AnnualReport2023

Group

Broadcast Ministry

Current Office Bearers:

To provide broadcast facilities for worship services to a global audience. To record and create DVD’s for distribution to GWUC members and other interested parties. To create and support an in-home and hospital ministry. To record significant worship and other events. To provide technical assistance to both the Ministry team and other worship space users.

Membership numbers:

WarrenGreenwood is contact point

Usual meeting attendance:

5

Meeting times and days:

Locations used by Group:

As & when required, online or at GWUC

Highlights of the year:

GWUC – Beeac, Kerang, Johnsonville, Trafalger, and many others and a global audience. Average “hits” each week = 250

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

• Weekly worships were viewed and supported by over 200 to 250 logins each week despite live worship resuming, Prayers and Reflections continued to be viewed by more than 50 persons each week (on average). As well as congregations near and far away, many of our own members, shut-ins or just persons having a rest, still enjoy logging into the services each week rather than attending. They have told us they still feel a part of the congregation when they do that.
• There are now over 394 people (50% increase globally on 2022 numbers) who have “Subscribed” to this ministry on YouTube and our website, and who receive an automatic email whenever we are streaming worship.
• The ability to stream funerals and other special events has been of great support for families with members unable to get to the event, and the wider community, with these services being viewed local/interstate/overseas.
• We have been blessed by a young member of the congregation wanting to learn and participate in this ministry (Danial Wojak) who has become very competent and of great assistance. Others are also showing an interest in learning.
• The professional and supportive participation of the Ministry team in this outreach. It has been hard for them to engage with members of the congregation through a camera, but they have been wonderful. Understanding how to use microphones and also understanding how their image and stories are shown in many other churches has helped lift the quality of our ministry. Not all of the leaders of worship have understood these challenges, but the broadcast team have worked with them and tried to “make them look good” as the saying goes.
• We get a great deal of feedback and appreciation from many people on how they enjoy the worship options.

Report prepared by:

In particular, we would like to thank the ministry team for their co-operation and creative planning of worship. They have done a spectacular job under difficult circumstances.
Continue to help all leaders of worship understand that the congregation each week is not those they see in the pews and to learn that things they show need to be visible in many different locations and so need thought when using them.
Copyright continues to be a challenge in this ministry – Synod does not provide adequate support, but fortunately places like CCLI have a wonderful help desk. But in the end, the Broadcast team and the Ministry do what they believe is fair and appropriate and always try to ensure creators of words and vision are acknowledged for their creative input.

Group

Church Council

Current Office Bearers:

The Church Council shall give priority in its life to building up the Congregation in faith and love, sustaining members in hope, and leading the Congregation to a fuller participation in Christ’s mission in the world. This priority shall be reflected in the agenda of its ordinary meetings.” (UCA Regulation 3.1.2a)

Membership numbers:

Chair: AlisonClarkson
Secretary: DavidMorgan

Usual meeting attendance:

9

Meeting times and days:

8

Locations used by Group:

Third Monday of each month on Zoom

Highlights of the year:

Zoom

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

* Committing to fund two full time ministers.
* Finding two full time ministers. Thank you JNC2022

Report prepared by:

Group

Database Users

Current Office Bearers:

To maintain the church rolls in the database.

Membership numbers:

Convenor: DavidMorgan

Usual meeting attendance:

12

Meeting times and days:

Locations used by Group:

Meeting as needed but mainly by email

Highlights of the year:

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

* Having RussellGreenwood improve the security of the database.

Report prepared by:

Group

Finance Committee

Current Office Bearers:

The Finance Committee is a sub-committee of the Church Council. The Finance Committee works to ensure that information about the life of the congregation is compiled and communicated effectively. That members of the congregation know what is going on in terms of all Financial information required for the effective running of the Church.
The Finance Committee maintains all financial records in terms of required Accounting practices. The Finance Committee oversees the audit processes (external) completed annually.
Specifically, the Finance Committee's role is to:
1. oversee and coordinate all Finance documents and materials across the congregation ensuring that they are done in a timely and inclusive manner;
2. introduce new methods of finance management and process as appropriate eg change to using Xero in 2022 and the presentation of a Monthly Executive summary using a suite of Management Reports;
3. facilitate the production of a Budget and then Financial Accounts in a variety of formats (to bring the congregation together through the use of information and management reporting);
4. ensure that all church finance communications are clear, appropriate and that no bias or offensive content is present and that all assumptions are readily explained;
5. continue to develop our Finance automation using Xero in 2023 and 2024 and improving our process and authorities;
6. maintain all records of funds received and expenses incurred in appropriate formats as used by GWUC;
7. seek to make best use of Standard accounting methodologies to present material to publicise our financial Accounting position to all parties within the GWUC community using current methodoly;
8. liaise with Property Committee and make use of, and manage, any external rental activities and ensure these are recorded and managed effectively;
9. take advantage of all available information to present our Accounts and financial information for Audit in a timely fashion and ensure external Audit is finalised by mid-Year;
10. publicise and communicate Presbytery and Synod directives and activities and events in relation to Finance activities; and
11. encourage, support and assist all forms of Finance Committee communications across GWUC.

Membership numbers:

Coordinator: Ken Couts

Usual meeting attendance:

Five members plus usually a member of the ministry team in 2023 and Committee members have agreed to continue. With Retirement of Rev NeilPeters we need to assess options.

Meeting times and days:

Bi-Monthly or tri-monthly. Had 4 meetings in 2023 plus a Christmas get together

Locations used by Group:

Second Tuesday bi-monthly 7.30PM- 9.30PM with a Christmas meeting in December

Highlights of the year:

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

A meeting room or Office at the church. .December meeting is a morning tea or breakfast at Convenor’s home

Report prepared by:

During 2021
* The Finance Budget and expenditure Items were approved and we ended with a sound and strong financial result for 2023. We have transferred funds to assist in rebuilding our Deferred Maintenance Reserve after significant spending from the Deferred Maintenance Reserve to update Carpets, Televisions and sound system.
* ideas for Changes to process our financial Accounts and activities format have been reviewed and were implemented in 202 and updated in Mid-2023 post successful Conversion to Xero.
* Treasurer confirmed for further 2-3 years from January 1, 2022 and this was confirmed in Dec 2023.
* Implemented a Standardised monthly Executive Suite of Reports.
* Received advices in November 2023that Kingsway Welfare Foundation has been registered as a Charity. Still await approval of Tax status from ATO.
* Successfully seeded the Future Fund during 2023 and will have a Balance of $10,500 as at 31 Dec 2023
* Have completed draft communication documents for The Future Fund and these will be communicated across our Congregation in period of April- June 2024.
* Audit completed and Endowment fund incorporated in GWUC Financials for 2022 year and Audited in June 2023.
* Strong year rebuilding our Balance Sheet. We are in an excellent position.

Group

FISH - Yellow

Current Office Bearers:

To provide social networks under the umbrella of FISH groups.
Members also care for each other pastorally.

Membership numbers:

The convenors in 2023 have been Anne and Ian McMillan.
The convenors in 2024 will be Geraldine and Robert Fleming.

Usual meeting attendance:

We have 24 members including Donna and Jim Robinson, in Canada.

Meeting times and days:

We usually have about 18 members, at most meetings.
Meeting times and days:

Locations used by Group:

Meetings are held every 6-8 weeks, mostly Sundays for afternoon tea, lunch or dinner.

Highlights of the year:

We mostly meet in members’ homes.
Highlights of the year:
We celebrate members’ special birthdays and anniversaries. There is a high level of fellowship within the group. Some members meet at other times for coffee.
We mostly meet in members’ homes.

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

We celebrate members’ special birthdays and anniversaries. There is a high level of fellowship within the group. Some members meet at other times for coffee.

Report prepared by:

None.

Group

GOMER

Current Office Bearers:

A Fellowship group for retired men

Membership numbers:

DavidMorgan convenor

Usual meeting attendance:

30

Meeting times and days:

15

Locations used by Group:

Mondays 10am

Highlights of the year:

Fellowship area and kitchen

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

A more settled year of meeting at the church. We now use Piatella for coffee, supplemented by hot chocolate made in the church kitchen. We have assumed responsibility for putting out the bins. We miss the lake walk, but Madelines remains closed on Mondays, and meeting at the church has advantages of less noise and controlled ventilation during the ongoing pandemic.

Report prepared by:

Group

GWSC pancakes

Current Office Bearers:

To provide pancakes on a Thursday morning at Glen Waverley Secondary College.

Membership numbers:

Loosely organised via Signal app

Usual meeting attendance:

9

Meeting times and days:

6

Locations used by Group:

Thursday mornings during school term.

Highlights of the year:

By the music room aat GWSC

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

* Continuing without Alanee.
* Having extras from outside our congregation.
* Having NeilPeters and LindaLi fill in for us.
* Recruiting ChrisWaddell
* Having teachers tell us that "Thursdays are different thanks to you"

Report prepared by:

Group

UCAF

Current Office Bearers:

To enable members to share in Christ’s mission, meeting together for Fellowship, Service and Worship

Membership numbers:

President/Secretary: MargaretDuncan
Vice President: BarbaraThompson
Treasurer: Norma Saxton
Membership numbers:

Usual meeting attendance:

30

Meeting times and days:

22

Locations used by Group:

First Tuesday of the month at 10.00 am

Highlights of the year:

Fellowship area and Chapel
Highlights of the year:
Thought provoking devotions at each meeting.
Commitment Service.
Easter Service.
Guest speakers:- David Fraser, David Karoly, Bill Norquay, Dr. Anne Newton,Kirsty Porter (Umbrella Dementia Cafes), Rev. Graham Bartley.
A music group from Wesley College entertained us before a fund raising luncheon. We were able to pass $1072.40 to our Welfare group.
Fellowship area and Chapel

Any needs that Church Council can assist:

Thought provoking devotions at each meeting.
Commitment Service.
Easter Service.
Guest speakers:- DavidFraser, DavidKaroly, BillNorquay, Dr. AnneNewton,Kirsty Porter (Umbrella Dementia Cafes), Rev. Graham Bartley.
A music group from Wesley College entertained us before a fund raising luncheon. We were able to pass $1072.40 to our Welfare group.

Report prepared by: