to an active and effective arrangement wide
Pointing%20the%20Way%20-%20Partnership%20Guidelines%20-%20FINAL.docx