UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA SYNOD OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACT SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE

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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 Centre for Ministry on Saturday 11 May 2013 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 opening devotions. Rev Bronwyn Murphy led closing prayers. TIMES OF SESSIONS am 10.45am am 12.30pm pm 3.00pm pm 5.00pm AGENDA 94/13SC adopt the Order of Business as printed subject to changes suggested by the General Secretary and alterations made by the Synod Standing Committee ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES A record of those present as members and alternates is held in the records of the General Secretary 1

2 APOLOGIES Session Mr Neil King Mr John Kitchener Mr Peter Worland Rev Ken Day Mr Trevor Knight Rev Niall Reid Mrs Jacki Watts Rev Young-Min Suh Mr David Freeman Katalina Taahafe-Williams Rev Simon Hansford Mr Semisi Kailahi Rev Clive Pearson Rev Dr Andrew Williams 1 Ms Pearl Wymarra 1 Rev David Gore 3 & 4 IN ATTENDANCE Ms Mary Kapotas Rev Jane Fry ASSOCIATED MEMBERS Mr John Oldmeadow 1 MINUTES 95/13SC confirm the Minutes of the Synod Standing Committee held 22 March 2013 with the following amendment to Minute 49/13SC(x) onwards 49/13SC (x) remind the Boards that the budget is premised on a 2% cap on salary increases for (xi) request the Ministers Support Fund Committee in consultation with the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee to review the stipend calculation formula (xii) request Uniting Resources by the end of 2013 to move towards quarterly reporting. 2

3 EN BLOC 96/13SC determine that matters listed following 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 97/13SC appoint Mr John Cutts as the Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery alternate to the Synod Standing Committee (b) Uniting Mission and Education Board 98/13SC confirm the following co-options to the Uniting Mission and Education Board for a three (3) year term Mr Iain Brown Mrs Lisa Meo Mrs Robyn Brown (c) Kinross-Wolaroi School 99/13SC (i) note the retirement of Mrs Charlotte Calder and Rev Ian Diamond from the Kinross-Wolaroi School Council (ii) note that there are two vacancies on the Kinross-Wolaroi School Council which the Council does not choose to fill at this time (iii) note that the term of Mrs Annabel Forsyth will end on 31 December 2013 and that the term of Mr Andrew Kermode will end on 31 December 2014 (d) Synod Selection Panel 100/13SC confirm the following co-options to the Uniting Mission and Education Board for a three (3) year term Rev Jonathan Humphries Rev Miriam Parker-Lacey Rev Seforosa Carroll Dr Robyn Goodwin Mr Gavin Glen 3

4 LEGAL ACTION RESIDENTIAL TENANCY TRIBUNAL 101/SC13 (i) give permission to Parramatta Mission to initiate legal action in the Residential Tenancy Tribunal with regard to any tenants in default of rental payments to the Mission, provided that in each case the Mission acts in accordance with its existing protocols which require it to address the pastoral needs of clients in the hope that such legal action may be avoided (ii) require Parramatta Mission to report each instance of such legal action to the General Secretary of the Synod (iii) determine that this permission shall expire at the conclusion of the first Synod Standing Committee held 2015 COMMONWEALTH ROYAL COMMISSION INTO INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSES TO CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE 102/13SC receive the report MODERATOR S SHARING Spent Easter at Lake Cargellico and Hillston. The Lake Congregation is working well with other denominations. Hillston is the home church for Julie Greig one of our rural chaplains and has an effective mission outreach including the Waste not want not program, as the lay leadership works creatively in worship and pastoral care. Attended and paid tribute to Rev. Dr Gordon Dicker at a Thanksgiving and Celebration on his retirement after 36 years of active participation in the Management Committee of With Love to the World. Attended a dinner with School Principals and Chairperson of School Boards provided an opportunity for the Synod to engage with this area of ministry and discover more about their endeavours in the field of indigenous education. Presided at a commissioning service at Lismore for the new Regional Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy Coordinator for the North Coast Region of UnitingCare Ageing, and the Community Pastoral Care Worker for North Coast UnitingCare Ageing. 4

5 During a recent visit to Goulburn, I attended Canberra Region Presbytery Fellowship Gathering and spoke on Uniting the Synod for the Common Good followed by preaching on Sunday at Goulburn UCA and a tour round the Community Garden. This is an initiative of the congregation in cooperation with the local community. The Hon. Pru Goward, NSW MP led prayers of intercession at the service. Traveled to Adelaide to attend the bi-annual meeting of Moderators from Australia and The moderator of the Presbyterian Church of NZ, and the President of the Methodist conference of NZ hosted by President Andrew Dutney. Participated in and spoke at a Refugee Action Coalition rally at Villawood Detention Centre. Hosted a lunch on 1 May 2013 recognizing the service of UnitingCare Regional Aged Care Board members. Participated in the Closure of Ministry service for Ms Pearl Wymarra on Friday 10 May at Centre for Ministry. Facilitating the Macquarie Darling Presbytery Retreat from May 2013 on the theme From endings to new beginnings. Other engagements for May: Sydney iance Leaders Assembly in Glebe; UnitingCare Social Justice Forum; Mudgee 150 th Anniversary. Celebration of recent renovations as well as marking the laying of the first stone for this building; Retired ministers and spouses service and lunch on 28 May 2013 hosted by Roseville Congregation. In all of this I see my role as affirming all of the good things that are happening in our congregations and other institutions, encouraging people in their ministry and mission, and holding up the vision of Uniting for the Common Good. CORRESPONDENCE RECEIVED 103/13SC (i) receive the correspondence from the Synod Communications Committee dated 18 March 2013 (ii) request the General Secretary, on behalf of the Synod Standing Committee, to respond to the concerns raised in the Synod Communications Committee s letter (iii) request the Moderator write a pastoral letter, on behalf of the Synod, to congregations regarding the future of the Synod s communications ministry (iv) request the General Secretary share, in confidence, the contents of Penny Mulvey s report to the Synod Communications Committee 5

6 MEMBERSHIP OF SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE 104/13SC (i) on the recommendation of the Governance, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, appoint Mr an Gibson as an Ex Officio - Non Voting member of Synod Standing Committee (ii) appoint Mr Ted Woodley as a member of Synod Standing Committee DATES AND TIMING OF SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE 105/13SC (i) modify the decision of the Synod (67/13S(ix)) (ii) determine that the Synod Standing Committee meet on the following dates in June Centre for Ministry 13 July Wesley Lodge 17 August Centre for Ministry 21 September Centre for Ministry 19 October Centre for Ministry 30 November Outside of Sydney at a venue TBA February Centre for Ministry 15 March Centre for Ministry 5 April Centre for Ministry 24 May Centre for Ministry 21 June Centre for Ministry 26 July Centre for Ministry 23 August Wesley Lodge SYNOD September Venue TBA 6

7 STIPEND REVIEW FOR THE FINANCIAL YEAR 106/13SC on the recommendation of the Ministers Support Funds Committee determine that the Ministers Stipend and allowances for the financial year are as follows: (a) Minimum Stipend = Increased by 5.55% = $58,074 (b) Resource owance = Increased by 2.2% (CPI) = $1,405 (c) Residence Benefit = Increased by 2.2% (CPI) = $12,652 SYNOD FEEDBACK AND REFLECTION 107/13SC receive the feedback from members and provide to the Synod Arrangements Committee for consideration in planning Synod 2014 SYNOD POLICY DECISIONS 108/13SC determine that a discussion paper on what constitutes policy decisions, delegated authorities and management decisions be prepared and presented to the Synod Standing Committee meeting on 22 June 2013 by the Governance, Nominations and Remunerations Committee to assist the Synod Standing Committee, Executive Directors and General Secretary understand their roles in decision making and making the greatest appropriate use of the Synod Standing Committee 7

8 PASTORAL (a) Obituaries The Rev (Robert) Arthur Oakley passed away on 10 May 2013 (b) Illnesses Rev Mark Watt Mr Glen Watts Rev Dr John Hirt Rev Dr Ann Wansbrough. Chairperson Date 8