Fifty-Nine Quid.

A week or so before the selection conference I recieved a letter that actually made me consider whether I wanted to continue with the Ordained Local Ministry.  I was informed that I am required to join the Protecting Vulnerable Groups Scheme for both adults and children, and I was expected to pay £59 for the privelege.

This angered me.  The OLM is a voluntary, non stipendary ministry, and I firmly believe this should be open to everyone that God calls.  But £59 is a couple of days pay after tax for someone on minimum wage, so it is a large chunk out of the domestic budget.  I have £59 spare, but not everyone is so lucky.  I was unhappy that this may exclude those who are spiritually rich but cash poor.

Because this is required for an individual's employment, the £59, according to an accountant I met at conference, is tax deductible.  So employees such as child minders and even full time ministers can reclaim the cost, but for the volunteers, we are expected to pay it.  This is not meant as a pot-shot at full time Ministers, as I have had a lot of support from many Ministers who disagree with OLM's and Readers being charged.  And it's not the Kirk that is levying this charge.  The PVG people at 121 have had long discussions with HMRC and PVG to find a way to waive the cost, but to no avail.  It is worth noting that voluntary groups, such as the Scouts are exempt from the charge.

I have exchanged a number of emails with 121 and the people, and in particular one person who we all know, have been really fantastic.  

Had I already been PVG cleared by my home congregation for both adults and children, then there would be no charge.*  If I was only on one list, then I would still have to pay the £59 to join the other list. 

I have no objections to the PVG scheme in principle, however I believe that the cost of vetting the workforce and volunteers should be paid by the state.  Especially considering how many exemptions there are from the scheme, and how, according to my source, is tax deductible.  It hardly makes sense to pay the Goverment on one hand, but then reclaim the cost on the other..  I believe having a workforce that we can be confident in is an asset to society, and the benefits will far outweigh the costs of running the PVG scheme

And if the £59 is a bit much, please have a word with 121 and I am assured they may be able to help.





*I am dropping a very big hint here for future OLM's, Readers and other workers.  Work it out.

Use of Church Buildings

Following on from the community enterprise idea, another thing sprung to mind.

In the UK, elections typically happen on a Thursday, often closing schools to use their premises as the polling station.  This means that parents may need to find childcare, so they either need to take time off work or have to pay for childcare.  And for a self employed person, time away from work means no wages.

The Church of Scotland has campaigned in the past for international justice and democracy, for example in Burma.  So should we set an example by offering our buildings for use as polling stations.? 

The sanctuary of many churches often lies empty all week, and there may also be room in the halls, so I feel it shows a good example that we are encouraging democracy by allowing polling to take place in our buildings.  Also, it helps our communities by ensuring the schools stay open and parents can carry on working.

Or is it sacrilege to let the Government in the house?  Does this turn God's house into a den of thieves? 

Discussion follow-up

My discussion topic asked the question as to whether the church should step in to run essential community services when the traditional suppliers close down. This was targeted at congregations within rural areas who may only have limited access to shops, banks and petrol stations. I had this topic bouncing around my head for a number of months before conference, so I was reasonably well prepared when it came to the debate.

 The group was broadly in agreement with the idea of the Church providing local services, and using its premises if appropriate. It is entirely compatible for the Church to support its community in this manner, as this may help to eliminate rural poverty by providing access to reasonably priced produce through a local shop.

One concern was raised that it may look like the Church was abusing its power to prevent other businesses setting up in the area. Between the group it was agreed that the Church should not be the owner of the enterprise, but instead should act as a catalyst to create a community business. Other community businesses have sold shares within the community so the community as a whole is the business owner, and all profits are re-invested in the business or the community. No one person will be profiting, and everyone has a vested interest in the continuation of the scheme. A community cooperative may also qualify for membership of the Cooperative movement, allowing the sale of Co-op branded goods through their wholesaler.

Communities, on the whole are aware when their bank, post office or shop are at risk of closing. If it is known that a proprietor is going to be closing down, then this is the point that the Church should be acting to get the community involved in creating a replacement. The community should not be forcing established business out of the area, but it will know when a proprietor is planning on retiring, and can work with the proprietor to arrange smooth transition.

There was also a little time to discuss the types of enterprise that could be offered. Already in Scotland there are shops, a petrol station and a laundrette, and there are community post offices. It was also suggested that a community should could offer a platform for the sale of local crafts and produce, either as part of a larger enterprise, or in its own standalone shop. Even the pub idea was worth considering. There was little concern about the use of Church premises. While it may be inappropriate to turn the sanctuary into a local wine bar, the church hall may often lie empty for part of the day, so consideration could be made to using the halls for community enterprise.

So in general, the group was broadly in favour of the topic.

 The important thing is to keep Christ at the centre of the community. If the Church can see a way of reducing rural poverty by empowering people to use their time, talents and resources, then this can only be a good thing.

Post Script. It’s not just rural poverty that is affected by not having a supermarket at the end of the street. I am aware of an urban congregation that organised a bus run to Tesco so the largely unemployed members could get cheaper shopping as they did not have access to cars. It’s not about putting money into the hands of Tesco, but instead about helping those worse off buy essentials cheaper. I suppose every little helps.

Conference Discussion Topic

One of the exercises you have to do at conference involves group discussion.  From your group of five, you each take a turn at presenting your topic to the group and chairing the discussion before summing up with the conclusion of the group at the end.  So everyone has a turn at presenting to a group and four chances of participating in a group.  You have fifteen minutes per talk, so no more than the first five minutes should be spent presenting your topic, and taking care to leave a short time for collating the groups position at the end, you then have ten minutes or so of discussion.  You want a topic that will generate opinion, but not so controversial that the debate descends into fisticuffs.  And Voldemort is strictly off limits!  

You will be asked to submit your question to 121 before conference.  Believe me, there's nothing worse than going to a public speaking competition to find that, of the six contestants, three are speaking on the same topic (in my year at school it was Women's Rights.) Especially when you have been politely advised that the judges are getting bored hearing the same topics.

My advice:

• Practice delivering your topic beforehand. 
• Discuss it with people from a variety of backgrounds so you are prepared for their responses. 
• Get your timing right.  Rambling on for thirteen minutes about your topic gives no time for discussion.  And on that note, wear a watch.
• Make sure you include everyone. 
• And remember that you are all in this together.  Trying to score points against your comrades just makes you look like an arse.

My question, along with the rough cut of my preamble follows.

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It could be argued that, Church aside, there are four buildings that form the heart of the community. The shop, the Post Office, the bank and the pub.

For those who live in the central belt, where we may have a shop on every corner, and 24 hour supermarkets in nearly every town, it is easy to overlook the pressures that rural communities are under. Closing the village shop means that villagers are forced to drive many miles just to buy the essentials, with the associated transport costs. Close the bank and businesses have to travel further to deposit funds, and residents may not be able to access cash. And if they can get cash, it may only come from fee charging cash machines. Close the Post Office, and you lose the myriad of services the Post Office offers, including cash withdrawals and deposits. And where would Eastenders be without the Queen Vic, or Emmerdale without the Woolpack? All these enterprises form a focal point for interaction within the community. Remove even one of them and the community starts to decline. The only interaction within the community will be a token wave as they pass each other on the way to Tesco. And as the community shrinks, takings at these enterprises reduces, reducing their viability, and causing more businesses to close, continuing the cycle.

And how do we support those who don't have a car?

But a willing community can make a change. Communities groups on the island of Eriskay and the village of Uig on Lewis have set up their own community enterprises, helping to halt the decline of their area. These include shops, Post Offices, laundrettes and even a petrol station. And pubs have even been bought out by their community. There have even been plans for community groups to become internet providers, in the areas where the traditional internet providers will not operate.

Given its position at the centre of the community, should the Church at parish or Presbytery level act as a catalyst for community enterprise? Should the Church help to alleviate the financial burden on those in the local area by ensuring they don't have to drive miles for a pint of milk? Should the Church be permitting use of its premises to provide a Post Office, a shop, a bank, or dare I even say it, a pub?

If the Church does not look after its community, then there will be no community left to serve, so the question I offer to the group is…

“Should the church step in to run essential community services when the traditional suppliers close within that community?”

Result

The letter arrived today.

After a year of exploring, I've actually managed to convince some folk that I'm cut out to be an OLM.

Perhaps after another year I'll convince myself!

With particular thanks to all the bloggers and commentors who have helped along the way, both online and in person.

Advantages

Well there's sod all I can do at this moment in time to improve on how I got on at conference.

So at the moment, If I want to see Mrs G, I have to drive my motorbike to Highland Cathedral through some very attractive scenery. stay with some very good friends, eat in a cafe that doesn't skimp on the portion size when it comes to chocolate cake, and drink at a pub that has an extensive and changing range of real ales on tap.  And the pub is in walking distance, so everyone can join in.

This summer is going to be hellish. :-)

Finished

Finished.  Home.

My head is now firmly located up my nether regions.

We had an orchestra sharing the building at Gartmore House.  There are few things more disconcerting than having an orchestra strike up in the next room as you are performing number 2.  In this Jubilee weekend, it's nice to know how the other half lives.

I'm giving the whole thing no more thought.  Thy will be done etc.  It's completely out of my hands.  So in a week and a half I'll get the answer.  But will my path involve a Stairway or a Highway?

From conference

I can't write.

I have spent so long typing everything that writing is an absolute toil.  The exercises we have to do that involve putting pen to paper are a chore, and I fear that my scrawl is going to count against me.  Every word is an absolute labour and I see that I can type considerably faster than writing.  And the linear thought process that is required to put an idea to the page just doesn't suit me.  Cutting, pasting and inserting is how I live my life.  It must be at least 10 years since I've been expected to write more than a few lines, and these have been strictly for my benefit.

For my final exercise, the staff have very kindly agreed that I can type it up.  You have no idea how much of a relief that is.

All is going well.  All good folk, and it would be great if they all got through. 

It's time.

Yesterday I was feeling that I would be glad the whole enquiry process would be over, one way or the other.  It's almost a year since I went to the Enquirers conference.  Tomorrow and I'll be at conference, where my call will be well and truly tested. But today I'm feeling much more positive, on the verge of something big.

I've had a few trial runs of my discussion topic, throwing the idea off random people, friends, and even a retired Provost from Perth.  I've stored away their responses, so I'm ready for a few odd answers as I chair my debate.

This isn't going to be a tick-box exercise.  In the interviews, I will really have to sell myself.

All I can do now is pray the prayer that Lynn gave me.

Dear God,

Give me the strength to do outrageous things.

Amen.

(But not too outrageous - not until I get the yes vote!)