On the evening of Monday 11 December 2017, Synod Standing Committee met and began with devotions. Church Law

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1 Disaster Relief and Community Recovery Committee Synod Standing Committee authorised the General Secretary, Rev David de Kock to have further discussions with the Disaster Relief and Community Recovery Committee, a sub-committee of the Synod Standing Committee, regarding Synod involvement in the possible establishment of a state disaster recovery chaplaincy network. Moderatorial Terms to request the Church Law Committee examine the current Moderator s By-law S6.2 that the Moderator will serve for a period of three years and submit a revised Bylaw to the next meeting of the Synod Standing Committee on Monday 12 February, Presidential Ruling 33 regarding Assembly Regulation (c) that the Moderator s term is limited to three years doesn t conform to the Constitution as Paragraph 34 explicitly empowers the Synod to determine the term of a Moderator, and doesn t set any limitations. Mapoon Appeal to authorise a donation to the Mapoon Appeal of $ Following his Assembly Report at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia in September relaunching the Mapoon Appeal, Uniting Church in Australia President, Stuart McMillan has requested financial support of the Appeal in the firm belief that the Uniting Church has a moral obligation to right the wrong which our predecessors were complicit in the destruction of the Mapoon church building and the removal of the people from their community. Nominating Committee Synod Standing Committee noted with gratitude the retirement of Margaret Thomas as Trinity Residential College and Conference Centre chair, a Residential College of the Uniting Church in Australia at the University of Western Australia, at the end of The appointment of James Millar as Trinity Residential College and Conference Centre chair in 2018 was approved by consensus. Synod Standing Committee approved by consensus the appointment of Alison McCubbin as a member of the UnitingCare West Board for a term of three years; Professor Livia Hool to Methodist Ladies College Board (from January 2018) and Rev Michael Hertz to the Committee for Counselling. Church Law Tuesday 19 December, 2017 On the evening of Monday 11 December 2017, Synod Standing Committee met and began with devotions. to approve minor amendments to wording in the Methodist Ladies College Preamble to the Constitution. WA Synod Royal Commission Task Group Synod Standing Committee received and noted the WA Synod Royal Commission Task Group report. As the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse will hand down their final report and recommendations to the Federal Government on Thursday 14 December, the terms of reference and purpose of the work of the WA Synod Royal Commission Task Group will change. The General Secretary provided a summary of the proposal. He said discussions have been held with the Safe Church staff and the Chair of the WA Synod Task Group with regard to the future direction of the Royal Commission Synod Task Group after the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse was released. The report entitled Future Direction of the Royal Commission Task Group was presented for endorsement by the Synod Standing Committee and it was agreed by consensus to submit for further discussion by the Synod Task Group. Synod Standing Committee requested the WA Synod Royal Commission Task Group consider the Uniting Church in the City Persons of Concern/Persons of Interest Policy be adapted as an interim policy for the Uniting Church Western Australia and report back to the next meeting of the Committee to be held on Monday 12 February, 2018.

2 Resources Commission to note that a three to six month feasibility study to determine if the former Como Manning Uniting Church property, located in McDonald Street, is suitable to start a new mission community will not proceed. The property is vested in the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Western Australia Property Trust. The Resources Commission, under the guidance of the Senior Property Manager, will take primary responsibility for the property and work with the Presbytery Property Committee to determine the best possible missional use of the site. Ministry Handbook Synod Standing Committee approved by consensus Policy 9.2 Guidelines for visiting preachers or speakers from other denominations to Uniting Church congregations to the Ministry Handbook. A copy was distributed in the Monthly Information Pack on Tuesday 12 December and will be brought before the 42nd Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia to be held from Friday 7 to Sunday 9 September, Synod Strategic Plan Synod Standing Committee received the draft Synod Strategic Plan Manual for Action for their feedback. WA Schools Forum The second WA Schools Forum was held at Scotch College on Tuesday 7 November with a focus on future directions in school chaplaincy; worship in chapel or assembly; the significance for the child of Christian values in UCA school education and encouragement to take a stronger approach on faith matters with the full backing of the Church. National Schools Consultative Group General Secretary, Rev David de Kock provided notes from his attendance at the National Schools Consultative Group on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 October in Adelaide. The next meeting will be held in Western Australia on Thursday 23 and Friday 24 August, Minister s Stipend and Allowances 2018 The 2018 Uniting Church WA budget, adopted at the 41st Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia in September, included a provision for an increase in Ministerial Stipends. Synod Standing Committee approved by consensus the Minister s Stipend and Allowances for Information from other Synods Synod Standing Committee noted the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Meeting Resolution Response to potential assisted dying/suicide legislation in Victoria in September. Synod Standing Committee noted the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania Meeting Resolution Legislative Incorporation Task Group to develop a framework for legislative incorporation in response to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the handling of child abuse by religious and other non-government organisations, Betrayal of Trust Report. Rev Dr Chris Walker As Rev Dr Chris Walker s semester in Perth concluded, he reported on his reflections of his busy time in WA teaching at Murdoch University; other teaching; preaching; meeting with staff of the Uniting Church Centre; as well as attending meetings. Moderator The Moderator, Rev Steve Francis will be on leave from Monday 1 January to Friday 19 January, During this time, Rev Ken Williams will be the Acting Moderator. Staffing Matters General Secretary, Rev David de Kock will be on study leave from Tuesday 2 to Friday 13 January, to appoint a General Secretary Oversight Group convened by a human resources professional and consisting of one person from Synod Standing Committee; one person from a congregation of the Presbytery of Western Australia and one personal long-term friend of the General Secretary. The group will meet four times per year with General Secretary, Rev David de Kock. The Group will also conduct an annual performance review, adapted from the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, for presentation to the Synod Standing Committee. Reports Received In line with its regular reporting arrangements, Synod Standing Committee also received reports from: Moderator, Rev Steve Francis; General Secretary, Rev David de Kock; General Manager Resources, Robert Locke; Placements Commission; Social Justice Commission; Beananging Kwuurt Institute; Ecumenical Affairs Report and Presbytery of Western Australia. Congregations Mundijong Heritage Uniting Church and Community Garden are holding a Family Christmas Celebration on the evening of Saturday 23 December. The night will begin with a bring and share picnic tea in the garden from 6.30pm. From shortly after 7.30pm there will be Christmas carols, a short film and devotion all hopefully outdoors. Seats will be available but bring your favourite outdoor rug or chair if you prefer. Visitors are gladly welcome. Inquires to Marilyn at arseys02@bigpond.com. Presbytery of Western Australia A Closure of Ministry Service for Rev Corina Van Oostende was held on Sunday 17 December at Northam Uniting Church. Corina will be taking up a placement in Albany, with an Induction Service being held on Friday 19 January, 3.00pm at Juniper s Beryl Grant Community Centre, Albany. The Uniting Church Centre will closed on Friday 22 December 2017 for the Christmas break and re-open at 8.30am on Tuesday 2 January, For pastoral concerns, or any other matters during this time, please contact Uniting Church WA General Secretary, Rev David de Kock on Synod of Western Australia The Uniting Church WA 2018 Planner has been distributed to the Uniting Church WA community in the Monthly Information Pack. If you would like to receive one, revive@wa.uca.org.au. For more events, visit unitingchurchwa.org.au/media-events/events. Safe Church Training, which was to be held on Saturday 17 February, 2018 in Merredin, will now be held on Saturday 24 February. A Safe Church Refresher Course will also be held on Saturday 26 May at Bunbury St Augustine Uniting Church. Please update your Uniting Church WA Planners with this information. Moderator Rev Steve Francis shares his video Christmas Greeting for the Uniting Church Western Australia, its schools and agencies and to the wider community. You can watch his video on YouTube, bit.ly/2yrh7er, Vimeo, vimeo.com/ or on the Uniting Church WA Blog, Congregations are invited to share the Christmas Greeting video at their services over the Christmas season. Rev Steve Francis, Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, and Rev David de Kock, General Secretary, travelled to Meekatharra for the Induction Service of Rev Mitch Fialkowski as Patrol Minister in the Remote Area Ministry Murchison Patrol. Mitch has been working in the area for around five years with Frontier Services. His role was previously under the umbrella of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church, however recent changes at Frontier Services mean Mitch s role now comes within the Uniting Church Synod of WA. Visit ly/2cxluo2 to read more. Social Reinvestment WA, which the Uniting Church WA supports, is asking people to consider signing a petition calling for the end of imprisonment for fine defaulters in WA. On average, 10 people are locked up every day in Western Australia for not paying fines and non-payment is usually due to circumstances of poverty. Visit bit.ly/2cyakhp to find out more and to sign. From the National Church Last week was your last chance to order life-changing gifts from UnitingWorld s Everything in Common gift catalogue for them to arrive in time for Christmas. However, E-cards and print-at-home cards will be available throughout the Christmas season. Visit everythingincommon.com.au for more info and to purchase. Ecumenical and International Leaders of Christian churches around Australia have shared their Christmas greetings on the National Council of Churches Australia website. Visit bit.ly/2csgwrp to read their messages. In a statement issued on Wednesday 6 December, World Council of Churches (WCC) General Secretary, Rev Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, expressed grave concern over President Trump s announcement that the United States will recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Such a step breaks with the longstanding international consensus, and almost seven decades of established American policy, that the status of Jerusalem remains to be settled, stated Olav. Visit bit.ly/2b8gmsp to read more. In a historic ceremony on Sunday 10 December at Oslo City Hall in Norway, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) accepted the Nobel Peace Prize and urged the world to continue its work toward an unequivocal norm against nuclear weapons. Visit bit.ly/2kekels to read more. Bible Society Australia is celebrating Christmas this year with a unique text campaign called Christxt. True to the Bible, Christxt will tell the Christmas story through texts from a very special group-chat featuring Mary and Joseph and some of their closest family and friends from Saturday 16 to Tuesday 26 December. Simply by texting HOLY to people can join in and receive updates throughout the days leading up to Jesus birth. Visit bit.ly/2oczgq3 for more info.

3 Prayer Calendar Jobs: Paid and Volunteer The Placements Commission and Pastoral Relations Committee webpage is available to view all vacant placements, by-laws, ministry changes and pastoral and placement updates. For the week commencing Sunday 24 December: The Dongara and Geraldton Lighthouse congregations. Please also pray for the National Working Group on Doctrine. For the week commencing Sunday 31 December: The Northampton congregation. For the week commencing Sunday 7 January: The Beldon-Illuka, Carramar and Trinity North (St Stephen s and Greenwood worshipping communities) congregations and Juniper. Please also pray for the Korean Methodist Church and The Presbyterian Church of Korea. Tranby College Board Member Tranby College is seeking a person of faith to represent the community on the Tranby College Board of Management. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month from 6.00 to 8.00pm. For more info contact Lynne at lynnewoolfenden@gmail.com. Uniting Church VIC Tas: Mission and Capacity Building Unit The Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania currently has four positions available in their new Mission and Capacity Building Unit. This new unit is pivotal in developing capacity and fostering a co-ordinated focus on mission and ministry. They are currently seeking expressions of interest in the areas of: Continuing Education and Leadership Development; New and Renewing Communities; Intergenerational Ministry Youth; and Intergenerational Ministry Young Adults. Visit bit.ly/2yehggi to read more. Applications close Thursday 4 January, Uniting Church Northern Synod: General Secretary The Uniting Church Northern Synod is seeking a General Secretary. The Northern Synod geographically covers the Northern Territory, the Kimberley of Western Australia and the APY Lands of South Australia. The Synod is responsible for the general oversight, direction and administration of the church s worship, witness and service. The critical and strategic role of General Secretary serves to ensure that the synod promotes and encourages the mission of the church, assisting congregations, presbyteries and agencies within its bounds in their faithful participation in the mission of God. Visit ns.uca. org.au/gspd to download the position description. Applications close Monday 15 January, Saint Andrew s Uniting Church, Brisbane Saint Andrew s Uniting Church, an inner city church in Brisbane, is inviting applications for the placement of Minister of the Word. Saint Andrew s has a rich history of witness and practical ministry over 112 years. Their mission is to help people of all ages develop their relationship with God so that their special gifts can be exercised as a witness to God s love in Christ. They are seeking a Minister who is willing to lead by example, to share responsibility and ministry with the lay leaders in the congregation and be open to develop the common vision for the ongoing mission of the church. A full position description and congregation profile is available on request from Rev John Ruhle at presmin@moretonriverspresbytery.org.au. Applications close Wednesday 28 February.

4 The Ministry Resourcing Centre is located in the Uniting Church Centre, Edward Street, Perth and is open Monday to Friday 8.30am 5.00pm. The bookshop will be closed from 12:00pm on Friday 22 December, 2017 until Tuesday 2 January, Contact Margaret Johnston on or resource@wa.uca.org.au. Christmas blessings from The Ministry Resourcing Centre to all Uniting Church Congregations and Faith Communities. The First Christmas, What The Gospels Really Teach About Jesus Birth by Marcus J. Borg & John Dominic Crossan. The Gospels of Matthew and Luke both have a story about the birth of Jesus, they are quite different and most of us only know parts of these stories: they are about us our hopes and fears, and they are about a different kind of world; God s dream for us is not simply peace of mind, but peace on earth. $23.99 The Little Fir Tree, by Margaret Wise Brown, pictures by Jim Lamarche. All alone in an empty field grew a little fir tree. It dreamed of being part of a forest or part of anything at all. A lovely story about inclusion and happiness during the celebration of Christmas. $30.99 Soulstice, The Journeys and Seasons of the Soul, by Sharonne Price. Our spiritual life is often referred to as a journey. Maybe you thought you were on one type of journey but your posture and stance seems all wrong. Each footstep seems to bring more pain and less joy. Do you choose a different type of journey? Make choices that bring an abundant life? $24.95 Disciplines, A Book of Daily Devotions, from The Upper Room. Reading scripture daily and reflection on it helps us to listen for the whispers of God. Written by 53 Christians from different traditions, this book contains challenging, inspiring, thought-provoking meditations that will help us in our daily walk as a Christ follower. $23.95 Rethinking Leadership, Building capacity for positive change, by Peter Kaldor, Naomi Nash and Sophie Paterson. The approaches to leadership we have inherited are broken. Though deeply embedded in our psyches, superhero models of leadership ae destructive: both for leaders who try to live up to them, and for followers seeking cost free change. This book invites a shift in mindset. $30.00 God Bless You & Good Night, by Hannah C. Hall, illustrated by Steve Whitlow. A delightful board book to encourage little ones to settle down to sleep. Follow the cuddly animals as they reach the end of their busy day. $14.99 All plus postage and packing if not picked up in person.

5 For more information on these events visit unitingchurchwa.org.au/media-events/events Day/Date Time Details Friday 22 December 12noon Saturday 23 December 6.30pm Uniting Church Centre closes for the Christmas break. Family Christmas Celebration at Mundijong Heritage Uniting Church. Tuesday 2 January 8.30am Uniting Church Centre re-opens for Tuesday 2 January February edition Revive contribution deadline. Tuesday 16 January Presbytery Standing Committee meeting. Friday 19 January Saturday 3 February Saturday 10 February 3.00pm 9.00am 4.00pm Induction Service for Rev Corina Van Oostende at Juniper s Beryl Grant Community Centre, Albany. Intercultural Next Generation Youth Retreat at Manning Park. Presbytery of Western Australia Meeting at Penrhos College. Monday 12 February Synod Standing Committee Meeting. Tuesday 13 February pm Pancake Day Tea at Wembley Uniting Church. Wednesday 14 February UnitingWorld s Lent Event begins. Saturday 17 February Calendar of Events 8.30am 6.15pm Summer Spirit at All Saints Floreat Uniting Church. Tuesday 20 February World Day of Social Justice. Tuesday 20 February Presbytery Standing Committee. Saturday 24 February Safe Church Training at Merredin Uniting Church. Saturday 24 February Safe Church Training at Rockingham Uniting Church. Saturday 24 February Commencement Retreat for Candidates and people in a Period of Discernment at Kalamunda Uniting Church. If you are planning an event that you think would be of interest to other people in the Uniting Church community, let us know so we can put it in our calendar. We would also encourage you to contact us during your planning so you can check what other people are doing to avoid diary conflicts.