MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION

HELD 4th SEPTEMBER, 2007 Meeting chaired by Murray Lowe, Chairperson of the Congregation.

1. WELCOME

   • The Chairperson MurrayLowe, welcomed 64 members to the meeting.

2. DEVOTIONS were led by GrahamLockhart using Psalm 119 – and spoke of the contrast between tranquillity and the pain and suffering of others.

   • APOLOGIES were received from: BevLennon, JohnDeRavin, RewaFeenaghty, IrisPederick, those members in Deo Volenté, JanClarke, BrianClarke, AlisonDingwall, JessieMorgan. CONSENSUS Murray explained the Consensus method of ‘voting’, and advised that this would be used at this meeting.

3. MINUTES of the meeting held 14th May, 2007 were accepted as a true record.

4. MATTERS ARISING FROM MINUTES – Nil

5. MINISTRY TEAM REPORT
   

   • Rev. Lynette Dungan gave a brief report to the meeting and noted:
     • Alanee Hearnshaw has been attending a conference, including the Greenbelt Festival, in the U.K.
     • Kombi ministry is continuing well.
     • Bronwyn Lowe and Laura Morgan – undertaking internships at GWUC.
     • Alison Dingwall is on leave for a few months, and Elwyn Pederson is filling her role
     • Rev. Wal Baker and Elwyn Pederson doing pastoral visiting.
     • Lynette Dungan continuing in pastoral visiting, preaching and leading worship. Making significant progress on her thesis.
     • Lynette led a prayer seminar at Boronia UC.
     • Part of a team of Spiritual Directors for 17 lay pastors regarding transition into Ordination.

     • Carolyn Blakemore has been undertaking visitation with Lynette, and assists ministers with organization of events etc in her role in Family and Children’s Ministry.
       

     Rev. Greg Fry also gave a report and outlined a ‘fairly normal’ week – “65 hours is 65 hours”! He noted:
     • the recent Worship workshops were beneficial.
     • will be attending Synod, and assisting with the IT.
     • involvement with BOMAR review.
     • Presbytery work.
     • the purchase of a mobile phone – ministers always contactable.
     • has purchased a house a Hastings – which affords him some ‘time-out’.

6. CHURCH COUNCIL REPORT – given by GraemeFrecker, Chairperson of Church Council. Graeme gave a comprehensive report and noted:

   • Building progress. Planning permit received. Contract with J.D. King to build 2 Manses, and Annex to the present complex. Fixed price contract – money from sale of 5 Berkley Court will cover costs. Work to begin immediately after Fete. Finished by 2nd quarter of next year.
   • Annex – discussions will be held on ‘how to use appropriately’. Minister will use part of it as an office. Questions re the building were asked and answered. The members of the ‘Building Committee” – John Colvin, Ross Lennon, Herb Fleming, Warren Greenwood, Roger Vass and Graeme Frecker – were thanked for all their work. The meeting responded with acclamation.

   • Future of Ministry Team – Church Council had obligation to fill vacancies. Presbytery approval given for only 3 months. Pastoral Relations Committee –Presbytery – will have discussions to ‘see how things are going’. The roles of the members of the Ministry Team has been discussed and a report given to Church Council. It is working well.
     

     • 2008 – yet to come to decisions about future appointments.
   • Council Committees – some committees disbanded and their work transferred to Ministry Team and other committees.
     • Worship – referred to Elders and Ministry Team
     • M.O.S.E.S. – the work of this committee has been distributed among the Social Justice Network, and the development of the internships [funding from Commonwealth Govt. to support these internships].
     • KOMBI KREW – not funded directly through church budget. How will this be supported in the future?

     • Finding people for jobs – there is concern here – are we spreading ourselves too wide – should we do less, but do it better? Graeme mentioned Iris & Leon Pederick who will be leaving GW in the near future. Iris has been organising the Music Roster, and Leon the Cleaning and Lawn Mowing Roster.

     • Budget Formation 2008
       

       • We are facing a deficit of $40-$50 thousand dollars. We need to raise $10,000 above and beyond normal giving to ensure we will not have too large a deficit. Many decisions to be made. Can we afford two full-time Ministers of the Word? Do we need to reduce our giving to Mission and Service?
         These questions need to be considered by the end of 2007.
         

     Graeme moved that the report of Church Council be received.
     Questions were asked and answered.
     The report was received by Consensus.
     MurrayLowe thanked GraemeFrecker for his comprehensive report, and expressed appreciation for all the hard work.

7. CONGREGATION OUTREACH PROJECT Rev. Bill Morgan brought to the meeting the report of the Mission Outreach Committee [attached]. This report was circulated to the meeting. Bill then spoke to the written report – and questions were asked and answered.
   

   • The recommendations were then put to the meeting separately.
     Bill Morgan gave details of Vanuatu Eye Care. Questions were asked and answered. Moved Bill Morgan, seconded Kaye Mackinnon that Vanuatu Eye Care be one of the recipients of the 2007 Outreach Project – amount $5,000. Vote taken – the meeting gave Consensus with strong support.
     Robin Pope gave details of the Asylum Seekers Project. Questions were asked and answered. Moved Bill Morgan, seconded Robin Pope that Asylum Seekers Project – through Hotham Mission [Nth Melbourne UC be one of the recipients of the 2007 Outreach Project – amount $9,000. Vote taken – the meeting gave Consensus with strong support.
     Meagan Lowe gave details of Friends of Baguia – East Timor. Questions were asked and answered. Moved Bill Morgan, seconded Meagan Lowe that Friends of Baguia – East Timor be one of the recipients of the 2007 Outreach Project – amount $1,000. Vote taken – the meeting gave Consensus with strong support.
     Bill Morgan gave details of Wesley Youth Services [Jason Mann was unable to attend the meeting]. Wesley Youth Services is provided by Wesley Mission [Melbourne]. Questions were asked and answered. Moved Bill Morgan, seconded Graham Lockhart that Wesley Youth Services be one of the recipients of the 2007 Outreach Project – amount $4,000. Vote taken – the meeting gave Consensus with strong support.
     Bill Morgan then moved: “that if the proceeds of the Fete exceed $19,000.00 authority be given to the Mission Outreach Committee and Church Council to determine where those excess funds be allocated.” Vote taken – Yes by Consensus.
     Bill Morgan expressed thanks to the Mission Outreach Committee for all their work.
     Murray Lowe expressed appreciation to Bill and the Committee. The meeting responded with acclamation.
     Graeme Frecker [Chair of Church Council] spoke of his concern as to where the Outreach Project might be heading, and then received response from Bill Morgan, Graham Lockhart, Kaye Mackinnon, and Brace Bateman that they would take on the task. Graeme commented on the wonderful and professional job the Committee had done. It was an example of how volunteers with commitment can work within our congregation.
     Advertising at the Fete needs to show where the Fete proceeds will go. Graeme extended thanks to the Committee. The meeting responded with acclamation.
     

8. ELDERS UPDATE Julie Ross gave comprehensive information and details of the role of Elders within a congregation.

   • the history of Eldership in the Uniting Church
   • Eldership had lost direction since merging of Parish Councils and Elders into Church Council
   • Role of Elders is clearly stated in the Regulations of the Uniting Church.
   • Beth Hancock has taken on leadership of Elders.
   • Elders now meet over a shared meal, then worship together – a time of faith, growth, formation.
   • Elders meet bi-monthly
   • 5 Groups – Ministry Group, Pastoral Care and Welcome, Adult Faith/Spiritual Formation, Mission Evangelism Justice Advocacy, Worship and Sacraments.
   • Eldership at GWUC is a ‘work in progress’ Murray Lowe extended appreciation to Julie for her detailed report.

9. BROADCAST MINISTRY UPDATE

   • Warren Greenwood advised the meeting of details of the Broadcast Ministry.
     • Has been a challenge
     • A trial broadcast has been done to Beeac, and was well received.
     • Gave explanation of “technical details” – “how it works”
     • Awaiting BOMAR approval for funding.
     • Will be handover to Beeac of a Data Projector, Computer.
     • Broadcast will not necessarily be the 9.00am service – Beeac will tell us ‘what they want’, ‘what they like’.
     • Will be one more trial into their church
     • Will impact on our worship here at GWUC.
     • We need to increase our “worship disciplines”

     Warren expressed thanks to Neil Leister and Russell Greenwood for their work in helping to get this project together.
     Questions were asked and answered.

     • Is it possible to transmit to more than one church?
     • Costings in the future – personnel and finance? How do we handle this? How do we incorporate this in the future of this church. [Ongoing cost will be in the region of $1000 per year].

     Warren advised the meeting that 3 additional portable DVD players have been donated to the church to enable “shut-ins” to view the 9.00am service.
     Murray Lowe extended thanks to Warren [and his team] for all their work. A remarkable achievement.

10. BENEDICTION The meeting closed with the saying of The Grace together.