Standing Committee – February 2019 update

Posted Feb  6, 2019 in News

New Times online features brief summaries of Standing Committee meetings to inform the wider Uniting Church SA community of the discussions, deliberations and decisions arising from each meeting.

Friday 1 February, 2019 - Synod office (Level 2, 212 Pirie Street, Adelaide)

Welcome

Uniting Church SA Moderator Rev Sue Ellis welcomed Standing Committee members, with an Acknowledgement of Country from “Wide and Deep” asking for God’s blessing on those who continue to work for the healing and restoration of the land and communities. Bruce Ind led the devotions, which focussed on attitudes and behaviours and upholding valuing the teachings of Jesus.

Interim General Secretary’s Report

The Interim General Secretary, Rev Rob Brown, spoke to his report. He provided a staffing update which included information about Rev Sue Page beginning in the role of Associate General Secretary and also Rev Tim Hodgson who has also started in the role of Executive Officer, UnitingCare. Tim and Sue will be inducted at the 9 February Synod Meeting. Malcolm Wilson has moved into a part-time role of Grants and Historical Records Officer and is assisting Pastoral Relations and Mission Planning one day per week whilst Rev Ashley Davis is on long service leave. Chris Headland will be retire from the role of Acting Executive Officer, UnitingCare at the end of February and the Moderator is currently recruiting for a temporary Personal Assistant.

Restructuring Task Group

The Restructuring Task Group was formed as a result of decisions made at the 15-17 November, 2018 Presbytery and Synod meeting (Proposal 28.3). It was agreed that the existing structure of one Synod and one Presbytery would be modified to allow for more than one Presbytery. The Restructuring Task Group has met twice since its formation. The Non-Geographic Task Group (Proposal 28.2.11) is working on the formation of a Non-Geographic Presbytery. Both Task Groups are looking into what aspects of the life of the Church are best located centrally and what the new Presbytery (ies) might want to delegate to the Synod. It is anticipated that both Task Groups will present to the 21-22 June Presbytery and Synod meeting

A Special Synod meeting is to be held on Saturday 9 February, 2019 for Uniting Church members to hear the General Secretary JNC report and recommendations of a new General Secretary. The meeting will also consider business remaining from the November 2018 Presbytery and Synod meeting.

Associate General Secretary Report

The Associate General Secretary, Rev Sue Page spoke to her report. There were two readiness for Ordination Reports presented by Sue and the Presbytery Standing Committee resolved to ordain Lynne Aird and Peter Morton as Ministers of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia. Lynne is currently in an interim placement at Adelaide West Uniting Church and Peter awaits to receive a call to a ministry placement.

Sue also shared that a re-launch of the Moderator nominations would occur at the upcoming Special Synod meeting on 9 February. Nominations for the Moderator placement will be made at the 21-22 June, 2019 meeting.

Mission and Leadership Development Board Report

Acting Executive Officer, Rev Mark Schultz presented the Mission and Leadership Development report on behalf of Rev Prof Andrew Dutney who is on outside study leave for the first half of 2019. Rev Tim Hein is acting Principal at the Uniting College for Leadership & Theology (UCLT). There have been several staffing changes at Uniting College for Leadership & Theology (UCLT) and Mission Resourcing, including departures by Ann Phillips, Eloise Scherer, Laura Carson and Judyth Roberts. Mission Resourcing welcomes Tim Littleford to the role of Intergenerational Discipleship Developer, Youth & Young Adults. Mark providing updates on Mission Resourcing Centres including a new 0.2 FTE placement with the Centre of Music, Liturgy and the Arts.

Mark advised that KCO preparations are going well and registrations for the event are now open. The event will be held on the 23^rd and 24^th of March at Adare camp and conference centre in Victor Harbor.

The minutes from the meeting have been posted here. The next Standing Committee meeting will take place on Friday 5 April, 2019.

 

 

 

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