Pre-General Convention: Church Employees
Diocesan Press Service. August 7, 1964 [XXIII-8]
The 61st General Convention will have to decide on several resolutions affecting employees of the church.
First, it has been asked to create several new positions on the staff of National Council. The Joint Commission on Evangelism asks that a full-time office of General Secretary for Evangelism be created. The Secretary would be responsible for correlating, evaluating and distributing material already gathered on existing programs of evangelism, for helping the Departments and General Divisions of National Council "make evangelism an integral part of all their work," and for reminding the Church "that evangelism is central to the mission of the Church and to our response to our Lord."
The Joint Commission on Church Music recommends that an officer be placed on the staff of National Council who could organize more effectively the efforts of the Commission, communicate to the Church what is being done and what may be done in the field of church music; and relate the effort of the Commission to similar groups in churches of the Anglican Communion and other communions. The Joint Committee on the Study of Quotas recommends that an officer be added to National Council's staff to make available information on the "Partnership Plan", to share the experience of those who have adopted the plan; and to work closely with the proposed Joint Committee on the Partnership Plan." This plan for financing the world- wide mission of the church is based upon a voluntary proportionate sharing of parish income between parish, diocesan, national, and world-wide needs.
Secondly, in order to take advantage of the skills and knowledge of National Council staff and to relate their work and the work of General Convention more closely, the Joint Commission on the Structure of General Convention and the Provinces recommends to General Convention that Joint Committees and Commissions be enabled to have as consultants members and staff of the National Council or other experts to assist them.
Thirdly, the Joint Commission on Education for Holy Orders recommends that all clergymen have periodic opportunities for post-ordination studies. This study period would, the Commission feels, help the clergyman function more effectively in an increasingly complex society, and also help him keep up with recent developments in theology and other related fields.
Finally, the Joint Commission on the Status and Training of Professional Women Church Workers recommends in its report that a new Canon be adopted which would state that any woman communicant of this Church who is eligible for membership in the Association of Professional Women Church Workers and who is employed or seeks to be employed, in the services of the church would apply to the Bishop of her jurisdiction to be accepted as an Approved Worker. The Bishop would keep a list of all such workers and give them a letter of transfer to the Bishop of another jurisdiction if they move, stating that they have been on his list of Approved Workers. Lastly, all Approved Workers would report to the Ecclesiastical Authority of the jurisdiction in which they are employed annually, during Advent, on the progress of their work. They would also report at other times if requested to do so.