The Ministry Handbook is a guide and reference for those in placement and entitlements for those in ministry in the Uniting Church Western Australia.
The handbook is produced by the Ministerial Benefits Committee, who also regularly review its contents to ensure all information is accurate and up-to-date.
2: THEOLOGY OF THE STIPEND
3: STIPENDS
3.1 Please contact one of the following people to receive a current list of Stipends and Allowances: Placements Administrator, Chief Financial Officer or Payroll Manager.
3.2 Payment Beyond the Minimum Stipend – Updated October 2017
3.3 Regional Loadings -Approved General Council August 2011
3.4 Minister’s Benefits Guidelines in WA – Approved by General Council – 8 February 2016. (Updated on 26 November 2019).
3.4a Operation of Minister’s Benefit Account – Please email our Accounts Officer for assistance.
3.4b Minister’s Benefit Account – Expenditure Acquittal Advice– Uploaded 15 November 2017
3.5 Payment Arrangements – Updated October 2017
4: HOUSING
4.1 Housing Policy incorporating Couples in Ministry
4.2 National Home Endowment Fund (Approved General Council 12/2011)
4.3 Manse Guidelines – Updated October 2017
5: MOTOR VEHICLE PROVISIONS
5.1 Motor Vehicle Policy -Approved by General Council April 2011
5.1a Motor Vehicle Travel Expense Claim Form
5.2 Co-operative Loan Fund– Approved by Synod Standing Committee November 2016
5.3 Motor Vehicle Concessions– Approved General Council April 2011
6: OTHER ALLOWANCES AND WORK RELATED EXPENSES
6.1 Personal Resources Development Grant– Approved by General Council December 2011 – Updated Oct 2017. Ministers please refer to Terms of Placement.
6.2 Minister’s Wellness Benefit Scheme – please contact our Insurance & Risk Manager or Presbytery Support Administrator to receive a copy.
6.3 Help in Difficult Situations – Approved by General Council April 2011
6.4 Entitlements for those in Ministry Living above the 26th Parallel
7: LEAVE
7.1 Annual Leave – Approved by General Council October 2016. (Uploaded 23 August 2018)
7.1a Annual Leave Form Application Form– Approved by General Council September 2016. (Uploaded 23 August 2018)
7.2 Other Leave – Approved by Pastoral Relations & Placements Commission – August 2016 (includes public holidays, preaching free Sundays, study leave, compassionate/bereavement leave, jury duty, carer’s leave).
7.3 Sick Leave
7.4 Long Service Leave
7.4a Long Service Leave Application Form
7.5 Maternity Leave (in progress) 7.6 Parental Leave (in progress)
8: SUPERANNUATION
8.1 Superannuation (In progress)
9: PART-TIME MINISTRY
9.1 Part-Time Ministry and Guidelines for Visiting Preachers from other Denomination – Amended July 2020
9.2 Guidelines for Visiting Preachers or Speakers from other Denominations to Uniting Church congregations – Approved by Synod Standing Committee December 2017
10: SUPPLY MINISTRY
10 Supply Ministries – General Overview
10.1 Occasional Supply – Approved by General Council October 2012
10.2 Short Term Supply – Amended and Approved General Council October 2017
10.3 Long Term Supply – Amended and Approved General Council October 2017
10.4 Transitional Ministry Placements – Approved by General Council October 2012
11: ACCOUNTABILITY IN MINISTRY
11.2 Supervision Policy
11.2a Sample Supervision Covenant
11.2b Sample Report Supervisor to Placement Body
11.3 Continuing Education
11.4 Reporting Accounts of Abuse Under the Oversight of the Royal Commission – Please contact Safe Church/Royal Commission Officer or the General Secretary for guidance and further advice.
11.5 Professional Standards Policy – Approved by Synod Standing Committee 14 August 2017. Updated on 20 March 2018.
12: OTHER ITEMS
12.1 Placement of Chaplains in WA
12.2 Lay Ministry Worker Remuneration Guidelines – Updated 2020
12.3 Couples in Ministry – incorporated into 4.1 Housing Policy
12.4 Baptism, Wedding and Funeral charges (To be written)
13: RELOCATION
13.1 Ministry Relocation Policy – Updated October 2017
13.2 Removal Inventory
14: MINISTERS OBLIGATIONS TO GOVERNMENT
14.3 National Police Certificate – Updated October 2017
14.4 Working with Children Check
14.5 Marriage Celebrant Requirements Please contact our Presbytery Support Administrator for an application form and/or an appointment with our General Secretary.
15: MINISTRY DOCUMENTATION
15.1 Ministry Leadership Profile Template
15.2 Congregational Profile Template – Amended and Approved June 2019
15.3 Standard Letter of Call
15.4 Terms of Placement – Updated September 2017
15.5 National Handbook of Placement Procedures
15.6 Ministers’ Annual Report 2018/19 (Word Doc) – Uploaded 13 August 2018
15.7 Lay Ministry Worker Remuneration Guidelines – Updated August 2017
15.8 Ministry of Pastor: Steps for Appointing a Pastor – Please contact Presbytery Minister (Pastoral) for further information.
16: RELATED POLICIES
16.1 Volunteer Travel Policy
16.2 Motor Vehicle Reimbursement Claim Form (for volunteers)
16.3 Motor Vehicle Travel Expense Claim Form (for those in placement) – refer 5.1a Travel Expense Claim Form
16.4 Conflict of Interest Policy
17: PASTORAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE AND PLACEMENTS COMMISSION BYLAWS
New Structure from 5 November 2016.
17.1 Placements Commission Bylaw
S-3.1-Placements-Commission ByLaw
17.2 Pastoral Relations Committee Bylaw
P 3.2 Pastoral Relations Committee Bylaw
Pastoral Relations Committee Regulation 3.7.3(b)- Updated January 2017
18 WA PRESBYTERY MEMBER’S ROLL
18.1 In progress. Please contact the General Secretary for further information.
Helpful Links
Contact us
If you require further assistance, please contact:
Amanda Badenhorst
Presbytery Support Administrator
Phone: (08) 9260 9820
Email: amanda.badenhorst@wa.uca.org.au
