ASSOCIATION of BAPTIST CHURCHES of NSW & ACT MINUTES OF THE ORDINARY ASSEMBLY Saturday 17th SEPTEMBER 2016 AT MORLING COLLEGE 120 HERRING ROAD, MACQUARIE PARK NSW Morning Session Leaders: Rev. Andrew Palmer, Associate Director Global Mission Rev. Jamie Long, Assembly Council Chair Rev. Dr. Steve Bartlett, Director of Ministries MEMBERS OF ASSEMBLY ATTENDANCE Delegates appointed under paragraph 8.3 of Constitution: 53 Principal or lead ministers from each affiliated church: 6 Accredited ministers of the Association: 65 The Director of Ministries, Rev. Dr. Steve Bartlett The Principal of Morling College, Rev. Dr. Ross Clifford Members of Assembly Council: 9 Dr Jennifer Allen, Mr. Colin Earnshaw, Mr. Alan Kelshaw, Rev. Jamie Long, Rev. Des Ong, Rev. Christine Redwood, Dr. Alan Rice*, Mr. David Slinn and Rev. Kel Willis* Members of Morling College Council: 8 Mr. Peter Adcock, Rev. Ian Deane, Rev. Peter Hester, Dr. William Peirson, Rev. Dr. Brian Powell, Dr. Alan Rice*, Rev. Ric Sindel and Rev. Kel Willis* * member of both Assembly Council and Morling College Council OTHER PARTICIPANTS (NON-VOTING) Non-voting participants: 57 TOTAL NUMBER OF ATTENDEES: 198 1
TOTAL NUMBER OF CHURCHES REPRESENTED: 71 Live Streaming of Assembly This Assembly was live streamed on-line. Twelve people viewed the Assembly using the live stream. APOLOGIES Apologies were received from: Allan & Lillian Neate Steve & Kathy Bates, Parramatta Baptist Church Ted Bell Frank & Barbara Willis Rev Scott Morrison, Assembly Council Rev Neil Checkley, Penrith Baptist Church The Assembly was officially notified by Association email dated 6 th July 2016 from Jenny Casey, Secretary to the Assembly Council (APPENDIX 1). Registrations were called for by Association email dated 2 nd & 23 rd August 2016 from Jenny Casey, Secretary to the Assembly Council (APPENDICES 2 & 3). An Assembly Program was produced (APPENDIX 4). 0830-0915 Registration & Morning Tea * * * * * 0930 Call to Worship Carolyn Altman, staff member at the Baptist Ministry Centre, read Psalm 19. Morling College band led the Assembly in Worship Songs O Praise the Name, How Marvellous (I Stand Amazed), Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus Prayer Rev. Steve Bartlett, Director of Ministries invited those present to spend time in prayer for the least-reached people groups using Global Interaction s Hotline prayer points (APPENDIX 5). Rev. Steve Bartlett closed in prayer. Worship The Morling College Band led the Assembly in singing Let Your Kingdom Come (Come Lord Jesus, Come) Response Rev. Andrew Palmer, Global Interaction State Director NSW, led the Assembly in a reading and response of Psalm 136. 1000 Welcome Rev. Jamie Long, Assembly Council Chair, told the Assembly that there were a number of exciting things to celebrate: Morling College is 100 years old, the new Morling Residential College was opened and now being used for the Assembly, Strategic Priorities, Accreditation Service and Constitution. 1005 Welcome Rev. Dr. Steve Bartlett, Director of Ministries, welcomed those present, including those viewing the Assembly in rural areas via livestream. Thanks were extended to Morling College for hosting the Assembly, and also to Rev. Dr. Ross Clifford, Principal of Morling College, and his staff, and to the Baptist Ministry Centre team who all worked to put on the event. 2
Strategic Priorities Rev. Dr. Steve Bartlett presented the Strategic Priorities 2017-2019 for the Baptist Churches of NSW & ACT using the booklet The Big Six (APPENDIX 6) and powerpoint slides (APPENDIX 7). In March 2014 the Strategic Plan 2014-2016 was adopted, and the new Priorities builds on that. The six Priorities are: 1. Encourage the develop in our movement of a culture of prayer that underpins all our activities. 2. Facilitate the development of closer mutual relationships, deeper trust and partnerships between churches, the Baptist Ministry Centre and the affiliated groups. 3. Encourage and support the development of a disciple-making culture across all generations throughout our Association. 4. Gen1K Vision Foster a culture of leader development and health across our movement. 5. Gen1K Vision Support the revitalisation of existing churches, assist churches to pioneer new ministry expressions and enable the planting of our next 40 churches. 6. Continue to grow our public presence and engagement to positively influence our local communities and wider society. John Beckett, Public Engagement Coordinator, presented the Public Engagement Groups booklet Domestic Violence for Churches (APPENDIX 8) in relation to Priority 6 to explain how Baptist Churches need to be more involved in issues that affect our community and our churches. 1055 Rev. Jenny Allen, Assembly Council Member, brought the following Motion: That the Strategic Priorities 2017-2019 be adopted by the Assembly. This MOTION was MOVED by Jenny Allen (Mayfield Baptist) and SECONDED by Peter Banks (Mortdale-Oatley Baptist). Being put on VOTE the MOTION was CARRIED. 1100 Accreditand Rev. Tim Burns explained that Samantha Quimby had been on the Accreditands list since 2010 but had not been in an approved role so had not been able to proceed to accreditation. Samantha is now working in a church plant and she has now fulfilled all requirements for accreditation. Her name proceeded to the Assembly Council and now comes to the Assembly for approval. Alan Rice, Assembly Council Member, brought the following Motion: That the Assembly approve Samantha Quimby to proceed to accreditation and after being set apart for ministry her name be added to the list of Accredited Ministers on the recommendation of the Committee for Ministry. This MOTION was MOVED by Alan Rice (Baulkham Hills Baptist) and SECONDED by James Sutherland (Hughes Baptist). Being put on VOTE the MOTION was CARRIED. 1105 Morning Tea 1135 Constitutional Review Rev. Ken Clendinning, Chair of the Constitutional Review Task Force, along with Task Force members, Rev. Andrew Hall (Epping Baptist) and David Slinn (Gordon Baptist) presented a document outlining the changes made 3
to the Constitution (APPENDIX 9). The proposed Constitution can also be found on the website (APPENDIX 10). The Assembly were invited to email any questions or comments to the Secretary of the Assembly Council by the end of October 2016. Thanks were expressed both to the Task Force for all their work and also to Rev. Ken Clendinning for his service to the Association. 1215 Interview with Jonathan Bradford and Jamie Freeman 1220 Prayer Rev. Dr. Steve Bartlett, Director of Ministries, interviewed Rev. Jonathan Bradford, and Jamie Freeman, Church Planting Facilitator, Jamie indicated that he is excited to partner with the Baptist Ministry Centre team and the Association s churches. Jonathan is excited to use God s gifting and to create safe places for churches, pastors and children. Both were welcomed to the team. Rev. Christine Redwood, Assembly Council Member and Associate Pastor of Hornsby Baptist, prayed for Jamie Freeman and Rev. Jonathan Bradford, and closed the Assembly in prayer. 1220 Morling 100 Year Celebration 1345 Instructions for lunch, grace Rev. Jamie Long 1345 Lunch 1413 Accreditation Service The Accreditation Service 2016 Booklet is provided (APPENDIX 11). The following persons were accredited at the Accreditation Service: Mitchell Forbes Robert French Anthony Gentle Matthew Glowacki Kevin Jin Michael Jones Shannon King John Lustre Nigel Lyons James Oosterveen Samantha Quimby Mark Riethmuller Kaye Ryan Kiran Skariah John Wilson 1525 The Accreditation Service and the Assembly were CLOSED by a Benediction from Rev. Samantha Quimby, Pastor of Shift Church. 4
Signed as a correct record of a meeting of the Ordinary Assembly held at Morling College on 17 September 2016. (JAMIE LONG) Chair of the Assembly Council Date: 10 October 2016 (JENNY CASEY) Secretary to the Assembly Council Date: 10 October 2016 5