THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF CANADA Position Title: General Secretary Department: General Secretary Immediate Supervisor: The Primate Subordinate Positions: Director of Communications and Information Resources Director of Resources for Mission Director of Financial Management Archivist Coordinator, Anglican Fund for Healing & Reconciliation Human Resources Manager Assistant to the General Secretary Travel & Event Planner Assistant Archivist Program Assistant, Residential Schools Program Associate, Anglican Fund for Healing & Reconciliation Summary of Position: 1. Section 16c of the Constitution: Under the direction of the Primate the General Secretary shall: i) be the Chief Operations Officer of the General Synod, ii) make the necessary arrangements for meetings of the General Synod and Council of the General Synod and act as secretary of both bodies; iii) perform such other duties as are defined by the Constitution, Rules of Order and Procedure, Canons and resolutions of the General Synod or the Council of the General Synod.; iv) report to the Primate in the Primate s capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the General Synod. 2. Section 16e of the Constitution: i. The General Secretary shall be assistant to the Primate in the Primate s capacity as President of the General Synod and Chief Executive Officer of the national staff. Revised 2011 April 1
3. Section 45 of the Constitution: National Staff a) Directors of the departments of the General Synod shall be responsible to the General Secretary, as Chief Operations Officer, for the performance of their duties. b) The organization of the staff of the General Synod shall be directed by the General Secretary in consultation with the other Officers of the General Synod. I. Typical Duties and Responsibilities: 1. Oversight of the work of the General Synod, its committees, councils, boards and commissions Assists the Primate in his capacity as President of the General Synod Responsible for all aspects of planning for the meetings of General Synod and has specific oversight of the work of the General Synod Planning Committee; including: agenda planning; registration of members; orientation; local arrangements; production and distribution of synod documents; and membership of sessional committees. Responsible for the management of the meeting of the General Synod while in session. Oversees the production of the minutes and Journal of Proceedings of the General Synod; ensures follow-up of resolutions and works with the Handbook Concerns Committee of the Council of General Synod to ensure production of a revised Handbook of the General Synod. Organizes and attends meetings of the Officers of General Synod and ensures staffing and follow-up of meetings. Oversees planning, preparation, meeting management and follow-up for the meetings of the Council of General Synod; the Planning and Agenda Team of the Council of General Synod and other task groups as designated by the Council of General Synod. At each meeting reports to the Council of General Synod on activities of the General Synod and the General Synod staff. Responsible for liaison with standing committees, councils and boards, including attendance at meetings from time to time as ex officio member. Maintains knowledge and familiarity with on-going work of the many diverse parts of the national church through regular contact with relevant staff. As Warden of the Anglican Award of Merit, requests nominations from constituency; organizes and chairs meetings of its committee; prepares report for the Council of General Synod and ensures follow-up. Revised 2011 April 2
Performs other duties as are defined by the Constitution, Rules of Order and Procedure, Canons and resolutions of the General Synod or the Council of the General Synod. Liaises with dioceses, visiting with bishops, attending executive councils; synods, and other diocesan events. Attends all or part of the meetings of the House of Bishops. Represents the General Synod to governments and the public, when required. 2. Chief Operating Officer of General Synod Assists the Primate in his/her capacity as Chief Executive Officer of the national staff. Serves as Chair of the Management Team, develops agenda; ensures General Synod budget preparation and provides staff support for the team at its monthly meetings Acts to implement policy and oversee General Synod staff Meets regularly with the Primate to keep him informed of all matters concerning the management of Church House Responsible for ensuring Human Resources functions are carried out and policies are in compliance with the Employment Standards Act, Ontario Works at developing community among the staff at Church House Responsible for performance appraisals of subordinate staff o Is the primary decision maker for sexual misconduct and harassment policy. o Meets with official visitors to Church House As Privacy Officer of the General Synod, ensures the proper collection, retention and distribution of personal information and ensures compliance with the General Synod Privacy Standards Policy. Oversees the functions and resources assigned to litigious situations including key contact with legal counsel, insurers, other involved parties, and any third parties; is the General Synod s representative for examinations for discovery and acts as witness for the General Synod in court. 3. Indian Residential Schools Responsible for matters related Indian Residential Schools; ensuring compliance with the Amending Agreement between Government of Canada, the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada, The Missionary Society of the ACC, and the Anglican Church Resolution Corporation all legal matters pertain to Indian Residential Schools; the Independent Revised 2011 April 3
Assessment Process; ensuring coordination of historical research requests from government, church group and others. 4. International and Ecumenical Responsibilities Attends meetings of the Provincial Secretaries of the Anglican Communion and assists in planning when requested. Liaises with the Anglican Consultative Council and its ecumenical officer on matters relating to the Anglican Church of Canada Shares with others (staff and volunteers) in representing the Anglican church in ecumenical settings; speaks for the General Synod and takes part in ecumenical tasks; sits on the Ecumenical Working Group for Residential Schools and the Governing Board of the Canadian Council of Churches. 5. Other Takes on ad hoc assignments, as time is available. II. Typical Contacts Internal Primate Staff of the Primate s Secretariat Staff in the General Secretary s Office Members of the Management Team Members of the Leadership Circle External Bishops and Diocesan staff Members of the Council of General Synod Officers of General Synod General Secretary and President, Canadian Council of Churches General Secretaries of other churches General Synod solicitor Ecumenical Officer, Anglican Consultative Council Volunteers of standing committees, councils, commissions and boards. III. Responsibility and Authority a. Employee Relations Develops policy and procedures for staff; salary policy and salary decisions Direct supervision: See pg. 1 Subordinate positions Revised 2011 April 4
b. Money Signing Officer for General Synod. Responsible for the development of and is accountable for the budget of the General Secretary s Office including the General Synod (meeting). Responsible, as Chair of the Management Team, for the development of the overall General Synod budget and ensures monitoring of the budget at monthly meetings of the Management Team. c. Decision making and Recommendations Most significant decisions are taken in relation to other groups such as the Church House Management Team, General Synod Planning Committee, the Council of General Synod and its committees, councils, commissions and boards. The General Secretary first determines what to refer or not refer to the groups and then facilitates these groups in making decisions and determining policy. Makes decisions about staffing and interpretation of policy Advises the Primate with regard to management and policy questions Makes recommendations to the Council of General Synod and General Synod about procedures and organization Makes proposals to the Church House Management Team with regard to issues that arise. IV. Job Specifications: (a) Previous Experience and Education Required: Requires postgraduate degree in theology and/or management Knowledge of the Anglican Church of Canada and the Anglican Appreciation of the ecumenical dimension of the church Active communicant member of the Anglican Church Communion (b) Skills and Competencies Required: Theological competence Ability to interpret policy within an beyond the church. Well developed administrative and management skills Ability to function well within a team relationship Supervisory skills Well-developed negotiating, mediating and arbitration skills Well-developed conflict resolution skills Well-developed communication skills including writing, verbal, listening and presentation abilities Very strong interpersonal skills (c) Physical and Mental Efforts: The need to grasp details in many fields The need to be involved in others interpersonal relations The need to negotiate through conflict Revised 2011 April 5
The pressure of deadlines with a myriad of demands Long hours from meeting to meeting Residential meetings and travel (d) Conditions Under Which Work is Performed: Normal office environment and meeting rooms; conference facilities. (e) Travel and Attendance at Residential Meetings: Travel as required (about 40% of time) In Canada travel regularly to dioceses and committee meetings Occasional international travel Large number of residential meetings in Toronto area and elsewhere Revised 2011 April 6