Reader WORKING AGREEMENTS

The purpose of a Working Agreement is to help colleagues work together under God in harmony. It isn’t a legally enforceable document or contract, but a voluntary code of practice which sets out boundaries and expectations.

All Ministers holding the Bishop’s Licence are required to have a Working Agreement.

For Readers the process of making a working agreement together with the incumbent can:

a)Clarify assumptions. Tensions between colleagues often arise because of different assumptions about sometimes minor matters, e.g. the amount of time to spend in church before a service, hours per day or week spent in ministry, etc. It’s helpful to review the agreement after some weeks of working together, when it may have become clear which assumptions need to be clarified. In this way expectations can be matched and misunderstandings avoided. 'Never make assumptions!'

b)Cover aspects of the Reader’s work, ministry and leisure where some aspects might be overlooked: e.g. in including time for study, or time off for Readers in full time employment.

c)Guide the shape and direction of future continuing ministerial development (CMD), with particular reference to skills and expertise the Reader may particularly wish to develop.

d)Broaden the context of ministerial development. The Reader’s previous experience and gifts need to be taken into account. So do the skills of all the members of the ministerial team, since this is a collaborative enterprise. All members of the ministerial team will learn much from the lives of the other members, not only about ministry skills, but also about how to develop a balanced and sustainable pattern of life.

e)Provide an objective way of addressing problems in the working relationship. E.g., if there is friction about punctuality, the discussion can focus on what has been agreed in writing, rather than different interpretations of a conversation.

Working Agreements need to be as realistic and specific as possible. Thus “N will have four hours’ study a week” is more helpful than “N will have time for study”.

The agreement will need to be regularly reviewed and revised as the Reader’s skills, competences and personal circumstances develop.

Working Agreements need to be flexible, but should cover the following points:

1)Introduction. This explains the purpose and overall scope of the agreement

setting out the Reader’s family environment
where appropriate a description of the Reader’s secular work or other responsibilities.
The prime focus of ministry (in which benefice / parish, or other context).

2)Liturgical.Patterns of shared worship and prayer.

What will be the involvement on Sundays and at which services?
Frequency of preaching, and expectations about sermon evaluation.
It is good practice to leave one Sunday each month completely free from formal liturgical involvement to aid the Reader’s spiritual refreshment and formation.
Pattern of shared worship and prayer, daily / occasional offices.

3)Pastoral.An indication (days / hours or sessions) of commitment to areas of pastoral ministry

Pastoral and sick visiting.
Home and sick communions.
Ministry in local schools and other institutions.
Church groups,ecumenical and community involvement.

4)General. This section may include any of the following.

Weekly day off.One day in each week should be free from all church / benefice involvement. It is preferable that this is a constant day of the week.
Holidays. As Readers are volunteers there are no formal holiday entitlements, appropriate notice should however be given to the incumbent when holidays are to be taken.
Expectations about punctuality, including worship, meetings and correspondence.
Attendance at regular staff meetings, together with colleagues as applicable.
Membership of PCC. It should be noted the Readers are not automatically members of the PCC.Church Representation Rules, Rule 14 (1) (e) provides that “the Annual Meeting each year may name such of the licensed Readers in the benefice as it may determine as members of the PCC, so long as their names are on the church electoral roll of that parish”. Alternatively the PCC itself may decide to co-opt one or more Readers, so long as the total limitation on co-opted membership is not exceeded; or a Reader may stand for election in the usual way.’ Please note that the provision for the APCM to include Readers on the PCC in a special category as provided by Rule 14(1)(e) applies only to licensed Readers, not those with ‘Permission to Officiate’, who would have to be co-opted or stand for election.
Arrangements for regular supervision on a one-to-one basis with the incumbent to discuss progress and reflect on the developing ministry. This is different in purpose from staff meeting time.
Retreats, spiritual direction, cell groups and other forms of support network, and the funding of these.
Submission of expenses claims and the keeping of accounts. Readers are not entitled to claim service fees but should be reimbursed travelling and other ministerial expenses.
Arrangements for accepting ministerial engagements outside the parish.

5)Further Training.Identification of training needs and aspirations.

Time for study and involvement in the IME / CMD programme, and policy about additional in-service training and the provision for financial support for books and travel costs. New Readers should be free to attend IME / CMD events arranged for them. Travelling expenses should normally be paid by the parish.

6)Review. Arrangement for review of the Working Agreement,

A regular review of progress and problems should be carried out.
The Working Agreement of Readers must be reviewed at least at each triennial relicensing.

7) Grievance procedure to be followed in the event of a breakdown in relationships.

Should problems arise all Readers have access to their Archdeaconry Warden of Readers and the Diocesan Warden of Readers. Further help may be available from the relevant archdeacon orbishop. However, regarding problems in the training relationship, the Director of IME4-7 or the Warden of Readers should normally be the person approached by the incumbent / or Reader in the first instance.

A copy of the final signed working agreement should be sent to the Readers’ Administrator.

The page following contains a draft proforma for making a Working Agreement following these notes.

This can be used as is or be modified as necessary to meet individual circumstances.

Benefice of ………………………………………

WORKING AGREEMENT

…………………………………..…....: READER

1.Introduction.

A brief description of the secular work I family environment of the Reader.

………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………..

The prime focus of work and accountability is in the parish(es) of …………….………..……………………….

2.Liturgical (Please aim to leave at least one Sunday per month clear)

2.1.Ministerial involvement on ………..Sundays per month
preaching ……………. times a month.
2.2.Attendance at daily offices. (If appropriate / applicable). ………………………………………………...
2.3.Attendance at Occasional Offices. (If appropriate / applicable). ……………….………………………..

3.Pastoral. (Please indicate areas of involvement and approximate weekly hours).
3.1.Pastoral / sick visiting. ……………………………………………………….……………………………….
3.2.House visiting / communions. …………………………………………….…………………………………
3.3.School visits / assemblies. …………………………………………………………………………………..
3.4.House group or other church involvement. ………………………………………………………………..

4.General.

4.1.Weekly day off. (One day a week should be clear of benefice duties). …………….…………………..

4.2.Allowable travel and other expenses to be paid by ……………………………………………………....

4.3.Membership of ………………………………………………...... P.C.C. and its committees.

4.4.Attendance at Staff Meetings. ……………………………………………………………………………....

4.5.Understanding with the Vicar / Rector about outside ministerial commitments.

………………………………………………………………….……………………………………………….

5.Further Training. …………………………………………………….…………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………….………………………………………………..

6.This working agreement to be reviewed in ……………..………………… time.

Signed: ………………..……..….. Incumbent. ……..…..…………….……Reader. ………………… Date.

Please forward a copy of this agreement to: -

Readers’ Administrator. Council for Worship & Ministry, The Old Deanery, The Cloisters, EXETER. EX1 1HS