GLEN WAVERLEY UNITING CHURCH

MEETING OF THE CONGREGATION

Held in the Church at 11:30am on Sunday 30th July 2023 - following the 10:00am Combined Worship service.

A printable version of these minutes is attached here.

Minutes

1. Welcome

The chair (JohnSnare) welcomed those members of the congregation who were present.

2. Prayer

NeilPeters opened the meeting in prayer.

3. Confirmation of Minutes of Meeting held on 5th March 2023

The minutes of the March meeting of the congregation at CongMeetingMinutes20230305 were confirmed

4. Reports and Recommendations

4.1. Ministry Team Report

NeilPeters described some recent highlights:

• Anniversary Service and lunch. We had a big band, two choirs, a special message from our partner Riedel congregation in Indonesia and the biggest lunch - 93 people - we have had for a long time.
• Welfare Committee and Uniting. Neil gave an example of how we are working with Uniting to support those in need in our local community.

• Online, Live stream of worship, a monthly reflection, and Prayer Time twice a month. As an example of our on-line ministry, in April we had on average each week of 132 people watching our 9:15 worship (over a week) and 94 people watching our 11:00am worship (on our YouTube channel.) This is a significant ministry that we offer.

• Somers Camp. One of our teenagers attended the Presbytery Somers camp this year.
• JNC finalizing two Calls - that is a good news story as we transition to a new ministry team.

HoonYou recapped the work that he has been doing with congregation on Cultural Intelligence and introduced the forthcoming studies on our DNA (who we are) as a church; in the past, now, and into the future.

4.2. Church Council Report

AlisonClarkson presented a report from Church council. In summary:

• HoonYou's time with us has been extended until September 17

• Chris Waddell will start with us in October, although the date for his induction has yet to be confirmed.

• There will be a celebration of the ministry of NeilPeters with on Sunday December 17th

• Neil's last service with us will be on Christmas Day and Neil will officially retire on December 31st.

• With the resignation of FairlieMackinnon, the Outreach Mision Group has not been functioning recently. DavidMorgan and MargaretFraser have agreed to form the nucleus of a new Outreach Mission Group and they are looking for interested people to join them.

• Although RobinPope has stepped back from leading the Asylum Seeker Support group, despite recent changes in government policy, asylum seekers still face many difficulties and there is much that can be done to support them. Talk to AlisonClarkson, DavidMorgan or MargaretFraser if you would like to help.

4.3. People and Culture Report

Although there was no formal People and Culture report, the chair advised that the position of our welfare coordinator has been advertised and applications are being followed up.

4.4. Property Report

WarrenGreenwood reported on property matters.

1. Car Parking management - it is important to check with the office before using the church car park for non-church activities. Sometimes it will be OK, but sometimes it won't because it will clash with other activities associated with the church. Also on Sundays, please leave the disabled and office manager parking places for people with a real need. (The Office Manager spot is required for whoever brings BillMorgan.)

2. Manses for our new placements - Warren advised that Neil and family and Alanee and family had left the manses in such good condition that money allocated for re-furbishment has been saved. Warren reminded us that rent we obtain for the use of our facilities, $68,000 per year, covers all the costs associated with operating and maintaining our property.

3. Property Housekeeping. Warren advised that after 15 years, he is stepping down from being chair of the PropertyCommittee at the beginning of September. He will remain on the Property Committee. The Property Committee is looking for new and younger members of the congregation to provide new ideas.

5. Congregational Outreach Projects

The chair drew attention to the background information that was provided in the agenda.

As discussed in March, this year is unusual because instead of running a new Congregational Outreach Project selection process we have decided to fund previously recommended but unfunded projects. Next year, with a new Outreach Mission Group in place (and perhaps an updated Congregational Outreach Project selection process), outreach project selection should be more routine. Since March, two of the previously supported projects have been withdrawn so our approach needed to be updated. After discussing with ChurchCouncil and the immediately past COP selection committee, the chair proposed the following resolution.

Resolution:

This meeting of the Congregation of the Glen Waverley Uniting Church resolves to distribute the proceeds of this years fete as follows: GWUC Welfare $5000 (the amount requested), Friends of Ermera $4000 (the amount requested), any money raised in excess of $9,000 equally divided between Frontier Services and Uniting World.

Approved by concensus

6. Worship Times Survey Outcomes

SachinRemson reported on the outcomes of the worship survey initiated by ChurchCouncil after the March meeting, and presented the approach that ChurchCouncil has adopted (for information). In summary:

'The Council believes that the new ministry team will be in place in a few months time. It would be advisable to leave decisions about combining services to then. Also being mindful of the situation of parking, we would prefer to refrain from taking any such decision at this time.'

The full report is attached here.

In discussion, the observation was made that the survey was difficult to understand and complete.

7. Other Business

There was no other business.

8. Benediction

The chair closed the meeting in prayer.