New Changes to Employing Ministry of Pastor (MoP) Roles

From 1 January 2025, there will be changes to the process of employing Minister of Pastor (MoP) roles in Congregations. These changes come from feedback from Presbyteries and congregations and aim to improve and streamline all processes relating to Ministry of Pastor.

• Provisional Commissioning for Ministry of Pastor 
• Six months to complete the requirements after assessment 
• Streamlined recruitment process 
• All Ministry of Pastor roles to be approved as Religious Practitioner, as per the criteria set by ATO. 
• Completions of requirements communicated to Secretariat before the six-month period expires. 

Why are we doing this?  
The provisional commissioning allows applicants to be commissioned immediately after assessment, allowing six months to complete any requirements.  

The new process aims to give the Pastoral Relations Committees (PRC) greater ability to make decisions more efficiently that are aligned to the needs of their presbytery.  

This new process will encourage stronger relationships between congregations and their presbytery throughout the pastoral recruitment process and beyond.  

What are the changes?  
Synod People and Culture have finalised a new Promapp MoP recruitment process which outlines each step required to be taken when employing a Ministry of Pastor role.  
Presbyteries will have a deeper connection with congregations in creating Religious Practitioner aligned MoP position descriptions, anticipating ACOMP Exec approval.  

This new process entrusts the MoP applicants to be classed as Religious Practitioners in a provisional period from the initial role commencement and whilst going through the UCA assessment process.  

Secretariat will be the supporting body and will provide assistance where necessary.  

What are Presbyteries now responsible for?  
Working with the congregations, PRC will continue to be the approval point for appointing potential MoP Position Descriptions, and applicants. No position description will be received without Presbytery approval. 

PRC will be responsible for obtaining Religious Practitioner approval from ACOMP Exec. This must be completed before any person may be employed.  

PRC will be responsible to re-assess applicants before the conclusion of the provisional period to confirm completion of assessment and advise Secretariat of the final outcome for applicants to maintain Religious Practitioner status. This step is crucial in ensuring the person continues to be paid as Ministry of Pastor. 

The Synod are pleased to implement these changes to support a vital ministry within our church. They come into being from 1st January 2025. 

How to learn more  

More information can be found in this document and the Ministry Employment Guidelines page on the Synod website. Or, if you have any questions, please contact the Ministry of Pastor inbox – mop@nswact.uca.org.au