MANSE POLICY - APP 6

SOUTHERN SYNOD

MANSE POLICY 2005

APPENDIX 6 – MANSES IN LOCAL ECUMENICAL PARTNERSHIPS 

Special factors affect manses in LEPs and it is necessary in each case to decide whether such manses come within the Synod’s Manse Policy and, if they do, whether any special factors should apply.  There appear to be three types of LEP manse:

• Manses that are subject to a Sharing Agreement, regardless of whether or not the property is vested in the Synod Trust. These manses are not covered by the new policy.
• Manses housing ministers in LEPs, which are vested in the Synod Trust but not subject to a Sharing Agreement. These manses are covered by the new policy.
•  Finally, there are manses housing (sometimes United Reformed Church) ministers in LEPs which are not vested in the Synod Trust (i.e are vested in one of the other denominations or independent trustees) and not subject to a Sharing Agreement. These manses are not covered by the new policy

Difficulties may arise as a result of these differences and inconsistencies and so it has been necessary to adjust the policy to make the situation fairer and clearer.

Type 1. Churches coming together to form LEPs and entering into Sharing Agreements for their manses no longer come under the provisions of the Synod Manse Policy. This is because, under a Sharing Agreement, quite specific arrangements are agreed in respect of the particular situation and circumstances pertaining.  There may be significant inconsistencies in the treatment of LEPs at the time of purchase of a manse because each situation has been treated on an ad hoc basis. Further differences arise as a result of varying policies and financial circumstances of the other participating denominations and whether another property is being sold to provide capital resources. Methodist Circuits differ in their attitude and resources and there are differences between the denominations' standards of manse accommodation. Much of this is inevitable and possibly insurmountable.

Those manses that are shared with the Methodists are usually included in the Circuit's provisions for care and upkeep. The LEP will contribute to the associated costs through the Circuit Assessment and so the specific costs of repair and maintenance are not apparent to the LEP.  However, in order to encourage the routine maintenance and repair of manses and to encourage, rather than deter, the creation of LEPs, each LEP will be offered the annual allowance, pro-rata according to 'share'.

The following criteria will be used to determine whether a particular LEP would be eligible for this type of assistance:

          • URC 'presence' in the LEP

          •  other resources (of ministry and money) which the URC contributes or has contributed to the LEP

 

 Type 2. It is only when such a manse is occupied by a non-URC minister that any difficulties may arise because the expectations of the other denomination and/or its minister may be different from those of the URC.  In effect there is no difference between these manses and those in URC-only situations and this must be made clear to other denominations.

In any ecumenical situation where the manse is owned by the United Reformed Church, the standard of accommodation would be determined by the Assembly Guidelines and the Synod Manse Policy.

 

Type 3.   The only difficulty arising with this Group is when major work is required on the property and the denomination that owns the manse asks whether the United Reformed Church is willing to contribute to the cost. Synod may take the view that such situations tend to 'balance out' with those in which property is owned by the United Reformed Church and made available for ministers of other denominations.

Without a Sharing Agreement, the Synod does not have a liability for major repairs to the fabric of such property and normally no grants would be made in such situations.

Notes:

• In view of the complexity of LEPs and the ecumenical situation generally, each such situation will need to be dealt with on an individual basis and consultation will need to take place between the Moderator, the Synod Property Officer and the Ecumenical Officer to ensure that the most suitable arrangement is made.  This must then be put in writing and agreed with the appropriate authorities of the other denomination(s) involved and with the LEP.
• In view of the setting-up of a new United Area within the bounds of the Synod, special provisions may be necessary for the care of property, including manses and the financing of the latter.  These arrangements need to be negotiated when the United Area is constituted and it is hoped that there will be a property person to act as liaison between the United Area and the Synod Property Committee on manse matters.

SS MANSE POLICY – Revised 2007
Version 1.0