Terms of Reference for the Council of Reference for Wonderfully Free Ministries
The Council of Reference (‘the Council’) offers expertise and experience, informing and encouraging the Wonderfully Free ministry of Darrell and Anthea Cocup (‘the Directors’) and advocating their mission and vision. It also helps to legitimise and give a sense of structure and covering to their ministry.
- Roles of the Council of Reference:
- To act as a consultative body and provide wise counsel.
- To provide pastoral support and advice, by being a safe place for open and confidential discussion.
- To help keep the ministry on purpose and to identify opportunities to strengthen their reach and reputation where appropriate.
- Managing complaints:
- Complaints should be resolved directly by the Directors wherever possible.
- The Directors may seek advice from the Council of Reference when they are managing complaints.
- If it has not been possible to resolve a complaint directly, the complainant should be advised to contact the Council directly at the email specified below.
- One or more members of the Council will investigate the complaint and reach a judgment about it. The decision by the Council is final.
- The Council of Reference may also be contacted directly if it is not considered appropriate, because of the nature of the complaint, to discuss it with the Directors.
- Frequency of meetings with the Directors:
- These meetings with the Directors may be online or face-to-face.
- These will be on an ad hoc basis, but there is an expectation that these should be at a minimum of once every 6 months.
- Typically, these meetings will not involve more than one Council member at a time (unless both members of a couple are Council members).
- Frequency of meetings with other Council members:
- These meetings with other Council members may be online or face-to-face.
- These will be on an ad hoc basis, and there is no expectation that these should have any regularity.
- Meetings may be called by any member of the Council of Reference when there is an important issue to discuss.
- The Directors may be invited to all the meeting, some of it or none of it.
- Numbers of members:
- There should be a minimum of 3 members of the Council, and a maximum of 6 members.
- Becoming a member:
- Members are chosen by the Directors, but may be suggested by the members of the Council of Reference.
- Council members have been invited based on their expertise in areas that may be required.
- Duration of membership:
- Members generally serve for a period of 3 years, but this may be a shorter period if requested.
- When the period is up, members may serve for an additional 3 years, if the Directors and at least 50% of the members of the Council of Reference agree to it.
- Stopping being a member:
- Members of the Council of Reference may choose to step down at any time, but should normally give 3 months’ notice.
- The member may be requested to stay on for a longer period if the Council of Reference is at its minimum number, but this will be for a maximum period of 6 months.
- A member of the Council of Reference who has not fulfilled or been unable to fulfil their role (by having contact with the Directors) for a 12 month period will be stepped down, unless there are clear extenuating circumstances.
- The Directors can request that members of the Council of Reference step down at any time, if they feel the member no longer has the skills required or is no longer, in their opinion, fulfilling a useful function for them.
- Publication on the Wonderfully Free website:
- The names of current members of the Council of Reference will be specified on the Wonderfully Free website, along with a short bio, which specifies their main expertise.
- Contact details of the members of the Council of Reference will not be provided, but a generic email address will be provided.
- Members can be contacted via CoR@wonderfullyfree.org
- Disbanding the Council of Reference:
- The Council of Reference may be disbanded when it is no longer required, or another body provides its functions.