Prompts 08 August 2007

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

THIRTIETH EDITION WEDNESDAY AUGUST 8TH 2007

On the Grapevine…

Hi everyone,

In the Daily Mail that Bruce Mullan distributes the following was posted for today. I share it with you:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

At a conference of the Governors in the United States several years ago, an interesting question was raised during one of the political debates. What is the greatest thing in the world? It was absolutely quiet. None of the governors had an answer. Finally a young aide took the microphone and said, "The greatest thing in the world is that we can walk away from yesterday."

I'm not even sure if that young aide knew that she had just summarised the essence of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The good news of the Christian faith is we can walk away from yesterday. The Apostle Paul could walk away from his persecution of the Christians and answer the call to Christ (Acts 9). The woman taken in adultery could walk away from her destructive lifestyle into a new journey with Jesus Christ (John 8). Matthew could walk away from his job as a crooked tax collector and follow Christ into a new life (Mark 2). The prodigal son could walk away from his life of moral failures in the far country and walk into the loving, forgiving arms of his father (Luke 15).

To walk away from the failures and guilt of yesterday lies at the very heart of forgiveness. This is no call to cop-out, dropout, or otherwise escape responsibility. But it is a liberating message that no one, absolutely no one, is tied to a past from which there is no release. The "gospel" gladly sings of the possibility of new beginnings.

[Jim Burns posted by HomeWord Devotionals www.homeword.com]

Pastoral Notes and prayer points:

· Pray for the congregations that are moving into planning for future ministry placements.

· Please keep the upcoming Emmaus Walks, team members and pilgrims in your prayers.

· Pray for Garry and Teresa Hardingham and Tamara who is more critical than before Garry and Teresa went away.

· Pray for the process of Shire Council amalgamations, especially for those workers who may be affected by losing their jobs.

· Pray for the Queensland Synod employees, especially FAPS as a new Director settles in and the challenging budget process continues.

· Rod Fisher from Atherton as he shares with the Presbytery Leadership team next week on his call to be a candidate for Minister of the Word in the Uniting Church

Presbytery Leadership Meetings:

The Presbytery Leadership Team has decided on a revised schedule of meetings for the rest of this year. They are as follows:

Presbytery Executive Tuesday 14th August -1pm Teleconference – prior to interview with Rod Fisher @ 3pm

Presbytery Executive Thursday 6th September - 2pm Teleconference

Full PLT meeting Tuesday 9th October (previously scheduled) Face to Face - Townsville

Presbytery meeting 2nd to 4th November Townsville region.

Full PLT meeting Wednesday 5th December Teleconference

Please also note that the Mission Resourcing Committee meets monthly, mostly on the 2nd Monday of the Month at 5:15pm.Any information that needs to be dealt with at any of these meetings should be in to the Presbytery Office at least 5 working days prior to the meeting. This helps with the processes.

Mission and Service Fund Allocations for 2008 :

The suggested amounts of the congregational allocations to the Mission and Services Fund for the Synod budget will be distributed to congregational treasurers this week. In order to be timely in our response to Synod and to help all of us plan effectively and budget for 2008 we would appreciate your congregation’s response by the due date, 31st August 2007. If you are unable to have a Church Council meeting before the 31st, Please let the Presbytery Office know.

Council Amalgamations: I am aware that the proposed Council amalgamations are causing anxiety in many parts of the Presbytery at the moment. I am also aware that some members of our congregations may well be directly affected, through employment or membership on Councils. With the “shake up” I am sure that there is significant anxiety in the communities in which we live. Could I suggest that in your worship services or groups in the next little while that you spend time in prayer that the processes followed from here are appropriate, helpful and fair? There may even be the possibilities of combined churches prayer events, not to protest or support but to pray for the follow through of the decisions.

Nick Vujicic the man born with no arms and no legs and who Craig Blackburn brought to North Queensland last year has a new promotional video out. Details are printed below. Please note the special arrangement for North Queensland people.

Blessings to you all,

Bruce C.

Steve’s Stuff…

Greetings in the name of Christ!

The State Youth Ministry Conference is only 17 days away. Three people have registered from North Queensland. Don’t panic!! There is still time to register. But wait there’s more…. Seven more people can still access the $100 subsidy from Presbytery to put towards their registration fee or flights etc.. I encourage your congregation to send someone to the conference. We are really blessed to have Prof. Roland Martinson share his insights and many years of experience with us. Visit www.yacmu.com.au to find out more information, download a registration form and look at accommodation options. Click on ‘State Youth Ministry Conference’.

There will be a 2008 Holy Land Tour information night on Sunday the 19th of August at Aitkenvale Uniting Church. This will start straight after the evening worship service, around 8pm.. Come and hear about this exciting tour that Tom Kerr and myself are leading in April next year. If you are looking for a tour to Israel that has elements of adventure, engages in modern day Jewish culture and walks in the footsteps of Jesus, then this is the tour for you. Please contact me for more information.

Last week the child safe church convenor and ministry agent received an email asking where your church is up to with child safe church training. It is extremely important that training takes place as soon as possible. Child safe church training is a part of our overall risk management process and the responsibility of each congregation. It is also our responsibility to ensure that our children are safe. If your convenor or Minister has provided training for your congregation, please let Jane know so we can document this and arrange certificates.

Yours in Christ’s service,

Steve. 4036 4440, 0427 727 070 stevek@yacmu.com.au

YOUTH & CHILDREN'S MINISTRY EVENTS

August 25th – 26th – Youth Ministry Conference - Brisbane

September 15-16th – Kids Camp Out Southern Zone

October 12-14th - Young Adult Retreat - New Life Pastures, Kennedy

October – 20th – 21st – Kids Camp Out Northern Zone

January 2008 - 11th - 14th - Summer Madness - Sunshine Coast

What’s New…

NOMINATIONS FOR FINANCE, INVESTMENT & PROPERTY BOARD (FIPBOARD)

Nominations and expressions of interest from members of the Uniting Church are sought for two positions on the Finance, Investment & Property Board (formerly Finance & Property Board). The Board supports and resources the strategic missional planning of the church by providing a framework for planning, monitoring, reporting and acting on the stewardship of assets of the Church. The Board exercises oversight in relation to Church investment strategies, audit risk management and effective property and asset management. Board members need to have a mix of skills including an understanding of the Church and governance. Expressions of interest are being sought from individuals with particular skills in banking, finance, investment, and audit and risk management. A full information pack is available via the website (http://www.ucaqld.au/employment.php) or contact Ana Mila on ph: (07) 3377 9705.

Jenny Tymms, General Secretary

UNITINGCARE QUEENSLAND, BOARD MEMBERS

UnitingCare Queensland is the health and community service ministry of The Uniting Church in Australia (Queensland Synod). It is one of Australia's largest not-for-profit organisations and Queensland's largest provider of health and community services. UnitingCare Queensland employs 15,000 people and has an annual turnover in excess of $780m. Its network of services includes Blue Care, Lifeline Community Care, Crossroads and hospitals such as The Wesley Hospital Brisbane, St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital Brisbane, and three regional hospitals. The UnitingCare Board is responsible to the Church for ensuring the organisation is dynamic, visionary, values driven and sustainable into the future. The UnitingCare Board is seeking two new members. Community service, business and professional leaders who can demonstrate outstanding achievement and appropriate qualifications are encouraged to express their interest. In particular we are seeking candidates with an extensive background in the social sciences, or broad governance and/or senior executive experience in complex organisations. An information kit can be obtained by emailing HERE or phoning (07) 3512 9400. An expression of interest should be submitted by 31 August 2007.

Geoff Rogers, Human Resources

NICK’S DVD NO ARMS, NO LEGS, NO WORRIES

We are pleased to announce that Nick’s new Motivational DVD is almost ready. You have the opportunity to order your copy during August. The cost will be $30 for home use. (NQ orders during August will be processed post free).

Nick Vujicic was born in Australia without arms and legs (no medical reason). In November 2004, Nick visited the greater Cairns area for 9 days and was a great blessing to many. He agreed to return for 3 weeks in July 2005 and spoke at many schools and churches, from South of Townsville to North of

Cooktown, the last few days with the band Soulharvest from Mossman. When the Blackburn family moved to the Tweed Coast of NSW, Nick agreed to come and speak at local schools in March 2007 so that the sessions could be recorded for the sake of the hundreds of schools and communities Nick

cannot visit (he spends the majority of his time overseas).

Captured on this DVD (launch 30/08/07 in Pottsville) is over two hours of eye-catching footage and heart-warming words from one of Australia’s most unique and inspiring young people. It features messages given by Nick to; 1. Teenagers: (a) ‘See the Body’ (Tweed River High)

and (b) ‘Hear the Heart’ (Wollumbin High), 2. Children ‘You are Special’ (Pottsville Beach Primary),

3. Parents ‘Doing your Best’ (Pottsville). PLUS: Nick’s Story, Motivational Media segment, Corporate

Showreel, Photo Gallery, Trailer, Bloopers & Deleted Scenes.

For more information, please email nickdvd@bigpond.com (Ph 02 6676 2611)

==========================================================

August ORDERS $30 only (a) electronic: details through above email, or

(b) cheque: LC & JM Blackburn, PO Box 203, Pottsville Beach, NSW, 2489.

Name & Address ______________________________________________

Number of DVDs _____________ Payment enclosed $ _______________

NOTES FROM ASSEMBLY UPDATE NEWSLETTER

Assembly Standing Committee Highlights

Theological listener

The Standing Committee was given space to reflect on how theology relates to the business of the Standing Committee.

The listener helped to us to engage on important questions and issues, such as how the Holy Spirit directs our agenda.

Consensus decision making processes as well as the worship time helped create spaces for the work of the Holy Spirit in the meeting. The challenge is to be conscious of how our theology and practice is interrelated in an organization that is also a community of faith in which core theological values come before regulations.

The Standing Committee affirmed its solidarity with Congress, extending empathy and compassion toward our brothers

and sisters. Relationships were acknowledged as core to the ongoing nature of this covenant and how we understand

ourselves as a pilgrim people in this land at this time in our history.

An urgent meeting between UnitingCare Australia and the Congress

Congress assisted the Standing Committee in evaluating the impact of the recent Howard interventions in the indigenous

communities of the Northern territory. Congress gave voice to the pain and offence experienced by many indigenous people.

Congress also sought an urgent meeting with UnitingCare to consider what sort of responses could be helpful on the

ground, and ongoing ways Congress could be in partnership with UnitingCare Australia in community services. The ASC’s

strong commitment to working for the benefit of all indigenous Australians was reaffirmed.

Presidential ruling

Following a Presidential Ruling handed down at the meeting the Congress urged the Standing Committee to approach

its work with the UAICC with great sensitivity. The President also urged the ASC to prioritise the strengthening of this relationship. The ASC was reminded that our covenant relationship with Congress is pivotal to our understanding of

what it means to be the Uniting Church in Australia.

Implementation Task Group of the Specified Ministry of Pastor

This report presented to the ASC by the Task Group stressed that continuous recognition and accreditation, not continuous service, was the way in which persons who continued as Lay Pastors and Youth Workers will be recognised after the opportunity for new applicants to these ministries ends. The scope of the Ministry of Pastor was helpfully presented in this report. Focus points included teaching the beliefs and practices of the Uniting Church, pastoral oversight of members and or groups operating under the auspices of the Uniting church, worship of congregations and faith communities of the Uniting church, and evangelism or service beyond a gathered congregation exercised under the auspices of the Uniting church.

New covenanting education resource

A new resource has been developed to help congregations revitalize their understanding about the importance of

covenanting with the first peoples of the land. This resource has been approved by the UAICC and will be available to the

church in September.

Polity and governance Task Group report.

The ASC Task Group was established to critically evaluate the polity and governance of the church with a view to reducing the level of prescription, increasing the level of local permission giving and enhancing the capability of Councils of the church to hear and respond to current missional imperative. To that end it is progressing towards delivering its final recommendations. Meanwhile it was pointed out that we are not a democracy; nor a peak body for the other councils where one council represents the interests of another one council; that there is a need to rethink how we determine membership of our Councils and the way the gifts required for their work are identified; that structures need to build trust; and that the goal of our polity is congregational health. Questions were also raised. For example: where do community services sit within the polity of the UCA? Is our work on governance and polity tied too much to denominational identity?

The Standing Committee itself spoke strongly of the need not to add more regulations as a way of dealing with our

governance issues.

Fossil fuel investments

In March the ASC passed a number of resolutions in regard to the Assembly’s response to climate change, one of which

was a request to the Audit and Finance Committee on the Assembly’s investments and advice about divesting any

investments in fossil fuel producing companies and investing instead in renewable energies. This report was submitted

to the July ASC stating that due to the high degree of risk involved to both capital and income a large scale switch

of funds would entail the Investment Committee strongly recommends the continuation of the existing policy. The ASC

requested further information to make better policy decisions concerning fossil fuel investments. It also requested the

involvement of Uniting Justice in the information presented in the next report.

Progress report on the ASC Industrial Relations Task Group

The exploration of just and ethical employment practices with the Uniting Church has been resourced by UnitingJustice

with a wide range of documents from Synods, theological reflections on work justice, key aspects of the WorkChoices

legislation, and the Church’s submissions to the inquiry of the WorkChoice Bill of 2005. It was agreed that there were

various concerns about the legislation but also that work place agreements were helpful in certain contexts, notably

in UnitingCare agencies, schools, and Frontier Services community centres. A consultation exercise, involving a survey

of both employers and employees, was considered but it was decided not to move forward with this proposal at this stage.

It was agreed that instead focus for now should be on the convergence of values and that a drafting group be established

to produce a draft statement for circulation.

From: Terence Corkin Assembly General Secretary

CEM WEEK: TUESDAY, 4 SEPT – THURSDAY, 6 SEPT 2007

If you have not already received a brochure please contact the college office on ph: (07) 3377 9950. If you are interested in attending any one or all of the following sessions, please contact the college office. This is an excellent opportunity for you to visit Trinity and to explore study options with our Faculty members, visit our Library, and meet other ministry colleagues.

· Tues 4th Sept - Workshop on Strategies for Teaching Adults (Presenter: Rev Dr David Rankin)

Time: 9.45 a.m. - 12.30 p.m.