The Gippsland Anglican, June 2011

Volume 108, Number 5 June 2011 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904

The Gippsland Anglican is your award winning newspaper: Most Improved Newspaper (ARPA) 2001; Best Regional Publication (ARPA) 2003; Best Social Justice StoryHighly Commended (ARPA) 2004.

Spotlight on agedcare

page 8

Turn the cheek fordignity

Page 3

Aboriginal ministryroles engage others

page 11

A Covenant to healBy Jeanette Severs

THE Primate of the Anglican Church inAustralia was a special guest speaker at the36th annual Synod of the Anglican Diocesein Gippsland, held in Drouin parish fromMay 13 to 15. The Most Reverend DrPhillip Aspinall spoke at the SynodEucharist service on May 14 and, later thatmorning, spoke about the Covenant current-ly being debate and discussed in theAnglican Church. The AnglicanCommunion Covenant is reproduced onpages 4 and 5 of this issue of The GippslandAnglican. Study notes and a question andanswer guide are available through the reg-istry office, the diocesan website and fromGeneral Synod’s website.

In discussing the Covenant, Dr Aspinallencouraged all Anglicans to become con-versant with its contents and intent. Hereferred to the longstanding office of theAnglican Church in Australia to debate anddiscuss, over time, any changes in legisla-tion with the intent to listen to each otherand achieve unity in purpose. He referred todivorce and the ordination of women as twocases in point, both being a decision thattook many years of discussion and goodintent to achieve agreement and unity in thenational church, from a consciousness andtheological perspective.

Dr Aspinall then stated this same open-ness to listening and dialogue was neededas the Anglican Church in Australia and,indeed, worldwide debated whether peoplewho are in an openly homosexual relation-ship should be ordained. He said it wasimportant, as Australians, to bring ourexperiences of reconciliation, respectful lis-tening and addressing our differences to thedebate.

“The way we conduct ourselves as achurch and in the communion of churcheshas an effect on our mission,” he said in hisaddress to Synod.

“The idea of a Covenant for the AnglicanCommunion emerged. Australia has askedeach diocese to consider the Covenant,keeping in mind three key ideas:Communion, Dispersed Authority andAutonomy,” the Anglican Primate said.

In describing Communion, Dr Aspinallsaid the foundation of all Christian life andthe church is the reconciliation of all peopleto God and with each other, in Christ.

“Anglican churches are a family of com-munion that share in each other’s life.”

In referring to Dispersed Authority, DrAspinall said the Anglican family ofchurches has no centralised authority.

“Authority is shared or dispersed. The dio-cese has the bishop and synod; a parish has

priest and parishioners; nationally, theGeneral Synod or a diocese chooses toadopt a policy. Internationally, decisionmaking is even more dispersed becausedecisions made by the Archbishop ofCanterbury or at Lambeth, for instance, arenot binding or can be imposed on any per-son, bishop or diocese against their will.”

“However, Autonomy, meaning self gov-erning churches, does not mean completelyindependent,” said Dr Aspinall.

“Rather we are interdependent as our deci-sions and actions in the family affect othermembers of the family.”

Dr Aspinall’s view is that the Covenanthas the ability to help heal and strengthendivisions within the Church.

“The Covenant offers an Anglicanism thatis more than local and should help us todeepen our faith and commitment to eachother, should promote courtesy, respect,love, sharing and bearing each other’s bur-dens. It will enable us to stay engaged withother churches. It also does express anAnglican understanding of authority,” DrAspinall said.

“The Covenant involves a framework andvehicle for dealing with disputes. TheCovenant does not constitute or invent newforms of authority, rather it reinforces thebest ways for resolving disputes involvingpatient listening, respectful debate and dis-cerning consensus.”

Dr Aspinall described the Covenant as auseful tool for Anglicans to work out whothey are.

“The Covenant should help clarify the dif-ferences and similarities between Anglicansand between Anglicans and other religionsand churches,” he said.

“Differences and conflict can be negotiat-ed, respecting that we have been reconciledto God and each other through Christ..”

Dr Aspinall pointed out criticisms havebeen raised the Covenant is very legalisticand controlling. Since then the Covenanthas been reworked to encourage discern-ment among decision making.

Other criticisms focus on a risk of creatinga new centralised authority body with newpowers and that the Covenant tries to sup-press conflict, does not celebrate diversityor enable discussion; that signing theCovenant will exclude those not prepared to‘toe the line’; that the Covenant is tooinflexible.

Dr Aspinall stated that while there mighthave been truth in some of the criticisms,the Covenant had since been reworked sig-nificantly and these concerns had beenaddressed. He said the Covenant alsoincluded mechanisms for amendment overtime.

“The Covenant will enable better commu-nication and commitment to each other. Itoutlines our shared heritage and helps us tomove forward,” Dr Aspinall said to thelarge crowd of parish representatives atSynod. He encouraged every member ofSynod to return to their parish and encour-age other parishioners to study and discussthe Covenant; then to contact their Bishopwith their concerns and views about theCovenant.

“Based on the history of the AustralianAnglican church, we can contribute to thedebate to form the Covenant by bringingour experience of reconciliation and build-ing respectful relationships. We can helpreconcile differences within the Church,”Dr Aspinall said.

“If the Covenant had been in Lambeth

(Conference 2008) I hope it might haveenabled the Anglican Church to betterencompass the views of those who didn’tattend. The Covenant should help us to stayengaged with each other as we seek toexplore and sort out our differences,” heconcluded.

At the next General Synod of the AnglicanChurch in Australia, a motion will be putand if it is seconded, the Covenant will bedebated and as a result of the debate, if themajority of those present vote in agreement,the Covenant will be accepted and signed.However, dioceses are able to act independ-ently of each other and the national church.But, he said, the Covenant does enableAustralian Anglicans to more deeply dis-cern and discuss our differences and simi-larities.

ABOVE: A festival of Aboriginal culture and a flag raising ceremony was held atThe Abbey of St Barnabas at A’Beckett Park on Tuesday, May 31, duringReconciliation Week, May 27 to June 2. Respected Gunai/Kurnai man, Les‘Bluegum’ Cooper raised the Australian, Aboriginal Australian and Torres StraitIslander flags. Mr Cooper was a member of the committee in 1967 to choose thedesign and colors of the Aboriginal flag. Holding the Aboriginal flag (above), MrCooper called for a new flag for Australia, a flag that did not encourage division; aflag with only the Southern Cross on it. “We are all one people living in this land,and we need to live under one flag; we can all live together under the SouthernCross,” he said, describing his vision for unity as Australians. Photo: J. Severs

All one people underthe Southern Cross

2 Our Diocese - 36th Annual Synod 2011 June 2011

The Gippsland Anglican

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IndexCovenant to heal 1

Primate’s sermon to Synod 3

Covenant as proposed 4-6

Activity page for children 7

Spotlight on aged care 8

AWA service for women 9

Cathedral all-inclusive 10

Cup of tea vital 11

Help to learn English 12

MU supports families 13

President’s charge 14-17

Diocesan calendar 17

Aboriginal trust fund 18

Call for mediation 19

Abbey pictorial 20

The Right Reverend John McIntyreAnglican Bishop of Gippsland

IN coming to this diocese, I expressed clearlymy commitment to be an inclusive church. Thismeans all are welcome in our church simply be-cause they are God’s children. In an inclusivechurch, nothing should prevent anyone frombeing part of our life and ministry. Gender, race,ethnicity, sexuality, class, power, wealth or anyother possible criterion by which some maywish to differentiate between people, can neverbe the basis for determining whether or not aperson will be part of the life and ministry ofour church.

I pray everyone who professes faith in JesusChrist will continue to know they are welcomein our churches as brothers and sisters in Christ.I pray everyone who does not profess that samefaith will nonetheless experience our churchesas places of grace, welcome, refuge and nurture.

I place inclusivity as a primary call on thechurch because I see it to be at the heart ofJesus’ ministry. He went out of his way specif-ically to include those who others saw as sin-ners to be excluded. His approach to those whowere offended by his inclusivity was to wel-come them as well, but not on the basis they de-termine who is not welcome.

The only people excluded in Jesus’ scheme ofthings are those who exclude themselves be-cause they do not want to be a part of a com-munity which includes those they think shouldbe excluded.

This irony is made clear in the Parable of theProdigal Son, better described as the Parable ofthe Two Sons. At the end of the story, the fatherpleads with the older son to join the party inwhich the younger son, whom the older son dis-approves, is already taking part. A question isleft hanging in the air. Will the older son acceptthe gracious invitation or will he reject it be-cause he wants the younger son to be excluded?He may exclude himself but the father will notexclude him, just as he has not excluded theyounger son.

The clue to unravelling the parable is God’sgrace. This is why the church must above allelse be inclusive. The desire to exclude marks a

lack of grace. It is not true to the heart of theGod of grace and it leads tragically to self-ex-clusion.

To be inclusive as church means, of course,that people with significant differences of opin-ion on a whole range of matters are sittingalongside each other in all kinds of contexts inour diocese. All I can hope for is that we will bewilling to listen to each other across those dif-ferences.

For this to happen we must take seriously thateach person of faith is open to the urging ofGod’s spirit in her or his life and is trying to liveout what he or she understands it means to be achild of God. We will not always agree on whatthis means, but we can agree to trust each otherto be open to hearing what God is asking of us,and we can be willing to discuss our differenceswith respect and openness.

This side of the fulfilment of the reign of God,we will continue to see ‘through a glass darkly’about all manner of things and to disagree onwhat it is God is saying to us about a range ofmatters. This is simply a reality of our life to-gether.

Yet on one matter of disagreement the inter-national Anglican Communion seems to wantto deny this reality. Tragically we have isolatedthe issue of human sexuality as a basis for divi-sion among us right across our Communion. Alarge part of the cause of this division is our re-fusal to discuss with grace our disagreementsabout the place of homosexual people in the lifeof the church.

With a patent lack of grace, we have failed toagree to trust each other as sisters and brothersin Christ, who are each open to hearing whatGod is asking of us. We have determined not todiscuss this matter of difference between uswith respect and openness. We have caused painto homosexual people by discussing them as atopic, rather than simply accepting them as peo-ple. In short, we have failed to take seriouslywhat it means to be an inclusive church.

We have answered in the negative the questionthat hangs in the air at the conclusion of the

parable of the two sons. Recently, Bishop-in-Council agreed to begin

a listening process in the diocese to hear the sto-ries of homosexual people who are strugglingto find their rightful place in the life of thechurch. Here is our chance to begin to turn thisdiscussion around in the life of our diocese. Iencourage everyone to be a part of the listeningprocess as a sign of our commitment to beingan inclusive church.

All one people in church

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ABOVE: The Honorable John Delzoppo, Chairman of Synod Commit-tees, Bishop John McIntyre, President of Synod, and Ms Rowena Arm-strong AO QC, Chancellor of Synod, concentrate on the business of theDiocese of Gippsland. John Delzoppo was attending his 40th Synod inGippsland Diocese this year.

Photo: Jeanette Severs

Parish contributors please note: Due to the extensive coverage of Synodin The Gippsland Anglican, articles and photographs submitted for thismonth are being held over for possible inclusion in the July issue.

Editor

John sits on 40th Synod

June 2011 Our Diocese - 36th Annual Synod 2011 3


Turn the cheek for dignityFOLLOWING is the sermon spoken at the Gippsland

Synod Eucharist, by the Most Reverend Phillip Aspinall,Archbishop of Brisbane and Primate of the Anglican Churchin Australia. The sermon is based on Matthew 5-7: Sermonon the mount.

THE famous ‘Sermon on the Mount’ runs through chap-ters five, six and seven of Matthew. The sermon has beencalled ‘winged words’. It has been seen as ‘a canon withinthe canon,’ a summary of the Christian faith because thesewords are powerfully representative of the whole Christianview of and approach to life.

But for all that, the sermon is not without its difficulties.Some of these words could easily be responsible for FFBruce, I think it was, saying the bible is a most difficult booknot because of the bits I can’t understand, but because of thebits I can.

The sermon teaches us, for example –‘If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out’ (5.29).‘Do not swear at all’ (5.34) in contrast to Article 39 of our

Articles of Religion which has it ‘… that Christian Religiondoth not prohibit, but that a man may swear when the Mag-istrate requireth …’

The sermon tells us ‘not [to] resist one who is evil’ (5.39)which seems to undermine the very basis of decent society.

You are to ‘give to him who begs from you’ (5.42) but, asLuther construed it, not necessarily exactly what he asks for!

‘You must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect’(5.48).

You are not to be angry; show not even a desire to retaliate;feel no hatred; be entirely and wholly pure.

‘Hear these words and do them,’ says Jesus. Simple.Straightforward. Unqualified. Clear.

But they’ve given rise to perhaps more gymnastics by in-terpreters down the ages than any other passage in scripture.

The medieval church saw the sermon as a counselof perfection which it expected only monks to ob-serve who were living outside the real world. Theimplication being that those who had to deal withthe realities of day to day life couldn’t possibly liveby such a code and survive.

The Reformation dispensed with this double standard andregarded the sermon as setting down uncompromising stan-dards for all Christian people, who would of course fall shortof such impossible expectations and fall back on the grace ofjustification by faith.

In the 19th century, scholars argued that Jesus wasn’t set-ting down rules for behaviour, but rather exposing inner prin-ciples and attitudes, fundamental inward dispositions. So thesermon was about renewal of the inner life rather than ethics:who we should be rather than what we need to do.

I am more convinced by Tom Wright’s circumvention ofthese gymnastics with a decent dose of historical context.The sermon, he says, is a challenge to Israel to be truly Israel:to be true to her identity and vocation as the people of God.

Israel longed for God’s kingdom to come and was ready tostruggle and fight for it. Israel hoped she would be vindi-cated in a national victory, her enemies, including her occu-piers, would be overthrown, the land returned and she wouldsee God.

But in Jesus’ view, Israel was on the wrong track. As thebeatitudes set out, the kingdom belongs to the poor in spiritand will be inherited by way of meekness, not through phys-

ical battles against armed enemies; not through anger wherejustice means nothing more than vengeance. Humility andgentleness will inherit the kingdom, says Jesus. Mercy is forthe merciful, not the vengeful; for the peacemakers and thepure of heart.

First and foremost, the beatitudes call Israel to discover hertrue vocation by following the way Jesus sets out, rather thanby aligning herself with other would-be leaders.

Israel was meant to be the salt of the earth and the light ofthe world, but had lost her saltiness and hidden her light fromthe nations round about. Jesus calls Israel to be her true self,by following his agenda, rather than the path she was on.

‘You have heard that it was said … but I say to you …’ Thegreat antitheses are a kind of radicalization of the Torah, theold law, going to the heart of it. Israel is not going to be hertrue self by multiplying and refining rules to be followed.She will only discover her true identity by integrating heartand action in a single loyalty. That basic idea still finds ex-pression in our own call to prayer in the daily office inAAPB: ‘Let us pray with one heart and mind.’

Such an integration, such a discovery, Jesus is saying, willproduce a very different way of being Israel.

According to this way, an accused person will reconcilewith an accuser on the way to court; alienated friends willreconcile on the way to the Temple.

If you are commandeered by a Roman soldier to carry hispack for a mile, you will be surprisingly generous rather thancomplain and retaliate. The state’s enemies are not neces-sarily enemies of God and Israel must learn to love them andto pray for them if she is truly to be like her heavenly Father.

Love and mercy are the code for the true people of God.The ones who live like that are the ones who will be vindi-cated. Relationships are to be characterized by forgiveness,not by insisting on saving face or maintaining the upperhand.

Jesus sets this very different approach over against the cur-rent way Israel is treading which he saw would lead to dis-aster. Above all Jesus’ pleads for Israel not to follow the pathof violent resistance.

‘Do not resist evil,’ he says: an inexplicable command ifviewed as a moral instruction. But understood historically asa plea not to align themselves with the military resistancemovement - it makes perfect sense in the overall context ofthe sermon.

The sermon is a call to Israel to resist in a different, less di-rect way. ‘Turn the other cheek,’ says Jesus. To be struck onthe right cheek with the right hand means being struck withthe back of the hand – a sign of contempt by the aggressorand of humiliation for the victim. To ‘turn the left cheek also’is not to be a doormat: it’s to insist on one’s dignity, to de-mand equality with the assailant. It is quiet, strong, dignifiedassertion. Peacemaking.

The way of Jesus shuns showy religious observance. Godwill not be bribed or manipulated by long prayers, ostenta-tious almsgiving, attention-grabbing fasting. That’s not whoGod is. That’s an idol who can be conned or persuaded intogiving what one wants. But God is Father and knows what

his children need. Those who truly relate to God as Fatherwill be vindicated. They need not be afraid. But those an-gling for land or national restoration or ancestral rights willbe disappointed.

The whole way Jesus sets out can be summed up very sim-ply in a basic rule of thumb: whatever you want others to doto you, do that to them.

Jesus ends the sermon with a grim warning: the only wayfor Israel to avoid personal and national disaster is for themto change direction and follow his way.

The house built on the rock, in 1st century Israel, wouldhave been heard as a reference to the temple. If Israel will notchoose Jesus’ way their most precious national institution isitself at risk. His later turning over the tables in the templeenacts the consequences the sermon tries to avoid.

In its historical context the sermon confronts its listenerswith a stark choice. The people of Israel can stand overagainst their enemies, isolate themselves from them, strug-gle and battle with them, exercising the politics of coercion,power and control and hope Yahweh will vindicate them be-cause they are pure.

Or Israel can take up the alternative set out by Jesus markedby meekness, non-violence, mercy, peacemaking, reconcili-ation, forgiveness, generosity.

To what extent does this choice still confront us today? Inpersonal and institutional life? In our families: in our deal-ings with children, spouses, parents? In congregational life?In our dioceses? In the life of the national church? In the in-ternational Anglican Communion?

I tend to think the choices before us are just as stark as theywere for Israel in Jesus’ day. The temptation to secure ourown position is just as great now as it was then. The risks toour institutions and in our personal lives are just as marked.And the urgency is just as pressing.

And yet, from time to time, and, I dare say, even in thisSynod you will catch glimpses of the transforming work ofthe Spirit among us, of the better way. It is not yet too late.

‘Everyone who hears these words of mine and acts on themwill be like a wise man who built his house on rock. … Andeveryone who hears these words of mine and does not act onthem will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand.… and great was its fall.’

Amen.

ABOVE: Archbishop Phillip Aspinall, Primate of the An-glican Church in Australia, speaks at Drouin.


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IN the Bible, ‘covenant’ refers toa solemn agreement or promise,binding two parties together. Intalking about the character ofcovenant, we could be talkingabout a relationship, about sharing,based on promises and commit-ment. In particular, it is about shar-ing life, love and friendship; likethe relationship of a family. [At-tributed to Rabbi Lord Sacks, Lam-berth Conference 2008.]

The Primate of the AnglicanChurch in Australia, ArchbishopDr Phillip Aspinall, spoke aboutthe family of the church in his dis-cussion and presentation on theCovenant at the 36th Annual Gipp-sland Synod, held recently inDrouin, Victoria. The following isthe proposed Anglican Commun-ion Covenant, to come before Gen-eral Synod.

This document, along with ques-tions and answers, study guidesand references can also be accessedon the website of the AnglicanChurch in Australia, GeneralSynod and the website of the An-glican Diocese of Gippsland.

A report on Archbishop As-pinall’s address is on page one ofthis issue of The Gippsland Angli-can. The Primate feels strongly theCovenant should be discussed byall people in the wider church, inline with traditional decision mak-ing in the Anglican Church of Aus-tralia, rather than be left in thehands of a few people.

Introduction to theCovenant Text

“This life is revealed, and wehave seen it and testify to it, anddeclare to you the eternal life thatwas with the Father and was re-vealed to us – we declare to youwhat we have seen and heard sothat you also may have commun-ion with us; and truly our com-munion is with the Father and withhis Son Jesus Christ. These thingswe write so that our joy may becomplete.” (1 John 1.2-4).

1. God has called us into com-munion in Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 1.9).This communion has been “re-vealed to us” by the Son as beingthe very divine life of God the

Trinity. What is the life revealed tous? St John makes it clear that thecommunion of life in the Churchparticipates in the communionwhich is the divine life itself, thelife of the Trinity. This life is not areality remote from us, but one thathas been “seen” and “testified to”by the apostles and their followers:“for in the communion of theChurch we share in the divine life”.This life of the One God, Father,Son, and Holy Spirit, shapes anddisplays itself through the very ex-istence and ordering of the Church.The Church of the Triune God, TheCyprus Statement of the Interna-tional Commission for AnglicanOrthodox Theological Dialogue,2007, paragraph 1,2.

2. Our divine calling into com-munion is established in God’s pur-poses for the whole of creation(Eph 1:10; 3:9ff.). It is extended toall humankind, so that, in our shar-ing of God’s life as Father, Son,and Holy Spirit, God might restorein us the divine image. Throughtime, according to the Scriptures,God has furthered this callingthrough covenants made withNoah, Abraham, Israel, and David.The prophet Jeremiah looked for-ward to a new covenant not writtenon tablets of stone but upon theheart (Jer 31.31-34). In God’s Son,Christ Jesus, a new covenant isgiven us, established in his “blood… poured out for the many for theforgiveness of sins” (Mt 26:28), se-cured through his resurrection fromthe dead (Eph 1:19-23), and sealedwith the gift of the Holy Spiritpoured into our hearts (Rom 5:5).Into this covenant of death to sinand of new life in Christ we arebaptized, and empowered to shareGod’s communion in Christ withall people, to the ends of the earthand of creation.

3. We humbly recognize that thiscalling and gift of communion en-tails responsibilities for our com-mon life before God as we seek,through grace, to be faithful in ourservice of God’s purposes for theworld. Joined in one universalChurch, which is Christ’s Body,spread throughout the earth, weserve his gospel even as we are en-abled to be made one across the di-viding walls of human sin and

estrangement (Eph 2.12-22). Theforms of this life in the Church,caught up in the mystery of divinecommunion, reveal to the hostileand divisive power of the world the“manifold wisdom of God” (Eph3:9-10). Faithfulness, honesty, gen-tleness, humility, patience, forgive-ness, and love itself, lived out inmutual deference and service (Mk10.44-45) among the Church’speople and through its ministries,contribute to building up the bodyof Christ as it grows to maturity(Eph 4.1-16; Col 3.8-17).

4. In the providence of God,which holds sway even over our di-visions caused by sin, various fam-ilies of churches have grown upwithin the universal Church in thecourse of history. Among thesefamilies is the Anglican Commun-ion, which provides a particularcharism and identity among themany followers and servants ofJesus. We recognise the wonder,beauty and challenge of maintain-ing communion in this family ofchurches, and the need for mutual

commitment and discipline as awitness to God’s promise in aworld and time of instability, con-flict, and fragmentation. Therefore,we covenant together as churchesof this Anglican Communion to befaithful to God’s promises throughthe historic faith we confess, ourcommon worship, our participationin God’s mission, and the way welive together.

5. To covenant together is not in-tended to change the character ofthis Anglican expression of Chris-tian faith. Rather, we recognise theimportance of renewing in asolemn way our commitment toone another, and to the commonunderstanding of faith and orderwe have received, so that the bondsof affection which hold us togethermay be re-affirmed and intensified.We do this in order to reflect, in ourrelations with one another, God’sown faithfulness and promises to-wards us in Christ (2 Cor 1.20-22).

6. We are a people who live,learn, and pray by and with theScriptures as God’s Word. We seekto adore God in thanks and praiseand to make intercession for theneeds of people everywherethrough common prayer, united

across many cultures and lan-guages. We are privileged to sharein the mission of the apostles tobring the gospel of Christ to all na-tions and peoples, not only inwords but also in deeds of compas-sion and justice that witness toGod’s character and the triumph ofChrist over sin and death. We giveourselves as servants of a greaterunity among the divided Christiansof the world. May the Lord help usto “preach not ourselves, but JesusChrist as Lord, and ourselves asyour servants for Jesus’ sake” (2Cor. 4.5).

7. Our faith embodies a coherenttestimony to what we have re-ceived from God’s Word and theChurch’s long-standing witness.Our life together reflects the bless-ings of God (even as it exposes ourfailures in faith, hope and love) ingrowing our Communion into atruly global family. The mission wepursue aims at serving the greatpromises of God in Christ that em-brace the peoples and the worldGod so loves. This mission is car-ried out in shared responsibilityand stewardship of resources, andin interdependence among our-selves and with the wider Church.

8. Our prayer is that God will re-deem our struggles and weakness,renew and enrich our common lifeand use the Anglican Communionto witness effectively in all theworld, working with all people ofgood will, to the new life and hopefound in Christ Jesus.

Preamble We, as Churches of the Anglican

Communion, under the Lordship ofJesus Christ, solemnly covenant to-gether in these following affirma-tions and commitments. As peopleof God, drawn from “every nation,tribe, people and language” (Rev7.9), we do this in order to pro-claim more effectively in our dif-ferent contexts the grace of Godrevealed in the gospel, to offerGod’s love in responding to theneeds of the world, to maintain theunity of the Spirit in the bond ofpeace, and together with all God’speople to attain the full stature ofChrist (Eph 4.3,13).

Section One: Our Inheritance of Faith 1.1 Each Church affirms:

(1.1.1) its communion in the one,holy, catholic, and apostolicChurch, worshipping the one trueGod, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

(1.1.2) the catholic and apostolicfaith uniquely revealed in the HolyScriptures and set forth in thecatholic creeds, which faith theChurch is called upon to proclaimafresh in each generation. The his-toric formularies of the Church ofEngland, forged in the context ofthe European Reformation and ac-knowledged and appropriated invarious ways in the Anglican Com-munion, bear authentic witness tothis faith.

(1.1.3) the Holy Scriptures of theOld and New Testaments as con-taining all things necessary for sal-vation and as being the rule andultimate standard of faith.

(1.1.4) the Apostles’ Creed, as thebaptismal symbol; and the NiceneCreed, as the sufficient statementof the Christian faith.

(1.1.5) the two sacraments or-dained by Christ himself – Baptismand the Supper of the Lord – min-istered with the unfailing use ofChrist’s words of institution, and ofthe elements ordained by him.

(1.1.6) the historic episcopate, lo-cally adapted in the methods of itsadministration to the varying needsof the nations and peoples called ofGod into the unity of his Church.

(1.1.7) the shared patterns of ourcommon prayer and liturgy whichform, sustain and nourish our wor-ship of God and our faith and lifetogether.

(1.1.8) its participation in theapostolic mission of the whole peo-ple of God, and that this mission isshared with other Churches andtraditions beyond this Covenant.

1.2 In living out this inheritance of faith togetherin varying contexts, eachChurch, reliant on the HolySpirit, commits itself:

(1.2.1) to teach and act in conti-nuity and consonance with Scrip-ture and the catholic and apostolicfaith, order and tradition, as re-ceived by the Churches of the An-glican Communion, mindful of thecommon councils of the Commun-ion and our ecumenical agree-ments.

(1.2.2) to uphold and proclaim apattern of Christian theological andmoral reasoning and discipline thatis rooted in and answerable to theteaching of Holy Scripture and thecatholic tradition.

(1.2.3) to witness, in this reason-ing, to the renewal of humanity andthe whole created order through thedeath and resurrection of Christ,and to reflect the holiness that inconsequence God gives to, and re-quires from, his people.

(1.2.4) to hear, read, mark, learnand inwardly digest the Scripturesin our different contexts, informedby the attentive and communalreading of - and costly witness to -the Scriptures by all the faithful, bythe teaching of bishops and synods,and by the results of rigorous studyby lay and ordained scholars.

(1.2.5) to ensure that biblical textsare received, read and interpreted

The Anglican Communion Covenant in detail

Your Local MPin Gippsland

Philip DavisMember for Eastern Victoria

Serving the communities ofGippsland in State Parliament

Advocating for Gippsland

Putting your concerns to the State Government

Authorised by Philip R. Davis MPShop 2, 424 Raymond Street

PO Box 9210 Sale Vic 3853 — (03) 5143 [email protected]

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The new Anglican Covenant in detailcontinued from previous page

faithfully, respectfully, comprehen-sively and coherently, with the ex-pectation that Scripture continuesto illuminate and transform theChurch and its members, andthrough them, individuals, culturesand societies.

(1.2.6) to encourage and be opento prophetic and faithful leadershipin ministry and mission so as to en-able God’s people to respond incourageous witness to the power ofthe gospel in the world.

(1.2.7) to seek in all things to up-hold the solemn obligation to nur-ture and sustain eucharisticcommunion, in accordance withexisting canonical disciplines, aswe strive under God for the fullerrealisation of the communion of allChristians.

(1.2.8) to pursue a common pil-grimage with the whole Body ofChrist continually to discern thefullness of truth into which theSpirit leads us, that peoples fromall nations may be set free to re-ceive new and abundant life in theLord Jesus Christ.

Section Two: The LifeWe Share with Others: Our AnglicanVocation 2.1 Each Church affirms:

(2.1.1) communion as a gift ofGod given so that God’s peoplefrom east and west, north andsouth, may together declare theglory of the Lord and be both asign of God’s reign in the HolySpirit and the first fruits in theworld of God’s redemption inChrist.

(2.1.2) its gratitude for God’s gra-cious providence extended to usdown through the ages: our originsin the Church of the apostles; theancient common traditions; the richhistory of the Church in Britain andIreland reshaped by the Reforma-tion, and our growth into a global

communion through the expand-ing missionary work of the Church;our ongoing refashioning by theHoly Spirit through the gifts andsacrificial witness of Anglicans

from around the world; and oursummons into a more fully devel-oped communion life.

(2.1.3) in humility our call to con-stant repentance: for our failures inexercising patience and charity andin recognizing Christ in one an-other; our misuse of God’s gra-cious gifts; our failure to heedGod’s call to serve; and our ex-ploitation one of another.

(2.1.4) the imperative of God’smission into which the Commun-ion is called, a vocation and bless-ing in which each Church is joinedwith others in Christ in the work ofestablishing God’s reign. As theCommunion continues to developinto a worldwide family of interde-pendent churches, we embracechallenges and opportunities formission at local, regional, and in-ternational levels. In this, we cher-ish our mission heritage as offeringAnglicans distinctive opportunitiesfor mission collaboration.

(2.1.5) that our common missionis a mission shared with otherChurches and traditions beyondthis Covenant. We embrace oppor-tunities for the discovery of the lifeof the whole gospel, and for recon-ciliation and shared mission withthe Church throughout the world.We affirm the ecumenical vocationof Anglicanism to the full visibleunity of the Church in accordancewith Christ’s prayer that “all maybe one”. It is with all the saints inevery place and time that we willcomprehend the fuller dimensionsof Christ’s redemptive and im-measurable love.

2.2 In recognition of these affirmations, each Church,reliant on the Holy Spirit,commits itself:

(2.2.1) to answer God’s call toundertake evangelisation and toshare in the healing and reconcil-ing mission “for our blessed butbroken, hurting and fallen world”,and, with mutual accountability, toshare our God-given spiritual andmaterial resources in this task.

(2.2.2) to undertake in this mis-sion, which is the mission of Godin Christ:

(2.2.2.a) “to proclaim the GoodNews of the Kingdom of God” and

to bring all to repentance and faith; (2.2.2.b) “to teach, baptize and

nurture new believers”, makingdisciples of all nations (Mt 28.19)through the quickening power ofthe Holy Spirit10 and drawingthem into the one Body of Christwhose faith, calling and hope areone in the Lord (Eph 4.4-6);

(2.2.2.c) “to respond to humanneed by loving service”, disclosingGod’s reign through humble min-istry to those most needy (Mk10.42-45; Mt 18.4; 25.31-45);

(2.2.2.d) “to seek to transform un-just structures of society” as theChurch stands vigilantly withChrist proclaiming both judgmentand salvation to the nations of theworld11, and manifesting throughour actions on behalf of God’srighteousness the Spirit’s transfig-uring power;

(2.2.2.e) “to strive to safeguardthe integrity of creation and to sus-tain and renew the life of the earth”as essential aspects of our missionin communion.

(2.2.3) to engage in this missionwith humility and an openness toour own ongoing conversion in theface of our unfaithfulness and fail-ures in witness.

(2.2.4) to revive and renew struc-tures for mission which willawaken and challenge the wholepeople of God to work, pray andgive for the spread of the gospel.

(2.2.5) to order its mission in thejoyful and reverent worship ofGod, thankful that in our eucharis-tic communion “Christ is thesource and goal of the unity of theChurch and of the renewal ofhuman community” .

Section Three: OurUnity and CommonLife 3.1 Each Church affirms:

(3.1.1) that by our participation inBaptism and Eucharist, we are in-corporated into the one body of theChurch of Jesus Christ, and calledby Christ to pursue all things thatmake for peace and build up ourcommon life.

(3.1.2) its resolve to live in aCommunion of Churches. EachChurch, with its bishops in synod,orders and regulates its own affairsand its local responsibility for mis-sion through its own system ofgovernment and law and is there-fore described as living “in com-munion with autonomy andaccountability”. Trusting in theHoly Spirit, who calls and enablesus to dwell in a shared life of com-mon worship and prayer for oneanother, in mutual affection, com-mitment and service, we seek to af-firm our common life throughthose Instruments of Communionby which our Churches are enabledto be conformed together to the

mind of Christ. Churches of theAnglican Communion are boundtogether “not by a central legisla-tive and executive authority, but bymutual loyalty sustained throughthe common counsel of the bishopsin conference” and of the other in-struments of Communion.

(3.1.3) the central role of bishopsas guardians and teachers of faith,as leaders in mission, and as a vis-ible sign of unity, representing theuniversal Church to the local, andthe local Church to the universaland the local Churches to one an-other. This ministry is exercisedpersonally, collegially and withinand for the eucharistic community.We receive and maintain the his-toric threefold ministry of bishops,priests and deacons, ordained forservice in the Church of God, asthey call all the baptised into themission of Christ.

(3.1.4) the importance of instru-ments in the Anglican Communionto assist in the discernment, articu-lation and exercise of our sharedfaith and common life and mission.The life of communion includes anongoing engagement with the di-verse expressions of apostolic au-thority, from synods and episcopalcouncils to local witness, in a waywhich continually interprets andarticulates the common faith of theChurch’s members (consensus fi-delium). In addition to the manyand varied links which sustain ourlife together, we acknowledge fourparticular Instruments at the levelof the Anglican Communion whichexpress this co-operative service inthe life of communion.

I. We accord the Archbishop ofCanterbury, as the bishop of theSee of Canterbury with which An-glicans have historically been incommunion, a primacy of honourand respect among the college ofbishops in the Anglican Commun-ion as first among equals (primusinter pares). As a focus and meansof unity, the Archbishop gathersand works with the Lambeth Con-ference and Primates’ Meeting,and presides in the Anglican Con-sultative Council.

II. The Lambeth Conference ex-presses episcopal collegialityworldwide, and brings together thebishops for common worship,counsel, consultation and encour-agement in their ministry of guard-ing the faith and unity of theCommunion and equipping thesaints for the work of ministry(Eph 4.12) and mission.

III. The Anglican ConsultativeCouncil is comprised of lay, cleri-cal and episcopal representativesfrom our Churches. It facilitates theco-operative work of the Churchesof the Anglican Communion, co-ordinates aspects of internationalAnglican ecumenical and missionwork, calls the Churches into mu-tual responsibility and interde-

pendence, and advises on develop-ing provincial structures.

IV. The Primates’ Meeting is con-vened by the Archbishop of Can-terbury for mutual support, prayerand counsel. The authority that pri-mates bring to the meeting arisesfrom their own positions as thesenior bishops of their Provinces,and the fact that they are in conver-sation with their own Houses ofBishops and located within theirown synodical structures. In thePrimates’ Meeting, the Primatesand Moderators are called to workas representatives of theirProvinces in collaboration with oneanother in mission and in doctrinal,moral and pastoral matters thathave Communion-wide implica-tions.

It is the responsibility of each In-strument to consult with, respondto, and support each other Instru-ment and the Churches of theCommunion. Each Instrument mayinitiate and commend a process ofdiscernment and a direction for theCommunion and its Churches.

3.2 Acknowledging our interdependent life, eachChurch, reliant on the HolySpirit, commits itself:

(3.2.1) to have regard for thecommon good of the Communionin the exercise of its autonomy, tosupport the work of the Instru-ments of Communion with thespiritual and material resourcesavailable to it, and to receive theirwork with a readiness to undertakereflection upon their counsels, andto endeavour to accommodate theirrecommendations.

(3.2.2) to respect the constitu-tional autonomy of all of theChurches of the Anglican Com-munion, while upholding our mu-tual responsibility andinterdependence in the Body ofChrist, and the responsibility ofeach to the Communion as awhole.

(3.2.3) to spend time with open-ness and patience in matters of the-ological debate and reflection, tolisten, pray and study with one an-other in order to discern the will ofGod. Such prayer, study and debateis an essential feature of the life ofthe Church as it seeks to be led bythe Spirit into all truth and to pro-claim the gospel afresh in eachgeneration. Some issues, which areperceived as controversial or newwhen they arise, may well evoke adeeper understanding of the impli-cations of God’s revelation to us;others may prove to be distractionsor even obstacles to the faith. Allsuch matters therefore need to betested by shared discernment in thelife of the Church.

(3.2.4) to seek a shared mind withother Churches, through the Com-munion’s councils, about mattersof common concern, in a way con-sistent with the Scriptures, thecommon standards of faith, and thecanon laws of our churches. EachChurch will undertake wide con-sultation with the other Churchesof the Anglican Communion andwith the Instruments and Commis-sions of the Communion.

(3.2.5) to act with diligence, careand caution in respect of any actionwhich may provoke controversy,which by its intensity, substance orextent could threaten the unity of

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the Communion and the effective-ness or credibility of its mission.

(3.2.6) in situations of conflict, toparticipate in mediated conversa-tions, which involve face to facemeetings, agreed parameters and awillingness to see such processesthrough.

(3.2.7) to have in mind that ourbonds of affection and the love ofChrist compel us always to upholdthe highest degree of communionpossible.

Section Four: OurCovenanted Life Together

4: Each Church affirms thefollowing principles and pro-cedures, and, reliant on theHoly Spirit, commits itself totheir implementation.

4.1 Adoption of theCovenant

(4.1.1) Each Church adopting thisCovenant affirms that it enters intothe Covenant as a commitment torelationship in submission to God.Each Church freely offers thiscommitment to other Churches inorder to live more fully into the ec-clesial communion and interde-pendence which is foundational tothe Churches of the AnglicanCommunion. The Anglican Com-munion is a fellowship, within theOne, Holy, Catholic and ApostolicChurch, of national or regionalChurches, in which each recog-nises in the others the bonds of acommon loyalty to Christ ex-pressed through a common faithand order, a shared inheritance inworship, life and mission, and areadiness to live in an interdepen-dent life.

(4.1.2) In adopting the Covenantfor itself, each Church recognises

in the preceding sections a state-ment of faith, mission and interde-pendence of life which isconsistent with its own life andwith the doctrine and practice ofthe Christian faith as it has receivedthem. It recognises these elementsas foundational for the life of theAnglican Communion and there-fore for the relationships amongthe covenanting Churches.

(4.1.3) Such mutual commitmentdoes not represent submission toany external ecclesiastical jurisdic-tion. Nothing in this Covenant ofitself shall be deemed to alter anyprovision of the Constitution andCanons of any Church of the Com-munion, or to limit its autonomy ofgovernance. The Covenant doesnot grant to any one Church or anyagency of the Communion controlor direction over any Church of theAnglican Communion.

(4.1.4) Every Church of the An-glican Communion, as recognisedin accordance with the Constitutionof the Anglican ConsultativeCouncil, is invited to enter into thisCovenant according to its own con-stitutional procedures.

(4.1.5) The Instruments of Com-munion may invite other Churchesto adopt the Covenant using thesame procedures as set out by theAnglican Consultative Council forthe amendment of its schedule ofmembership. Adoption of thisCovenant does not confer any rightof recognition by, or membershipof, the Instruments of Communion,which shall be decided by those In-struments themselves.

(4.1.6) This Covenant becomesactive for a Church when thatChurch adopts the Covenantthrough the procedures of its ownConstitution and Canons.

4.2 The Maintenance of theCovenant and Dispute Resolution

(4.2.1) The Covenant operates toexpress the common commitments

and mutual accountability whichhold each Church in the relation-ship of communion one with an-other. Recognition of, and fidelityto, this Covenant, enable mutualrecognition and communion. Par-ticipation in the Covenant impliesa recognition by each Church ofthose elements which must bemaintained in its own life and forwhich it is accountable to theChurches with which it is in Com-munion in order to sustain the rela-tionship expressed in thisCovenant.

(4.2.2) The Standing Committeeof the Anglican Communion, re-sponsible to the Anglican Consul-tative Council and the Primates’Meeting, shall monitor the func-tioning of the Covenant in the lifeof the Anglican Communion onbehalf of the Instruments. In thisregard, the Standing Committeeshall be supported by such othercommittees or commissions asmay be mandated to assist in car-rying out this function and to ad-vise it on questions relating to theCovenant.

(4.2.3) When questions arise re-lating to the meaning of theCovenant, or about the compatibil-ity of an action by a covenantingChurch with the Covenant, it is theduty of each covenanting Churchto seek to live out the commitmentsof Section 3.2. Such questions maybe raised by a Church itself, an-other covenanting Church or theInstruments of Communion.

(4.2.4) Where a shared mind hasnot been reached the matter shallbe referred to the Standing Com-mittee. The Standing Committeeshall make every effort to facilitateagreement, and may take advicefrom such bodies as it deems ap-propriate to determine a view onthe nature of the matter at questionand those relational consequenceswhich may result. Where appropri-ate, the Standing Committee shallrefer the question to both the An-glican Consultative Council and

the Primates’ Meeting for advice. (4.2.5) The Standing Committee

may request a Church to defer acontroversial action. If a Churchdeclines to defer such action, theStanding Committee may recom-mend to any Instrument of Com-munion relational consequenceswhich may specify a provisionallimitation of participation in, orsuspension from, that Instrumentuntil the completion of the processset out below.

(4.2.6) On the basis of advice re-ceived from the Anglican Consul-tative Council and the Primates’Meeting, the Standing Committeemay make a declaration that an ac-tion or decision is or would be “in-compatible with the Covenant”.

(4.2.7) On the basis of the advicereceived, the Standing Committeeshall make recommendations as torelational consequences whichflow from an action incompatiblewith the Covenant. These recom-mendations may be addressed tothe Churches of the AnglicanCommunion or to the Instrumentsof the Communion and address theextent to which the decision of anycovenanting Church impairs orlimits the communion between thatChurch and the other Churches ofthe Communion, and the practicalconsequences of such impairmentor limitation. Each Church or eachInstrument shall determine whetheror not to accept such recommenda-tions.

(4.2.8) Participation in the deci-sion making of the Standing Com-mittee or of the Instruments ofCommunion in respect to section4.2 shall be limited to those mem-bers of the Instruments of Com-munion who are representatives ofthose churches who have adoptedthe Covenant, or who are still in theprocess of adoption.

(4.2.9) Each Church undertakesto put into place such mechanisms,agencies or institutions, consistentwith its own Constitution andCanons, as can undertake to over-see the maintenance of the affirma-tions and commitments of theCovenant in the life of that Church,and to relate to the Instruments ofCommunion on matters pertinentto the Covenant.

4.3 Withdrawing from theCovenant

(4.3.1) Any covenanting Churchmay decide to withdraw from theCovenant. Although such with-drawal does not imply an auto-

matic withdrawal from the Instru-ments of Communion or a repudi-ation of its Anglican character, itmay raise a question relating to themeaning of the Covenant, and ofcompatibility with the principlesincorporated within it, and triggerthe provisions set out in section 4.2above.

4.4 The Covenant Text andits amendment

(4.4.1) The Covenant consists ofthe text set out in this document inthe Preamble, Sections One to Fourand the Declaration. The Introduc-tion to the Covenant Text, whichshall always be annexed to theCovenant text, is not part of theCovenant, but shall be accordedauthority in understanding the pur-pose of the Covenant.

(4.4.2) Any covenanting Churchor Instrument of Communion maysubmit a proposal to amend theCovenant to the Instruments ofCommunion through the StandingCommittee. The Standing Com-mittee shall send the proposal tothe Anglican Consultative Council,the Primates’ Meeting, thecovenanting Churches and anyother body as it may consider ap-propriate for advice. The StandingCommittee shall make a recom-mendation on the proposal in thelight of advice offered, and submitthe proposal with any revisions tothe covenanting Churches. Theamendment is operative when rati-fied by three quarters of suchChurches. The Standing Commit-tee shall adopt a procedure forpromulgation of the amendment.

Our Declaration With joy and with firm resolve,

we declare our Churches to be par-takers in this Anglican Commun-ion Covenant, offering ourselvesfor fruitful service and binding our-selves more closely in the truth andlove of Christ, to whom with theFather and the Holy Spirit be gloryfor ever. Amen.

“Now may the God of Peace, whobrought again from the dead ourLord Jesus, the great shepherd ofthe sheep, by the blood of the eter-nal covenant, make you completein everything good so that you maydo his will, working among us thatwhich is pleasing in his sight,through Jesus Christ, to whom bethe glory forever and ever. Amen.”(Hebrews 13.20, 21)

The new Anglican Covenant as proposed

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The Anglican Diocese of Gippsland

takes complaints of abuse and harm

seriously.

If you may have been harmed by a Church worker, or know someone who has, please come forward. All complaints will be treated sensitively and confidentially. The Director of Professional Standards, Cheryl Russell, can be contacted on telephone 03 5633 1573, on mobile 0407 563313 or email [email protected]

ConferenceSaturday, June 18

A conference on violence and abuse in the familyAt Holy Trinity Anglican Church

106 Church Rd, Doncaster1.30pm to 5pm.

Cost: $25, $15 concession. Graeme Cann will introduce the topic and then leadone of four workshops on this matter. For more in-formation see the CBE website, www.cbe.org.auselect events or contact Denise Cooper-Clarke onmobile telephone, 0438 595527.

June 2011 Our Diocese - Activity Page for Children 7


Color in the picture Puzzles

C r e a t i n g i n s p i r a t i o n a l f u n e r a l s

Sale 5143 2477 Maffra 5147 1590Heyfi eld 5148 2877 Foster 5682 2443

Yarram 5182 5780www.gippslandfuneralservices.com.au

Third Generation Funeral Director

In a time of need, we all turn to our family for comfort. Gippsland Funeral Services continues to provide care and attention just as it has for the Gippsland Community for nearly 70 years. “My grandfather’s attitude was that every funeral he looked after would be well conducted. That has been our philosophy for the three generations that my family has assisted your family, and continues to form the basis of our service.”

- Scott Rossetti

Dove in stained glass window

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Support the Aboriginal Ministry Fund Contact the Diocese of Gippsland, 453 Raymond Street, Sale, Victoria Postal: PO Box 928, Sale, 3853 Fax : 03 5144 7183 Telephone: 03 5144 2044 Email : [email protected]

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Copyright: www.sermons4kids.com

IT is great fun to watch a kite soaring highinto the sky. What keeps the kite up there? Itis the wind, isn't it? If we cannot see the wind,how do we know it is there?

We know the wind is there because we canhear it in the trees and around the windowsand doors. We cannot see the wind, but weknow it is there because we can hear it.

We know the wind is there because we cansee it moving leaves on the trees and blowingbits of paper around. We know the wind isthere because we can see what the wind isdoing.

We can feel the wind. Blow onto the back of

your hand. We cannot see the wind, but wecan feel it blowing past our faces and blowingthrough our hair.

Many churches celebrate a special day calledPentecost. It was on the day of Pentecost Godsent his Holy Spirit to the church. The Bibletells us the apostles were together when sud-denly there was a sound like a mighty, rush-ing wind. Then, it says, they were filled withthe Holy Spirit.

God's Holy Spirit is like the wind, we can-not see him, but we can know he is there, justlike we can know the wind is there; We canhear the Holy Spirit speaking to our hearts.

Holy Spirit speaks in our hearts



IN the report to Synod on agedcare in the diocese, emphasis wasplaced on the need for more facili-ties for an ageing population. DrNeale Taylor presented the reporton behalf of Bishop-in-Counciland Gippsland Anglican AgedCare Limited.

Dr Taylor spoke about the need toexpand the number and range ofhomes at Clifton Waters Village(Bairnsdale) and the need to con-sider building low cost rental facil-ities at Morwell, to meet growingneeds for aged care residences.

Currently, there is space for 40new units to be developed atClifton Waters Village, Dr Taylorsaid. Older units would also needto be replaced in stages.

There is a need to increase thenumber of two and three bedroomunits, where possible, he said.

The GAAC Ltd report to Synod isreproduced faithfully here.

Gippsland Anglican Aged CareLimited (GAAC Ltd) oversees thephysical operation of two villages– Clifton Waters at Bairnsdale andBotterill Court in Morwell – and itsfinancial year covers the periodfrom July to June. As such the fol-lowing are a few highlights for theyear ended 30th June 2010.

Land and Building Assets:Clifton Waters, established in

1953, operates on a property cur-rently valued, at Fair Value underthe Financial Management Act1994, at just under $10 million.Under similar assessments, theseven unit Botterill Court proper-ties are valued at $550,000. Withan annual cash turnover budgetedin 2010/2011 at close to $1 million,GAAC Ltd continues to make asizeable contribution to the dioce-

san operation.Resident Populations:The resident populations at the

end of June totalled 101 (17 cou-ples, 59 single women and eightsingle men) in 84 cottages andunits at Clifton Waters; and six sin-gle women and one couple at Bot-terill Court.

Cottages and Units:Botterill Court’s units were all oc-

cupied while Clifton Waters hadfour cottages in various stages ofupgrade and improvement.

Building Program:Building redevelopment has been

an ongoing requirement over anumber of years to meet the everchanging legal, social and healthcommunity demands of retirementliving. Given the age and originaldesign of some of the vacated cot-tages, redevelopment at CliftonWaters has often entailed a pro-gram of demolition and rebuild.

Staff:GAAC Ltd currently has five em-

ployees covering a full time equiv-alent of 3.5 staff members perweek to oversee the operations ofboth villages. The head office ofGAAC Ltd has been transferred toClifton Waters with the manage-ment of Botterill Court passingfrom the Committee of Manage-ment at St Mary’s in October oflast year. Members of St Mary’sparish continue to be an excellentlink in the management operation.

With the likelihood of further de-velopment, especially at CliftonWaters, Directors are looking at as-sessing the requirements of staffingthe maintenance, building and de-velopment programs.

The residents of both villages andthe staff of Clifton Waters Villagecontinue to be very welcoming andsupportive of each other and thewider community. Both villagesare supported by excellent tradespeople. Clifton Waters and Botter-ill Court are special places for thegenerally active seniors, and againmembers of Synod and the Dioceseare encouraged to visit and meetthe residents of these wonderfulparts of the Diocesan family.

LEFT and above: Residents ofClifton Waters Village show someof the goods on display at the Au-tumn Fair recently. Autumn andSpring fairs, weekly craft groupsand regular variety performancesare part of the social life for peoplein Anglican aged care residences inGippsland diocese.BELOW: Mrs Gladys Vardyhelped on the raffle stall at the Au-tumn Fair at Clifton Waters Vil-lage. Photos: Jeanette Severs

Spotlight on aged care

Support for childrenBy Mary Nicholls

THE diocesan GFS/KidsPlus+Network continues to meet fourtimes annually, with all meetingsadvertised for representatives of af-filiated or interested parishes to at-tend. Our aim is to support parishbased ministries to children. GFS,an Anglican ministry with itsbroader networking (state, nationaland worldwide communication)has a lot to offer in its variety ofministry models, resourcing andleader development programs. Ourlocal networking evaluates and en-sures the relevance to our diocesanministry practices.

Eleven of 30 Gippsland parisheshave actively registered or affili-ated to our network, some more ac-tively than others, however thepotential for growth communica-tion and support is to be com-mended. We are thankful for thecoverage of our activities providedthrough The Gippsland Anglicanand the diocese, AWA and MUhave all encouraged our ministrythrough financial donations. Weuse such funding for our outreachministry, leader development andresourcing for an interested parish.

We are particularly keen to sub-sidise leader development andskills training events for voluntaryleaders in the diocese. During 2010the parishes of Moe, Heyfield,Newborough, Yallourn North,Rosedale, Sale, Trafalgar, Leon-gatha, Drouin and Maffra affiliatedwith the Gippsland Network, Moeparish and a number of adults fromacross the diocese continue to beregistered with the national andworldwide society, enjoying thenewsletters, opportunities for con-ferences and mission supportthrough GFS ministries. We areparticularly delighted one of ourGFS Moe leaders, Lauren Jankovicwas selected as Australia’s Na-tional Junior delegate to the GFSWorld Council, in Ireland thisJune. Gippsland has had a numberof representatives attending WorldCouncils, as observers, but Laurenis our first national delegate.

In 2010, the Network organisedleader development workshops inMorwell and Inverloch, a theatresports evening for youth atRosedale, the annual CowwarrWeir picnic, a diocesan camp atMill Valley Ranch and a successfulcamp held at Forest Edge, NeerimEast. We had 41 participants at thisevent, sponsored so generously, bya number of Gippsland parishes,individuals and groups. Thankyou.

The Adult Friends of the Networkhave met for fellowship, and wor-ship several times during the year

and continue to offer great encour-agement and support to our min-istries to younger people. Thissupport group has a significantmailing list of approximately 40adults.

As Chairman, I particularly wishto acknowledge with appreciationthe individuals from parishesacross the diocese who are fullycommitted to their own parish min-istries and show extra dedication tovoluntarily offer ongoing supportto all others in the diocese. Thoseinvolved recognise the strengthavailable across the wider Angli-can Communion and wish to pro-vide opportunity for our youngpeople to share support and fel-lowship. The Network grew out ofour work as the combined councilsof CEBS, The Anglican Boys So-ciety, and the Girls’ Friendly Soci-ety (GFS as it is known). Afterproviding a remarkable contribu-tion to the diocese, CEBS as an en-tity ceased its Gippslandoperations in November 2010.

We are now, challenged, but de-termined, to maintain that specialministry to boys and young men aswell as to the girls and women ofthe diocese. We hope you will joinin that challenge and maintain astrong diocesan network for theseministries.

The GFS National Statement ofpurpose identifies the goals of ourown diocesan Kidsplus+ Network:

1. To provide ministries to chil-dren, youth, families and adults ina safe and accepting environmentwhere Christ’s love is evident andthe Gospel is proclaimed.

(a) Children’s, youth and familyministry: to encourage children,youth and families in local com-munities; to purposefully supportand encourage family life; to equipchildren and youth with life skillsto reach their God-given potential

(b) Adult ministry: to support andnurture adults in a faith commu-nity; to encourage prayerful sup-port to children’s and youthministry; to encourage adults to bepositive role models to all mem-bers, particularly those in leader-ship.

2. To serve the community lo-cally, nationally and globallythrough our motto ‘Bear one an-other’s burdens and so fulfil thelaw of Christ’ (Galatians 6:2)

3. To receive and disseminate in-formation and facilitate communi-cation locally, nationally andglobally, within the organisationand with related service agencies.

4. To encourage dioceses withinthe organisation to maintain appro-priate standards in equipping peo-ple for ministry.

ABOVE: Synod youth representatives, Stanley Radford of Rosedaleparish, Lydia Jacka of Paynesville and Jordan Breed, Traralgon.



AWA service from womenTHE Anglican Women of Aus-

tralia Gippsland group was lastyear facing a crisis when insuffi-cient people were available to takeup executive roles, at an AGM at-tended by more than 100 women.However, the strength of such anenduring organisation, the um-brella for women’s groups in theAnglican church, has shownthrough and an executive wasformed and continued with the an-nual rallies and the upcoming fel-lowship bus trip and AGM.

EditorThe AWA report to Synod was

presented by AWA Chaplain, Rev-erend Lyndon Phillips (right) andis reproduced here.

AWA is an Australia-wide or-ganisation. Here in Gippsland wecontinue the aims of AWA andbring women together from acrossthe diocese in worship, service andfellowship. Our aim is to deepenthe friendship and connections be-tween women from all parishes bigand small. All women are automat-ically members of AWA and canattend any meeting organised bythe organisation.

AWA executive meetings havebeen held in Rosedale and in Trar-algon. We have two members ofthe executive who travel fromBairnsdale and we are attemptingto shorten their travel, by meetingsometimes in Rosedale. Our meet-ing always begins with worship.AWA Chaplain, Reverend LyndonPhillips, has been a great support inplanning the worship for meetings.

In May 2010, we held a generalmeeting in Rosedale. This meetingis an opportunity for people fromacross the diocese to meet and de-cide which mission projects will besupported through the money al-ready raised from offertories andtrading tables from the DeaneryRallies, memberships and dona-tions given from parishes acrossthe diocese. AWA Gippsland gave$10,892, divided between 12 dif-ferent mission projects. Our mis-sion project for 2010 was theAbbey of St Barnabas.

The AWA retreat was held in Juneat Pallotti College at Millgrove.Rev. Anne Turner led the retreat.This was a time for all to pause, tospend time in quiet, in prayer andreflection. Anne spent many hourspreparing for the retreat. Each talkshe gave was followed by worship.The booklets we received are acontinuing guide to worship. Theyare an ongoing resource, bringingto mind the spiritual road we travelwith God.

The annual bus trip was held inOctober. The bus, as always, wasfully booked. The trip last Octoberwas to Lakes Entrance. Jean Hills-ley and Anne Connelly led the bustrip, planned by Merrill Johnstoneand Pat Cameron. As always, itwas a time of fun, interest and fel-lowship.

The annual meeting is also heldin October at the Cathedral in Sale.The day began, as always, with aEucharist, taken by Bishop John.The annual meeting is held in Del-bridge Hall. Our President, JaneMacqueen, gave her annual report.At the end of the report she in-formed everyone she was steppingdown from the president’s position.Our faithful mission secretaryEthel Armstrong resigned andeveryone thanked her for her manyyears of service to AWA.

Bishop John spoke to the meetingabout the difficulty of finding peo-ple who are able to stand for officein AWA. It was decided to have asmall interim committee and spendnext year in seeking support fromacross the diocese for a new exec-utive committee. Pat Cameronstood in as interim president, Car-olyn Raymond continued as secre-tary and Denise Rich as treasurer.

Our guest speaker [at the AGM]was Pastor Abraham Maluk fromthe Sudanese church in Moe. Hespoke of his own journey from aboy in war-torn Sudan, wheredeath was an everyday event, toAustralia. He brought severalmembers of his community andthey completed the day by singinghymns for us. This was a movingexperience.

The Deanery Rallies were heldearly in March. We began in theeast of the diocese at Metung, thenYarram. Our night meeting was atNewborough. We travelled on toKorumburra and finally to Bunyip.As always we began each rallywith worship. We then had reportsfrom AWA itself asking for supportfor the new executive. We had re-ports from Mother’s Union, andour interim mission secretary. Thenew mission project was an-nounced; we will be supporting theestablishment of a new library atthe Newton Theological Trainingcollege at Rabaul.

Our speaker was Beth Hookeyfrom Anglicord. She informed usof the work of Anglicord throughthe descriptions of inspiringwomen who work tirelessly forthose who are so severely disad-vantaged. She spoke of ValerieBrowning, the director of the Afar

Pastoralist Association in Ethiopia,the director of Al Ahli Hospital inGaza and the leader for Anglicordof the Karen people in the refugeecamps on the Thai-Burma border.Beth encouraged us too to step out-side our comfort zone, as thesewomen do on a daily basis.

We have decided to cancel the re-treat and the Rosedale meeting forthis year due to the small interimexecutive.

President: Pat CameronSecretary: Carolyn Raymond

Since Synod, AWA has sent a re-port to The Gippsland Anglican ofits donations for this year. The re-port of these donations follows.

AWA funds for missionEVERY year, AWA Gippsland al-

locates money which has beenraised at the deanery rallies, held infive parishes around the diocese.The money is given by the gener-ous people of this diocese. Thisyear, the rallies were held inMetung, Yarram, Newborough,Korumburra and Bunyip. Thespeaker this year was Mrs BethHookey. Beth has worked for manyyears in Anglicord. In sharing withus her own journey from local tointernational mission, Beth encour-aged us to set our sights high andanswer God’s call for service. Shetold us of three women who areworking for others outside theircomfort zone in Gaza, in Ethiopiaand on the Thai/Burma border.

It was inspiring to hear of thededication and sacrifice of thesewomen.

Normally, AWA Gippsland allo-cates the money for missions at thegeneral meeting held in May atRosedale. This year, as we haveonly a small interim committee, wedid not hold the general meetingand so distributed the money at ourexecutive meeting.

As a result of the Rallies and alsoof donations, we had $2,000 togive to missions. The money willgo to:Bush Church Aid Society, $500Gippsland Home Mission Fund,$500Indigenous Ministry, $500Rwanda Seeds of Peace GuestHouse, specifically for linen, $500

Thank you everyone who so gen-erously contributed. Please alsothink about nominating for the ex-ecutive of AWA Gippsland. Docontact interim president, PatCameron, on 03 5147 1990

Contributed by Carolyn Raymond

BARRY AND ANNETTE LETTFuneral Directors

67 Macarthur St., Sale 3850(03) 5143 1232

Barry, Annette andBradley Lett offer

care, compassion andservice with

dignity for the peopleof Gippsland.

Caring and personal24-hour service.

Prepaid and prearranged funeral plans available.

ABOVE:Representing their parishes at Synod, and enjoying the oppor-tunities for fellowship, were Heather Scott of Leongatha, Miriam Stack-house of Yarram and Beverley Littlejohn of Boolarra/Yinnar parish.BELOW: Mark Woods, of Traralgon parish and Reverend Brenda Burney,of Westernport parish.

Photos: Jeanette Severs

THE Cursillo report to Synodwas presented by Reverend AmyTurner (right). The report follows.

DURING the past 12 months,Cursillo in Gippsland took somenew initiatives and had some ex-citing results. It was with pleasurewe saw Gippsland’s Bishop JohnMcIntyre attend Men’s Cursillo inMelbourne and we look forward tohis renewed support to GippslandCursillo.

In September last year we heldthe first parallel Cursillos. Therewere separate teams for both menand women, led by Len and Chris Makin. The Cursillos were run at thesame time and place and in general the response was positive.

Most of the activities were separate, but some worship and all mealswere together. It was good to see the teams and candidates mixed well,encouraging and supporting each other. We will be holding parallel Cur-sillos again next year. It was decided, for various reasons, not to holdCursillos in 2011.

During the year, Jodie Pincini and her team ran a very successful Se-nior’s Day, held at St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale. More than 40 people at-tended and enjoyed the time of sharing and fellowship. It is planned to runanother one this year.

The format included two talks based around the thought: ‘There is nouse by date with God’. The Scripture reference chosen was Jeremiah31:3, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’.

Cursillo Gippsland hosted the National Secretariat meeting in Marchthis year. There were representatives from many of the Dioceses aroundAustralia present and it was helpful to hear the challenges and possiblesolutions that they were either considering or carrying out.

We have adopted two ideas from the National Secretariat meeting. Oneis a revamp of the Ultreya program, which we think will revitalise Ul-treyas. The second is a three day pilgrimage, run by Cursillo but open forall who wish to attend. We are hoping to hold this in September this year.

I must acknowledge the great work of Liz Hall who organised the na-tional meeting, arranged the venue, coordinated transport and all themeals and general housekeeping tasks, which led to a smooth runningand enjoyable time for all. Thanks, Liz.

Co Lay Director, Gippsland Cursillo, Peter Down

Cursillo takes on new ideas



IN presenting the report from theCathedral Parish of St Paul, toSynod, the Dean, The Very Rev-erend Dr Don Saines, highlightedthe focus of the parish to employ ayouth community worker, in com-bination with the diocese. DrSaines (pictured right with dioce-san registrar, Brian Norris) alsospoke about a vision to deliver the-ological education and ministry.[More information in a future issueof The Gippsland Anglican.]

The report of the Cathedral parishis reproduced faithfully here.

Liturgical Worship

THE liturgical and worship life ofthe Cathedral continues to attract asteady and hopefully growing at-tendance of young families. Thespirit of worship in both Sundaymorning services is always encour-aging and we continue to be builtupon ways to help others connectto our liturgical tradition, andparishioners to the community ofSale. The varied character of thetwo Sunday morning services inthe Cathedral is valuable and weseek to offer thoughtful, lively andrelevant worship. Congregationsaverage around 45 people at 8amFirst Order Holy Communion and75 people at 10am Family servicewith Holy Communion.

We continue to explore our all-age inclusiveness at the 10am fam-ily service, especially on a firstSunday of the month. We are notic-ing a steady attendance of youngfamilies, if not every week thencertainly returning regularly. Thisage group of young families andyounger adults is an area of ongo-ing concern for outreach and forChristian formation. Evening serv-ices are held with the monthlyrhythm of Healing Eucharist,Hymn Service, families@five andthe Contemplative Prayer serviceled by members of the Anam CaraCommunity. During Christmas andEaster we attracted respectively,congregations totalling 399 and320.

Christian Formation FOUR Home Study Groups con-

tinued to meet throughout the year;these groups have used their own

study/discussion resources or theweekly resources from Seasons ofthe Spirit as a link to the SundayLiturgy. An Education for MinistryGroup of 10 people, seven of themnew to EfM, meets weekly and isled by mentors, Kate Campbell,Heather Toms and the Dean. Morethan 50 people joined in LentStudy Groups using Bishop John’sstudy Set free. Several others usedthe study for private reflection.

Twelve Candidates were con-firmed by Bishop John on SundayDecember 5, seven youth and threeadults from the parish, togetherwith two students from GippslandGrammar. Twenty-three baptismswere performed and five marriagesthroughout the year. Making LoveLast workshops for marriagepreparation were held in May andSeptember.

The Ministry Team THE ministry of the Cathedral is

ably supported by a well-trainedteam of lay and clergy ministersand volunteers. Reverend MarilynObersby concluded her ministrywith us at the end of 2010. Marilynwas Senior Assistant Priest andwas paid a stipend for one day perweek during the previous year. Aswell as Sunday liturgical ministry,Marilyn assisted with mainlymusic, with pastoral care and in thelatter part of her time organisingand undertaking the baptismalministry. The Cathedral congrega-

tion expressed is thanks to Marilynfor her ministry and friendship ather final service at Christmas.

Rev. Lloyd George and Rev. Stu-art Lawson continue at the Cathe-dral as assistant priests (hon.). Aswell as paying tribute to Stuart andLloyd, we are thankful for the min-istry of lay readers Marion Jonesand Michael Chadwick, who helpminister in other centres in theparish.

Christine Morris continues in hercapacity as children and youthminister. Christine has been re-ap-pointed by Chapter to that positionto the beginning of October 2011.Chapter applauds Christine Morrisfor her untiring energy in this min-istry and the many other areas ofministerial support at the Cathe-dral. I have asked the new Chapterto explore with me ways for us tosupport and develop this ministryfurther.

A regular ministry team meetinghas been reinstituted and consistsof clergy, lay readers and pastoralassistants. Its purpose is to reviewCathedral worship and ministryand to encourage and pray for eachother in the light of our ministrygoals.

The OUTLOOK magazine hashitherto been a monthly productionbut Chapter decided in late 2010 tomake this a bi-monthly magazineand to include more articles of re-flection and thought. An editorialcommittee has been convened.

The annual Summer in Seasprayministry between Christmas andNew Year was a great success;many families were contacted,more than 120 people during theweek, including local families. Areview meeting was held and aworking group will meet mid-yearto plan this year’s event.

A new family, originally from theSudan, has joined us. We are de-lighted this family is among us atthe 10am services. Other familiesof Sudanese origin are also comingto live in Sale.

A new Men’s Group has begununder the oversight of a team ledby Grant Woolcock, ArthurMcPherson, Joe Sestokas and theDean.

Cathedral EventsNUMEROUS diocesan and

parish community events were heldat the Cathedral in the past year.These included Synod Eucharistand Synod (May 21-23); RegionalUltreya (August 21); RSCM Work-shop (September 11); OrganRecital (September 12); Police

Memorial Service (September 29);Anglican Women Rally (October12); Cathedral Fair (October 16);Ordination of Priests (November13); Friends of the Cathedral An-nual Meeting and Lunch (Novem-ber 13); Ordination of Deacons andPriest (February 19); Concert forVictorian Flood Victims (March20); Mothers’ Union Lady Day(March 25); Diocesan Teachingday on Hope with Rev. Dr DavidPowys (April 9); The Easter ArtShow ( April 19-26).

Bishop John presided andpreached at St Paul’s Cathedral onsix occasions in the past 12 monthsand we are thankful for his min-istry and support.

Governance andStrategic Planning

THE Cathedral Chapter reviewedthe strategic plan and held a specialmeeting on August 29 for reflec-tion and prayer. Valuable discus-sion and ideas arose about ourministry to areas of Sale wheremembership of our church is mini-mal. Reponses to these ideas arepart of ongoing discussion byChapter.

Cathedral Office Holders andVolunteers: Cathedral Lay Canons,Arthur McPherson, Ann Miller,Pam Schmack, together with othermembers of Chapter deservethanks for their diligence and min-istry. Similar thanks go to our fi-nancial committee, especiallytreasurer, Colin Price, (farewelledin early 2011), Karina King, KateCampbell and Helen Gardiner.Helen Gardiner, who is the Cathe-dral Sacristan, also deserves spe-cial thanks for her numerous dutiesundertaken with diligence and withcare for the mission of the Cathe-dral. Cathedral Office volunteersoffer their time each weekday

morning and I want to note thework of Margaret Mynard whoconcluded her voluntary officework in early 2011 after manyyears of faithful service.

The Annual Meeting of theFriends of St Paul’s Cathedral washeld on November 13, followingthe Ordination lunch. Guestspeaker was Dean of St Paul’sCathedral Melbourne, BishopMark Burton.

The Greater Chapter of theCathedral met on November 11and considered a paper presentedby the Dean proposing a processfor Theological Education andMinistry Training (TEMT) basedat the Cathedral, arising out of theCathedral’s role in the Diocese.

The proposal suggested theGreater Chapter would help coor-dinate, encourage and seek ways toresource clergy and lay leadersacross the diocese. This couldmean encouraging the taking up ofcourses currently available throughTrinity College or Ridley Collegein Melbourne or CSU/St Mark’s inCanberra and look into the possi-bility of formal links with the dio-cese for further developing TEMT.While this is still in process, it isplanned to offer in 2012 to clergyand laity, a Certificate IV in Chris-tian Counselling and Communica-tion Skills under the auspices of StMark’s Canberra. Further detailsabout this course will be madeavailable as soon as possible.

The Cathedral Chapter has ac-cepted in principal a proposal tooffer part-time employment to aperson at the end of 2011 who willwork in youth/community devel-opment in the parish and in the dio-cese but centred in Sale. TheCathedral’s share in this ministryremains for the Cathedral a seriousmatter of prayer and planning asthe parish finances are to date lan-guishing behind budget.

WITH CARE & DIGNITY WE RESPECTFULLY SERVE THE DISTRICTS OF:

LEONGATHA/KORUMBURRA (03) 5662 2717 Paul and Margaret Beck

FOSTER (03) 5662 2717 Paul and Margaret Beck

WONTHAGGI/INVERLOCH (03) 5672 1074 Ray and Maree Anderson

PHILLIP ISLAND (03) 5952 5171 Ray and Maree Anderson

MEMBER OF AUSTRALIAN FUNERAL DIRECTORS ASSOCIATION

Cathedral life all-inclusive

ABOVE: Some of the delegates at Gippsland Anglican Diocese’s 36thannual Synod, on May 13 to 15 this year, held at Drouin.BELOW: Representing Warragul parish were Andrew Ronalds, Archdea-con Phillip Muston, Tina Dent and Katie Peken.




THE Diocesan Mission SupportGroup was established last yearwith Jenny MacRobb as the coor-dinator. The report was tabled atSynod. In particular, the DiocesanMission Support Group held a mis-sion expo in Delbridge Hall, Salelast year, an opportunity for localand national mission support agen-cies to speak about their activities.

The report to Synod is repro-duced faithfully here.

THE Diocesan Mission SupportGroup ran its first diocesan func-tion in October 2010. This was amission expo to which we invitedthe main mission agencies andother smaller ministries involved inlocal mission to both speak abouttheir work and to distribute infor-mation and share with us matterswhere prayer support is needed.Keynote speaker was ReverendPaul Arnott, who spoke on thebasic principles that should under-gird the work of missionary min-istry and mission support.

The day finished with an empha-sis on Gippsland’s own diocesanmission support project: the needto complete ‘Gippsland House’and our contribution to the Seeds ofPeace Conference and Accommo-dation Centre in Gahini. Since then$50,000 has been raised towardsthis project.

This May Neville and LynneBeaty return to Gahini accompa-nied by Francis McKinlay, a mas-ter plumber from Warragul parish,to assist the local people to movethe project towards completion.Lynne and Neville will be inRwanda for three months and Fran-cis will work there for one month.

After the success of the diocesanmission expo at Sale, it was de-

cided a diocesan mission rally willbe held at the Cathedral on the sec-ond Saturday in October each year,with a regional mission supportfunction held in each quarter in oneof the three Archdeaconries.

The first of these regional missionsupport activities was held inMarch this year at Christ ChurchDrouin, an ideal venue for a jazzand blues music evening featuringBCA state secretary, Rev. GregJones and jazz pianist, Bob Seder-green.

During the evening, Greg Jonesspoke about the current work andspecial needs of BCA. There wasspecial interest in the new BCAwork being undertaken in semi-urban rural areas, which is bearingpositive results. Greg also spokeabout the widespread personal sup-port work provided by BCA inflooded areas.

The South Gippsland regionalsupport gathering will be held atLeongatha with a program to bearranged by CMS, with possibleother functions around theArchdeaconry the same week.

The East Gippsland mission sup-port rally will be held in early No-vember at Lakes Entrance, with aspecial emphasis on both our ownKoori ministry in Gippsland andthe training of Aboriginal priests,deacons and evangelists at Nun-galinga College in the NorthernTerritory.

We are very conscious a numberof parishes do not have activeparish mission secretaries and thatadvertising for diocesan and re-gional rallies and projects get verylittle mention in a number ofparishes.

Contributed by Jenny MacRobbCoordinator, DMS Group

For SaleLowry Organ

as new conditionpaid $1399

will accept $600

Contact Jean Hill telephone03 5174-1767 or Unit 38,Matthews Crescent, Yallam-bie Village, Traralgon, 3844.

ABOVE: Gippsland’s Bishop, Right Reverend John McIntyre and thePrimate of the Anglican Church in Australia, The Most Reverend DrPhillip Aspinall, flank Canon Amy Turner as she prepares the high tableduring the Synod eucharist service. Photo: Val Ritchie

Diocesan mission support

Their role involves othersPRESENTING the report on Abo-

riginal ministry in the diocese, Rev-erend Phyllis Andy and ReverendKathy Dalton (right) spoke about theirjoy in being ordained priest earlier thisyear and being able to minister in thatrole to Indigenous people in Gipps-land. Their work has included funer-als, baptisms and weddings and, inparticular, celebrating the eucharist asAboriginal Anglican priests.

They talked about the importance oftheir recognition as priests, and howthey have enabled other Aboriginalpeople to participate in services, inleading prayers, readings and asservers and involving children in theservice.

Phyllis and Kathy also explainedtheir roles in travelling across the dio-cese and connecting with Aboriginalelders, talking about their role aspriests.


REPORT to Synod from David Wilcox, CommunityDevelopment Officer, working in partnership with theAnglican Diocese of Gippsland and the UnitingChurch in Australia, in bushfire (2009) recovery areas.

Nobody seems too sure how many homes were onMt Tassie before Black Saturday (February 2009) be-cause there was so much bush here, but as houses arerebuilt you start to get an idea how populated thismountain was.

For the past 20 months, I have endeavored to standwith the people of Callignee and surrounding districtand have only been able to do so because of the gen-erous support of you and your people. God has been sogood, as I have seen many breakthroughs in people’slives as they rebuild physically and emotionally.

Here is a breakdown of some of what has taken placesince the last Synod meeting:

The ‘Cup of Tea’ team and visits have taken up muchof my time. The team has been reduced in time butvisits still happen. These visits open up many oppor-tunities and are very valuable. Also, many localchurches and the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland havehelped by supporting us with material goods and fi-nancial assistance.

Some visits have given us the opportunity to praywith individuals which is an awesome privilege. I amconsidering reducing visits, to essential people whocome in on referrals, thus using the reduced team tomaximum effect. This is probably a natural flow-oneffect that would have happened over time anyway aspeople move back into their more normal lives.

Emergency food relief support has come from theAnglican Diocese of Gippsland through financial sup-port, from Enjoy Gippsland (formerly Valley Chris-tian Centre in Morwell) with hampers from theirHelping Hand program, Vic Relief and from the co-operating churches of Churchill with financial support.The need for this type of support has almost stopped.

Much furniture was needed to fit-out sheds for acco-modation. After an appeal through Sarah Gover, Ispent hours travelling through Gippsland collectingfrom very generous people. Many people were helped.

My time is consumed by one on one ministry or withcouples. Some of these are ongoing from the start ofmy employment. Some are new and have come in overthe past few months. December 2010 was my busiestmonth ever, with some work needed to be done whileon leave. Not the best scenario, I know, but I have thepeople’s trust (both on the mountain and Government)and decided to see these people rather than have themheld up with other people on leave. They were seriousissues and know I did the best thing I could at the time.

I was asked by VBRRA to attend a building seminarthat was held in the new Callignee hall and to be avail-able to talk with anyone that needed it. I talked withmany people over the afternoon and was asked by oth-ers to do follow up visits to their homes. Most issuesrevolve around mental health and people’s fears andconcerns about relationships or rebuilding.

Many of the issues are also about unresolved griefor anger and have taken nearly two years to come outin the open. There are many angry men on the moun-

tain and these are very time-consuming visits; someare phone sessions only, as this is a very confrontingissue for the men and their families.

The new Callignee complex has been completed andopened on Australia Day 2011. It was a great day.

Some fire-affected people have been to our home fora meal. We plan to continue this, as we think it will bevery beneficial to some of the people.

Twenty large Christmas hampers were handed outprior to Christmas Day, to families and individuals.Support came from the Anglican Diocese of Gipps-land, the Uniting Church in Australia (Gippsland),Enjoy Church (Gippsland Campus), Vic Relief andDavid and Barbara Wilcox.

Some of the shed-dwelling people are now in nearlycompleted houses and this has brought about such animprovement in mental and overall health for them.

I completed a one day course on ‘Alcohol Abuse’ inMelbourne. This course is available for the fire sur-vivors and I will look to where I can use it. Alcoholconsumption has certainly increased since Black Sat-urday, but there is a huge perception in Australia thatif it [alcohol] is legal then it must be okay.

Only in this past month have some of the emergencysituations began to settle down. It has been an enor-mous task to date and has been some of the hardestwork I have ever undertaken. This will enable me tore-connect with some of the people who had to be leftfor awhile as I dealt with more critical situations.

The two biggest issues, and will remain for a longtime, are building houses and the mental health of peo-ple. These are very long term issues for these fire-af-fected people. More free counseling sessions have justbeen made available as it becomes more obvious thatmore mental health support is required.

The Certificate IV in Christian Chaplaincy and Pas-toral Care course I am completing will end in July.

The government gave people living in sheds untilMarch this year to begin rebuilding but have extendedthis to March 2012. At least 25 families live in sheds,some still in caravans, and there are just so many is-sues associated with this. Building restrictions meanthe cost of rebuilding has increased beyond what itwould have cost to rebuild before the fires. Insurancedoes not cover those costs. VBRRA payments are allbut used up getting sheds set up and with day to dayliving. This issue alone is causing much stress.

In one instance all available money was poured intoturning a shed into a home only to be told they mightnot get permission to live in it. This situation is beingfollowed up vigorously but I suspect will be some-thing that recurs often in the next year or so. It willmean putting some pressure on people to decide whatto do and make the necessary plans.

Since I began working in partnership with the An-glican Diocese of Gippsland and the Uniting Churchin Australia, reports go to both groups. I meet withBishop John McIntyre and Reverend Tim Angus, andwith Rev. Geoff Pittaway, (my supervisor) on a regu-lar basis.

Please keep praying for these people and my workas I walk with them through their recovery.

Cup of Tea team valuable to recovery



THE report from the Anam CaraCommunity was presented toSynod by Kate Campbell (right),on behalf of its author, ReverendAnne Turner, Soul Carer for theCommunity.

A highlight of the year, amongmany, was the expansion of thecommunity into the CanberraGoulburn diocese and liaison be-tween the Community and SeniorStaff through Archdeacon HeatherMarten. An edited version of thereport is reproduced here.

SINCE the last report to Synod in2010, there have been significantchanges and growth within theCommunity.

Mission: The Anam Cara Com-munity is a dispersed Christiancontemplative community ofprayer and support for the innerjourney into God.

Objectives: The Anam CaraCommunity will serve God, theAnglican Diocese of Gippslandand the wider church by:

Forming a community of individ-uals (associates) who seek to livethe contemplative life, in all its di-mensions;

Providing resources for individu-als, parishes and other groups tosupport the inner journey into God;

Being a community of prayer,worship, the Bible, reflection, dis-cernment, justice and mutual sup-port.

Last year we became aware therewas were some misunderstandingsabout the nature of the Anam CaraCommunity. To address this, a de-finitive statement about the com-munity was published which theBishop forwarded to all rectors andparish priests. We have also re-cently sent a copy to all parish sec-retaries for wider parishinformation.

As well, an article was written forThe Gippsland Anglican, statingour complete Christian orthodoxyoutlining our understanding of our-selves as a as a contemplativeprayer community committed toproviding many and varied ways ofmaking the inward journey,through prayer, study, reflection,silence and stillness. We draw theinspiration for our journeys fromthe Bible, the historic tradition, thecreeds and other formularies of thechurch. Our commitment to the

diocesan mission statement andstrategy of ‘making Jesus Christknown here and now through theinward journey and through theoutward journey’ remains at theheart of our motivation as a keypart of our mission. We are notsome ‘new age’ movement, oronly catering for those with a‘mystical’ bent, but rooted andgrounded in the traditions of theChristian church as well as beingopen and inclusive in exploringmodern dimensions of faith andspirituality.

The Anam Cara Community un-derstands itself to have a specialministry to those who feel distantfrom the church or ‘on the outside’and seeks to provide a safe spacefor everyone to explore the innerjourney. We understand some peo-ple will continue to have questionsor concerns and we encouragethem to speak with us in order tolearn more about us and perhaps[participate in] part of our ministry.

A decision was made at the endof 2010 that the leadership teamwould comprise one soul carer ofthe community, gatherers of meet-ing places and others with specifictasks to be known as servant lead-ers. These leaders continue to meetbi-monthly to pray and work to-gether for the good ordering of thisdispersed community.

We are pleased to have Associate,Archdeacon Heather Marten as ourliaison with senior staff, thus keep-ing all community matters well ac-countable and the Bishop andsenior staff informed of activities.

The Bishop continues to encour-age us as a Community. This lastyear saw the beginning of a Meet-ing Place in the Diocese of Can-berra Goulburn. Bishop Johnliaised with Bishop Stuart Robin-son who enthusiastically embracedthe concept of the Community andthe leader, Rev. Jeannette McHugh.Bishop Stuart sent information toclergy and the tri-diocesan news-paper of Canberra-Goulburn, Rive-rina and Bathurst.

We continue to have several loneassociates around the country andone in London. A new brochure forSeekers was produced, with basicinformation about the community[brochures were at Synod]. A moredetailed publication for all associ-ates is in production.

Our chief publication Waterholescontinues to be edited by our webservant Colin Thornby. We aim tohave quarterly newsletters or more.

For those without internet access,all publications are in hard copy.The Community’s web site(www.anamcara-gippsland.org)continues to be well used and ac-cessed, often bringing new associ-ates from across Australia andenquiries from across the world.

Every month, quiet days are heldin the meeting places of the com-munity, led by associates usingtheir particular gifts. This year‘sprogram is well underway. Thesedays are open to all people andpromoted on the website, in TheGippsland Anglican and by emailto associates.

There are a growing number ofsmall groups regularly meetingaround the diocese exploring dif-ferent aspects of the inner journeyand regular occasions of contem-plative worship offered in differentparishes. One new group, The Cir-

cle of Friends, is a soul friendshipgroup of differently-abled adultsmeeting weekly in Sale.

As a community we are encour-aging individual parish days to beset aside for the inner journey. It isgood if we know of special parishdays we can support and promote.

Within the Community we haveseveral trained Spiritual Direc-tors/Companions/Soul carers,whose expertise and ministry is in-valuable for those seeking a com-panion for their own journeys offaith. We encourage all associatesand others to have such a trustedspiritual companion.

This ministry is specialised andthe servant leaders recognise theneed for ongoing support and pro-fessional development for thoseengaged in this ministry. May 21was set aside for a day in conver-sation with Ms Cheryl Russell, theDirector of Professional Standardswithin the diocese. The Commu-nity also aims to provide ongoingsupervision, support and ministrydevelopment for those engaged inthe ministry of spiritual direction

The Anam Cara Community con-tinues to support the Abbey of StBarnabas and has committed toleading two retreats this year. JaneMacqueen continues as the liaisonservant leader with the Abbey andthe Community will provide apraying presence at the Abbeyfrom July 4 to 16. During this time,the Dean will lead a quiet day.

The end of year service is nowwell established in the diocesandiary on the Saturday immediatelyprior to Advent Sunday. We cometogether as a community, as we areable, to welcome new associatesand commission the servant lead-ers. This past year, symbols ofmembership were set aside at theservice and distributed to the gath-ered associates. As associatesrenew their membership, so theyreceive a symbol of membership.

All costs are covered by the an-nual subscriptions, with a nominalcontribution by participants ofquiet days. Our treasurer, KateCampbell, does a great job keepingthe books and we are now in thehabit of giving a substantial dona-tion at the end of the financial year.This past year $1000 went to theSeeds of Peace Project in Gahini,Rwanda; in the previous year$1000 was given to the Abbey ofSt Barnabas at A’Beckett Park. Fi-nancial support was also providedto the Circle of Friends group.Locally owned by Tom & Dale Dooley

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Anam Cara to seek contemplation

By Bruce Charles

INFORMATION was presentedto Synod about an appeallaunched by the diocesan Sudaneseministry based in Moe, to helpfund an English-speaking programfor the Sudanese people.

Many Sudanese people, like otherrefugees arriving in Australia,struggle to learn English. This ismade more difficult by the factmany of them have very little edu-cation in their lives and cannotwrite their own language. TheEnglish-speaking programs theyeperience on arrival in this countryare not particularly successful inhelping many of them to learnEnglish and certainly not to read it.

The appeal is to raise money foran initial 20 MP3 players (a devicethat plays recorded sound files).These MP3 players, costing about$100 each, are an important part ofthe English-speaking program.They will be available to be bor-rowed from, initially the parish of-fice, and then when established,the Sudanese community centre.

Information would be read, thenconverted into voice files, so thelistener can both hear and read theinformation at the same time. MoeAnglican parish at the moment isin the process of obtaining high-quality computing software, thoseused in most universities as well isby organisations assisting peoplewith disabilities, that will converttext into voice files. The parish un-derstands that this software, al-though expensive, will receivegovernment funding.

At the moment, Moe parishstruggles to do this task withcheaper software. With the bettersoftware, a task that previouslytook six hours will be done in 10minutes or five seconds, dependingon the software purchased.

The applications for this processare many. It can be used for gov-ernment and information pam-phlets to make information morereadily accessible to those withlimited or no reading ability. It willbe used for helping Sudanese peo-ple to read the Bible. At the mo-ment, the Old Testament has notbeen translated into Dinka. Conse-quently, many Sudanese peoplehave heard very little of the OldTestament. This program can alsobe used for general reading and theextended use of talking books.

It is hoped that in developingtheir English, this will help the Su-danese to more readily gain em-ployment and adapt to Australia.

Moe parish is excited by the pos-sibilities of the program as it is in-novative in the Australian context,but not so innovative when com-pared with best practices in Europeand America. The program isbased on a simple principle to helppeople learn a new language.

The Parish hopes that in time thistype of program will be used by awide range of organisations, espe-cially government departments andwelfare agencies, to better dissem-inate information to those who areeither illiterate or partially so.

Contact Moe parish for more in-formation about supporting thisinitiative; telephone 03 5127 5206.

ABOVE: Representing Mirboo North parish at Synod were ReverendGeoff Pittaway, Lyn Eden and David Pearn.


Helping theSudanese tolearn English



Reports from schools

THE report to Synod from Moth-ers’ Union Gippsland was pre-sented by Karin McKenzie,president of the group. She high-lighted the 165 members of MUGippsland, across 10 parishes, in-cluding some lone members, whoall regularly gather for fellowshipand support. Karin spoke about theof MU members in prayer; thatworldwide MU members pray 2.8million prayers each year, a power-ful force. The MU report is repro-duced faithfully here.

AT Mothers’ Union Lady Daycelebrations last year, DeanneBray, Australian president, said:“MU is not just prayer, Bible studyand reconciliation, faith and action.MU struggles with opposition, rel-evance and credibility.”

Deanne asked: “Do we meet peo-ple where they are, or do we expectthem to be where we are? That isthe challenge today; meeting fam-ilies’ needs, often practical needs,where they are.”

Sarah Gover challenged us atJune Join In to consider the differ-ent characteristics of the variousgenerations; to inform us and to en-courage us to be relevant in the ac-tivities and programs we provide.We appreciate working coopera-tively with Anglicare.

Following establishment of theMU St Barnabas Family RetreatFund, MU invitation week is partof the program of The Abbey of StBarnabas at A’Beckett Park, onRaymond Island. This year, placeswill be offered from July 5 to 10,during the school holidays. Severalfamilies will be invited to take upthe offer of a three-night midweekbreak or a two-day weekend stay.Information about this was pub-lished in The Gippsland Anglican.

As well as supporting the MU StBarnabas Family Retreat Fund,MU Gippsland members con-tribute to the AWA project. NewtonTheological College at Popendetain Papua New Guinea, has a veryold and poorly stocked library forthe use of theological students.This, in some cases, forces bishopsto send ordination candidates over-seas for training.

The MU and AWA project seeksto provide the latest books and bestpossible research material so can-didates will be able to completetheir training in their place. Popon-deta is in a remote area. The col-lege relies on a petrol-fuelledgenerator for power, four hoursdaily.

At the MU Quiet Day at Cowes,Reverend Greg Magee said: “Godis not just a generating event, Godis Trinity”.

As MU develops its new themefor 2011, Relationship Not Rules,we are considering our relation-ships with God, through Jesus.This relationship is not a theory, itis not a set of rules to live by, butrather a reacting with, respondingto and knowing Jesus personally.

So ... as MU founder, Mary Sum-ner, saw a need to support familiesand set out to meet that need morethan a century ago, inspiring othersto join her in forming a grassrootsmovement that continues today,MU Gippsland in 2011 hopes to ar-ticulate the needs of our familiesand meet them in their place. Weneed to tell our congregationsabout our vision and plans, so thatothers may join us. Our challengeis to be visible and relevant.

Join me as I pray Mary Sumner’spersonal prayer [from 1876]. Therepresentatives at Synod joined to-gether as one in this prayer.

MU supports families

ABOVE: Reverend Stuart Lawson and Reverend Phyllis Andy were en-joying the fellowship of Synod.BELOW: The Primate, Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall and Mr RobertFordham, of Bishop-in-Council, Gippsland Diocese.


Gippsland GrammarIN 2010, Gippsland Grammar finally exceeded an

enrolment of 1000 across all three campuses. Westarted the year with 1007 students and this numbersteadily increased throughout the year, finishing withabout 1020. Much of this growth has been at St Anne’scampus where the effect of creating a two-stream ELCprogram some years ago is now being seen. This pro-gram is highly regarded within the local communityand has obviously contributed to a more consistentprep-grade enrolment now flowing through the middleyears of the primary school. The Bairnsdale campushas seen gradual growth and we added a seventh classin 2011. At the Garnsey (senior) campus, numbersheld steady, despite a smaller than usual year sevencohort. There has been significant interest during theyear in enrolment in years nine to 11, contributing tosteady enrolment growth through the year.

Infrastructure development focused on the juniorcampuses. The BER funding enabled completion ofthe old girls boarding house conversion into class-rooms for years five and six and an art room. The oldboys boarding house was transformed into a MusicCentre. The area outside these rooms was landscaped.At Lorna Sparrow Hall, the funding added a new en-trance, toilets and a function kitchen to double duty asthe school canteen.

The new multi-purpose building at the BairnsdaleCampus was ready for occupation at the beginning ofterm four. This building, named the James Beard Cen-tre in honor of our long-serving former principal, con-tains a hall, library, art room, music centre, changingrooms and function facilities. It was a particular de-light to ‘open’ this facility with the Bairnsdale musi-cal Pirates of Penzance at the beginning of term four.

The rowing facility has been significantly improvedwith a floating pontoon,achieved with help from sportcouncil grants and assistance from Wellington Shire.At the senior campus, we have installed a specialisedlong and triple jump runway and new pits, which hasled to a significant number of new school records setin these events this year. I would like to acknowledgethe work of our Business Manager, Colin Price, whomanaged these projects, along with the bureaucraticlabyrinth of BER funding.

Netbook computers were introduced into year nine in2010, enabling a very mobile use of technology withan improved wireless infrastructure allowing us to ac-commodate the research demand of these very tech-nology-aware students. This innovation flows intoYear 10 in 2011.

In 2010, the two school boards agreed to trial a jointventure over the next three years which sees Jan Henrystep into the role of Head of School at GippslandGrammar with responsibility for all operational as-pects of school life, while Mike Clapper works acrossboth schools as Executive Principal with responsibil-ity for strategic management. The two schools remainindependent with their own boards, uniforms andschool cultures.

We welcomed our new Chaplain, Jon Taylor, to theschool and were delighted to see Jon becoming or-dained during the year.

This year’s VCE results are another strong perform-ance for the school. The School’s mean ATAR (for-merly ENTER) score was 75.4, well up with theaverage over the past 10 years; 21 per cent of studentsobtained an ATAR score more than 90, putting them inthe top 10 per cent of the state. These excellent resultsin VCE courses were backed up by some very strongresults in university enhancement courses in Mathe-matics, Biology and Media/Communication.

This year has seen some changes in board member-ship with Elizabeth Davis and Bruce Savage retiring.Bishop John McIntyre continued as Chair and PeterSkeels as the Deputy Chair. Ann Mwagiru and TonyWicking, both from Bairnsdale, joined the Board andthe new Dean of the Cathedral, Donald Saines, hastaken up his ex officio position. Work by the boardover the past few years has seen the school move intoa very secure financial situation with good controlover our borrowings and a healthy operating surpluswhich will allow us to plan appropriate capital devel-opment over the years to come.

St Paul’s Anglican GrammarSchool

IN 2010 St Paul’s saw the sudden departure of theformer principal in the middle of the year, precipitat-ing a new strategic structure to be implemented, withthe principal of Gippsland Grammar, Mike Clapper,asked to assist the school establish a new executivestructure. After much discussion, the decision wastaken by the Boards of both schools to establish a jointventure over the next three years which would see aprincipal appointed at St Paul’s with responsibility forall operational aspects of school life (with a similararrangement in place at Gippsland Grammar). Ms LisaMoloney (formerly deputy principal at Radford Col-lege, Canberra) was appointed the new principal andbegan in January this year. Mike Clapper works acrossboth schools as Executive Principal with responsibil-ity for strategic management.

In the second half of the year, Ann Moxham steppedinto the position of acting principal, continuing her re-sponsibilities as Director of Curriculum. At the end ofthe year, Ann left the school to take up the position ofprincipal at Blackheath & Thornburgh College inCharters Towers, Queensland.

Infrastructure development has been focused on thejunior campuses with the BER funding allowing com-pletion early in the school year of stage two of theWarragul Junior School gymnasium, including the artroom, foyer, toilets and additional storage space. Atthe Traralgon campus, the new gymnasium was com-pleted at the very end of the year ready for the begin-ning of the 2011 school year. The decision was alsomade at the Traralgon Middle School to allow twostreams of entry at Year seven and to extend to Year 10in 2011. Consequently, demountable buildings were-purchased to form a new module, including a musicroom, art room, food technology and hard materialsroom. This will allow Middle School to offer the en-tire curriculum onsite, eliminating the need of previ-ous cohorts to travel either to Warragul or to FlindersCollege for their elective programs. I thank BusinessManager Leah Young and Property Manager MurrayDavidson in particular for their oversight in deliver-ing our facilities on time and on budget.

As always, the school has had a strong focus on com-munity service and this year, the SRC organisedfund-raisers for ‘Jeans for Genes’ and the ‘bring apresent’ appeal for underprivileged families. The pre-fects organised the ‘Largest Morning Tea’ in aid ofcancer research and many students were prepared to‘Shave for a Cure’ for the Leukaemia Foundation.The school continues its active program of commu-nity service in East Timor. The spiritual dimension ofschool life continues to be ably led by our Chaplain,Daniel Lowe, who became an ordained deacon earlyin the year.

This year’s VCE results are another strong perform-ance for the school. The school’s mean ATAR (previ-ously ENTER) score was an impressive 72.9; 22 percent of students obtained an ATAR score of more than90 putting them in the top 10 per cent of the state.

It is difficult to pick a single highlight from anothervery busy year in the school, though the outstandingschool production of West Side Story is most certainlya contender, along with the junior performance ofBeans. Other fine cultural events included the PASH(Performing Arts Scholarship Holders) concert, theyear 12 Theatre Studies production, Hoods and theCentrepiece Concert. The school enjoyed success indebating, music, drama and sport, with many suc-cesses in GIS and ICCES competition, cycling, aero-bics, equestrian and snow sports.

While all people made a contribution to St Paul’s, Iacknowledge Norman McLennan, Donna D’Arcy andRob Vermay, who all retired after many years of out-standing service. There were significant changes toboard membership in 2010. Ian Sowerby steppeddown after over 18 years of service. Ron Gowland,after 16 years; Louise Curran, Peter Rehfisch, ZvonkoMaric and Peter Holdsworth. New board members areMark McKibbin, Brendan Jenkins, Gavin Jones, TiaNavanteri, Darren Jennings, Liz Keilty, Julie Kennedyand John Mitchell as Chair after the AGM.

THE reports from Gippsland Grammar and St Paul’sAnglican Grammar schools were presented to Synodby Reverend Jon Taylor and Archdeacon Phillip Mus-ton respectively. A highlight of the schools in the pastyear was the innovative merger of strategic manage-ment, which Bishop John, in his President’s address

to Synod, stated was showing considerable signs ofsuccess for the two schools. Archdeacon Phillip spokeabout the principal of St Paul’s becoming a regular at-tendant at Sunday service. Rev. Jon spoke about theredevelopment of religious education at GippslandGrammar. The two edited reports follow.

Our Diocese - 36th Annual Synod 2011 June 2011 14


The President’s message to SynodTHE Bishop of Gippsland, Right Reverend

John McIntyre, delivered his President’s Ad-dress to Synod, held at Drouin, on May 13this year. The President’s Address is repro-duced faithfully here. The address is alsoavailable on the diocesan webpage,www.gippsanglican.org.au

THIS is the sixth time I have stood beforethe Synod of the Gippsland Diocese to ad-dress you on those matters I believe it is im-portant for us as church to focus on in ourongoing concern to be God’s people in God’sworld. I think it is fitting after five years toreflect on the changes that have taken placein the diocese in that time. These changes aredue to the committed labor of a range of peo-ple, too many to name but to whom I am im-mensely grateful.

The most exciting development to my mindhas been the way in which we have been ableto affirm ministry by and to Aboriginal peo-ple across Gippsland, highlighted by the or-dination as priest of Phyllis Andy and KathyDalton earlier this year.

In my first address to synod in 2006 I sig-nalled my intent for the diocese “to put firstour obligation to the original inhabitants ofour land in this region of Australia” andcommitted myself to “finding further sourcesof funding to enable the employment ofAboriginal people by the Anglican Churchin Gippsland, and ultimately the ordinationof Aboriginal Anglican Priests as a sign ofour affirmation of their ministry among, withand to us”.

I am pleased to say we are a significant waydown the path to realising this intent and Iacknowledge the ministry of Phyllis [Andy]and Kathy [Dalton] and the people andparishes who have supported them in min-istry.

Before synod this year is a Bill for an Abo-riginal and Torres Strait Islander PeoplesMinistry Act, which puts into legislationstructures to ensure longevity for the initia-tives taken over the past five years to estab-lish Aboriginal ministry in the diocese.

The critical question which still faces us,however, is the sustainability of this ministryby the provision of the resources necessaryto ensure its future. The Bill for an Act in-cludes establishment of a ministry trust fundwhich will take up the existing GippslandAboriginal Ministry Fund. That fund startedoff well but the initial enthusiasm has dieddown and there is a need to build its re-sources to enable ongoing sustainability ofthe ministry.

Aboriginal people recognise and are com-mitted to contributing towards the ministryof which they are a part, but it must be re-membered they do not of themselves havethe economic capacity to sustain that min-istry, being on the whole, significantly dis-advantaged economically. For this reason,they continue to need our support.

More importantly, however, I believe we

have an ongoing obligation to provide finan-cial and other resources to enable ministryby and to Aboriginal people in our diocese.This is a matter of just reparation to peoplewho were unjustly dispossessed and disen-franchised within their own land. It is the ac-tions of our forebears and our actions thathave caused their demise and their ongoingdisadvantage in our communities. As Chris-tians, I contend we are obliged as a matter offaith and its demand for justice to contributesignificantly towards this vital ministry fun-damental to the call to be church in Aus-tralian society.

Accordingly, I challenge each parish, as Icontinue to challenge Bishop-in-Council, tofind ways of ensuring the ongoing viabilityand sustainability of Anglican Aboriginalministry in Gippsland as a regular feature ofparish and diocesan life and annual budgets.

Vision for environmentA SECOND major development of the past

five years has been the vision for The Abbeyof St Barnabas at A’Beckett Park as a Centrefor Spirituality and the Environment. I be-lieve this vision to be a gift of God and I con-tinue to encourage the diocese to explore andfurther develop it. I am pleased with the wayit has been taken up by people and parishesacross the diocese, many of whom have con-tributed in various ways to the developmentthe Abbey. The winter program this year her-alds the dawn of a new era in its ministry.

Recent news that Anglican EarthcareGippsland Incorporated has received De-ductible Gift Recipient status enhances ouropportunities for fundraising for the Abbey.In the meantime, I acknowledge the way inwhich Bishop-in-Council has been willing totake some calculated risks in resource allo-cation to enable the project to develop to itspresent situation, where it sits on the cusp ofan exciting new future.

To enhance our understanding of this visionfor ministry, let me put the Abbey in per-spective as part of the greater vision of whatit means for us to be God’s people in God’sworld.

The fifth Mark of Mission of the AnglicanCommunion is “to strive to safeguard the in-tegrity of creation and to sustain and renewthe life of the earth”. This mark is taken upin the [Gippsland] Diocesan Strategic Planunder ‘The Journey Outward’ where one pri-ority is ‘Caring for God’s Creation’.

One of the questions uppermost in theminds of a vast majority of Australians is thequestion of environmental responsibility.Currently, there is no more pertinent point ofconnection with the people of our communi-ties than the environmental question. It fillsour media outlets; it consumes our govern-ments agendas and it is the topic of academicresearch and everyday conversation.

If we are not a part of conversations on theenvironment, we are missing out on a vitalaspect of our mission in the life of the worldof which we are a part. As Christians, wehave unique perspectives to bring to thismatter. Where better to do that than in a cen-tre established specifically for that purpose?How better to show our commitment to thisissue in the life of God’s world than to com-mit significant time, energy and resources toa ministry focused on spirituality and the en-vironment?

In 2008, we launched the five year Dioce-san Strategic Plan, Jesus Christ, Here andNow, for Gippsland. I remind you of its vi-sion: ‘We are a sign of the presence of JesusChrist in our communities, through whichpeople are drawn by God’s Spirit to respondto Christ and to build God’s community to-gether’.

I am encouraged by the willingness ofparishes to explore under the plan new ini-tiatives in ministry and mission and take upthe challenge to try something different aschurches to engage with their communities.

This year marks the time when we need to

begin to look forward to the five years be-yond 2013 when the current strategic plancomes to an end. I encourage parishes to bepart of the conversations to help us discernGod’s direction for the longer term ministryand mission of the diocese.

Vision for familiesONE of the key priorities for ‘The Journey

Outward’ in the Diocesan Strategic Plan is afocus on children, young people and theirfamilies. It is pleasing to see initiatives nowbeing taken across the diocese in response tothis.

Mainly Music has taken off with fantasticsuccess in six parishes and is about to beginor is being contemplated in five moreparishes. It has put us in touch with dozensof young families with pre-school childrenby responding to their need for support atthis critical time of their lives.

Six parishes now have, or are looking for,paid workers who have a special focus onchildren, young people and their families.Other parishes continue to rely on the tire-less contribution of enthusiastic and com-mitted volunteers for their children’sministry. I note with thanks those who in thepast have worked under the auspices ofCEBS, now discontinued in the diocese, andthose who continue to work under the aus-pices of GFS and ‘KidsPlus+’. I commendalso the work of those volunteers who con-tinue to offer Christian Religious Educationin government schools.

Currently we are developing a brief for apart-time diocesan-wide position for a chil-dren’s worker, which ideally would be takenup by someone already engaged in this min-istry in one of our parishes. The Cathedralparish is looking to employ a specialist youthworker next year, who would have a dioce-san-wide brief as well. This will, hopefully,help fill the gap left by the diocesan-wideyouth ministry ‘Cowwarr’, which is in recessat the moment.

Another priority of ‘The Journey Outward’in our strategic plan is ‘Serving People inNeed’. In response to the needs of significantnumbers of Southern Sudanese people mov-ing into the Latrobe Valley, we have estab-lished a Sudanese Anglican congregationunder the pastoral care of their priest, Abra-ham Maluk, and Holy Trinity Church build-ing in Moe has been given to them for use asa centre for worship and a community cen-tre. This ministry is a very significant part ofthe total response of the local community tothe needs of Sudanese people in Gippsland.I acknowledge the people of the Moe parishin their support for and generosity towardthese newcomers in our midst. We celebratewith and pray for the Southern Sudanese asthey look to the declaration of their inde-pendent national status on July 9 this year.

The Sudanese ministry is part of the flow-ering of the relationship between Anglicareand our diocese, through the parish partner-ship program, their support of ministry inMoe and our joint commitment to commu-nity development as a vital component of thechurch’s ministry and mission within the lifeof the wider community.

Within our partnership with Anglicare, Icommend to you the work of Sarah Gover,in assisting parishes better to engage withtheir communities and in helping to buildpositive relationships with Anglicare staffand programs across the diocese. She hasworked tirelessly and with passion and en-thusiasm, to motivate parishes to find waysof engaging or re-engaging with their com-munities and to see the benefits of partner-ships with Anglicare in the local context.

Vision for communityANOTHER initiative in the life of our dio-

cese in the past five years has been the es-tablishment of the Anam Cara Community.This is a ministry consistent with ‘The Jour-

ney Inward’ in our strategic plan. It encour-ages growth in the spiritual life of its mem-bership and all to whom it ministers throughquiet days, contemplative prayer services, re-treats and individual spiritual direction.Gatherings are organised by cell groups ofAnam Cara members in each region and theoverall ministry is overseen by a regularmeeting of its team leadership group. InSale, Anam Cara also runs a group called‘Circle of Friends’ for people living with arange of disabilities. A regular newsletter,Waterholes, keeps the membership in touchwith the life of the movement and is a sourceof encouragement to all who read it.

Fundamentally the brainchild of AnneTurner, to whom we owe a great debt for itsestablishment, Anam Cara has grown inleaps and bounds since its inception and re-cently expanded into the Diocese of Can-berra and Goulburn with the blessing of thatdiocese’s bishop.

Vision for schoolsTHE two Anglican schools in our diocese

now share an Executive Principal. This de-velopment emerged out of a situation of cri-sis at St Paul’s Anglican Grammar Schooland is an outstanding case of the ‘silver lin-ing’ that accompanies every dark cloud.

The turmoil of St Paul’s school last year ledto a complete spill of the board and the res-ignation of its then principal. Having soughtcounsel from the principal of GippslandGrammar School, Mike Clapper, he took upthe role of interim principal of St Paul’swhile they searched for a new principal.This temporary period of cooperation be-tween the two schools led to the current ex-perimental three-year arrangement of oneExecutive Principal for both schools, work-ing in partnership with a Head of School atGippsland Grammar and a Principal at StPaul’s Grammar. This arrangement may wellbecome permanent as together the twoschools explore and evaluate its success.

Alongside the new arrangement and coin-cidental to it, the two boards of the schoolshave been working with the diocese to pro-duce a statement on what it means to be anAnglican school. A document is soon to bepresented to Bishop-in-Council for final rat-ification and publication. I believe this marksa new beginning in the understanding of bothschools regarding their Anglican ethos. Ipray it will lead to a greater appreciation ofthe schools as part of the mission of the dio-cese by and to children, young people andtheir families and of the role of the schoolchaplains in the ministry of the diocese.

At a more mundane, but none the less es-sential level, there has been significantchange in the administrative structures of thediocese to ensure they work for us in ourministry and mission priorities.

The diocese continues to operate in threeregions, each with an Archdeacon as before,and now with a Regional Dean. Together,they form a Regional Staff, responsible in

Be a part of supporting the Aboriginal Ministry Fund

The AMF exists to resource employment of Aboriginal people in ministry; training of Aboriginal people for ministry; development of Aboriginal ministry in the community; the planting of Aboriginal churches; education of the Diocese about Aboriginal issues. Be a part of achieving these aims. Contact the Diocese of Gippsland 453 Raymond Street, Sale, Victoria PO Box 928, Sale, 3853 Telephone 03 5144 2044 Fax 03 5144 7183 Email [email protected]

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The President’s message to Synodcontinued from previous page

partnership with the bishop for ministry andmission in their region. Regional Deans takethe place of Rural Deans, their responsibilitynow covering a whole region. Regionalteams have the potential to be expanded tocover other areas of ministry.

The major part of the archdeacons time isnow taken up with diocesan-wide portfolioministries, sharing the load with me asbishop in relation to various aspects of min-istry. Together with the bishop, the dean andthe registrar, the archdeacons make up whatis now known as the Diocesan Staff, a namethat indicates their brief is diocesan-wide.Four times a year, the regional deans attendthe monthly diocesan staff meetings.

Vision for changeANOTHER new structural development is

the establishment of Panels rather than net-works to oversee various aspects of diocesanministry and mission. These panels operateby setting up working groups on an ad-hocbasis to address particular issues within theirarea of concern. Each working group has alimited life span until its particular task is ac-complished. The three panels are ParishMinistry Development, Christian Educationand Social Justice.

One working group set up by Bishop-in-Council has been the Diocesan ResourcesWorking Group. Its brief has been to makerecommendations through the Finance Com-mittee to Bishop-in-Council to ensure the re-sources of the diocese are utilised in tunewith the priorities of the strategic plan. Itswork is now completed. Its recommenda-tions include the appointment of a part-timeDiocesan Property Officer to assist parishesto fulfil their responsibility for the mainte-nance and development of properties; regu-lar parish property reviews, and a newre-investment formula for trust funds.

This short review of various aspects of ourlife as church over the last five years revealssignificant progress and leaves us with sig-nificant challenges. Not least is the challengeto respond to the telling fact that many of ourcongregations continue to age and decline innumbers. The key challenge of the DiocesanStrategic Plan is so to present the Gospel inour communities that people come to faith inJesus Christ. It is in and through the growthof the people of God that the things of Godare born more and more into the life of God’sworld. Our major focus must be to bear wit-ness to Jesus Christ in a manner that com-mends our faith to others, by which God willdraw them to share with us in ministry andmission.

Moving now to the wider church, I com-mend to you the discussion we are to haveon the covenant for the international Angli-can Communion. I am delighted the Primatehas accepted my invitation to come to oursynod this year to address issues currentlyconfronting the Anglican Communion withspecial reference to the Covenant. I willleave to his better knowledge the task of in-troducing this discussion but I take this op-portunity to comment on the Covenant.

I have to admit to being initially scepticalabout the Covenant for a couple of reasons.The first was the difficulty of trying to de-fine too closely the nature of the relationshipthat exists between those of us who partici-pate in the international family that is theAnglican Communion. As soon as you com-mit to a particular form of words there is thedanger those words will be treated as im-mutable law, rather than as a mutual agree-ment developed by consent over the years ofa relationship. In contrast to law, the lattertends to be organic and flexible. My concernwas that we not change the essential natureof our relationship from mutuality to law.

The second reason for my unease with thecovenant was the implicit understandingamong some of those who advocated for it

that it be used as a means to exclude thosewith whom they did not agree. Arising as ithas within the context of a strained, if notbroken relationship, my concern was thedanger of some in the communion wantingto use the Covenant as a mechanism of con-trol over others in the communion.

I think, however, things have moved in a di-rection that allays my initial concerns. Theintention of the Covenant should be under-stood, to quote the Study Guide on theCovenant, “as a description of life in the An-glican family, (which) contains an agreementabout what the family’s values are, what itspurpose is and how it lives together”. Toquote the covenant itself, it recognises “theimportance of renewing in a solemn way ourcommitment to one another, and to the com-mon understanding of faith and order wehave received, so that the bonds of affectionwhich hold us together may be re-affirmedand intensified”. In other words, its intent isto be descriptive rather than prescriptive. Itbears authority but not by imposition.

With the development of a Covenant itseems to me we stand at an historical mo-ment in the life of the Anglican Commun-ion. We do well to take the opportunity tocontribute to the discussion about its accept-ance within the communion. Do not think wehave nothing to offer to this process. TheAustralian Anglican Church has already con-tributed significantly to the covenant processand we will discuss at the next GeneralSynod whether or not we will be partakersin the Covenant. What we as a diocese com-mit to is an important part of the wholeprocess. I encourage the synod to enter intothe discussion with energy and enthusiasmand to encourage their parishes to come toknow the contents and intent of theCovenant.

Vision to be inclusiveCURRENTLY, the matter which continues

most to divide the Anglican Communion isthe place of homosexual people in the life ofthe church. Resolution 1.10 of the 1998Lambeth Conference encourages the wel-come and inclusion of homosexual people inthe life of the church but “could not advisethe legitimising or blessing of same sexunions, nor the ordaining of those involvedin same gender unions”. It further commitsthe church to listening to the experiences ofhomosexual people. Lambeth 2008 affirmsthe continuation of the listening process.Bishop-in-Council late last year commis-sioned a group to implement the listeningprocess in our diocese. I encourage you allto be a part of it.

It has been my experience that those whosuffer most when matters of human sexualityare discussed in the church are those whoselives are being discussed. This means it isnot easy to be homosexual in the church,even in a church that is attempting to be in-clusive and welcoming of homosexual peo-ple. It is never easy to be treated as a topic ofdiscussion rather than simply as a person.

This is one reason that I have chosen to berelatively silent in public discussion abouthomosexual people in the life of the church.The other reason for my silence is that thedebate is so polarised it is difficult to engagewithout being unfairly categorised. Never-theless, I have been publicly outspoken whenI have seen homosexual people will be fur-ther marginalised or harmed by pronounce-ments of the church and I have sought at apolicy level and in everyday practice to beinclusive and welcoming of homosexualpeople in this diocese. I believe my stancewas understood by those who, on your be-half, elected me as bishop and I therefore be-lieve this diocese is committed to that policyand practice.

In my first address to synod in 2006 I ex-pressed clearly my commitment to an inclu-sive church. This means all are welcome,simply because they are God’s children. I am

pleased that homosexual people are part ofthe life and ministry of the church in this dio-cese and I pray they continue to know theyare welcome as brothers and sisters in Christ.

I place inclusivity as a primary call on thechurch because I see it to be at the heart ofJesus’ ministry. He went out of his wayspecifically to include those whom otherssaw as sinners to be excluded. His approachto those who were offended by his inclusiv-ity was to welcome them as well, but not onthe basis that they determine who is not wel-come. The only people excluded in Jesus’scheme of things are those who excludethemselves because they do not want to be apart of a community which includes thosethey think should be excluded.

This irony is made clear in the parable ofthe Prodigal Son, better described as theparable of the two sons. At the end of thestory, the father pleads with the older son tojoin the party in which the younger son, ofwhom the older son disapproves, is alreadytaking part. A question is left hanging in theair. Will the older son accept the gracious in-vitation or will he reject it because he wantsthe younger son to be excluded? He may ex-clude himself but the father will not excludehim, just as he has not excluded the youngerson.

The clue to unravelling the parable is God’sgrace. This is why the church must above allelse be inclusive. The desire to excludemarks a lack of grace. It is not true to theheart of the God of grace and it leads tragi-cally to self-exclusion.

To be inclusive as church means, of course,people with significant differences of opin-ion on a whole range of matters are sittingalongside each other in all kinds of contextsin our diocese. This is certainly true when itcomes to the matter of the place of homo-sexual people within the life of the church.All I can hope for is we will be willing to lis-ten to each other across those differences.

For this to happen we must take seriouslythat each person of faith is open to the urgingof God’s spirit in her or his life and is tryingto live out what he or she understands itmeans to be a child of God. We will not al-ways agree on what this means, but we canagree to trust each other to be as open as wecan to hearing what God is asking of us andwe can be willing to discuss our differenceswith respect and openness. This side of thefulfilment of the reign of God, we will con-tinue to see ‘through a glass darkly’ about allmanner of things and to disagree on what itis that God is saying to us about a range ofmatters. This is simply a reality of our lifetogether. Surely it is not asking too much toinclude our differing views on homosexual-ity in this understanding of life in the church.Let us not isolate this one matter of differ-ence among us as a continuing reason for ir-reconcilable division in our communion. Letus not exclude any child of God from amongus in our continuing quest to engage withGod on any matter of faith and practice inthe church.

I will continue to welcome homosexualpeople into the life of this diocese, confidentGod is at work in and through all those whoare open to the call of God in their lives andwanting to offer ministry in the life of ourchurches.

Vision for faithTURNING now to matters in the wider

community and the world at large, I notewith interest the growing focus in the mediaon the churches and their role in society.While not always positive about the church,‘any publicity is good publicity’.

The attacks of aggressive atheism; the chal-lenge in Queensland to chaplains in govern-ment schools funded by the FederalGovernment and local challenges to Chris-tian Religious Education in governmentschools have all raised the profile of religionin society. They give us great opportunity to

address matters of faith and the church in thepublic arena.

How we do this is as important as what wesay. When attacked by aggressive atheism,which seems to understand its role as riddingthe world of religion, we do ourselves no fa-vors if we attack in return or become defen-sive. This does nothing to commend theGospel.

It seems to me the thoughtful atheist is aperson who, like the Christian, is seeking thetruth. They are simply trying to make senseof life from within a framework of not be-lieving in God. I certainly have friends whoare atheists. I can enter into dialogue withthem around the common concerns of ourhumanity, and in doing so I am given the op-portunity to make a case for my faith withina relationship of trust. We in the church needto take care that the way in which we re-spond to aggressive atheism does not harmour capacity to stay in dialogue with thoseatheists who genuinely seek the truth.

Far from attacking atheism, perhaps wemight better ask why anyone would be con-cerned about Christians promoting what liesat the heart of our faith, which is to live bygrace in all we are, do and say; to show com-passion and mercy to all; and to seek what isright and just in life for the sake of the com-mon good. We commend faith in JesusChrist by being like him, most especially inour response to those who attack us. Here isan opportunity to present Jesus Christ to theworld in which we live, not by clever argu-ment or remorseless counter-attack but by ademonstration of gracious Christlikeness.

This same is true for how we respond tothose who want to remove Christian Reli-gious Education and federally-funded chap-lains from government schools. The realityis an overwhelming majority of schools ap-preciate the time, commitment and contribu-tion from volunteer CRE teachers to the lifeof their local school. The same can be saidabout the common experience of schools thathave chaplains. Their ministry is so appreci-ated that some of the best advocates for re-taining them are the principals of the schoolsin which they minister, many of whom donot themselves profess a Christian faith.

As the Archbishop of Melbourne has pub-licly stated: “Jesus’ parables and teachings… enshrine a profound wisdom, compassionand truth which we forget at our peril”. Whywould anyone object to such values beingpromoted in the lives of children?

As the Archbishop further points out: inWestern societies “many of our finest insti-tutions, including hospitals, charities, wel-fare agencies, schools and universities have… been established on the rock of (Christ-ian) values”. These are undeniable historicaltruths that we can point to, to demonstratethe invaluable contribution the Christianfaith has made to society as Australiansknow it.

This is not to deny or to denigrate the pres-ence of other religious groups or non-reli-gious people and institutions that havecontributed to our common life. Nor is it toignore the mistakes we in the churches have

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Our Diocese - 36th Annual Synod 2011 June 2011 16



made and the things we have done of whichwe should be rightly ashamed. It is simply topoint out the huge debt Australian societyowes to Christianity. We can rightly be proudof this heritage.

At the same time, I am convinced weshould not use this heritage as a reason to de-mand a privileged place in society. For me,this is the antithesis of what Jesus wouldhave us do. What Christianity has offeredtruly in the name of Jesus is offered as gift.When we use the gift to claim privilege, wefall into some of our worst mistakes asChurch in society.

For this reason, I am happy to be on publicrecord arguing against religious exemptionto equal opportunity legislation and againstreligious opposition to human rights legisla-tion. Groups like the Australian ChristianLobby do the faith great damage in their self-interested political lobbying on behalf of thechurches they claim to represent. They castus in the guise of just another group seekingto use its electoral power to gain advantageover others. We Anglicans, along with theRoman Catholic Church, have sometimesshown we are not immune to this kind ofploy to gain advantage for ourselves. I can-not imagine anything less Christlike than thisself-serving approach to our engagementwith society. By doing this, we only provideammunition to those who seem intent on try-ing to remove religion from society.

It is my prayer that, in the growing mar-ginalisation of mainstream religion in soci-ety, we would recover something of thehumility that marks the life of Jesus. Weshould certainly continue to promote in thelife of our nation the beliefs and values at theheart of our faith. I do not believe, however,we should expect this will always lead to ourviews prevailing in the wider community,which in the past has tended to be the case.

This I think will be the case in the currentdebate on homosexual marriage. The realityis that the society of which we are a part ismoving more and more towards the view thatthe only way in which homosexual peoplecan be given equal rights before the law is toinclude their relationships within the defini-tion of marriage in the Marriage Act. In thedebate, the Churches have exactly the sameright as any other group to promote a viewof marriage consistent with what we believe.However, we do not have a right to expectthis view will prevail in the common law ofthe land.

Vision for compassionRECENT news continues to reveal the in-

adequacy of this country’s response to theplight of asylum seekers. It may be easy tojoin the chorus of condemnation againstthose who have reacted with violence in anumber of the facilities in which they arebeing held and it is true they have donethemselves no favors by doing this. But thosequick to condemn these acts of frustration,and to condemn those who in the first placerisk life and limb to get into leaky boats andattempt to make our shores, fail to under-stand the desperation of people fleeing thehorrors they have confronted in their ownhomelands only to languish, sometimes foryears, in incarceration.

We would do well to remember the wisdomwhich invites us to ‘walk a mile in theirshoes’. What would you do if your life andyour family’s lives were threatened in yourhomeland, where you had no recourse tolegal means because of discrimination andwhere you were at the mercy of an army ormarauding bands of armed militias, killing,pillaging and raping? What would you do ifwhen you got to a place of refuge you foundthere was a waiting time of up to 10 years toget ‘processed’ regarding your refugee sta-tus and even then there was no guarantee ofa new home because of the inadequately

small numbers of refugees being accepted inthe immigration policies of countries likeAustralia? What would you do if, when youfinally arrived in Australia, you and yourchildren were incarcerated in overcrowdedconditions for years? What would you do ifthe bureaucracy frustrated your every move,political expediency governed your circum-stances and shock-jock media constantly car-icatured your situation?

It is true there are untold complexities toimmigration matters but the fact remains,Christian compassion and the simple truthcan cut through anything, given the politicalwill. As a nation, we simply do not seem tohave that will, largely because of irrationalfears of stranger danger fed by prejudice andmisinformation. I applaud those who con-tinue tirelessly to address the plight of thosewho seek asylum in our country and encour-age you to join with them in this struggle forjustice in our land.

The current turmoil in so many countries inthe Middle East and North Africa reveals theindomitability of the human spirit rising upagainst dictatorial power and corruption ingovernment. We should be encouraged by it.At the same time, we should be aware of thepossibilities it brings for violence and hatredto be let loose in situations where power vac-uums are emerging. These are complex situ-ations and create opportunity for simplisticresponses. Be in prayer for those involved inthe various countries impacted by the vio-lence, both of irresponsible governments,and of opportunistic groups which use theopportunity to grasp at power and to exercisepower as irresponsibly as those who they dis-place. Remember, especially, those minoritygroups, including Christians in countries likeEgypt, who are understandably nervousabout new regimes and their intent in seekingand exercising power.

The killing of Osama Bin Laden haselicited some deeply troubling responses ofinappropriate celebration in the Westernworld. I find it hard to see justice in the sum-mary execution without trial of an unarmedman in his own home, but there is real andsymbolic significance in the demise of thisinternational icon for violence against inno-cent people. Certainly his killing reminds us‘who lives by the sword, dies by the sword’,but it also invites us to contemplate that samewisdom, if we believe the only resolution tothe international problem of violence againstinnocent people is counter-violence. BothJesus and St Paul remind us evil is overcomeby doing good, not by repaying evil for evil.

Vision for creationCLIMATE change is rightly the issue that

will not go away. There is no doubt weatherpatterns are changing and the vast majorityof scientific opinion is convinced human ac-tivity is a major contributor to those changes,with devastating impact on the lives andlivelihoods of people the world over. Bothscientists and economists are looking forways to redress our impact on the environ-ment and, while political debate continueson the best way in which to do this, the onething that seems obvious is that procrastina-tion is making our situation more tenuous,both environmentally and economically.

I am neither a scientist nor an economist,but from a theological perspective I remindyou of our God-given role in creation, to ex-ercise stewardship on behalf of God in thecare of the world of which we are a part andon which we depend for our existence. I haveno doubt Scripture teaches us, if we are wan-ton in the exercise of our stewardship ofGod’s creation we will suffer the conse-quences but if we are responsible in caringfor and nurturing God’s creation we willknow the reward in fullness of life for allpeople.

I am convinced the scientists are telling uswhat we already know theologically; that weare now suffering the consequences of our

wanton misuse of God’s creation. I urge youto listen. I am also persuaded by economistslike Ross Garnaut there are economically vi-able ways of reducing the impact of our ac-tivities on the environment. Furthermore, Iam acutely aware we live in a region forwhich strategies that impact on power gen-eration will have an effect on employment.Nevertheless, I am encouraged that new re-sponses to power generation will continue torequire a work force. While there may bedisruption to people’s lives in the changesthat are necessary if we are to be concernedfor the future of the planet and the lives ofour children and grandchildren, we must bewilling to pay the cost of change. Where newneed arises because of those changes, we asChurch must be willing to respond to thatneed.

The impact of natural disasters on peoplehas been brought home to us with unrelent-ing regularity of late. Whether here in Aus-tralia, or in New Zealand, Japan or theUnited States, it seems natural disasters ofstartling impact are striking across the world.While there is certainly the suggestion a risein sea temperatures has added to the feroc-ity of some weather patterns and that this isa result of climate change impacted byhuman activity, by and large natural disas-ters are simply natural. They do raise in-evitable questions of faith for many. ‘Whydoes God allow this to happen?’ or ‘Why isit that some [people] seem miraculously toescape death and others are tragicallykilled?’

No answer to these questions is ever ade-quate, for when people suffer, the best re-sponse is simply to wait with them in theirsuffering. Of course, this is the real answer tothe questions. God is the one who in Christnot only waits with people in their sufferingbut suffers with and for them.

Things like earthquakes, cyclones and tor-nados are what happen because the world iswhat it is. When tectonic plates in the earth’scrust grind against each other, because thatis what inevitably happens with movementsof the earth’s fractured crust, an earthquakeresults and sometimes a tsunami. Whenweather patterns develop at certain times oftheir cycle, cyclones and tornados result.There is a certain amount we can do to pre-pare for this but the rest is down to thechanges and chances of this fleeting world.

Can we blame God for this? Well, it is truethat in claiming God made the world we areclaiming God is responsible for the way theworld is. But if the world were not the wayit is, would it be an appropriate context inwhich to sustain life as we know it? If we ex-pect God to ‘chip in’ every time something isabout to happen that will not go well for us,where would be the human freedom we socherish?

I have become convinced the real problemChristians have in responding to many oflife’s tougher questions begins when we say:“God is in control”. As soon as we say that,we are left with the problem of explainingwhy this controlling God lets bad things hap-pen.

Are we ready to believe that God is notonly not in control, but God does not wantto be in control? God is not by nature a con-trolling God. God is a God who in grace setsus free to be. The only control necessary inGod’s scheme of things is self-control,which as St Paul points out, is one of the fruitof the Spirit.

Set free in the midst of a creation thatmakes our freedom possible, we live with therisks and dangers of that creation as well asits joys and possibilities. In freedom, Godentrusts creation into our hands, but Goddoes not abandon us to our own devices.God engages in creation in redemptivepower, rejoicing with us in our delight andjoy and suffering with and for us in our painand despair. We would never want God totake away our freedom when it brings de-light and joy. Why, then, do we expect God

to take away our freedom when it brings painand despair? This is the dilemma of thehuman experience lived in relationship withthe God who is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.It gives no neat answers to human sufferingbut it makes sense of the complexities of re-ality as we know and experience it.

Honoring people among usI TURN now to people matters in our dio-

cese. We welcomed a number of clergy intothe diocese last year. Graeme Peters, Rectorof Wonthaggi Inverloch, comes to us havingserved in ministry with CMS in Chile, wherehe was ordained. John Batt was inducted intothe Cooperating Parish of Neerim South,having previously served in ordained min-istry in the dioceses of Armidale where hewas ordained and in Melbourne. BishopMichael Hough is currently offering ministryas Priest Evangelist and Teacher with theBunyip congregation. Malcolm Wilson, apriest ordained in the Diocese of Bunbury,has returned to active ordained ministryamong us with the congregation at Nar NarGoon. Jo White from the Diocese of Mel-bourne is now Deacon in the TraralgonParish.

Those ordained deacon in the past 12months were Heather Blackman, to honoraryministry in the Avon Parish; Heather Cahillto honorary ministry in the Heyfield Parish,where she was ordained in St James’Church; Roger Jackman to honorary assis-tant ministry in the Croajingolong Parish;and Tom Killingbeck to Deacon-in-Chargein the Bruthen Parish.

Those ordained priest were Phyllis Andy,continuing in ministry at Lake Tyers and inthe Lakes Entrance Parish; Kathy Dalton,continuing in ministry in the Morwell Parish;Daniel Lowe, continuing as Chaplain to StPaul’s Anglican Grammar School in War-ragul; and Anne Perryman, continuing inhonorary ministry in Wonthaggi InverlochParish. It is a delight to affirm in this waytheir ministries among us and God’s call ontheir lives to these ministries.

A number of our clergy have moved withinthe diocese. Jeff Richardson has moved fromhis ministry as Rector of Bunyip to be in-ducted as Rector of Traralgon; and MarilynObersby retired from stipendiary ministry inthe Cathedral Parish. We thank God for her15 years of ordained ministry within our dio-cese, in which she has offered us much ofherself and of her gifts. Caroline Nancarrowcompletes her ministry as Rector of Avonthis month. After some time spent with fam-ily in England, she will return to Gippslandearly next year. It is fitting at this point tothank God for her invaluable ministry amongus so far and we look forward to her furtherministry among us. Neil Thompson has an-nounced his retirement in January 2012 fromthe Newborough Parish and Bob Brown willretire from the Churchill and Boolarra Yin-nar Parishes in July this year. I note this istheir last synod.

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Russell Macqueen has completed his min-istry as Rector of Maffra and Archdeacon ofthe Eastern Region and is now on long serv-ice leave. We give thanks to God for his 25years of faithful ministry in the diocese andhis 10 years as Archdeacon of the EasternRegion.

I am delighted Edie Ashley was recentlycollated as Archdeacon of the Eastern Re-gion and Jeff Richardson and Amy Turnerwere installed as Clerical Canons in theCathedral Church of St Paul last year. Welook forward to their ministry among us inthese roles and thank God for their willing-ness to respond to the call to new dutieswithin the life of the diocese. HeatherMarten has taken on extra diocesan duties inthe oversight of the professional develop-ment of clergy and church workers and ofthe safe ministry portfolio. I am thankful toher for her willingness to take on these min-istries in addition to her current diocesan du-ties as Vicar General and Archdeacon. I notewith thanks also, the ministry of Brenda Bur-ney and Sue Jacka in the area of safe min-istry.

One important aspect of the ProfessionalStandards regime of the diocese is the ne-cessity of naming a priest especially autho-rised to hear the confession of someone whohas been involved in child sexual assault.Please pray for Jeff Richardson who hasbeen so authorised.

On the matter of Professional Standards, Icommend to you the work of our Profes-sional Standards Director, Cheryl Russell.We are fortunate to have such a competentand committed professional in this importantrole in the diocese. She serves us well. Pleasecontinue to pray for Cheryl in what is a dif-ficult but necessary role.

Our retired clergy continued to serve uswell in locum ministries, in parishes await-ing a new rector and when clergy are onleave. We would be all the poorer withoutthem and I thank them for their faithful min-istry to us. I note especially the ministries ofLaurie Baker, Jim Connelly, Gordon Cooper,Ted Gibson, Fred Morrey and Ken Peters, allof whom took on extended periods of locumministry in parishes looking for a new rectorin this past year.

We welcomed into the diocese, StipendiaryLay Workers in this past 12 months. Theyare Katie Peken, who recently began pastoralministry with a focus on younger families inthe Warragul Parish; and Amanda Ballan-tyne, employed as the Children’s and FamilyWorker at the Bairnsdale Parish. Amanda isalso working in chaplaincy at the Bairnsdalejunior campus of Gippsland GrammarSchool. Penne Brook is working as LayChaplain at Gippsland Grammar School,with responsibility for development of theReligious and Values Education curriculum.

John Guy, a member of the Morwell Parish,was awarded the Order of the Medal of Aus-tralia in the Australia Day honors list for hiswork in church and community. We con-gratulate him on this high distinction. Wethank Colin Price for his ministry as theBusiness Manager of Gippsland GrammarSchool as he leaves to take up a new positionin Echuca. This year, we celebrated the min-istries of Jim Beard and Garry Gray in thelife of Gippsland Grammar School by dedi-cating a building and library at the Bairns-dale campus in honor of their contributionsto the school.

No year passes without its sadness and inthis past year we note the deaths of threemembers of the clergy who served in thisdiocese. The much-loved Canon PercyMoore had a distinguished ministry in anumber of parishes during many years in thediocese. We give thanks for his ministryamong us and also for the ministry of JohnGale and Kent Small, both of whom havedied in the past year.

Trevor Nankervis, husband to Amy Turner,the Rector of Drouin Parish, died late lastyear after a struggle with cancer. We mourn

with Amy, even as we celebrate Trevor’s life,his faithful Christian witness among us andhis support of Amy in her ministry.

Among the lay members of our diocese wenote the death of Bernie Sather from AvonParish; of Geoff Davies and Cedric Johnstonfrom Drouin Parish; of Pat Pullin, aged 105years, and Tony Carter from KorumburraParish; of Dorothy Scott, Lucy Squires, JohnWinter and Colin Kleehammer from LakesEntrance and Metung Parish; of George Ker-mode from Maffra Parish, a former memberof Bishop-in-Council and Synod and a Foun-dation Board member of Gippsland Gram-mar School; of Shirley Savige from MoeParish; and of Douglas Tookey Hodgsonfrom Westernport Parish, a former memberof Synod who died a few days after his 90thbirthday. Clearly time does not allow a fullappreciation of the ministries of these faith-ful parishioners, but each of them is remem-bered with thanks to God for theircontribution to the life and ministry of theirparishes and this diocese.

ConclusionIN conclusion, I return to where I began in

my address to review the ministry of the dio-cese over the past five years. What I hope hasbeen evident in my ministry in that time is acommitment to address the key matter ofwhat it means to be Church in a changingworld and how best we express the heart ofthe Gospel of Jesus Christ in who we are andthe way in which we do things, as much as inwhat we do and say. Behind this commit-ment lies a concern, on my part, to addresswhat we might call the culture of the church;to ask ourselves if who we are as Church isconsistent with what we proclaim as Gospel.

The over-riding mark of church cultureshould surely be grace. It is my intention toensure we continue to show God’s grace inall we are and do; in the way we express ourlife as church in every dimension of our ex-istence. In our leadership, in our member-ship, in our life together, in the way we touchthe lives of others, in the manner in whichwe are present in the community and espe-cially in the way in which we show concernfor those most marginalised in our commu-nities, I hope and pray that what shinesthrough is grace; the grace of God as re-vealed in Jesus Christ and as nurtured by thework of God’s Spirit.

Diocesan Calendar2011TBA Blessing of Ena Sheumack House; Abbey of St Barnabas at A’Beckett

Park, Raymond Island

JuneMay 27 to June 2 Reconciliation WeekMay 31 to June 3 Pilgrimage on Raymond Island; Time to journey, time to relax,

to walk and pray within the environment of the Abbey of St Barnabas. Led by Lyndon Phillips.

3 Blake Poetry Prize closing date; Exploring the Religious & Spiritual through Poetry. Australian poets to write a new work of up to 100 lines displaying a critical or sympathetic awareness of issues relating to religious or spiritual. Entry forms and information at www.nswwriterscentre.org.au or telephone 02 9555 9757

4 Conversations with a Buddhist Monk – the Christian and Buddhist traditions in dialogue; with Venerable Jampal; Anam Cara Community; 9.30am to 4pm; 198 Bowen Street, Warragul; BYO lunch; contact Carolyn Raymond, telephone 03 5191 8343 or email [email protected]

6 – 8 Diocesan Clergy Conference, Traralgon7 – 10 The spirituality of winter. A retreat at The Abbey of St Barnabas, led by

Anne Turner and The Anam Cara Community.14 – 17 The Abbey of St Barnabas, Environment Week 1A. Explore and under-

stand the interdependence of all life and our role in its nurture and practical aspects of living a sustainable lifestyle. Led by Dr Ann Miller and the Environmental Task Force.

15 Mothers’ Union June Join In, Morwell, 10am; BYO lunch15 Vocational Training Day, Growth in Ministry Training Day, Supervisor

Training; Bishopscourt, Sale16 Vocational Training Day, Growth in Ministry Training Day, Intentional

Pastoral Practice Seminar; Bishopscourt, Sale17 – 18 Growth in Ministry Intensive; Bishopscourt, Sale17 – 19 The Abbey of St Barnabas, Environment Week 1B. Explore and under-

stand the interdependence of all life and our role in its nurture and practical aspects of living a sustainable lifestyle. Led by Dr Ann Miller and the Environmental Task Force.

18 Safe Ministry Seminar: Bullying and Boundaries; for clergy, stipendiary lay church workers and lay readers; 10am to 12noon; Rosedale; contact Diocesan Registry, telephone 03 5144 2044 or email [email protected]

19 Bishop John McIntyre in Moe parish19 – 25 Refugee Week21 – 24 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Welcoming the Stranger A. Talking with those

who have sought refuge in our land, engaging together in struggle and journey; matters of faith and life. Led by Dr Don Saines, Cathedral Dean.

24 – 26 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Welcoming the Stranger B. Talking with those who have sought refuge in our land, engaging together in struggle and journey; matters of faith and life. Led by Dr Don Saines, Cathedral Dean.

28 – July 1 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Fire, Textiles and Prayer A. The drama of fire and the journey of faith, explored through the creativity of textiles and color. Hosted by Rosemary Pounder, led by Anne Connelly.

July1 – 3 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Fire, Textiles and Prayer B. The drama of fire

and the journey of faith, explored through the creativity of textiles and color. Hosted by Rosemary Pounder, led by Anne Connelly.

3 - 10 NAIDOC week5 – 8 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Mothers’ Union Invitation Week A. At the

invitation of Mothers’ Union, a few days out for families who need a little R&R at the Abbey at A’Beckett Park. Expression of interest to Mothers’ Union President, Karin McKenzie, PO Box 3, Leongatha, 3953.

8 – 10 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Mothers’ Union Invitation Week B. At the invitation of Mothers’ Union, a few days out for families who need a little R&R at the Abbey at A’Beckett Park. Expression of interest to Mothers’ Union President, Karin McKenzie, PO Box 3, Leongatha, 3953.

12 – 15 The Abbey; Social Justice and the Environment . The nexus between faith, environment and justice. Led by Sue Jacka and Bruce Charles.

15 – 17 The Abbey; Social Justice and the Environment. A program for young adults. Led by Sue Jacka and Bruce Charles.

19 Refugee Week service; Moe; contact Sarah Gover, telephone 03 5144 1100 or 0458 450370

19 – 22 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Environment Week 2A. Exploring understand-ing of the interdependence of all life and our role in its nurture and practical aspects of living a sustainable lifestyle. Led by Dr Ann Miller and the Environmental Task Force.

23 St James’ Orbost annual dinner cabaret revue; Beauty and the Beast22 – 24 The Abbey of St Barnabas; Environment Week 2B. Exploring an under-

standing of the interdependence of all life and our role in its nurture and practical aspects of living a sustainable lifestyle. Led by Dr Ann Miller and the Environmental Task Force.

24 Anglican Women of Australia Sunday; contact Pat Cameron 03 5147 199026 – 29 The Abbey of St Barnabas, Raymond Island; Work Week 1 A. Work and

prayer working together. Leader, Brian Turner.29 – 30 Messy Church conference; Melbourne; contact Sarah Gover, telephone

03 5144 1100 or 0458 45037029 – 31 The Abbey of St Barnabas, Raymond Island; Work Week 1 B. Work and

prayer working together. Leader, Brian Turner.

NB: All information in this calendar is correct at the time of TGA going to print.The Right Reverend John McIntyreBishop of Gippsland



SYNOD received update reportson two motions from 2010: 123/12Impact of Alcohol on the Commu-nity; and 126/10 Foundations ofthe Faith (Synod Resolution117/09).

In reporting on 123/10 Impact ofAlcohol on the Community, Rev-erend Sue Jacka (right) spokeabout her disappointment trying toengage parishes in dialogue aboutthis issue. She referred to a numberof published articles in The Gipps-land Anglican and discussion withpeople across the diocese. Shespoke about an article prepared byRev. Dr Graham Toohill on the im-pact of alcohol on people and com-munities.

Sue has been disillusioned by thelack of feedback and slow take-upof this topic within parishes. Ashow of hands indicated a numberof people at Synod interested inparticipating on a voluntary SocialJustice Panel, ongoing from Synod.

Reporting on 126/10 Foundationsof the Faith, Rev. Greg Magee re-ferred to “robust discussion at awell attended seminar” in Sale ear-lier this year, with guest speakerRev. Dr David Powys. He referredto the members of the theologyworking group and the support ofThe Gippsland Anglican in the pasttwo years, publishing articles tostimulate debate, including the ex-tensive coverage in TGA beforeand after the recent seminar. Heconfirmed the theology working

group had plans for further work-shops and seminars.

Rev. Greg also committed theworking group to, if proposed mo-tion NM4 was passed at Synod,taking on responsibility for facili-tating discussion in the diocese.

Proposed motion NM4 becameResolution 142/11 Study ofBishop’s Charge and Primate’sSermon, which, in part, resolved touse the Bishop’s Charge and Pri-mate’s sermon to engage parish-ioners in discussion and learning,including inviting the theologyworking group to formulate ques-tions to facilitate this discussion.

Both the Bishop’s Charge and thePrimate’s sermon are published infull in the June issue of The Gipp-sland Anglican. This publicationwill enable parishioners to engagein the debate.

By Jeanette Severs

Follow up on past Synod

IN reporting to Synod on the five-year diocesan strategic plan,Archdeacon Heather Marten notedthe plan is due to come to a con-clusion at Synod 2013. BishopJohn McIntyre provided an evalua-tion of the strategic plan in hispresident’s address to Synod.

Three parishes reported on im-plementation of the diocesanstrategic plan and, in particular,Rosedale parish reported on theirrole in assisting people with a‘hand up’ rather than a ‘hand out’.

Reverend Lyndon Phillips, ofRosedale, reported firstly on initia-tives to determine the needs ofyouth in the community. Much ofthe parish’s focus has been on con-versation with the community.Partnered with Life FM, the parishheld a community sausage sizzle.

Parish council donated onemonth’s takings to a flood affectedparish in Bendigo diocese. Theparish has also formed a scholar-ship for a student at the local pri-mary school, to assist withtransition to the secondary school.Rather than give the studentmoney, the funds have been de-posited with the school, the helpdefray costs for the student’s edu-cation.

A craftsperson with special needsin the community needed assis-tance with managing money andselling their goods, so Rosedaleparish has helped that person learnthe skills to take more responsibil-ity for their finances and afford astall at the regular craft market,where they are able to sell theircraftwork.

“It is about a hand up, rather thana hand out,” said Rev. Lyndon.

Ida Hysop reported on how BassPhilip Island parish is travelling the

journey inward and outward. Shereported on the renovations of thehall at Cowes, which has broughtmany members of the wider com-munity into the hall.

“We have heard it referred to asthe community center,” she said.

Ida reported how the congrega-tion had demolished the fence out-side the church and, withagreement and financial support ofthe shire council, the congregationhas installed seats for public use.

“People are again using thechurch grounds,” Ida said.

In San Remo, the parish began aregular soup and sandwich lunch,now supported by the localBendigo Community Bank. Thechurch rooms are also being usedby community groups for theirmeetings.

Rev. Jenny Ramage, of Korum-burra parish, spoke about increasedopportunities to develop biblestudy groups and people’s in-creased involvement in worship.This included children in worship,assisting at the front of the churchand the high table.

“We’re becoming more aware ofour involvement in the communityas God’s people,” Rev. Jenny said.

The annual Christmas activity atPoowong attracts more than 200people from the community. Reg-ular monthly services at Poowonghave increased from two people to40 people, and children are very in-volved in the service, Rev. Jennysaid.

Archdeacon Heather Marten, onbehalf of Bishop-in-Council, sug-gested a review of the strategicplan’s implementation and invitedsuggestions for the next diocesanstrategic plan, to be launched atSynod in 2013.

Giving a hand up not a hand out

ABOVE: Concentrating on the proceedings of Synod were Rose La Vie and Beverley Littlejohn from BoolarraYinnar parish, Chris Bennie from Bunyip parish and Jan Misiurka, Helen Davis, Reverend Neil Thompson andHeather Quake, from Newborough parish.


A BILL to make further provision forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Min-istry in the diocese of Gippsland was put toSynod. The Bill aimed to establish a trustfund under the Anglican Diocese of Gipp-sland Trusts Corporation.

Bishop John previously pointed out theAboriginal Ministry Fund, while initiallyattracting support, had experienced a wan-ing of funds. It was the intent of Bishop inCouncil to establish further provision forthis ministry, within a new vehicle butunder the auspices of the existing TrustsCorporation, already administered by thediocese.

Ms Rowena Armstrong, QC and Chan-cellor of Synod, explained the legislationenables a trust fund to be created; shepointed out a trust fund cannot happenwithout legislation.

The proposed Bill also enabled establish-ment of a ministry committee, of theBishop, two people elected by Synod andat least four people appointed by Bishop inCouncil in consultation with elders of theAboriginal communities in Gippsland. Theministry committee’s purpose was to makerecommendations to Bishop in Council forthe development of ministry by and toAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peo-ples, the development of congregations,training in ministry, resourcing of ministryand education and awareness of the min-istry.

The proposed Bill also enabled arrange-ments to be made for the care of a churchor building or other property set aside forAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Min-istry and contains transitional provisionsfor appointment of two members of theministry committee by Bishop in Council.

The Bill was passed by Synod.

Elections at SynodONE clergy and two lay positions became

vacant on Bishop in Council, with the ex-piration of the sitting members terms. Rev-erend Barbara Logan’s term expired andshe was re-elected to Bishop in Council.Mr Peter Down’s and Mr Roger Jackman’sterms had expired, creating two lay vacan-cies. Mr Down was eligible for re-electionbut Mr Jackman was no longer eligible fora lay role since he was ordained deacon. MrDown was re-elected to Bishop in Council.

Bill enablestrust fund

TOP: Dr Neale Taylor of Bishop in Council and diocesan so-licitor, Viv Braham.ABOVE: Reverend Sue Jacka, from Trafalgar and Von Dubbeldof Croajingolong parish.BELOW: Ida Hysop of Bass Philip Island parish and ThelmaHicks, from Yarram parish.




Call for mediationA MOTION requesting support

for people not accepted for ordina-tion, moved by Kath Grandy ofLakes Entrance and Metung parish,received a great deal of support atSynod. The notice of motion,NM/6, was put forward to enabledevelopment of a mediationprocess to provide spiritual direc-tion and support, such as pastoralcounselling, for people who haveentered the selection process to-wards possible ordination but werenot selected.

Kath Grandy (right) spoke aboutthe time and effort an individual,supporting parish and the dioceseputs into the period of discernmentand the distress that occurs whenthe person feels a genuine call toordination but is not accepted.

“A mediation process might en-able people to come to a morepeaceful understanding of whytheir calling does not lead to ordi-nation,” Kath said.

Ruth Cross, in seconding the mo-tion, also spoke about the impor-tance of providing counselling forthose who supported the personseeking ordination.

Reverend Caroline Nancarrowspoke about her own experienceand pain of being rejected initiallyin her journey of being called andtravelling towards ordination. Car-oline spoke about the need for a

mechanism to debrief and help theperson with a calling to move on,so they can be validated.

Rev. Barbara Logan spoke abouther experience supporting peoplewho have felt rejected by thechurch for their calling.

The motion became resolution143/11 Support for those not ac-cepted for ordination: That thisSynod requests Bishop in Councilto put in place a process to providespiritual direction and pastoralcounselling for those who have en-tered the selection process towardspossible ordination as deacon orpriest but have not been selected.

By/Photo: Jeanette Severs

WHEN the diocesan budget wasput to Synod, Reverend Dr GrahamToohill (right) queried the lack ofexpenditure by the diocese on over-seas mission. He put forward a no-tice of motion, NM/7 Support foroverseas missions.

In putting the motion, Graham,with considerable experience inoverseas mission, referred to thediocesan strategic plan and itsfocus on the journey inward andthe journey outward. Overseas mis-sion is looking outside ourselvesand should be a diocesan responsi-bility, he said.

“We have begun and successfullycontinue to support Aboriginalministry, we should also be look-ing at our responsibilities for mis-sion overseas,” he said. He wassupported by Rev. Graeme Peters,(above far right) who also has con-

siderable experience in overseasmission work, who spoke about theimportance of overseas ministryand theological training.

Archdeacon Phillip Muston re-ferred to parish support for over-seas mission, as well as theongoing diocesan support for

Gahini diocese, in Rwanda.Synod supported the motion,

which became 144/11 Support forOverseas Missions: that the Gipps-land diocese includes a budget itemcommitted to overseas mission inevery annual budget.

By/Photos: Jeanette Severs

A POLARISED debate at Synodon climate change and the impactof carbon and other emissions sawCanon Jeff Richardson (right) putforward a motion, NM/5 Impact ofcarbon and other emissions, seek-ing a working group to be formedof Gippsland Anglicans and thosewithin the diocese who would seekadvice about the impact of carbonand carbon dioxide emissions onpeople, the natural environment,health impacts and, based on sci-entific and health research, makerecommendations to Synod 2012based on their deliberations.

Jeff Richardson, in talking to hismotion, detailed the considerablehealth effects perceived by people living in the Latrobe Valley andqueried whether we should be accepting these effects or seekingmore information and action. He expressed concern about thehealth effects on people and the environment across Gippsland.

Jordan Breed, Youth Synod representative, referring to his sci-ence qualifications, research knowledge and ongoing study in med-icine, supported Jeff’s argument.

The motion was carried, becoming 137/11 Impact of carbon, car-bon dioxide and other emissions. A working group will be formedto (i) seek advice from the experts as to what the impact of car-bon, carbon dioxide and other emission is on the people living inGippsland; (ii) extend the parameters of this research to includewhat impact carbon, carbon dioxide and other emissions are caus-ing to the natural environment in which we live, work and haveour being; (iii) review and collate the scientific and health researchalready undertaken into the matters which are the subject of (i)and (ii); and (iv) report to the final session of this Synod to be heldin 2012, with recommendations as to any statement of policy orother action it believes Synod should take as a result of the work-ing group’s deliberations.

A number of people volunteered to participate in the workinggroup, including Jeff Richardson, Jordan Breed, Dr GrahamToohill and Jeanette Severs (Editor of The Gippsland Anglican).

Synod supports investigation ofcarbon on health

Well done, Drouin parish

SYNOD passed 145/11 a mo-tion of appreciation which in-cluded commending Drouinparish, especially ReverendCanon Amy Turner, Mr MaxHine and Mrs Janet Pursell, fortheir hospitality and care inhosting the Synod session. Ap-preciation was also noted forthe registry staff for theirpreparatory work for Synod.

The motion of appreciationencompassed the Bishop forhis leadership of Synod and hispresidential address; the Pri-mate for his sermon and ad-dress to Synod on the AnglicanCommunion Covenant; and theChancellor and officers ofSynod, the Chair and DeputyChair of Committees, the cler-ical and lay secretaries and thetimekeeper.

ABOVE: Janet Pursell, IrisMaxfield, Ruth Green andColin Maxfield enjoyed look-ing after Synod attendees,along with their parish contem-poraries (above right) BarbaraWillingham and Lorraine Kin-rade and (right) Ian Gaffneyand Geoff Willingham.


Overseas mission will focus in budget

20 Our Diocese - Reconciliation Week at The Abbey of St Barnabas June 2011


THE Abbey of St Barnabas hosted a flag raising ceremony and demonstration of local Aboriginal culture and artifacts onMay 31, during Reconciliation Week. Grattan Mullett, Ian ‘Shadow’ Wilson, Nicki Moffatt, Colin Hood, Les ‘Bluegum’Cooper and Wayne Thorpe represented the Krowathunkooloong Keeping Place, in Bairnsdale. Local students participatedin dance, song and art sessions, learnt about bush tucker and medicine plants and were introduced to a range of artifactsand heritage pieces, including the possum skin cloak held by Bluegum and Colin above.


ABOVE: Reverend Marilyn Obersby and Dr Ann Miller.BELOW: Les ‘Bluegum’ Cooper, a respected Gunai/Kurnaiman, raised each of the three flags at A’Beckett Park.


THE Abbey of St Barnabas hosted aFestival of Aboriginal Culture duringReconciliation Week. Local schoolchildren attended, along with residentsof Raymond Island, the surroundingdistrict and the diocese of Gippsland.

Men of the Gunai/Kurnai people andsupporters from theKrowathunkooloong Keeping Placeand Gippsland and East GippslandAboriginal Cooperative, brought theirknowledge and artifacts to share.

Grattan Mullett welcomed attendeesto the country and Bishop John McIn-tyre welcomed attendees to the Abbey,an asset of the Diocese of Gippsland.

LEFT: Local musician, Nicki Moffatt,sang a song he wrote about his son,who was always asking questions;Nicki used both guitar and didgeridoofor his music.

RIGHT: Les ‘Bluegum’ Cooper talkedto the children about bush tucker andmedicines. He showed how to makesoap, how to tend a wound and whatsort of foods make for good eating, in-cluding this bottlebrush flower, whichprovides a sugary drink.ABOVE: Grattan Mullett spoke abouta number of ceremonial and historicalartifacts brought from the KeepingPlace. He described the importance ofthe detailed art on many of the itemshe showed, including this didgeridoo.Other items included a carved emuegg, a range of boomerangs from the1920s to modern day, throwing sticks,clapping sticks, spears, clubs and bas-kets. A highlight for attendees was thepossum skin cloak, made of red andgrey possum and with local totemspainted on the underside.


Documents

The Gippsland Anglican, June 2011