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Proposal for a Regional Development Worker Scheme for SCM Aotearoa

Proposal abstract: That SCMA employs part-time development workers in all appropriate regions.

Change of policy rationale: Centralisation of Administration makes a lot of sense as duplication of paperwork is a waste of valuable energy. Similarly decentralisation of evangelism and animation makes a lot of sense, as Animation relies on relationships and constant contact. Successive Movement Animators have commented on the difficulties and frustrations of centralised Animation and this proposal is a response to those concerns.

Use of money rationale:  This is explicitly not a way of rewarding the hard work of particular individuals. Money is being used here as a means to gain access to time resources that people would otherwise use for another part-time job.

Resourcing

Finance

The scheme will cost approximately $240 per month for each worker. As this is quite a modest amount it is proposed that this be raised from individual churches, church organisations, ecumenical groups, youth training organisations and donations. The amount of money raised will determine the number of months that can be worked. February-October would be a possible time of work, but it would be up to the funders and the local group how many months can be covered.

Administrative and legal

SCMA is already a registered employer and has IRD and ACC experience and systems in place. All the payroll, taxation and accounting details can therefore be taken care of on behalf of the local units by SCMA through the National Treasurer and National Administrator. They will be provided with an email alias.

Employment supervision, pastoral support and ideas resourcing

It is envisaged that the position of National Movement Animator will be retained and funded. However their job description would be modified to include regular contact and support of the RDW’s, their Animation budget can be used in any way to support the evangelism of the movement including buying materials or funding travel. It is also envisaged that the Development Worker will find a local Senior Friend to act as a regular sounding-board. It is not anticipated that there will be much difficulty in finding a Senior Friend interested in doing this.

Possible tasks for RDW’s

Name gathering – taking a roll of people who go to meetings

Cold-calling churches, chaplains, youth workers, schools.

Organising an end of year event and/or speaker for school leavers intending to go a tertiary institution. Ensure that SCM is made known to local High School students, and is contactable through friendly teachers and principals.

Being available for comment to local media.

Inviting peripheral people to SCM Conferences.

Be in contact with local groups of Senior Friends.

Organisational Changes needed

Re-writing of the job description of the Movement Animator, contained in the Rules of SCMA.

Including of the funding and expenditure in the SCMA Budget, this can only be done at General Meetings such as this one.

ACC Figures are estimates only

Other experiences

The Australian SCM has a Development Worker scheme, and we are waiting for details of this to come from their National Office.

Recommendations to this AGM

This AGM is not required to approve the plan in principle, or to commit money and other Movement resources to this scheme. Because the idea is new and has only been proposed in the few days leading up to the AGM consultation has not been wide enough to justify that sort of recommendation. Nonetheless it is believed that the following recommendations balance off the need for urgency and originality of methods movement building, with the need for reasonable consideration of the scheme.

1. That a working group be constituted to investigate this proposal and to report to the NCG within three months.
2. That this group gets costs such as teleconferences paid from the Animator’s budget.
3. That an income item to the value of four development workers be added to the 2000-2001 budget, and that a corresponding expenditure item to the same value also be added.
   (Note: Matching income and expenditure items means that whether or not this scheme, or any other, comes to pass the financial position – the budget balance - of SCMA is not affected, but the project can go ahead before April 1, 2001)

[ AGM Notes ] [ WG 1 ] [ WG 2 ] [ WG 3 ]