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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 Wesley Lodge Ministry on Saturday 23 August 2014

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. Mr Paul Creek led closing prayers

TIMES OF SESSIONS

1. 9.00am – 10.30am 2. 11.00am – 12.30pm 3. 1.30pm – 3.00 pm 4. 3.30pm – 5.00 pm

AGENDA 116/14SC Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

adopt the Order of Business as printed subject to changes suggested by the General Secretary and alterations made by the Synod Standing Committee

ATTENDANCE Session

Rev Dr Brian Brown All Rev Dr Andrew Williams All Rev Myung Hwa Park All Ms Taualofa Anga’aelangi All Rev Grant Bilbey All Mr David Benn All

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Rev Punam Bent All Rev Glenys Biddle All Mr Paul Creek All Rev Lindsay Cullen All Rev Ken Day All Rev Shin Goo Session 1 & 2 Rev Dr Chris Goringe All Mrs Sue Graves All Mr Doug Hewitt All Mr Semisi Kailahi All Mr Levon Kardashian All Mr John Kitchener All Mr Neil King All Mr Trevor Knight All Mr Ian Lawrence All Rev Rebecca Lindsay Session 2,3,4 Rev Kath Merrifield All Rev Duncan Macleod All Ms Malia Puna All Rev Bronwyn Murphy All Mr Graeme Tolson All Mrs Diane Torrens All Rev Niall Reid All Dr Katalina Tahaafe-Williams All Rev Karyn Burchell- Thomas All Ms Jacki Watts All Ms Natalie Willis All Mr Peter Worland All Ms Pearl Wymarra All

APOLOGIES Session

Rev Gordon Ramsay All Rev Warwick Cadenhead All Mr Ted Woodley All Mr Daniel Mossfield All Mr Peter Andrews All Rev David Gore All Mr Alan Gibson All Mr David Freeman All Mr Brian Mowbray All

IN ATTENDANCE Ms Karyn Warner ALL Rev Hannie Hoffman ALL Rev Jane Fry ALL

Observer Mr Bob Minton ALL

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MINUTES

117/14SC Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee confirm the Minutes of the Synod Standing Committee held 26 July 2014

EN BLOC

118/14SC Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee determine that matters listed following be adopted en bloc unless the General Secretary receives a request before the commencement of Session 2 that a matter be considered separately.

RETIREMENTS

(a) Rev Gregory Crawford Reference - letter from Uniting Church Morisset

119/14SC Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

note the retirement of Rev Gregory Crawford in accordance with Regulation 2.6.1 (d)(i)(1) effective 30 November 2014

120/14SC (b) Rev Neil Ericksson

Reference – email from Rev Neil Ericksson Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee note the retirement of Rev Neil Ericksson in accordance with Regulation 2.6.1 (d)(i)(1) effective 30 September 2014

MINUTES APART 121/14SC Reference – Presentation by Chris Lane of Hunt and Hunt Lawyers

Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the verbal report (ii) adopt the advice received in the report for future practice in

closed sessions

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PROPERTY FOR A PILGRIM PEOPLE 122/14SC

Reference – Working Paper No. 2 Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the report (ii) that the Synod Standing Committee suggest the following

proposals, received from the Property Workshops, be referred to Synod 2014 for consideration 1. Affirm the value of a Sales Proceeds Policy which releases

funds for the mission of the Church both in the local context

and beyond

2. Direct the Synod Standing Committee to appoint a task

group to undertake a review of the current policy with the

responsibility of:

a. taking into account the proposals arising out of the

Property Workshops held in June and July 2014,

b. articulating the purpose of the Sales Proceeds

Policy

c. addressing the appropriate use of sales proceeds

d. recommending what body should have oversight of

the distribution of sales proceeds

e. advising as to the role the council or agency with

beneficial stewardship over the property sold has in

determining the use of the proceeds of sale.

f. Bringing a report and recommendations to the

Synod Standing Committee for determination by the

end of June 2015

That Synod Standing Committee supports the manse proposal arising out of the Property Workshops and determine 1. All residences under the beneficial stewardship of congregations will be made available for use as a residence in the following priority: (a) by a minister/ministry agent in placement in the congregation; (b) by a minister/ministry agent in placement in the presbytery or elsewhere in the Synod; (c) other Presbytery approved missional use; or, and this is only if the residence cannot be used for one of the above (d) rental for market rent.

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2. If a residence is used under 1(b) or (c) the congregation will only be entitled to “rent” equivalent to the maximum minister’s housing allowance. 3. If a residence is used under 1(d) the rent paid by the tenant must be market rent as approved by the presbytery and that market rent shall be shared as follows: (a) the congregation shall receive the equivalent of the minister’s maximum housing allowance; and (b) the presbytery shall receive the balance. 4. In all cases, the congregation will be responsible for payment of rates, insurance premium and maintenance/repairs on the residence. 5. In the event that the residence is used under 1 (b), (c) or (d), the congregation will be in receipt of the equivalent of the maximum minister’s housing allowance which shall be held in a separate account and can only be used for payment of rates, insurance, maintenance, repairs and refurbishment of the residence as required (unless otherwise approved by the presbytery). That Synod Standing Committee sponsor the following proposal for Synod 2014 Direct Standing Committee to enter a conversation around the suggestions of the UAICC Regional Committee outlined below: 1. As a symbolic acknowledgement that our churches are built on stolen land, and as a ‘jubilee-like’ action, the suggestion is that all congregations and agencies of the church (including schools) be required to pay rent. Congress members believe that the fairest way for this to happen is not with a set amount but a set percentage – 1% - of the annual income of all bodies in the church. This money would go into a special trust account or capital fund for ministry and not for administration costs (i.e. synod could not simply stop its support because other funds had become available for ministry expansion. [NB: It was suggested that consideration be given to alternative language to ‘pay rent’.] 2. That the Synod suggest to all presbyteries that they implement a policy similar to that of Macquarie-Darling Presbytery, viz: that if there is a property which is surplus to the needs of the congregations in the presbytery that the property be first of all offered to Congress for ministry (not simply to have and sell). If Congress does not want the property for its ministry that the property can be sold, and the proceeds subject to the tithe mentioned below.

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3. That Synod explore the most appropriate way in which a tithe can be made to Congress from property sales, maybe something like 5% of all sales. 4. That there be an exploration of the possibility of Congress having its own property trust. And bring proposals to the 2016 Synod.

SYNOD OF NSW AND THE ACT ROYAL COMMISSION TASK GROUP REPORT 123/15SC Reference – Working Paper No 3

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

(i) receive the report SYNOD STANDING COMMITTEE REPORT TO SYNOD 2014 124/14SC Reference – Working Paper No 4

That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the draft report (ii) adopt the recommended amendments and additions (iii) endorse the Synod Standing Committee Report for submission

to Synod 2014 SYNOD BUDGET AND UPDATE FROM BUDGET REFERENCE GROUP 125/14SC Reference – Working Paper 6 & 6A Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the report (ii) approved the Budget for 2014/2015 (iii) present the Budget 2014/2015 for information to Synod 2014

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UNITING VENUES 126/14SC Reference – Working Paper 11

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the report (ii) note the decision of Uniting Mission and Education to process

with the following recommendations: Bonny Hills – to cease operations in December 2014 and proceed to sale. In order to maximise sale proceeds from this site, investigate subdivision of the land. Develop an exit plan for the UME Board meeting on 16 October 2014. Short to Medium Term (1 to 5 years) Centre for Ministry – retain as is with minor refurbishments in the short term, pending the outcome of the proposed Church development in Burwood, which may have an impact on any medium term plans. In the longer term, explore the possibility of building an 80 room motel on site to transform the Centre for Ministry into a major adult retreat, conference and religious/general education centre, supplemented by the transient accommodation market, and to increase the financial returns to the Church. Elanora – retain in the medium term for the traditional schools, church groups and family market. Retain availability to meet the needs of the Church in activities to assist and extend the mission of the Church. Minor upgrades and refurbishment of existing facilities. Further review in the medium term to determine the longer term future of this facility. Short to Long Term (1 to 10 years) Naamaroo – transform this location to enable the Church to meet the needs of the adult retreat, conference centre, group functions and corporate training markets, supplemented by the transient accommodation market, and to increase the financial returns to the Church. Seek approval to review and update existing site plans to transform the site to cater for the adults market with the objective of applying for a DA (subject to a proper business case) for a facility with 92 motel rooms, conference / meeting / catering facilities. Building work to be staged, subject to business plan approval.

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DISCERNMENT AND PLANNING SYNOD MISSION PLAN 127/14SC Reference – Working Paper 5 Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

(i) receive the report (ii) endorse the Synod Mission Plan for submission to Synod 2014

and attach to the Minutes as Appendix A MEMBERSHIP FOR SYNOD 2014 CO-OPTIONS 128/14SC Reference – Working Paper 8

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

appoint the persons to membership of Synod 2014 listed in Working Paper and attach it to the Minutes as Appendix B

LEGAL ACTION

(a) UnitingCare NSW ACT – Trading as Children, Young People and Families)

129/14SC Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee note the decision of the Moderator to grant permission to UnitingCare to defend a claim in regard to adverse action

130/14SC UnitingCare NSW ACT

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee note the decision of the Moderator to grant permission to UnitingCare NSW ACT to defend a claim in regard to unfair dismissal

131/14SC UnitingCare NSW ACT (trading as UnitingCare Ageing NSW ACT)

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee note the decision of the Moderator to grant permission to UnitingCare NSW ACT to defend a claim in regard to unfair dismissal

132/14SC Uniting Resources

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Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee note the decision of the Moderator to grant permission to Uniting Resources to defend a claim in regard to adverse action

STAMP COMMITTEE 133/14SC Reference – Working Paper 9

Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee

on the recommendation of the Stamp Committee approve the distribution of stamp proceeds as detailed in Working Paper 9 and. attach it to the Minutes as Appendix C

PRESBYTERY OF RIVERINA TRANSFER OF HOWLONG CONGREGATION 134/14SC Reference- Working Paper 10

Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee (i) receive the letters from

Mr Mark Lawrence, General Secretary Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

receive the letter from Ms Joan McRae Secretary Presbytery of North East Victoria)

receive the letter from Mrs Janet Elliot, Secretary UCA Riverina Presbytery

(ii) note that the legal title to the Howlong Congregation remain with the Property Trust of Synod NSW/ACT and that insurance will be the responsibility of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania

(iii) request that the Assembly Standing Committee redraw the Synod boundaries as part of the transfer

TREASURY AND INVESTMENT SERVICES

Reference – Working Paper 12 Resolved

135/14SC That the Synod Standing Committee (i) endorse that the membership of the Board of Treasury and

Investment Services shall be the same as the Board of UCTAL operating in accordance with the UCTAL Constitution until the TIS by-laws and UCTAL constitution are reviewed and/or changed

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APPOINTMENTS 136/14SC (a) Synod 2014 Business Committee Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee appoint the following persons to the Synod Business Committee

Rev. Kevin Dilks

Mr Peter Kidd 137/14SC (b) NSW Ecumenical Council Resolved That the Synod Standing Committee appoint the following person to the NSW Ecumenical Council

Ms Pearl Wymarra

Mr Alan Harpur

Mr Doug Hewitt

Rev. Dr Andrew Williams

138/14SC (c) The Uniting Church (NSW) Trust Association Limited (UCTAL)

Resolved

That the Synod Standing Committee

endorse the appointment of the indicated persons to membership and

nominate those indicated for directorship of the Uniting Church (NSW)

Trust Association Ltd

1. Members (to be appointed for a term of three years)

i Mr Andrew Bowden ii Mr John Collins iii Mr Ian Gray iv Mr John K Martin v Mr David Porter

2. Members (to be appointed until 31 December 2014)

i Mrs Margaret Gregory

3. Directors (to be appointed for a term of three years)

i Mr Michael Anderson

ii Mr Paul Mazzola

4. Directors (filling a casual vacancy)

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i. Ms Christine Feldmanis (to be appointed until the AGM

2015) arising from the resignation of Mr Graham Horrocks.

ii. Mr Jason Masters (to be appointed until the AGM 2016)

arising from the change in role of Mr Neil King (who has taken

up an ex-officio position)

MODERATOR’S SHARING Reference – Working Paper 7 The Moderator spoke to his report and answered questions as required.

GENERAL SECRETARY’S SHARING

Reminded Synod Standing Committee members to complete the evaluation form emailed last week and return to Karyn

Attended No Retreat Sydney Presbytery

Please continue to hold Meryn and Jon O’Brien in your thoughts and prayers

Attended a rally supporting the persecuted Christians in Iraq PASTORAL

(a) Obituaries

Rev Dr John McCarthy (retired) passed away on 11 July, 2014

Rev Russell Thompson (retired) passed away on 7th August

Miss Margaret Somerville passed away on 30 July 2014 (b) Illnesses

Rev Sang - Jin Lee

Rev. Mark Watt

Rev. Dr Ann Wansbrough

Rev Beth Howard (c) Births

Tully Daisy born 18th July, 2014 to Jeri and Chris Bateup, granddaughter to Rev Bronwyn and Kingsley Murphy and great granddaughter to Rev Beth Howard

Benjamin Daniel born 9th August, 2014 to Nicki and Daniel Mossfield

(d) Marriages

Rev Janis Huggett married Ms Leila Field at the British High Commission on 1st August 2014

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CLOSE The meeting closed at 3.45pm NEXT MEETING Saturday 8th November 2014 at CMF

………………………………………………. Chairperson

…………………………………

Date

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Synod Mission Plan (2015 – 2017)

“Moving with God, Transforming Communities”

“Uniting for the Common Good”

Title Synod Mission Plan (2015 – 2017)

Creation Date 2 April 2014

Version V5.2

Last Revised 18 August 2014

Approved by Synod Standing Committee

Approval date 23 August 2014

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WE ARE CALLED

This document is the Mission Plan (2015 – 2017) for the council of the Uniting Church in Australia known as the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT. It shall shape the work of the Synod through its boards, committees, Presbyteries, congregations and agencies for the next three years. The Uniting Church is part of the people of God on the way to the promised end. We believe in God the Creator, who does not hold creation at arm’s length, but shares in our joys and our suffering. Death, loneliness, disconnection, injustice: these can never be the final word because God raised Jesus from the dead. We are followers of this Christ, this risen crucified One. We pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit to move us and transform our communities into places where we see the love, peace and justice of God at work. Christ is calling us to live with the same love that God first showed us. Christ is calling us to ask who our neighbour is and how to love them. Christ is calling us to leave behind whatever is holding us back and stopping us from living in the dawn of the Resurrection. We are at a pivotal point as a church. We know that we are declining, we know that we are ageing - but that is not the story which shapes our identity and future! We are Good News people. We believe that God is constantly reforming and reshaping us to be gospel-people, witnesses to Christ and hope-bearers to our community. This is one of the times when God is daring us to trust that within our own life. There is a tangible sense that the Holy Spirit is blowing through our Synod. We hear Good News stories bubbling up:

...of congregations engaging with their community in a new way, like a community garden or shared project with the local neighbourhood centre; ...of chaplains sitting with people after fires and floods, or by a hospital bed, or with university students over Bible study, listening ears in times of crisis and struggle; ...of our Synod boards and staff working more closely together and finding joy in their common task of serving the wider church.

We are called

...to confess our sin; praying that, through the gift of the Spirit, God will constantly correct that which is erroneous in the life of the church. We confess because it enables us to step out of the tomb and follow Christ into a new dawn. ...to vibrant and relevant discipleship through worship, witness and service. We have a reputation for being generous and inclusive that we should celebrate and build upon. Being inclusive doesn’t mean ‘anything goes’ but is founded in our belief that God is bringing about the reconciliation of all things.

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...to proclaim our faith in fresh words and deeds. This means we need to know what our Good News is! We must be courageous enough to live out our faith in everyday life and to speak the story of what it means for us to follow Christ. ...to live out our convenant with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC). We will listen to UAICC and heed their voice. We will be reconciliation people who work in partnership with UAICC, especially in matters of advocating for Australia’s First peoples. ...to be in practice the multicultural church we claim to be. We will seek and sustain unity with one another in the rich diversity of nationalities and cultures that make up Australian society. ...to advocate for justice. We will live with the same love of those on the margins that God has displayed through Scripture. We will embody the radical and generous hospitality of God.

This Mission Plan is our Synod saying an emphatic “Yes!” Yes! We will choose life. Yes! We believe that God has given us everything we need to be the church God calls us to be. Yes! We will enter into the discipleship adventure, following after the risen crucified Christ who walks ahead of us. Yes! The Spirit is already moving in our midst calling us to deeper faith and action in God’s world. Yes! Yes! Yes!

PLANNING PROCESS

Saying “Yes” to being God’s people in our time and place calls us to discern and seek wisdom. We pray that the indwelling Holy Spirit will lead us as we seek to discern who God is calling us to become. Part of discerning who God is calling us to be is hearing what tasks, projects and priorities we should focus our resources upon. Part of discerning is naming what things we will let go, even when this is painful. Acknowledging that “it is the task of every council to wait upon God's Word, and to obey God's will in the matters allocated to its oversight”, the Synod Standing Committee began an intentional process of discerning God’s call for the life and mission of the Synod in late 2013. Through the discernment process, the Synod Standing Committee articulated this draft Mission Plan for the three year period 2015 – 2017 for consideration by the 2014 Synod. The Plan builds on previous work adopted by the Synod in 2006, and is intended to guide the Synod’s annual plans and budgets for the three year period until the meeting of the Synod in 2017. If adopted by the Synod, the Plan will be progressed and refined as necessary by the Synod Standing Committee. This will involve the formulation and prioritisation

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of specific actions for each of the Initiatives, with time-lines and accountabilities, and the regular monitoring of progress. The 2016 Synod will undertake an interim review of the Plan and then the 2017 Synod will carry out a comprehensive update for the next triennium.

PLAN STRUCTURE

The Plan has five main components:

i) The Vision provides an aspirational image of the Synod into the future.

ii) The Theme provides a readily remembered phrase that encapsulates our direction and how we are moving forward.

iii) The Areas of Discernment encompass the range of missional activities of

the Synod.

iv) Each Area of Discernment has an Objective that describes what we hope to achieve to move towards our Vision.

v) The Initiatives outline specific priority actions to progress each of our Objectives.

Some components of the Plan are not new, but ongoing or slightly refined. The Plan combines long-standing fundamentals with newer facets, in the context of better directing and focusing the Synod’s collective gifts and resources in today’s community. And the Plan is structured to enable progress to be readily assessed and changes to be made as circumstances evolve.

This Plan retains the Vision set by the Synod in 2006:

“Moving with God, Transforming Communities” This Vision, together with the current Synod Theme:

“Uniting for the Common Good” sit within the Constitution and the Basis of Union as illustrated in the diagrams on the following two pages.

The NSW.ACT Synod is a regional council of the Uniting Church in Australia and, as such, is guided by the national Assembly. The Synod is made up of delegates from congregations and faith communities in NSW and the ACT.

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The responsibilities of the Synod are stated in Section 32 of the Constitution of the Uniting Church in Australia: “Subject to the direction of the Assembly, the Synod shall have general oversight, direction and administration of the Church's worship, witness and service within its bounds. It shall exercise executive, administrative, pastoral and disciplinary functions over the Presbyteries within its bounds, shall be the council to hear and deal with appeals and requests from Presbyteries and shall establish and maintain such boards, institutions, committees and agencies as are appropriate to the furtherance of its responsibilities. A Synod may do other things as are consistent with the purposes of the Church and not the exclusive responsibility of any other council or body within the Church.” The Synod recognises its responsibility as a leader of the Church in NSW & ACT and that the life and witness of the people of Christ in congregations, Presbyteries and other bodies within the Church will be impacted by our decisions. The Synod undertakes its responsibilities in cooperation with the other councils of the Church as it seeks the wisdom, support and participation by the people, Presbyteries, councils and bodies of the Synod as we grow in mission together. The Synod will at all times endeavour to engage with and support other councils of the Church in a way which is respectful of our inter-conciliar polity.

Basis of Union

"The Church's Call"

Constitution

"The Church's Governance"

Synod

"The Church's Role in NSW & ACT"

Synod

"Vision"

Synod

"Theme"

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• The Church's call is ...to be a fellowship of reconciliation, a body within which the diverse gifts of its members are used for building up of the whole, an instrument through which Christ may work and bear witness to himself.

• The Uniting Church acknowledges that the faith and unity of the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church are built on the one Lord Jesus Christ. The Church preaches Christ the risen crucified One and confesses him as Lord to the glory of God the Father. In Jesus Christ "God was reconciling the world to himself" (2 Corinthians 5:19 RSV).

Basis of Union

• The purposes of the Church are to provide for the worship of God, to procaim the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, to promote Christian fellowship, to nurture believers in the Christian faith, to engage in mission, to assist in human development and toward the improvement of human relationships, to meet human need through charitable and other services and to do such things as may be required in obedience to the Holy Spirit.

Constitution

• The Synod, in consultation with presbyteries and as guided by the Assembly, will administer and co-ordinate the church’s resources in order to increase the effectiveness of the life and mission of the whole church, including:

- working with presbyteries to develop and implement a shared vision for mission within the Synod; - working with Christ's people through congreations to implement mission strategies; - working with Uniting Care, our schools, venues, charities and other bodies of the Synod to support their mission in meeting the needs of our wider community.

NSW & ACT

Synod

• Moving with God, Transforming Communities Synod Vision

• Uniting for the Common Good Synod Theme

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AREAS OF DISCERNMENT

Through their discernment, the Synod named the following nine areas as encapsulating the range of activities of the Church.

OBJECTIVES AND INITIATIVES

For each of the nine Areas of Discernment an Objective and priority Initiatives have been set. The Initiatives are typically achievable in one or at most three years. Over the period of this Plan it is likely that further Initiatives will be adopted. It is important to note that the Objectives and Initiatives are interconnected, and should be viewed as a whole, not independently of one another. The nine Areas of Discernment, with their Objectives and priority Initiatives are set out in the following pages.

The Life of the Church

1. Worship

2. Discipleship

3. Witness

4. Service

5. Leadership

6. Growth

Enabling the Church

7. Organisational Structure

8. Financial and Physical Resources

9. Our People

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1. WORSHIP

Objective

We will foster individual and corporate worship of God that is contextual, inclusive and diverse, and deepens the relationship between God, God’s people and our communities.

Initiatives

1. Resource and mentor worship leaders and their congregations so they can lead worship that is community focused, welcoming and meaningful to a broad range of people.

2. Provide contextual, multicultural and indigenous worship training to equip ministry leaders in diverse life-giving expressions and experiences of worship rooted in the understanding that worship is integral to everyday life.

3. Identify those congregations and faith communities with promising new expressions of worship and/or where new worshippers have significantly increased in the last few years, and develop resources which can be shared amongst our congregations and Presbyteries.

2. DISCIPLESHIP

Objective

We will call and equip people to live out their Christian faith in creative and courageous ways.

Initiatives

1. Ensure access to a broad range of compelling discipleship resources that reflect our cultural and theological diversity.

2. Develop and promote the Period of Discernment as a discernment and discipleship resource for all people within the Church

3. Continue development of the Uniting Learning Network to foster and resource discipleship.

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3. WITNESS

Objective

We will call and equip people to be witnesses to Jesus Christ in word and deed, through evangelism and acts of service and social justice.

Initiatives

1. Develop and facilitate a Synod-wide discussion about what is the Good News and how we proclaim Jesus Christ in the 21st century.

2. Develop new resources for evangelism informed by the discussion in 3.1 above.

3. With Presbyteries engage congregations, members and ministry agents in at least one additional act of effective evangelism.

4. Develop and offer training to congregations and ministry agents for effective engagement with social and local media and with the wider community, in particular younger people.

4. SERVICE

Objective

We will serve the common good by more intentionally integrating our call to be witnesses to Christ’s resurrection with our call to serve our neighbour.

Initiatives

1. Develop a theology of service, informed by the discussion in Initiative 3.1 above.

2. Review current services provided in the Synod to evaluate how successful they may be integrating our call to serve our neighbour with our call to be witnesses to Christ’s resurrection.

3. Identify, develop and implement improvements in the way our services integrate our call to serve our neighbour with our call to be witnesses to Christ’s resurrection.

4. With Presbyteries engage congregations, members and ministry agents in at least one additional act of service or social justice project.

5. Foster closer collaboration and build trust between UnitingCare, Presbyteries, local congregations and faith communities as they seek to serve God together within the community.

6. Continue to grow our services through Synod agencies such as UnitingCare, Uniting Church Schools and Colleges and support other service agencies of the Church.

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5. LEADERSHIP

Objective

We will identify, encourage and develop leadership across the Synod.

Initiatives

1. Identify key leadership roles across the Synod and develop resources

for the induction, education and training of the leaders that are modelled on the values of Jesus.

2. Identify and call people with the appropriate gifts and graces to grow into these roles.

3. Equip, educate and train the potential leaders for discerned future roles. 4. Induct, educate and train leaders on every Board, council and

committee. 5. Require each Board and agency, and encourage Presbyteries and

congregations, to develop a leadership development and succession plan.

6. GROWTH

Objective

We will be faithful to the call of Jesus Christ, through prayer and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, halt the decline in Church members and start to grow* by 2017.

*Growth means an increase in both the number of people engaged in the life of congregations and faith communities across the Synod and the extent and depth of our Worship, Discipleship, Witness and Service.

Initiatives

1. In consultation with Presbyteries, identify and prioritise congregations, faith communities and/or regional areas in each Presbytery where there is the best potential for growth or new missional expressions.

2. In consultation with Presbyteries plan Synod’s support through financial and physical resources to the congregations, faith communities and/or regional areas identified and prioritised in 1 above (via the Growth Fund (see 8.5 below) and other means).

3. Recruit people and teams with gifts, skills and competencies in church planting and missional expression to develop the education and training of Ministers and lay people in new expressions of ministry.

4. Give particular attention to the nurture, growth and leadership development of young people.

5. Expand ministry networks in the community, especially tertiary institutions, which enhance faith development and gathering.

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6. Facilitate forums where Presbyteries, congregations and faith communities can share their experiences, learnings and opportunities to achieve success and minimise failures.

7. Develop means to measure the extent and depth of our Worship, Discipleship, Witness and Service.

7. ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE

Objective

We will ensure our governance, policies, processes and procedures optimise our resources, engender trust and enable our Vision.

Initiatives

1. Overhaul the Synod structure by mid-2015 so as to best support the Mission Plan.

2. Eliminate duplication to improve efficiency and free up resources e.g. in administration, human resources, information systems and technology, communications and finance.

3. Improve collaboration and communication between Synod entities and across the broader life of the Church

4. Ensure appropriate codes of conduct are established and implemented for all leadership roles.

5. Define the characteristics of a viable congregation and assist Presbyteries engage other congregations to revive, relocate or close.

8. FINANCIAL AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

Objective

We will live out the generosity of God in the way we steward our individual and collective resources.

Initiatives

1. Develop clear guidelines on the opportunities and responsibilities associated with Stewardship of resources.

2. Create a sustainable income stream to cover the core costs of the Synod/Presbytery organisational structure from the resources of the Synod and investments, avoiding deficit budgets.

3. Complete the ‘Property for a Pilgrim People’ review and establish a Property Policy that encourages the optimal use of property across the Synod.

4. Establish a long term capital management plan that supports the

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Mission Plan, by mid-2015. 5. Build a Growth Fund with a target of $50M by 2017, sourced from

Church entities and property sales, to support growth initiatives.

9. OUR PEOPLE

Objective

We will support our People* in growing their faith and serving the Church. * Ministers of the Word, Deacons, Chaplains, Pastors, Lay Leaders, members, adherents, employees and volunteers.

Initiatives

1. Develop training and education resources and options to equip our People for ministry in the current and emerging contexts.

2. Before undertaking new mission initiatives ensure a well resourced, suitably gifted and skilled and competent team is in place to maximise the potential for successful outcomes.

3. Develop more effective mentoring and support measures for those in challenging circumstances.

4. Promote Christ-centred values and hold ourselves accountable for how we work with and care for one another.

5. Improve our dispute settling procedures.

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MEMBERSHIP FOR SYNOD 2014 Proposal That the Synod Standing Committee

(i) co-opt the following persons as members of the Synod

Representative

Group

Minister/Lay Title Given Name 1 Surname

Co-options Lay Dr Narelle Murray

Co-options Lay Mr Allan Gibson

Co-options Lay Mr David Jungil Chu

Co-options Lay Mr John Collins

Co-options Lay Mr Levon Kardashian

Co-options Lay Mr Peter Andrews

Co-options Lay Mr Peter Kidd

Co-options Lay Mr Sae Ku Kim

Co-options Minister Rev Alexander Thomas

Co-options Minister Rev David Kidd

Co-options Minister Rev Duncan Macleod

Co-options Minister Rev Elizabeth Raine

Co-options Minister Rev Keree Casey

Co-options Minister Rev Keun-ll Ko

Co-options Minister Rev Kyoung Hoon Kim

Co-options Minister Rev Maurine Redenbach

Co-options Minister Rev Dr Jione Havea

Co-options Minister Rev Dr John Squires

Co-options Minister Rev Dr Rodney Drayton

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