The Newsletter OCTOBER 2004
Uniting Church in Australia NSW SYNOD 222 Pitt Street SYDNEY Telephone - 8267 4300 Email - [EMAIL PROTECTED]
General Secretary The Rev. Dr Chris Budden
Dear friends and colleagues
I am writing this just two days after the end of Synod. We had a great time in Tamworth the facilities were open and welcoming, the arrangements first rate, the people friendly, and the meeting ran smoothly and with good will. Some of the things which stood out for me were:
" the Saturday night celebration during which we installed Jim Mein as Moderator.
" the appointment of the Rev Paul Swadling as the next General Secretary.
" the Bible studies led by Rev Gregor Henderson, and the worship led by Amelia Koh-Butler and Karyl Davison.
" The humour and gentleness of spirit that surrounded the meeting.
" the extension of Rev Harry Herbert as Executive Director of UnitingCare.
We:
" affirmed our ongoing conversation with the Reforming Alliance.
" established further conversations about theological education, and leadership and discipleship formation.
" revised our policy on alcohol on church premises (a copy of which is included with this Newsletter.
" asked the Executive Committee to prepare a discussion paper on the frequency of synod meetings.
" asked the Council of Synod to initiate a discussion with presbyteries about membership of Presbyteries.
" Welcomed Gavin Pretorius as Executive Director of BFP.
" Thanked Alistair Christie for his fine service as Moderator.
" Expressed appreciation to a number of people for their fine contributions to the church.
I would like to share with you a couple of things from my final speech to Synod.
I think we are called by God into a relationship that is the foundation of life and hope, and which enables us to become what we are meant to be as human beings. We are to be a sign of the reign of God, a people formed as disciples as followers of Christ, salt of the earth, sharers in Gods suffering love for the world. I believe the crucial issue is: where are we located socially and theologically and, thus, how do we answer the question of Jesus who do you say that I am? &
I think that there are four significant tasks at this time:
" to enable people to encounter/ engage with/ journey with God in the midst of the very ordinary moments in a way that allows for meaning and hope.
" to form communities of people shaped by the story of Christ, and who live out of that story in ways that make us an alternative community, and to be a people whose character, virtues and way of being mark us as Christs people.
" to form people for a range of ministries e.g. church planter, faith sharers, diaconal ministry.
" to assist people who have responsibility in local congregations for governance and administration, worship, pastoral care and mission.
As the report on conversations with the Reforming Alliance suggests, we need to keep talking to each other across the divides that have arisen around sexuality. To do that we have got to move beyond arguments about biblical interpretation. We need to talk together about:
" Who God is for us, and how we speak about Gods compassion, justice, and providence in the face of constant scientific challenges to the way we understand the universe.
" How we take seriously the understanding that God is Trinity. What does it mean for our understanding of God that we affirm that what we say about one person of the Trinity we always say about the others. That is, when we speak of the self-emptying and suffering of the Son, we are speaking of the whole of God.
" What is sin, and what does it mean for all our claims about sexuality and leadership that we are all sinful, as the Psalmist, and Augustine, Luther and Calvin remind us?
" What is the core of the good news we hold and the world cannot do without?
" Bio-ethics and human-ness.
At the launch of the Anglican document Mission-shaped Church in 2004, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams said:
What I am suggesting is that in the future of a mission shaped church we need first of all that powerful and clearly biblical sense that church is an event before it is an institution. We are renewed, restored, redeemed not by the absorption of ideas but by becoming members of Christ, that is, by coming into a fresh relationship with the living Jesus and thus, a fresh relation with each other event before institution.
This is what I believe we need to nurture in our life together .
Thank you for the privilege of serving the church in this way.
Chris Budden
NCYC turns 50
Come and celebrate.
The Methodist Church's "Mission to the Nation" in 1955, led by Rev. Alan Walker, marked the start of a youth movement that has continued in the Uniting Church to the present day. The first National Christian Youth Convention, held in Sydney, gathered many young people from around the nation. Now, fifty years later, up to 2000 young people will gather in Gawler, South Australia, for the anniversary event. A special anniversary worship celebration will be held at Trinity College, Gawler, on Sunday evening 2nd January 7.00 pm, the night before NCYC 2005 commences. Rev. Ken Anderson will be the preacher and Robin Mann and friends will lead us through NCYC music from past to present. The UCA President Rev. Dr. Dean Drayton has been invited to attend. NCYC 2005 is keen to contact people who have been involved in organising past NCYCs and to collect or copy NCYC memorabilia for display. If you can help with contacts or memorabilia, please contact Rachel Jennings
([EMAIL PROTECTED] 08 8236 4241) or visit the NCYC 50th Website at http://ncyc.info. If you would like to be part of the celebrations and are over 30 years of age, consider coming to NCYC as an adult volunteer.
AUSTRALIA CENTENARY CELEBRATION
Congregational Union of Australia Centenary Celebration Sunday 31 October 2004 10 am at Pitt St Uniting Church
Rev Ray Green will preach and other former Congregationalists
will take part.
The Congregational Union of Australia and New Zealand was formed in Melbourne in October 1904 with Rev J. Fordyce as President. NZ amicably withdrew in 1960. It was the Congregational Union of Australia that united with the Methodist General Conference and the Presbyterian General Assembly to form the Uniting Church in 1977
NEW BROCHURES FROM ELM
Want to encourage someone to think about doing a Period of Discernment, or do you know someone whos interested in becoming an accredited Lay Preacher?
Why not call the ELM Centre on (02) 8838 8910 for some copies of our new brochures on the Ministry of Lay Preacher and the Period of Discernment. Bulk copies have also been sent to each Presbytery Office for distribution.
If you have any questions about either the Period of Discernment or the Ministry of Lay Preacher please call Karyl Davison, Associate Director Registrar & Administration, ELM on 8838 8910 or email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
NEW PASTORAL RESOURCE
Rev Dr Neil Pembroke, a Uniting Church minister of the Word and lecturer in religion and psychology at the University of Queensland, is the author of a new practical theology book. It is entitled Working Relationsihips: Spirituality in Human Service and Organisational Life, and is published by Jessica Kingsley, London. In the book, Neil seeks to help nurses, teachers, chaplains and counsellors to think Christianly about their vocation. He also provides a model for the helping relationship that can be applied profitably to a ministers pastoral work.
From the back cover:
Pembroke has made an important contribution to the creative project of developing pastoral theology as a public theology. In a time when the application of faith initiatives to the public arena is fraught with ambiguity and tension, Pembroke brings clear thought and helpful examples to the practice of spirituality in human service professions.
Professor Homer Ashby, McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago
In this illuminating and thoughtful text, Neil Pembroke shows how relationships form the heart of chaplaincy, nursing and social care practice. Developing ideas from Martin Buber and virtue theory he shows how authentic, compassionate self-communication forms the basis of relatedness in human services work.
Working Relationships can be purchased either from Amazon.com (www.amazon.com) or the Openbook (www.openbook.com.au).
WHAT WILL YOU BE STUDYING IN 2005?
The Pastoral Counselling Institute is offering a Certificate IV in Pastoral Counselling.
The Certificate trains people to provide practical visitation in parish, community and hospital settings; to become proficient in effective listening skills and caring; a connection between faith concerns and life problems. The Certificate provides a solid foundation for a ministry of pastoral care by teaching:
A Biblical understanding of caring
The nature of helping relationships
The essence of pastoral counselling
Models for thinking theologically
Basic counselling skills in class setting and ministry placement
The Certificate meets the Presbytery requirements of 15 days continuing education for clergy and is offered in weekly or intensive formats. Call the Institute for details or visit the website www.pastoralcounselling.org for further information. Pastoral Counselling Institute 16 Masons Drive, North Parramatta 2151 (02) 9683 3664 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
ABC AND EASTER THANK OFFERING APPEALS
APPLICATIONS FOR RECIPIENTS OF THE BOARD OF MISSIONS 2005 ABC/EASTER THANK OFFERING APPEALS
CLOSE ON 8 NOVEMBER, 2004.
Please contact Annette Watson on phone no. (02) 8267 4270 or
email [EMAIL PROTECTED] for further information,
applications forms and criteria.
The ABC ( Above our Budget Commitments and Above and Beyond with Christ ) and Easter Thank Offering Appeals give congregations, groups and individuals an opportunity to support new mission and ministry projects. Each Appeal supports four projects every year, two from partner churches overseas and two from Uniting Church congregations or agencies. A video is then used to publicise the current ABC Appeal and to inform people of the success of the previous years Appeal.
Applications should indicate how the project will creatively share the gospel and engage in mission and ministry, seek to have a long-term educational, material or spiritual benefit, work towards the whole gospel for the whole person , and are unable to receive major funding from other sources.
The four projects identified in the 2004 ABC Appeal are:
" the Time-Out Space Program at Wayside Chapel, providing activities to reach young people in Kings Cross in a time of crisis;
" Dare to Dream at Griffith Uniting Church, a multicultural awareness program taking the message of what it means to be multicultural to rural communities;
" Economic Empowerment in West Timor, providing people with small business loans; and
" Scholarships for Students in the Seghe Theological Seminary, United Church, Solomon Islands.
The ABC Appeal Video 2004 is now available through your Presbytery Office or the Board of Mission Office, Level 9, Piccadilly Court, 222 Pitt Street, Sydney. Phone No. (02) 8267 4300.
Your donation may be posted to 2004 ABC Appeal, Board of Mission, PO Box A2178, Sydney South 1235.
40 YEARS OF MINISTRY
You and your family and friends are invited to give thanks to God and celebrate Jim Kidds 40 years of ministry at 7pm Friday 17 December 2004 In the Tavernetta Function Centre 144 Dorville Road Carseldine QLD 4034.
Full carvery buffet $18.50 plus drinks
Speeches Book of Memories Live Entertainment
RSVP 1 December 2004 Jocelyn 02 4736 1424 Margaret 07 3345 6482 Peter 07 5527 4586 Noelene 07 4941 7649 [EMAIL PROTECTED]
YOUTH UNIT
Praying for Change, Changing the way we pray
3rd 5th December 2004 Retreat starts 7.30pm Friday Concludes 3pm Sunday Elanora Conference Centre
For all HSC, TAFE and UNIVERSITY Students
UCATSA Retreat 2004 Uniting Church in Australia Tertiary Students Association
At this years retreat we are exploring a new way of being together. We are including a good balance of fun, friendship and soul searching. This year will provide you with a number of options to choose from, small group to talk about it, trips to the beach, and mad-capped evenings. We hope that you will come away relaxed, refreshed, with a few new friends as well. Cant wait to see you there!
" Explore how you pray " Try new ways to pray! " See how others pray " Explore the tradition " Meet new people " Experience something new&
Cost: $80 Students all inclusive. Please dont let the cost stop you from coming, talk to your chaplain, minister or the Youth Unit if you need help.
How to register: Synod Youth Unit, P.O Box A2178, Sydney South, 1235. By Email; [EMAIL PROTECTED], By phone; 8267 4320
Shuttle transport from Gordon Station is available on request
UNITING CHURCH OVERSEAS AID
Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA) is the aid and development division of Uniting International Mission (UIM).
Areas of focus include; Agriculture, Education, Economic Empowerment, Emergency Disaster Relief, Health, Water and Sanitation.
What makes us different to other organisations is our unique relationship with our Partner Churches and on the ground contacts within their communities. Long term development strategies to assist communities to become self sufficient and regular evaluation and monitoring means that projects are not chosen adhoc.
All donations to our projects overseas are tax deductible. For further information please access our website www.overseasaid.org or call us on (02) 8267 4269.
UCOA INVITATION
The Matthew Rusike Children's Home (MRCH) in Zimbabwe, Africa has been caring and providing for disadvantaged and homeless children since its founding in 1950. Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA) has been supporting the home since 1995. There are currently 120 children, between the ages of 3 and 18 years who call this place 'home'.
Heidi Jones and Stephanie Acraman are professionals who are volunteering their talents on Friday 19th November 2004, to assist UCOA in raising funds for further development in education and vocational training at MRCH. Pitt Street Uniting Church in Sydney has kindly donated their venue for this Benefit Concert.A Reserve tickets are only $30 and discounts are available for concession, pensioners and families.
Contact our staff for further invitations or posters if you would like to advertise this event to interested friends, family and congregations.
Uniting Church Overseas Aid Aid & Development Division of Uniting International Mission
Supporting HSC Students 2004
Ideas for leaders, congregations and anyone interested in supporting the studies, efforts, discipleship and well being of students working hard towards exams and beyond.
from UCTASA (Uniting Church in Australia Tertiary Students Association) and the NSW Synod Youth Unit
About People
Obituaries
Mr John Russell, step-father of the Rev Tara Curlewis, died 31 July at Mona Vale
Mrs Dorothy Bannister, mother of Mrs Patty Lawrence and Mr Les Bannister, died 4 August 2004
Mrs Irene Brand of McMasters Beach, wife of Rev Allan Brand and mother in law of Rev Ian Diamond, died 4 August 2004
Mrs Doris Gillies of Castle Hill, died 13 August 2004
Mrs Shirley Addison of Port Macquarie, widow of Rev Roy Addison, died 16 August 2004
Mr Wilbur Loy of Gunnedah died 17 August 2004
Rev WJ (Jock) Steele of Pendle Hill, died 24 August 2004
Rev. Robert E. McLeod of Toukley, died 4 September 2004
Rev Dr Keith Coombes of Daleys Point, father of the Rev Heather Coombes and the Rev Malcolm Coombes, died 15 September 2004
Mrs Lillian Towner of Coffs Harbour, widow of Rev Errol Towner, died on 27th September 2004
Mrs Valda Short of Undanderra, wife of the Rev Ralph Short, died 30 September
REPORTED ILLNESS
Mr Kegan Kashian Mr Tony Di Mauro Mrs Helen Pearson Rev Jim Gallagher Rev Dr Geoff Barnes Rev Walter Fejo Rev Dr Sarah Mitchell Rev Sarah Williamson Mrs Barbara Parker Mr Merv Riddle Rev Alex Thomas Mrs Margaret Reeson
BIRTHS
Ellie Louise, a daughter for YW Rob and Simone Hanks, born 6 August 2004
marriages
The Rev Trevor Lunney married Ms Narelle Barker on 17 April 2004 at Drummoyne
RETIREMENTS
Rev Ray Hughes, effective 7 July 2004 Rev Dorothy Gordon, effective 31 August 2004 Rev Graham Green, effective 31 December 2004 Lay Pastor Bob Arvidson, effective 31 December 2004 Rev Iva Fischer, effective 31 January 2005 Rev Dr Arthur G Pearce, effective 31 March 2005 Rev Ross Smith, effective 31 March 2005
BOARD OF MISSION 2004 CHRISTMAS CARDS
Over the years individuals and congregations have provided support for the Board of Missions work by purchasing these cards. Your help continues to assist urban and rural evangelism, cross-cultural ministry, leadership development, new congregations, mission planning and far west ministry.
Further details are available on the order form. If you have any enquiries or copies of the brochure, please contact Annette Watson on phone No. (02) 8267 4270. The brochure may also be viewed on the Board of Mission website:
www.nsw.uca.org.au/bom
GROWING MULTICULTURAL CONGREGATIONS
There are copies still available of the book Growing Multicultural Congregations at a cost of $5.00 per copy. Please contact Annette Watson, Cross Cultural, Board of Mission office, Level 9, 222 Pitt Street, Sydney or phone (02) 8267 4270.
LOCAL ECUMENISM
Commission on Local Initiatives
In 2003 a review of the work of the NSW Ecumenical Council was conducted by a representative group of the Heads of Churches in NSW and the ACT. Priority is now being given to the encouragement of local cooperation between the churches, and to assist this process a Commission on Local Initiatives of the Council was formed. The new Commission has met twice and has enthusiastically taken up the challenge to be involved with local dialogues.
Multi-Dimensional Covenant
The Councils Annual General Meeting endorsed this renewed focus on local ecumenism and we are giving state-wide emphasis to the Covenanting process which is happening nationally. The recent NCCA National Forum in Adelaide received a report on the Covenanting process and as you may be aware from the media coverage, representatives of all 15 NCCA member churches publicly signed the Multi-dimensional Covenant. An abbreviated form of this covenant is enclosed.
Local Agreements
Within recent months there has also been considerable progress towards local agreements between churches. You may know of several of these through your involvement in your diocese, presbytery or regional area. We wish to celebrate with our Christian sisters and brothers progress towards unity signified in the national Covenant.
Resources for Local Initiatives
Through its Commission on Local Initiatives, the Council is keen to resource and encourage the local application of the national relationship between churches. To achieve this we are preparing documents which will assist parishes and congregations to engage in dialogue with each other.
The Council also wishes to share such stories of moves towards unity with its member churches. To assist in this process of telling the good news, examples of local achievements are being included in the Councils newsletter Sharing, published three times a year.
For more information on any of these resources please contact the Commission on Local Initiatives through the NSW Ecumenical Council. Details are listed below.
6th Floor, 379 Kent Street Sydney (Locked Bag 199, Sydney 1230) PH: (02) 9299 2215 FAX: (02) 9262 4514 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: www.nswec.org.au
PLACEMENTS
PLACEMENTS APPROVED
Canberra Region Presbytery Canberra City Rev Mel Prowse 1 August 2004
Central West Presbytery Bathurst Rev Karyn Burchell 1 January 2005 Dubbo Intern Alison Wotherspoon 1 August 2004
Far North Coast Presbytery Tweed Valley Rev John (Ian Proctor) 1 December 2004 Yamba-Iluka Rev James Annesley 1 November 2004
Georges River Presbytery Gymea- Miranda Rev Sang-Taek Lee 1 November 2004
Ku-ring-gai Presbytery Berowra ES Andrew Schepis 1 October 2004
Parramatta-Nepean Presbytery Abbotsbury Congregation & PN South West Sector Rev Brett Furner 1 January 2005 PN South West Sector Rev Julie Furner 1 January 2005 St Clair Rev Lindsay Sheppard 1 November 2004
The Hunter Presbytery Caves Beach Rev Daniel Mistry 1 February 2005 North Lake Macquarie Rev Dr Chris Budden 1 May 2005
Other Korean Commission Rev Kisoo Jang TBA ELM-Director of Education for Life & Ministry Rev Dr John Hoskin 1 October 2004
APPROVAL TO FILL Contact Person Central West Presbytery Mid Lachlan Mission Area
Georges River Presbytery Lugarno-Peakhurst Mrs Beryl Tyler Oatley Rev Eric Drury
Illawarra Presbytery Wollongong University Chaplain Mr David Jones
Ku-ring-gai Presbytery Bowden Brae Retirement Village Rev Hugh Proctor Wesley Gardens Retirement Village Rev Hugh Proctor
Mid North Coast Presbytery Lower Macleay Rev Janet Dawson
Contact Person Riverina Presbytery Tumbarumba Rev Neil Ericksson Tumut Rev Neil Ericksson
Sydney Presbytery Haberfield Mr Peter Bentley Maroubra-Junction Rev Peter Godwin UNSW Chaplain Rev Peter Godwin Woollahra-Double Bay Rev Peter Godwin
The Hunter Presbytery Caves Beach
Other UnitingCare Supported Living
Inter Synod Transfers
Rev John Marshall to NSW Synod 13 July 2004 Rev Dr Marion Zaunbrecher to NSW Synod 1 July 2004 Lay Pastor David Jensen to VIC & Tasmania 1 July 2004 Rev John (Ian Proctor) to NSW Synod 1 December 2004
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Stephen Webb Media Officer Communications Unit NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & insights.uca.org.au/ ------------------ The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307.
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