PROFILES OF CANDIDATES MEMBERSHIP OF 15TH ASSEMBLY This Schedule includes profiles of nominees for membership of Uniting Church in Australia 15th Assembly to be nominated by the Synod. REV. MATA HAVEA HILAU CONGREGATION: Northern Beaches Uniting Churches PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast I am a migrant woman who is wife and a mother of two daughters both at different stages of life, primary school and a university graduate. This reality shapes who I am as a Minister of the Word called to share Jesus with people in church and wider community. My cross cultural awareness and sensitivity challenges me always to consider others and to respect our diversity in generation, gender, race, faith, sexuality and so forth. I am currently in Placement as Regional Family Minister for the Northern Beaches Uniting Churches. I participate in the life of my Presbytery through the Zone and part of the Life and Witness consultation team. I am a current member of the ACOMP Executive and Full Committee and I have serve as a member of the Assembly Standing Committee after the 2006 Assembly. I have deep respect for the Uniting Church and who we stand for as following of Jesus. Being involved in the decision making process of the Church is important as leaders particularly those from the minority groups. I bring experience and awareness of working with multicultural communities with ingrained respect and sensitivity. Developing my understanding of Policies, governance and the way it impacts on the local church community is an ongoing learning for me. I am a woman, a mother and wife I am a Minister, a Manager and Leader I am a Servant, a Listener and Friend. It would be great to attend Assembly 2018 and contribute to the life of the church in this capacity.
REV. SUZANNE STANTON CONGREGATION: Hope Uniting Church and Jannali Uniting Church PRESBYTERY: Sydney Minister of the Word, serving currently in a Synod role on the Mission and Property Project. I have a great desire to see members of the church grow in their discipleship and capacity for witness and to equip them to share their faith and the life that faith brings with others, I am also interested to work with others to discover sustainable models for new areas of ministry and mission and have worked in placements and roles in these areas. Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD), qualifications in accounting and economics. Non- Executive Director of Uniting Financial Services. Member of the 14th Assembly.
REV. GRAHAM PERRY CONGREGATION: Dee Why St David s PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast Minister of the Word with 25 years' ministry experience at congregational, presbytery, Synod, Assembly and Ecumenical levels. Past experience includes: Ecumenical (NCCA F&U Commission 20 years); Academic (former adjunct faculty); Theological (MTh, Working Group on Doctrine for 10 years, Working Group on Worship); Chair of Presbytery; Chair of PRC; Chair of Ministry Committee; Lifeline Northern Beaches; Several times Member of UCA Assemblies. Currently Presbytery Minister, Sydney Central Coast Presbytery Ministry support and resourcing (ordained and lay) Provision of core educational courses Missional and Presbytery restructuring Cross Cultural experience with Korean, Indonesian, Tongan, Armenian, multicultural ministries Mentor and support to young adults in presbytery and congregational roles Convenor of NSW/act Presbytery Ministers gathering. Currently (Acting) Chair of Uniting Mission and Education, NSW and ACT Mission and Governance oversight of UTC, Centre for Ministry, Resourcing Team, Uniting Venues, Uniting Church Schools (NSW) support to UAICC, Pastoral Counselling Institute Member of Synod Standing Committee Engaging with Synod leadership on key projects Member of Synod 2017 and Assembly 2015 (13th) I bring energetic engagement, broad experience, theological insight, and a strong willingness to find consensus; and where that is not possible, to seek a unity in the church which will bind differing views together. I expect the church will again face challenging issues over sexuality (Marriage Equality, this time) and also on the issues of Indigenous Sovereignty, among other things. Intelligent sensitivity will be needed for all angles of these debates, which will push our capacity to think theologically and act in way that is faithful and Christian. I bring some of the insights of the NSW and ACT experience in reassessing the life of the church for the new century, including repositioning the life of the Presbytery for effective oversight of ministry and catalysing local mission; reasserting our core values concerning generosity, inclusion and courage. However, in every national setting in which I participate I find that the rest of Australia has much to teach NSW, and I gladly share what I learn as well as what we contribute. It is undoubtedly true that new participants are needed to carry Assembly forward. It is also essential for some of those who have been before to continue to bear witness to the memory of the church as it has faced the same or similar decisions before. I am willing to serve at Assembly while I have the passion and energy.
REV. JAMES AARON CONGREGATION: North Ryde Community Church PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast Very recently ordained as a Minister of the Word, and placed at North Ryde Community Church. Throughout my core phase of formation, I spent time in chaplaincy within universities and hospitals, and walked alongside a number of communities as minister in practicum in many areas of Sydney. I also contributed to the work of the PRC and business of Sydney Presbytery. Prior to candidacy, I worked within a corporate team of distribution and compliance management, focusing on the WH&S/compliance and operational integration of local and cross jurisdictional rule and laws. I believe that I may contribute to the Assembly meeting through my experience within the church, looking with fresh eyes and with a passion still for us to have the hard but good conversations we are being called to. As an ordained, young-ish, gay, music loving and community-focused member of our church, with a little corporate experience and knowledge, I think that I could potentially contribute a useful voice to the mix. I love the Uniting Church, and I am excited to be a part of its future. REV. GRAEME WATKINS CONGREGATION: Lakemba PRESBYTERY: Georges River I have been ordained for 35 years, at Northern Illawarra, East Belconnen, Kinross Willaroi School Chaplain, Wesley Mission, Lakemba. I am currently the chairperson of Georges River Presbytery. My ministry in Lakemba is in a community which is 50% Muslim people and in Georges River we are looking at restructuring with a mission focus. I would like to network and learn at Assembly. I have not been to Assembly before; I would like to make a contribution with fresh eyes to the national church.
REV. JAMES ANNESLEY CONGREGATION: Grafton PRESBYTERY: Far North Coast I have been a member of the Uniting Church since Union and an ordained minister of the Uniting Church for 22 years. I have been in my current placement at Grafton for 8 years. I bring a great deal of experience of life in the Uniting Church over the entirety of its 40 year existence. I have: 40 year history of participation I have been both a lay and ordained leader within the Uniting Church I am Generation X. Not that many of us in the Uniting Church. I have now been a part of a number of transitional ministries, and have the skills and experience to navigate change. I have in the past been the Far North Coast Presbytery representative on the Synod Standing Committee of the NSW/ACT Synod. I am a current member of the Advisory Committee of Ministerial Placements in the NSW/ACT Synod. As a result of studies, I have an analytical mind. REV. JOANNE SMALBIL CONGREGATION: Armidale Uniting Church PRESBYTERY: New England North West Married for 40 years 2 adult children Christian for 58 years Ordained in Dec 2013 in Broken Hill NSW Cobar Nyngan Patrol Minister from Feb 2014 October 2017 Armidale minister from Nov 2017 I believe that we never stop learning through life and my role is to encourage and support others to use their God given gifts and skills to benefit the church and community which we serve Have never had the opportunity to attend Assembly in the past, and I have a keen interest in understanding how the Uniting Church functions at all levels. I have great communication and listening skills, and enjoy building relationships and networking with other members of the church and exploring ways we can all work together for the good of the whole church. I take seriously my responsibility to my congregation, Presbytery and Synod and look forward to the opportunity of representing them and advocating for them at Assembly and sharing my experience with them on my return.
REV. NICOLE FLEMING CONGREGATION: Balmain Uniting Church PRESBYTERY: Sydney Minister with the UCA for 17 years 8 Ordained and 9 as a specified youth worker. Experience in rural, urban and Synod Ministry. Current placement with Balmain Uniting Church. Broad experience in working on committees of the church including ACOMP (current), Korean Presbytery Review Team, Synod Communications Unit, Ministerial Education Board, cross-cultural ministry, various Youth Ministry committees/events (Synod and Assembly), chairperson of Strategy Committee for Central West Presbytery, Deputy Chairperson (Western Zone) Sydney Presbytery, Standing Committee for both Synod and Sydney Presbytery. Also currently serving on the NSW Cancer Council Ethics Committee. I would value the opportunity to be part of significant conversations that will shape our future as a church. I think the conversations at Assembly about our shared theology are important and I hope to contribute to those discussions. I appreciate the diversity of the Uniting Church and would be grateful for the opportunity to contribute to that diversity as a member of the next Assembly meeting. REV. KATH MERRIFIELD CONGREGATION: Kiama Uniting Church PRESBYTERY: Illawarra Minister of the Word since 2003 (under 50 years of age just!) Served in ministry in a local congregation (Brighton-Kogarah) Experience in senior Synod leadership (Executive Director, Uniting Mission and Education) Currently working with Congregations and Presbyteries to promote collaboration, community engagement and telling God s story in ways that are meaningful and relevant Qualifications in law, science, theology and community development I am passionate about how the various Councils of the church work together to enable the people of God to share the good news of Jesus Christ I come with experience from across the UCA with local Congregations, Presbyteries and the Synod I have skills in discernment and facilitation, and have previously served on the Assembly s Facilitation team
REV. FIE MARINO CONGREGATION: Synod Placement - UME PRESBYTERY: Sydney My name is Rev Fie Marino and I currently serve in placement as our Synods Multicultural Ministry Consultants. If I am selected by Synod to attend Assembly, it will be the first time that I have attended. This year the Assembly will be discussing the issue of marriage equality Space for Grace. As NSW/ACT has the majority of Multi/Cross Cultural Congregations within it, I feel that it is important that I am able to attend the Assembly Meeting 2018 in Melbourne to engage in that conversation. I believe it is important to be able to listen, reflect and discern on this issue and be able to advocate for the voices of the Multi/Cross Cultural Congregations that I represent. As mentioned above, I wish to speak and engage in the conversation on marriage equality and be able to advocate for Multi/Cross Cultural Issues on all other topics of discussion at Assembly next year. A lot of the work that I do in the placement is Inter-Synod work which means that I am not only working within the bounds of our Synod but part of the national discussion in Multi/Cross Cultural Ministry. I feel that being able to attend will allow me to speak of the work of being done in our Synod and be able to be a voice for the Multi/Cross Cultural congregations that I represent.
REV MARGARET MAYMAN CONGREGATION: Pitt Street Uniting REVELANT PERSONAL INFORMATION AGE GROUP: over 25 Experienced congregational minister (30+ years) in a growing / renewing urban congregation, committee to sustaining people in following Jesus Christ. First UCA placement 2013 (admitted as a Minister of the Word in 2015) Engaging deeply (Ethical Ministry facilitator) Synod (discernment group facilitator at 2014 and 2016 meetings) Uniting Justice (Assembly) Reference Committee since 2014 Disaster Recovery Network Chaplain, deployed to Lismore floods 2017 Participant at UCA Assembly conversation on Marriage. PhD in Christian Ethics, sessional lecturer in Theological Ethics at UTC Active in Sydney Alliance in advocacy around civic issues National Executive member of Uniting Network. Executive Committee of Common Dreams. Progressive Christian theologian, creating opportunities and events for people to reflect theologically on faith and life. POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION I value the way the UCA discerns the direction of its common life through consensus decision making in its Councils. Using my skills and experience, I could contribute positively to the Assembly s work of theology, worship, governance and mission. As a late comer to the UCA, I would love to experience an Assembly and make connections across the wider church. I seek to honour our commitments to the Covenant with UAICC and to being a multicultural church. The diversity of the UCA is a strength and a challenge, I am committed to processes of respectful listening, where all voices are heard, differences are faced courageously, and common ground is created even full agreement may not be possible. As the NCLS and the Census have indicated we face real threats. As a church, we can turn these threats into opportunities through finding ways to connect, and share the gospel, with the increasing numbers of people who tick no religion on the Census and yet describe themselves as spiritual. I have hope for a church that lives out its evangelism through justice and compassion, showing our love for the world God loves.
REV. KRIKOR YOUMSHJAEKIAN CONGREGATION: St. Andrew's Uniting Church Longueville PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast Age Group: over 25 Having an Armenian background, born, raised and trained in Lebanon. Served in the Willoughby Armenian Evangelical Congregation 1993-2010. Play an active role between the Uniting Church and the Australian Armenian community. Treasurer of the Middle East National Conference, which was established last year. Part of the official delegation with the Uniting Church President Stuart McMillan and Rob Floyd, then the National Director of the Uniting World, that visited Lebanon earlier this year to start a partnership with the Evangelical churches in the Middle East. POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION Earlier this year partnership was established with the Churches in the Middle East and we are expecting to have delegation coming from the partner churches in the Middle East to attend the Assembly Meeting 2018. It is suggested to us to be nominated as the officers of the Middle East National Conference's officers to attend the Assembly Meeting and welcome and support our guests during their stay in Australia. REV RICK MORRELL CONGREGATION: Balmain UC PRESBYTERY: Sydney Age Group: over 25 Attended Assembly meetings 2009, 2015 In placement as Director of Mission in Uniting, NSW/ACT Previously Acting Associate Secretary Synod of WA Team Leader Resourcing local Mission team Co-ordinator First Third of Ministry. Social Justice Forum Chairperson Have served on Assembly, working groups, including Education, Youth and Young Adults. POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION Have experience in building links between the church and its agencies, eg. Uniting Currency in wider debates of the church Awareness in building inter-generational ministry. Passionate about developing leadership for a vital Uniting Church into the Future
REV. LORNA MARTIN CONGREGATION: Gosford PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast Lorna is minister in placement at Gosford Uniting Church. She has ministry experience including consultancy in Canada (Presbyterian Church in Canada) and The Qld, SA and NSW/ACT Synods within the Uniting Church. Her leadership positions within Congregations and Synod have focused on educating, facilitating and enabling people of all ages to discover and use their gifts for ministry and mission. She has served on various Assembly, Synod and Presbytery Committees which currently include Synod Selection Panel, Sydney Central Coast Presbytery Life and Witness Committee and is one of the incoming Deputy Chairpersons. Lorna brings the ability to reflect on the ministry in three Synods and identify educational possibilities to help people and congregations grow and develop into the future. She has a clear understanding of the polity of the church and a proven ability to work collaboratively. She is able to identify core issues and strategies towards developing ways forward and resolution. REV. GRANT BILBEY CONGREGATION: Nowra PRESBYTERY: Illawarra I have been a minister of the word since 1992 and am of Anglo background. Prior to entering into ordained ministry, I was an accountant. Currently I serve the Illawarra Presbytery as the Presbytery Minister. I have a deep faith in Jesus Christ and love for the Uniting Church in all of its diversity. Through my time in congregational ministry and as a Presbytery Minister, I have gained a strong understanding of the breadth of the Church and the diversity of ministry contexts, the importance of our Councils of the Church working together for the mission of Christ and importance of discernment of God's will in the decisions that we make. It is my passion to empower the work of Christ in the church through its congregations. I have been privileged to attend the last two Assembly meetings and found a profound opportunity to engage with faithful people from all parts of the church, sharing in faith, worship and discernment for the Church. I have been a minister of congregations in rural and metropolitan locations and currently serving as a Presbytery Minister in the Illawarra Presbytery. I am active in Synod activities. I bring with me a strong understanding of the contexts of many congregations and the issues that they face as they seek to live out the mission of Christ faithfully. I have a passion for mission and ministry. I have some experience in finance having been an accountant before being ordained. I am a strategic thinker with a heart for growing ministry in the church and developing disciples. I have skill in thinking through situations and possibilities to find constructive initiatives. I have a strong understanding of the Polity of the Uniting Church, governance and for developing good processes in decision making and discernment.
REV. LORENZO RODRIGUEZ TORRES CONGREGATION: Pymble Uniting Church/ Pymble Ladies College PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast I have been an ordained minister of the Word since 2003, I have been a minister at Northbridge Castlecrag Uniting Church and Gordon Uniting. Presently I have been a chaplain at Pymble Ladies College for 6 years. I have been a member of the National Assemble and would value the opportunity to contribute to the national voice. - I am a non-anglo Saxon male English as additional language. I come from a working class upbringings and I work with 2200 girls on a daily basis. - I believe this gives me a different perspective and context that would contribute an offer unheard voice in our church, private school s children from multicultural, multi faith and non-faith lives and what we can do to support them in their spirituality and the nurture of their social conscience. - A Mediterranean voice and perspective. REV. PUNAM A BENT CONGREGATION: Pymble Ladies College PRESBYTERY: Sydney Central Coast Age Group: Over 25 years I have been involved in ordained ministry for 25 years, 10 years in Parish Ministry and 15 years in School Chaplaincy. Recently my colleague and I attended the president conference and were challenged by the ongoing challenge the church faces with the work and covenanting with the congress. I am also a keen contributor to the connection with rural ministry and have recently helped organise a camp for outback schools to offer support to teachers by helping with organising a four-day camp. This year it was held in Nyngan NSW. My potential contribution would be growing interest in helping develop better and deeper understanding amongst local congregation of the work of the congress. I am also interested in helping out with fostering a healthy relationship between schools and the church. I think as a School Chaplain I have a crucial role with other colleagues with the pulse initiative in our Synod and seeking ways of making our church more aware of the younger generation.
REV. ANDREW CUNNINGHAM CONGREGATION: Orange PRESBYTERY: Macquarie Darling I am an Irish minister in placement in the regional town of Orange. I am leading 7 Congregations through a time of change and refocus of their mission. I have been a minister for 12 years and have served the Methodist Church in Ireland and the Methodist Church in the Caribbean and the Americas (as a mission partner) and have been a member of their national conferences. I am a former high school Chaplain and youth and community worker. I was a member of the European Methodist Youth council. I currently serve on the Synod Faith and Unity Committee, the Presbytery MMC (PRC and SMC) and the School Council for Kinross Woolaroi School. Experience of national and international church conferences Experience of ministry in the developed world and the developing world Experience of ministry with children, youth and adults Experience of ministry in church and community settings Fresh insight as an experienced minister who has recently joined the UCA I listen and reflect before coming to conclusions I am an advocate and agent for change when it is necessary REV. GABY KOBROSSI CONGREGATION: Bankstown District UCA + Middle East National Conf. (Chair) PRESBYTERY: Georges River 1986 2007 served with the Bible Society in Lebanon, Syria and Iraq Marketing and Fundraising. I was ordained in Lebanon in 2003; Joined the Uniting Church as MOW in 2011. I ve been a member of the MMRG (Multicultural Ministry Reference Group) since 2007. 2012 Chair of the Multicultural Ministry Reference Group NSW ACT. Currently member of the: UCA Assembly MCCM (Multicultural and CrossCultural Ministry Reference Committee) Middle East National Conference (Chair) and member of the Middle East NSW Ecumenical Council Synod Disaster Recovery Committee.
We will have delegations coming from our new partner churches in the Middle East to attend the Assembly meeting 2018. The suggestion was to attend the Assembly as the rep of the Middle East National Conference to welcome and support our guests during their time in Australia