This event, hosted by Ethos and Laidlaw Centre for Church Leadership, aims to equip churches and Christian NGOs to understand their rights and obligations by exploring what good employment practice looks like.
The seminar will be presented by Geoff Bevan, Consultant at Parry Field Lawyers. With more than 25 years’ experience in employment and health and safety law, Geoff will share practical insights for leaders and managers, helping them to understand churches’ and charities’ employment law obligations.
Can churches and Christian organisations focus on hiring people who share their faith?
What can you do if one of your team acts inconsistently with your beliefs or commits some kind of moral failure?
How should you deal with sensitive pastoral information?
How should you support staff and volunteer welfare, and ensure you comply with minimum employment standards?
Many churches and Christian non-profits don’t know the answers to questions like these—and, to be fair, there’s a complex legal web to navigate. That can undermine missional effectiveness, especially if practices aren’t legally compliant.
Leaders need to be empowered to make good employment decisions and to run ministries in accordance with best practice.
This event will help you steward this calling.
Details:
– Thursday 25 June, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm (including breaks).
There are two options to attend:
– In-person at Laidlaw College, Henderson, Auckland; or
– Virtually via live-streaming.
Costs:
– $89 for lawyers (the event is also eligible for 2 CPD points);
– $49 for others.
A CPD certificate will be emailed to attendees who request one after the event.
Who should attend? This event will be tailored to:
– Churches and church leaders, including clergy (pastors, ministers, etc) and managers (e.g. operations managers);
– Christian non-profits, including CEOs, COOs, managers, and trustees;
– Lawyers not specialising in employment law or junior employment lawyers, especially those who might advise the above two groups.
Learning objectives – by attending this event, you will:
– Understand churches’ and charities’ employment law obligations, including where they are different to the duties on secular employers;
– Get practical insights on compliance, from minimum standards to best practice;
– Learn about topics of particular interest, such as managing volunteers, privacy, leave and public holidays, and safeguarding;
– Consider freedom of religion as it relates to employment law.
About the presenter:
Geoff is a Consultant at Parry Field Lawyers with over 25 years’ experience across all aspects of employment and health and safety law, working for clients throughout the country. Geoff provides strategic advice for Boards, organisations and individuals facing broader “people” related challenges, including issues relating to culture, safety, reputational risk, leadership and industrial relations. He has particular expertise in either preventing, or quickly resolving, people disputes. As well as working with a range of private and public sector organisations, Geoff has significant experience working with churches and other religious and charitable organisations.
