SYNOD OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACT SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE

Transcription

1 UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA SYNOD OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACT SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE MINUTES for the meeting of the Synod Standing Committee held at the Centre for Ministry on Friday 1 June 2012 and Saturday 2 June 2012 DECISIONS Decisions recorded in these Minutes were reached by consensus unless otherwise indicated by agreement or by formal process ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF ABORIGINAL PEOPLE The Moderator paid respect to the Aboriginal people of the Burramattagal Clan and Darug tribes who have cared for this part of the land from time immemorial WORSHIP The Moderator led devotions. Rev Duncan Macleod led closing prayers on Friday evening a reading from Matthew using The Message. Ms Pearl Wymarra led devotions on Saturday morning. The Moderator closed the meeting with a reflection from 2 Corinthians. TIMES OF SESSIONS Friday pm 3.30pm pm 5.30pm pm 9.00pm Saturday am 10.30am am 12.30pm AGENDA 60/12SC adopt the Order of Business as printed subject to changes suggested by the General Secretary and alternations made by the Standing Committee ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES A record of those present as members and alternates is held in the records of the General Secretary 30

2 APOLOGIES Session Rev James Annesley Mrs Penny Archer Rev Neil Ericksson Mrs Joan Moss Ms Natalie Willis Mr James Ellis Ms Sarah Bryan 4 & 5 Mrs Dianne Torrens Rev Simon Hansford Ms Hannah Reeve 1 Rev Harry Herbert Ms Sarah Bryan Ms Bec Lindsay 4 & 5 IN ATTENDANCE Ms Lynda Stanford Mrs Meg Herbert 2 Ms Sandra Wright ASSOCIATED MEMBERS Lay Pastor Geoff Wellington 2 Ms Adele Smith 2 Mr Stephen Teulan Session 2 Mr Peter Andrews 4 Rev David Peters 3 MINUTES 61/12SC (i) confirm the Minutes of the Synod Standing Committee held April 2012 EN BLOC 62/12SC determine that matters listed on the agenda be adopted en bloc unless the Synod Associate Secretary receives a request before the commencement of Session 3 that a matter be considered separately APPOINTMENTS (a) Synod Standing Committee 63/12SC 31

3 (i) (ii) appoint Mr David Hay as Sydney Presbytery alternate to the Synod Standing Committee appoint Rev Gaby Kobrossi as the Multi-Cultural Ministry Reference Group alternate to the Synod Standing Committee to replace Mr Levon Kardashian (b) Social Justice and Research Program Reference received 2 May /12SC appoint the following two persons to the Social Justice Forum Rev Kath Merrifield Mr Howard Amery (c) Korean Presbytery UME Board Appointments Reference Minute 154/11S (ii) (d) 65/12SC appoint, the following two persons to the Korean Presbytery Mr Gaby Kobrossi Rev Lindsay Cullen RESIGNATION 66/12SC Synod Music Development Committee Reference received 17 May 2012 (i) note that Ms Radhika Sukumar has resigned from the Synod Music Development Committee (ii) note that Mr David Powell and Rev Nau Ahosivi have been coopted to the Committee BY- LAWS WESLEY COLLEGE Reference Working Paper No 4 67/12SC, on the recommendation of the Board of Uniting Mission and Education, approve the amendments to the Wesley College By-Laws and attach it to the Minutes as Appendix A RECEPTION OF MINISTERS (a) Rev Dr John Cox Reference ROM/02/12 Rev Dr John Cox has had his formation and ordination in the Baptist Church. He has had several placements and has worked as a full time counsellor for Baptist Community Services. John has long recognised that the UCA embodied more of his theology and commitment to community especially in social justice. In assessing 32

4 his training and qualifications the Assembly Committee has recommended studies in Church History, Ministry and Sacraments, Liturgy and Biblical Studies which will be under the oversight of United Theological College. 68/12SC (i) note that the Rev Dr John Cox is eligible for recognition as a Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia (ii) note the Recommendation of the Assembly Committee for the Reception of Ministers (iii) provisionally recognise Rev Dr John Cox as a Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia (iv) request the Presbytery of Sydney appoint a Mentor while he completes all requirements (v) note that Rev Dr John Cox needs to complete a course of study recommended by the College and to include: (a) Polity and Ethos (b) Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Prevention Training Phase 1 and 11 (c) Uniting Church Studies (d) Multi-cultural orientation (vi) full recognition is subject to being in a recognised placement (b) Rev Ki Chang Yoo Reference ROM/03/12 Rev Ki Chang Yoo has been drawn to and discovered a call to the Uniting Church in Australia. He recognises the changing nature of the Church in terms of its demographics and sees the ministry he beings working creatively and patiently with the church as it evolves. He is opened to being placed with either a Korean or multi-cultural placement. Rev Ki Chang Yoo has satisfied many of the requirements for recognition and has demonstrated great commitment. He regards himself as an ongoing formation since coming to Australia and especially through his studies at United Theological College. In assessing his training and qualifications the Assembly Committee has recommended studies in Biblical Studies, Systematic Theology, Public Theology, Pastoral Theology and Liturgy and Uniting Church Studies which will be under the oversight of United Theological College much of which he has now completed. 69/12SC (i) note that the Rev Ki Chang Yoo is eligible for recognition as a Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia (ii) note the Recommendation of the Assembly Committee for the Reception of Ministers (iii) provisionally recognise Rev Ki Chang Yoo as a Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church (iv) request the Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery appoint a Mentor while he awaits a placement (v) note that Rev Ki Change Yoo has completed: (a) Polity and Ethos 33

5 (vi) (b) Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Prevention Training Phase 1 and 11 full recognition being subject to successful completion of: (a) Uniting Church Studies as an Independent Guidance Study (b) being in a recognised placement CONSTITUTION 70/12SC Kogarah Uniting Church Long Day Care Centre Reference Letter received UnitingCare Childrens Services dated 23 May 2012 on the recommendation of UnitingCare Childrens Services revoke the Constitution for Kogarah Uniting Church Long Day Care Centre PASTORAL (a) Obituaries Mr John Ramsay, father of Rev Gordon Ramsay, died 6 May 2012 Ms Ali Blogg, partner of Rev Dorothy McRae-McMahon, died 5 April 2012 Mrs Pat Dale died 7 May 2012 Mr Jack Banks, husband of Rev Mona Banks, died 9 May 2012 Mrs Rita Stuart, wife of Rev Alan Stuart, died 11 May 2012 Rev Eric Hewer died 12 May 2012 Mr David Francis, husband of Rev Meredith Williams, died 18 May 2012 Mr Colin Edward Shipway died 24 May 2012 Mrs Eileen Kemp, wife of the late Rev Frederick Kemp, died 26 May 2012 Rev David Taylor died 27 May 2012 Mrs Lola Queripel, mother of Rev John Queripel died 30 May 2012 (b) Illnesses Rev Kelvin Russell Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough Rev Simon Hansford Rev Harry Herbert RETIREMENTS (a) Rev Dr Alan Russell Reference received 4 May 2012 from Sydney Presbytery 71/12SC amend the retirement date of Rev Alan Russell to the 30 September 2011 (b) Rev Dr Jason Choi Reference Letter dated 28 March /12SC 34

6 note the retirement of Rev Jason Choi in accordance with Regulation (a)(i), effective 31 December 2012 (c) Rev Graeme MacRaild Reference Letter dates 14 May /12SC note the retirement of Rev Graeme MacRaild in accordance with Regulation (a)(i), effective 30 April 2013 (d) Rev David Hamilton Reference Letter dated 24 April /12SC note the retirement of Rev David Hamilton, on the recommendation of the Beneficiary Fund, on medical grounds, in accordance with Regulation (a)(ii), effective 23 April 2012 (e) Rev Marion Gledhill Reference Letter received 31 May /12SC note the retirement of Rev Marion Gledhill in accordance with Regulation (a)(i), effective 30 June 2012 MODERATOR S SHARING Just over 8 months in the role I will describe the perfect week: 2 days in the office check s and meetings 2 days at home preparing church services and retreats 2 days out visiting presbyteries Worked on the Exodus night van given a job by Rev Bill Crews giving out bananas Preached Sermon for Project Reconnect Andrew, Karyn, Kath etc preaching in June Visited Dubbo: Rural Ministry Unit, visit especially chaplains, Julie Greig there is a dire need for medical services in isolated areas Far North Coast Presbytery visit Alstonville/Ballina and preached UAICC Commissioning service was last week This last week visited Macquarie Darling Presbytery, Bathurst, Blaney, Orange, Wellington, Narrandera, Mudgee, Rylstone and Lithgow Turbulence Youth Group Service Orange and time with Noreen Torrens Visited Kinross Wollaroi Uniting Care Facility Turbulence Youth Group Service Next week the Georges River retreat at Bowral Issues arising resource ministry Changing nature of ministry placements 35

7 Critical issue of ministers going into congregations where lay people and ministry agents are to be trained Great things happening in mission congregations connecting with local communities e.g. Mudgee Uniting Church has a large garden out back and the community tends the garden Conflict in allocation of time and energy between the duties of the Moderator and carrying a leadership vision Personally it s been great for Helen and me to create a Labyrinth. Grand opening is tomorrow and everyone is welcome. Then Helen is travelling to the USA for six weeks UNITINGCARE REPORT UNITINGCARE AGEING Reference Working Paper No 3 76/12SC receive the report UNITING MISSION AND EDUCATION AND SYNOD MISSION RESOURCE FUND Reference Working Paper No 2 77/12SC receive the report NCYC 2014 Reference Working Paper No 6 78/12SC receive the report PRESBYTERY REPORTS TO SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE (a) Riverina Presbytery Reference Working Paper No 5 79/12SC receive the report (b) Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery 80/12SC receive the verbal report 36

8 ASSOCIATED MEMBERS FOR SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE 81/12SC appoint Mr an Gibson and Mr Michael Anderson as observer members of the Synod Standing Committee with the right to speak but not vote, their term to expire at the Synod of 2013 ASSEMBLY 82/12SC (i) note that Charissa Suli is unavailable to attend Assembly 2012 (ii) authorise the Moderator and General Secretary to appoint a suitable replacement GENERAL SECRETARY S SHARING The General Secretary noted that copies of the expert panel report reviewing the Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough matter were available for members to peruse. The meeting decided that the report would continue to be available but copies would not be distributed to Synod Standing Committee members The General Secretary advised as per the Synod resolution of 2011 that Presbytery/Chairs/Ministers would be invited to the August meeting of the Synod Standing Committee The General Secretary introduced the document Growing an Inclusive Generous Church and invited discussion and feedback on action points arising from the document PERFORMANCE REVIEW SYNOD GENERAL SECRETARY 83/12SC (i) receive the verbal report (ii) appoint the next annual review team at the October 2012 meeting and report back to synod standing committee in June/July Chairperson Date 37