Uniting Church in Australia
Presbytery of North Queensland
PRESBYTERY PROMPTS
29 Wentworth Ave Mundingburra 4812 Ph: 07 4779 5818 presbnq@bigpond.net.au
Website: www.presbyterynq.net
TWENTY FIFTH EDITION WEDNESDAY JULY 4TH 2007
On the Grapevine…
Hi everyone,
This has been a bit rushed as Jane is on holidays and I hope I get it right. I pray that those of you who are on holidays at this time are having a restful and enjoyable time. Keep safe if you are travelling on the roads.
Pastoral Notes and prayer points:
· Gregor Henderson and his family on the death of Gregor’s wife Alison. Her funeral was last Saturday.
· Pray for the strengthening of relationships between indigenous and non-
· For safety on the roads during the holiday period especially for those we know and love who are travelling.
· For the outworking of the last Council of Synod meeting this Saturday as we work out the processes for the appointment of a new General Secretary – also for David, our Moderator and Jenny the current Gen.Sec. as they guide the process.
Jane on leave this week from Tuesday 3rd July until Friday 6th July.
Council of Synod: As you may be aware, the North Queensland representatives on the Council of Synod are Ruth Beasley (Mareeba) and Bruce Cornish. The Council of Synod is a little smaller than other years. This is directly due to the requirement that the number of Ministers and number of Lay people on the Council be equal up to the maximum size of the Council. There were less lay people available for election at the last Synod so there were fewer ministers able to be elected.
The Council of Synod, appointed at the recent Synod, has held its first meeting in Brisbane. The 30 members attending were specially called together to put into motion the necessary steps towards the appointment of a new General Secretary. Jenny Tymms confirmed the statement in “Journey” that she is available to stay in this position until January and this was enthusiastically and gratefully endorsed by the meeting. This means for her a postponement of both her Long Service Leave and the taking up of her new appointment. The meeting decided on a process for the search committee to follow, the composition of the search committee and possible dates for the Special Synod, among other things. I will not include those details here as I am aware that they will be the subject of a letter from the General Secretary in the near future.
Scripture Union Looking for Chaplains:
I pass on this message from Jeff Thompson, Regional Manager for Scripture Union North Queensland. There may be people in your congregations who have the gifts and willingness for these roles.
“Can you please place a notice in your weekend bulletins that SU Nth Qld are looking for new chaplains to fill about 15 positions vacant across our region? People can apply and find out more information by going o the SU Website www.suqld.org.au there they can fill out all the selection criteria's etc and look through the role description etc.
Thank you for your support in placing God's people in our local schools.
Jeff Thompson
direct 07 4779 6620 | f 07 4725 4262
10/29 Casey Street, PO Box 804, Aitkenvale Qld
4814
nq@suqld.org.au | www.suqld.org.au
Lifeline Chaplain Cairns:
Krishna Buhler will be inducted as the Lifeline Chaplain in Cairns Lifeline on Friday 13th July 12:30pm at Lifeline Cairns. If there are people from our congregations in the Northern Zone who may be able to attend to support Krishna and continue to strengthen the links with Lifeline as another service arm of the Uniting Church that would be great.
National Church Life Survey (info from Graham Beattie)
Via a separate email to Ministers and Church Council Secretaries last week, you should have received some basic information from the latest National Church Life Survey that may be useful in your planning processes. I am aware that some congregations have purchased their own more detailed information package.
Request from Bob and Anne Zander (also in last weeks prompts)
Bob and his wife Anne were the managers at the Uniting Church camp site on Magnetic
Island (before it was sold) and then when they moved to Rollingstone were week-
“There are approximately 200 students attending RE classes @ the school. The School
Rule is that students must buy their own work books. As a result it appears that
at present approximately 30% -
The work books cost $2.50 per student and are issued twice per year in January and July. This means that the total cost for all students' books for the year is $1,000 @ this school.
At the other two Schools where I teach RE the student books are provided in different ways. These Schools are both considerably smaller than Bluewater.
1. At Mutarnee, the student books and the Leader's Manuals are given by the UCA in Ingham, organised by Sue Dan. The Leader's Manuals are returned at the end of each Semester to Sue and are them reused in the next appropriate Cycle. It is a tremendous organisational gift to all RE teachers.
2. At Rollingstone, the Students' Work Books are paid for from the School budget. The Teacher's Manuals and any music discs I purchase and recycle at the next appropriate yearly cycle. As these are the same Manuals used by Bluewater there is no need for extra Manuals to be bought.
I would like to challenge Townsville ' Thuringowa Churches to support God's work @
this part of His vineyard -
Grace and Peace, Bob”
If 2 congregations gave $500 per year, or 4 congregations gave $250 that would cover the costs he is seeking. Maybe there is one congregation who is able to give $1,000.
Blessings to you all,
Bruce C.
Steve’s Stuff…
Steve is on holidays from Monday the 25th of June to Monday the 9th of July
YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS
August 25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference -
September 15-
October 12-
October – 20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out Northern Zone
January 2008 -
What’s New…
Synod Chaplaincy Co-
Applications are invited from interested and qualified persons, ordained or lay members
of the Uniting Church, for the position of Synod Chaplaincy Co-
Don Whebell, Acting Synod Chaplaincy Coordinator
Team Leader – Property Administration Services
The Synod office is seeking the services of an energetic and organised individual to undertake the role of Team Leader – Property Administration Services. The role is part of the Property Operations Division and is responsible for the coordination of a team of four that administers the processes and procedures of the following four key areas:
· Property transactions
· Funding submissions and agreements
· A broad range of administrative responsibilities including historical archiving, land tax and Synod directory.
· Property legal transactions
An attractive salary commensurate with prevailing market rates will be negotiated with the successful candidate. The position is located at Auchenflower. If you are passionate about customer service, have excellent interpersonal and initiative skills, and are in sympathy with the ethos of The Uniting Church, send your application and resume to: Property Operations Manager, Department for Financial and Property Services, G.P.O. Box 674, Brisbane Qld 4001. Applications close Monday, 16 July 2007. For further information regarding the role, please contact Mark Lee on ph: (07) 3377 9823.
Administration Assistant – Synod Support Services
A temporary 6 month vacancy exists for an Administration Assistant within Synod Support Services located at the Uniting Church Centre, Auchenflower. Reporting to and as directed by the Executive Secretary, the successful applicant will be responsible for the provision of administration support to the Queensland Synod’s Executive Committees – Council of Synod, Synod Leadership Team and Placements Committee, the Office of the Moderator and General Secretary and Synod Support Services. If you are interested in working in a friendly supportive team environment where individuals are committed to ethos and mission of the Uniting Church in Australia, Qld Synod, then please contact Ana Mila for an application package. The closing date for the receipt of applications is close of business Monday, 2 July 2007. Applications should be marked CONFIDENTIAL and addressed to Rev Jenny Tymms, General Secretary Qld Synod, GPO Box 674, Brisbane Q 4001.
HOWARD v RUDD -
The Australian Prayer Network is proud to join with the Australian Christian Lobby
to promote this historic event.
It is a unique opportunity to weigh up the major political
parties policies on issues of interest and concern to Christians and to pray as the
church in Australia for the election.
This is a ‘not to be missed’ event on the Christian
calendar which gives us the opportunity to help shape how our nation is governed.
On the evening of Thursday 9th August, for the first time ever, the leaders of Australia’s
two major political parties (and therefore the only realistic contenders to form
our next Government) have agreed to speak live to Christians across the nation. The
Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader will address church and denominational leaders
at the National Press Club in Canberra, with the event to be web-
It’s most important that
we honour Mr Howard and Mr Rudd’s time and commitment to the Christian constituency
by listening to their addresses and praying for the upcoming Federal election. Let’s
make the Christian vote count!
The registration system for ‘Federal Election 2007: Make it Count’ is up
and running at www.acl.org.au and we’re asking you to get your church to register
for the event as soon as possible. Whilst registrations have been open for only a
couple of days, already more than 70 Churches have indicated their intention to open
their buildings and take the web-
To register your Church or organisation to
receive the web-
The church
or Christian organisation you are a part of will be able to register and receive
a user name and password to take part in the August 9 event.
This is a unique chance
for Christians to hear first-
Source: Compiled by APN (Australian Prayer Network) from information supplied by ACL
Starting Mission-
We are writing to let you know about the release of an exciting new Australian manual
for planting new congregations and churches -
* Front & Back Cover www.gospeloutreach.com.au/resources/SMSCCover.pdf
* Table of Contents www.gospeloutreach.com.au/resources/SMSCContents.pdf
* Chapter 3 -
* Reality Check: Maroubra Surfers Church -
About the Author -
Starting Mission-
Mission Action Planning Kit $70.00
Special Pack Price: Starting Mission-
Ordering: To order the manuals (and any of our other evangelism and church planting
resources) you can either: -
Gospel Outreach Ministries
Please don’t forget these…
FAREWELL TO MRS SHAYNE HEARLEY
The Synod is sad to farewell Mrs Shayne Hearley, who has been the Executive Secretary to the Moderator and General Secretary for the past two years. Shayne will finish up on 30 June 2007. The Synod wishes her every blessing as she embarks on this new phase of her journey – retirement! At the same time we are also happy to announce that Mrs Ana Mila, who has been with Synod Support Services and the Secretariat office for five years, has been appointed as the Acting Executive Secretary to the Moderator and General Secretary as of 1 July 2007.
Jenny Tymms, General Secretary
‘HERMENEUTICS AND THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE’
A conference devoted to this theme is being organised by the Australasian Theological
Forum in Canberra from 23-
Geoff Thompson, Trinity Theological College
HEALTHY CHURCH DNA & LEADERSHIP SKILLS FOR CLERGY IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Times in ministry are changing Dr Larry E Webb of The Kilgore Group will share his
specialist insight and help you to harness change and turn it into opportunity through
this limited seminar series. Whether your church is healthy or struggling, this four-
Graham Beattie, Synod Mission Consultant
Presbytery Calendar (including Bruce’s and Steve’s Diary)
July -
9th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office
10th – 11th – Bruce to Brisbane Placements meeting
13th – Krishna Buhler induction as LifeLine Chaplain – Cairns
13th – 14th – Emmaus Training day 1
18th – Presbytery Leadership Team meeting – face to face Presbytery office
22nd – Bruce to preach at Wulguru
30th – Meeting – Tully
August 3rd – 4th – Emmaus Training Day 2
11th – Northern Zone meeting – venue Edmonton UC
13th – Mission Resourcing Committee meeting – presbytery office
17th – 18th – Emmaus Training Day 3 & commissioning teams
15th – 20th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings
25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference -
September – 1st – Southern Zone Meeting – Wulguru UC
6th – 9th – Emmaus Mens Walk
10th – Mission Resourcing Committee Meeting – presbytery office
13th – 16th – Emmaus Women’s Walk
18th – 21st – Bruce meetings in Brisbane
30th – Bruce to Preach at Malanda
October – 3rd – 6th – Bruce to Frontier Services Board meeting -
8th -
9th – Presbytery Leadership Team teleconference
12th – 14th – Young Adults Camp
16th – 25th – Bruce to Brisbane for meetings – Placements etc, CoahNet training
21st – Ministry Sunday
28th – Bruce to preach at Wulguru
Steve K’s Calendar
June 19th -
25th – 9th July -
July 15th -