26th October 2024

Synod Meeting Day 3

Worship and Bible Study

May the power of the Holy Spirit be at work today as we sing 'Take You at Your Word.' We sing these songs together, as unifying as we seek to worship our Lord understanding that one encounter with Jesus Christ can transform lives.

Rev Prof Bart Bruehler led the Bible Study and posed how we use the word 'Joy.' What do you mean when you use the word 'Joy.' Considering all the way from ecstatic happiness to a quiet understanding of something that gives you contentment and peace.

Prof Bruehler used the movie 'Inside Out' referring to the five emotions from the first movie: Joy, Disgust, Anger, Fear and Sadness. Joy being the only positive emotion amongst them all, and with the secnod movie the emotions were: Anxiety, Ennui, Embarrassment and Envy - which all tend to be negative emotions.

Joy has become a 'blanket term' an 'umbrella' for all positive emotions. When we turn to Luke's Gospel we get a wide vocabulary around Joy for example, comforted, happy (blessed), celebrating, rejoicing, pleased, encouraged, gladness and a few more.

The meeting members were asked to consider the following passages from Luke in group discussions: Luke 1:11-17 / Luke 10: 17-24 / Luke 6:20-23 / Luke 15: 7, 10, 31-32 / Luke 8:11-15 and Luke 22:1-6.

Key message from these scripture readings presents us with a wide range of concepts around joy. All the way from the joy of childbirth, through joy that can be considered shallow. Through misplaced joy, even to the Jewish leaders rejoicing over the possibility of executing Jesus.

Joy is a basic human response that God created us to have, over and through all kinds of things. Joy is one of the attractive emotions revealing things we want, the things we want to prioritise and pursue.

Repeatedly in Luke and Acts we see joy happening at the gift of salvation. When those good things are raised even if considered evil. The key about Joy is that it reveals what those values and priorities are and tells us what we value.

Luke tends to show us things, not tell us. Stories work by communicating implicitly - God's gift of salvation, God as rejoicing, Luke shows us what makes God rejoice and shows us what kind of things you should rejoice over. You are sharers in this grand gift of salvation that God provides to us all.

Blessing of PROK Trip Group

Moderator Rev Peter Morel presented the Youth group members who are due to travel to South Korea to connect with the Presbyterian Republic of Korea Church (PROK).

Rev Lawrie Linggood explained that the PROK partnership has been in existence for over thirty years. During that time, we have had cultural exchanges, and we have learned together and shared faith together and supported each other through prayer.

In four weeks, the group will travel to Seoul, and this visit is a young persons' trip. There are sixteen travelling, twelve young people from across all presbyteries and the group has been meeting together to share details about culture and language. Thanks were extended to UCFAMS, Presbyteries, congregations and Synod for their support.

Moderator Rev Peter Morel was presented with the team hoodie!

Rev Dr Paul Goh prayed in Korean for the group and Rev Philip Gardner also prayed for safe travels for the group.

Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Report

Rev Ken Sumner delivered the Uniting Aboriginal & Islander Christian Congress (UAICC-SA) report. The UAICC is responsible for ministry in its many forms with the First Peoples of South Australia within the UCA SA Synod.

Their report reflected the current work of their ministry centres and state office.

Oodnadatta
Pt Augusta
Salisbury Adelaide Congress
Murraylands Ministry
30th Anniversary of the Covenant and 15th Anniversary of the Preamble
Acknowledgement of those that have passed in the Indigenous community this year
UAICC-SA State Office.

Rev Dr Denise Champion spoke about the Covenanting Statement and the Preamble. Challenging members to ensure that they have read both documents. 'God will make a way, where there is no other way.'

Members of the Salisbury Congregation sang in their Indigenous language and Dr Rosemary Dewerse provided the closing prayer.

The full report is available at this link: UCA SA - Synod Meeting 2024.

UAICC National Chair Update

Rev Mark Kickett presented Reviving the Covenant which was presented at the 17th Assembly Meeting in July this year. A redesign and revival of the Covenant was the focus of two proposals from the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) passed by consensus at the 17th Assembly.

The proposals call for the establishment of a Covenant Revival Working Group and the endorsement and implementation of the relevant principles in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

Speaking to the importance of the proposal, Rev Kickett said there was a lack of knowledge and understanding of the Covenant relationship and the revised Preamble among congregations across the country. Rev Kickett identified these information gaps as a key area to be addressed in the work of living out the Covenant into the future.

'We need the church to journey with us, so the groundswell of that is with our people. We want the story to unfold there. The problem we are finding is the story tends to be held right at the top with all the leaders and the Synods and it hasn’t been filtering down. I’ve been travelling around the country to churches who don’t know what the Covenant is, don’t know what the revised Preamble is.'

We want to continue to build trust, that we know what we are doing and can do it. Walking strong into the future, emphasising partnerships, self-determination, youth, leaders of the future and congregational and faith communities live out our right to worship in ways that reflect the deep spiritual connections we have to God's creation.

Proposals agreed at 17th Assembly the Creation of a Covenant Revival Working Group and Commitments to UNDRIP Principles.

The Working Group should be equipped to reflect on the past, work together as First and Second Peoples and dream of a future for the Covenant relationship, with Indigenous self-determination and gospel love at the heart of its mission.

For more information please visit: A revival and redesign of the Covenant – Uniting Church Australia

Proposal 10 TACL

Rev Philip Gardner presented the proposal. From TACL - Training Aboriginal Christian Leaders and has been in operation since 1991.

The Synod of SA noted with appreciation the leadership and dedicated services of Aboriginal People provided by Mr Nelson Varcoe in communication, training and music.

Resounding acknowledgement of the propoal.

MAPS Working Group Report

Rev Philip Garnder thanked the Synod member Working Groups for engagement with the questions being asked for discussion in relation to this proposal.

It has also been an opportunity for Synod members to engage with what has been worked upon by the Synod Strategy & Planning (Mission & Property) Working Group. Feedback generally was for the group to continue working on this important project.

Proposal 5 and 6 were particularly discussed by the working groups at the Synod meeting.

The full report is available at this link: UCA SA - Synod Meeting 2024.

For decision: Consensus

Safe Church / Re-Dress

Rev Andrew Robertson spoke about safeguarding, re-dress and safe church.

Safe Church is evolving with an emphasis on the fact that we need to be the people of God, loving and caring for all people.

The team at the Synod office is working hard on engagement and participation and sometimes the task is immense.

Checks are in place including various trainings, and the team are seeking ways to make training more accessible in the coming year, including the ability to provide online training and webinars.

There is a new Safeguarding Policy, and another key initiative is to incorporate safeguarding into all activities of the church. Where safeguarding becomes essential to all our decision-making processes.

Understanding Redress is that there is a person that has been harmed behind every case. These are not as historical as we would like them to be.

Safe Church is our mission and ministry, and not something that sits to one side. May we pray for all impacted by any form of abuse.

The full report is available at this link: UCA SA - Synod Meeting 2024.

Acknowledgement of Admission of Minister of the Word: Rev Barry Luke

The meeting thanked and prayed for Rev Barry Luke and acknowledged him as a Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church in Australia. Rev Luke will serve the church in ministry placement in the Eyre Peninsula.

SERC Award Thank You

The recipients of the SERC Awards offered words of thanks.

Tony Loffler thanked the SERC Committee for the award for Berri and Barmera. He also acknowledged Don Hopgood and his work in ecumenism.

Conrad Tickner thanked the committee for the Certificate of Recognition for the Kangaroo Island group of churches. They are growing in mission and purpose.

Declaration of Ballots & Confirmation of Appointments

Placements Committee Chair
Rev Barry Littleford

Stipends Committee
Valerie Aloa
Margaret Davidson
Rev Richard Telfer
Malcolm Wilson

Moderator Nominating Committee
Elissa Inglis
Rev Do Young Kim
Rev Sue Page
Dr Deirdre Palmer
Andrew Telfer

Synod Standing Committee
Jethro Buxton
Benji Callen
Mia Cartledge
Leanne Davis
Simon Dent
Anne Hewitt
Peter Hollister
Elissa Inglis
Christa Megaw
Trevor Phillips
Andrew Telfer

For decision: Consensus (all above)

To meet the additional two members to bring the Synod Standing Committee to 13 it was proposed:

Direct the Synod Standing Committee co-opt two members who meet (or meet as many as possible) the following criteria:

Rural
Female
Presbytery of Southern SA (or Wimala)
Lay or ordained.

For decision: Consensus

Acknowledgements

Thanks were extended to Adelaide West Uniting Church for their hosting and hospitality, event organisers, catering team, car-park attendants.

To all involved in bringing together the Worship services for the three days of the meeting.

Thanks to Prof Bart Bruehler and Rev Dr Toar Hugatalung for their Bible studies.

Thanks to Sue Page and Helene Nielsen for their event management, and to chaplains, first-aid officers, back-end office, minute taker, IT, and to the Engagement team (Bridget, Azi, Alex and Azi).

And to Uniting Technologies - the men in black! With thanks for their volunteering efforts.

Thanks to leaders and recorders in Working Group, and to Leanne David, Malcolm Wilson and Adrew Telfer for reporting back.

Thanks to Anne Wilson, Chief Scrutineer, and to the Business Committee, Moderator Rev Peter Morel and General Secretary Rev Philip Gardner.

Thanks to all Synod members for their attendance and commitment to the church.

Closing Worship

Rev Dr Aunty Denise provided a prayer of thanksgiving.