ROLE DESCRIPTION
CONVENOR OF SYNOD RESOURCES & COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE (RCC)
KEY PURPOSE
To co-ordinate the work of the Resources & Compliance Committee (RCC) and to contribute to the development and implementation of Synod Policy on resources and compliance matters.
REPORTINGReports to Synod Executive in conjunction with the Synod Treasurer, Chair of Trust or Synod Officers.
DIMENSIONSThere are some 101 Churches in the Synod, of which 12 are Listed, together with 43 URC Manses and a few additional properties. 2 properties are currently directly administered by Synod.
INTERACTIONSSynod Trust Officer
Synod Finance Officer
Synod Property Officer
Synod Safeguarding Officer
Treasurer
Chair of Trust
Moderator
Personal Assistant to the Moderator/Office Manager
Administrative Assistant
RCC Members
Convenor of Synod Ministry Development Committee
Convenor of Synod Missional Discipleship Development Committee
Other Synod Officers, line managers and staff

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To chair meetings of the Synod Resources & Compliance Committee.
The Committee Remit: –

• Preparation of Synod budget
• Monitoring Synod budget and preparing accounts
• Deciding on property sales and purchases (churches, manses and other property)
• Ensuring properties are wisely maintained and used.
• Promoting and monitoring equalities of opportunity across our churches and ensuring legal compliance
• Encouraging use of and administering the Synod Mission Fund

The Committee also has responsibility for considering building grant applications and reviewing grant policy and availability of funding from time to time in conjunction with the Trust.  It must additionally ensure that the Synod M&M target is set each year, together with allocating requests to churches, monitoring payment levels and managing the process.

• Working with the Treasurer and Chair of Trust to supplement and support the work of Synod Finance, Property and Trust Officers. This includes ensuring that critical tasks and issues are placed with these Officers but that other matters are processed through other Synod resources and expertise. (This may also require consultation with Line Managers).
• To provide guidance on general resources and compliance matters including priorities and editorial advice on communications to churches etc.
• To ensure that advice is provided to local churches, when requested or required, from within the expertise available through Synod Officers, members of RCC or from appropriate external Professionals to whom proper fees will be due. 
• To be involved in projects on behalf of Synod or RCC which fit with the Convenor’s expertise and availability. 
• To be a member of the Synod Executive and to report and advise on property matters as required. 
• To ensure that expertise is available to the Synod Mission Fund Panel to give a ‘building’ perspective in addition to finance and mission perspectives when relevant 

OPERATIONAL ISSUESChair 4 meetings of RCC per year
Attend other Synod meetings as required (Synod Executive 3 or 4 per year)
Communication mainly by email and telephone
Time commitment will be variable but typically 4 hours per week.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
The Convenor must have

• Experience of financial and property matters, including legal compliance and good governance, in a relevant context.
• Skills for chairing meetings and reporting both orally and in writing:
• The ability and understanding to work with professionals both in house and external.

CAN YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HELP?
  
Churches are no doubt aware of the support offered by Synod Committees and Officers. These many and varied roles are a vital part of the Synod churches giving support and guidance to one another. It would be a rare church congregation that can fully support itself without outside support.
 
Whilst the Nominations Sub–Committee seeks to better understand the roles required and the proposal of suitable candidates for those roles we also need to have the support of the Local Churches in making known those vacant roles within the Synod.
 
These Synod Committees are not separate entities from the Synod’s churches. They are there for the smooth running of the central Synod functions and are often at the request of Local Churches. It is your support that enables the Committees to respond to your requests for help.
 
The list below highlights the various Synod committees in which a vacancy is still apparent. Are you able to help in anyway? This may be through a personal commitment; alternatively if you are aware of someone who may be approached to fill a vacancy concerned. In either case, may we ask you to respond to this request?  Please contact Rachel Vernon, Secretary, Nominations Committee at the Synod Office on 0121 783 1177 or admin@urcwestmidlands.org.uk.
 
Can I please ask that you bring this matter to the urgent attention of your Congregation, the more volunteers we have the more widely we can assist all our Churches.

FULL LIST OF COMMITTEE VACANCIES