Minutes of the meeting of the
Regional Development Worker
Working Group

8:15pm Wednesday 30 August

Present: Greg Hughson, Michael Perkins, and Daniel List

Apologies: Terry Wall (hadn’t read minutes of the last meeting)

Michael read the minutes of the previous meeting and some small mistakes were corrected.

Greg described the range of groups at Otago and said that the TSCF staff workers were now in place and being paid $35k. Greg affirmed that this was no reason to be daunted, as there is definitely still a place for SCM. Daniel observed that the number of development workers indicated that it was either a good idea or a common error!

The Agenda was set as the four items:

Contract details

Timeframe for applications and appointments

Raising the money – how to do it, centrally or locally

Tasks of the worker

Contract Details

How long should it be? Two years or one year? The term should be negotiable as some people may not want to be around for two years.

Recommendation: One year contract term with right of renewal for another year.

The group expressed a vision that it is our hope that this will bear fruit slowly – and that we expect that there might not even be much effect up until 3-5 years of operation. It is also our hope that the scheme will bear fruit rapidly!

Grounds to assess right of renewal: Greg is reviewed by interview, his goals set at the beginning of his term are compared with the goals achieved, and all the other work that has been done as well is discussed. Michael said that his review is less friendly – everyone else is questioned about his performance, and the office systems are inspected before he is interviewed.

Recommendation: Every 6 months the DW is to be interviewed (and report sent to the NCG and the local group). The interview could perhaps be done by the chaplain and a Senior Friend. This arrangement will need to be more flexible if local chaplains are not seen to be appropriate. Daniel suggested getting them in place before the end of the school year in order to have an impact on the next University intake.

Tasks/job descriptions

We should provide good guidelines to the DW but also leave it open so that DW’s have the freedom to follow local conditions – they should be given scope for individual creativity. Greg’s contract has “Considerable professional freedom” we need to emphasise that the DW’s need to be open to the moving of the spirit.

Greg suggested that establishing liaison relationships with other Christian groups on campus and ecumenical groups should be included in the job. Daniel said that it is difficult but the worker should still be open to developing conversations. He has found it to time-consuming and can rob SCM of energy.

Recommendation: to instruct the DW to have a go at inter-group liaison, and if it doesn’t work to be able to walk away from it in good faith. Their main focus is developing SCM.

Recommendation for movement building in 20 years time: We will clone Daniel.

Greg suggested that another task would be “to encourage theological reflection among SCM.” Michael suggested that perhaps they be encouraged to do this through their networking – attempt to build a supportive community in theological terms as well as political terms.

Recommendation: We recognise that while interacting with the community, the RDW will probably encounter people who will be useful resource people for the SCM Unit. Part of the job is to enable them to be resources, thereby stimulating theological reflection within SCM.

Recommendation: SCM’s Constitutional objectives to be included in the job description.

Timeframe for applications and appointments

Daniel suggested trying to have people in place before the end of the High School year.

Michael did not think that it would be possible to have the paperwork done in the next month, as this would be the required timeframe.

Recommendation: To appoint people by 1 February 2001. Contracts ready by December. Job description and application form circulated by mid-November.

The NCG in-person could discuss the applications.

Aside comment: Colleges of Education are the next logical step in SCM’s quest for global domination! Lot’s of continuity once they are established as students tend to be there for three years Polytechs have a higher turnover of people and will thus draw energy from the other tertiary groups in the area in order to keep them going.

The Money: how to raise it?

Michael Perkins is to contact SCM Otago to clarify whether the money offered at the AGM was for an Otago worker or to seed the scheme nationally? PAC money could go anywhere.

Recommendation: As much local financial support is to be raised as possible, with a nationally organised top-up available. Part of the top-up could come from the Trust. Trust members may also know of some other channels to get money.

It was stressed that fragile local units will not be able to get energy together to get a worker. Easy to fall into the vicious cycle of working to raise the money to keep working.

Greg suggested that there be a focus to raise more capital for the rest of this year and to start fairly soon. Generally we were stuck for finding ways to access the money that we know would be available for this proposal. Greg suggested a national appeal, through church networks and media, applications to the PAC Trust, letters to the SF list combined with history book mailout.

Next meeting: September 13, 8:00 pm – if this suits Terry.

To discuss matters arising from further reflection

The meeting closed at 9:30 pm