Presbytery & Synod Meeting // UC e-Update

Adelaide West Uniting Church // Friday 23 - Saturday 24 June, 2017

UC e-Updates are designed to ensure members of the Uniting Church SA are informed of the various decisions made and information shared during Presbytery and Synod meetings.

In this update:

• Opening worship
• Opening business
• Ordination proposals
• CEO/General Secretary's Report 
• Resources Report & 2016 Financials
• UnitingCare Report & Presentation
• Celebration of thanks for Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler
• Prayer points

The Uniting Church SA Moderator, Rev Sue Ellis welcomed members to a special Uniting Church 40th Anniversary Presbytery and Synod meeting.

Playford Uniting Church provided vibrant worship to open the meeting. Rev Anne Hewitt shared a scripture reading from 1 Peter 2:4-10 and Rev Nick Patselis shared scripture from Deuteronomy 34.

Mark Schultz led gathered members in a prayer of lament and confession. 

A drama titled "Partners with God" produced by Subtle Bricks was presented by Marianne and Grant Topham.

Rev Sue Ellis shared a sermon about Moses's leadership and how he brought people to the Promised Land but did not enter. She encouraged the church to empower emerging and younger leaders, to continue the ongoing work of the Uniting Church.  

To close, Sue asked gathered members to share their hopes, visions, dreams and prayers for the next stage of the Uniting Church on sticky leaves to form part of a larger tree.

The Uniting Church SA Moderator, Rev Sue Ellis outlined Proposal 1 which was proposed by Malcolm Wilson (Associate General Secretary - Planning & Management) and Rev Nigel Rogers (CEO/General Secretary). The proposal was passed by consensus.

The members of the Presbytery and Synod resolved to ordain Josh Scherer (Proposal 2) and Katalina Tahaafe-Williams (Proposal 3) as Ministers of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia. The Moderator prayed for Katalina and also Josh who is about to undertake a new placement at Gawler Uniting Church.

Rev Nigel Rogers presented the CEO/General Secretary's Report. He reminded members that the Uniting Church SA is 'in it together'. He encouraged us to be humble and to think of others, to think about what we are called to do. In closing, Nigel encouraged those gathered to pray for others, for flourishing individuals and across the life of the church.

Read the full CEO/General Secretary's Report here .

Astrid Kuivasaari (General Manager, Resources) presented the Resources Board Report, including the 2016 audit results, key financial results for 2016, and the Mission & Service Fund.

Peter Battersby (Executive Officer, Resources) continued the presentation of the Resources Board Report and Addendum, and introduced the two Resources proposals.

Proposal 8 (page 5 here), noting the Financial Report, adopting the 2016 financial statements and noting the congregational contribution statement, was passed by consensus

Relating to the Resources Board Addendum, Proposal 9 (page 6 here) was passed by consensus.

Read the full Resources Board Report here and the Addendum here.

Rev Sue Ellis introduced UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide CEO, Libby Craft who outlined changes to the legal structure of UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide from an incorporated association to a company limited by guarantee. 

Libby discussed the reasons for the change and assured those gathered that the changes will not affect the relationship between the Uniting Church SA and UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide. A Memorandum of Understanding has been prepared between the two organisations and can be viewed here.

Rev Rob Brown (Associate General Secretary, Uniting Church SA & Executive Officer, UnitingCare SA) presented Proposal 4 (page 3 here) relating to Standing Committee and UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide. There was some discussion regarding this proposal and due to time constraints the proposal was postponed to tomorrow's meeting.

Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler was farewelled by Rev Sue Ellis, Rev Nigel Rogers and Rev Prof Andrew Dutney.

Amelia will conclude in the role of Executive Director, Mission Resourcing and Leadership Development in the next few months. Terry and Amelia will return to the East coast before the end of the year, to be closer to family support.

Whilst Amelia was farewelled this evening she will still work in a part-time capacity until her placement concludes. We are grateful for the enormous contribution Amelia has made to ministry throughout the Presbytery and Synod in South Australia.

We pray for:

• Rev Dr Amelia Koh-Butler and Terry Butler - as Amelia concludes in her placement and for her and Terry as they relocate to the East coast 
• Josh Scherer and Katalina Tahaafe-Williams who will be ordained as Ministers of the Word
• those attending Live Life Loud at Driver River on the Eyre Peninsula 
• the relationship between Uniting Church SA and those organisations associated with the Uniting Church SA - including schools and UnitingCare Wesley Port Adelaide
• the Presbytery and Synod meeting tomorrow - for patience and grace as we listen to one another, discuss reports and consider proposals
• community - that all will have a sense of community throughout meeting times and during breaks
• the Executive Officers, boards and committee members, and other leaders - for God's discernment as they lead in their ministry setting

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