Convener of the Stationing Advisory Committee

Volunteer Position

Job Title:  Convener of the Stationing Advisory Committee

Do you want to make a difference and contribute to The Methodist Church? Are you a keen and experienced individual who is interested in supporting the work we do within the stationing process? 

The primary function of the Stationing Advisory Committee is to receive and consider applications from ministers who wish to serve in roles other than Circuit, District and Connexional Team appointments, and to make recommendations to the Stationing Committee.

About the role of the Convener of the SAC

There are nine main elements to the role:

1.     As each minister e-mails for an appointment, e-mail them back with a suggested time for an appointment. Keep a note of the time offered, to ensure not to offer that time to anyone else, unless it is not accepted. If a Panel is full, offer a date for a later panel. Attach the appropriate background information form and ask them to fill it in and return it, sending a copy to their District Chair, Circuit Superintendent, and the Warden of the MDO, as appropriate.

2.     About ten days before each panel meeting write to the District Chairs and the Circuit Superintendents of those coming to request any information from them helpful to the panel. Write also, where relevant, to the Warden of the MDO. Send out the timetable for the day to panel members, including the Zoom link. Email each minister coming to the panel reminding them of the time and date, also including the Zoom link, and telling them the names of panel members as they have the right to object to any members being present.

3.     A few days before the panel, send the forms and comments received to the Panel members.

4.     Be a member of the Panel.

5.     Following the Panel, receive the notes taken by the designated note-taker for proof reading and possible editing, add the relevant top (name, Circuit, year of travel, panel members, date of panel) and bottom (permission recommended).   Send the reports to the Panel members for their comments. Once they have been agreed, send them to the minister, and copy them to the District Chair and, where relevant, the Superintendent and the Warden of the MDO.  Send all of the reports to the Panel Chair and to the designated administrator at Methodist Church House, for them to store centrally. Keep an electronic copy of the report in a file. The administrator will update the Table of Permissions.

6.     In June, send the Table of Permissions to the District Chairs and the Warden of the MDO, asking them to check for any inaccuracies, and ask the administrator to update the table as necessary. Also send a request asking District Chairs to encourage suitable people to consider being Panel members, including a role description and an application form. Take up references as necessary, and arrange an interview with the applicant and the Chair of the Stationing Advisory Committee.

7.     In July, agree dates for the following Connexional Year with the Chair of the Stationing Advisory Committee. Write to all panel members asking if they are still willing to serve and for their available dates for the next year. Draw up a rota and send it to the Panel members.

8.     Be a member of the Stationing Advisory Committee.

9.     Prepare a brief summary of each report for the Stationing Advisory Committee meetings and present it to the Committee. Liaise with the designated administrator over the distribution of papers to the Committee members.

About You

We are looking for an experienced, committed person who has transferable skills. This individual will:

- Be a member in good standing of the Methodist Church in Britain

- Have previous administrative experience.

- Have an awareness of the variety of contexts that exist within the Methodist Church in Great Britain.

- Have a good knowledge of the stationing process of the Methodist church.

- Have a good knowledge of the constitutional and organisational arrangements of the Methodist Church.

- Have the ability to think strategically and connect vision, aims and strategies through theological reflection.

- Be a person who works well with others as well as individually, and is able to exercises sound judgement in decision making.

- Have the ability to engage diplomatically on sensitive issues

We advise you to review the candidate pack, the role description and person specification ahead of completing and submitting your online expression of interest form. The candidate pack includes some useful information about our processes. 

Please note that where appropriate, successful nominees will be asked to undertake further checks, including references and a DBS check.

If you have questions about the role or require reasonable adjustments to be made at any stage of the recruitment process, please contact us.

Indicative Recruitment Timetable:

Closing date: 3 June: 23:59

Shortlisting Date: 5-7 June 2024

Interviews Date: 11 June 2024

Provisional appointment start date: 1 September 2024

This is a voluntary unpaid position; however, some additional expenses can be agreed.