The Glen Waverley Uniting Church PSALTERReturn to CouncilMinutes20110928
Letter from Alanee & Joel
28th September 2011
Chairman of Church Council Glen Waverley Uniting Church
We felt it would be helpful to respond to the letter of concern addressed to Church Council in regards to the visitors residing in our manse.
Ross’s personal observations are founded and correct; there are and have been a number of varied people living or visiting with us.
These have included a young adult referred to us from Synod who moved here for just under six months from interstate and connected with GWUC through the morepraxis website. A young adult from a previous congregation who moved to Melbourne to work at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, she stayed with us for two months. Our close friends began making their move interstate and one of the couple moved here to begin further study, for five months on and off, but due to health reasons their move was delayed. Our links within the local High schools then presented us with a year 12 Student who had become homeless, who stayed with us for his completion of year 12 about nine months. Then an at risk year 10 Student, who stayed with us for ten months. Our close friends from interstate again moved up, and after this years tragedy only one is currently still living with us. Again the school contacted us and we had another referral of a year 12 Student who completed year 12 last year and is currently at university and still living with us. We were contacted again by the other school and housed yet another year 12 Student for the completion of year twelve for around four months. Lastly Neil approached us upon hearing of his parents move to Healesville and asked, if we had a room in January could he come and live with us.
In regards to the questions of sub letting agreements or weekly payments to live in the manse no such agreements exist. The first three people that stayed with us may have contributed to bills, when the opportunity arose, but with no regularity. The three year 12 students were in a position to contribute to the household bills, internet, basic shared food, cleaning products, toilet paper, and dinner if they were home when dinners being cooked everyone eats. Therefore those students have tried to put in $50 a week. This is a flexible contribution that has never been enforced and is often refused when other individual circumstances have arisen (such as braces, cars, holidays etc.). Neil’s case however was different as he was aware that it might be unfair for others amongst the young adults etc. to simply be living in the house. Neil decided he would pay $50 a week to bills etc. (first thing Neil did was to increase our internet plan!) and that he would put another $50 a week towards seeding a youth & young adult initiative at GWUC. His original thinking of the GWUC contribution was the short fall for another internship. As there hasn’t been another intern and this money has been gathering it has now been allocated to the communications committee who are going to utilize the donation.
Joel has compiled a spreadsheet accounting for the above bills and contributions etc. if Council felt necessary. We assure you that the spirit in which we open our home is not of monetary benefit or gain and thsat we have not been making money by sub-letting rooms.
It is pure ignorance that we have not approached Church Council or the Property Committee in regards to our open home philosophy. Before ministry here we came from and shared a long history of Acts Chapters 2 community living, where we have opened up our previous homes and also started a Christian Community. For us a large home is an opportunity to be in community with people who may need a place to stay. We apologise that we haven’t communicated it widely, and hope there would be no perception of deceit as we feel we haven’t tried to hide our goings on. We’ve often spoken of connections with the schools and mentioned each time another young person has been referred to us but we are also careful, for the young people who stay with us have tricky stories.
In regards to what is happening at 17 Southdown, I guess we don’t really see it as a program. We preach Christian community, we look at social justice, we discuss Sabbath economics, and taking up Jesus teaching of seeing glimpses of the kingdom of heaven on earth. This is just part of living out our faith which is no different to all the members of the congregation that volunteer, sponsor, give, host and serve in their homes.
We hope that this clarifies and alleviates any concerns. Kind Regards and an open door for discussion,
Alanee & Joel Hearnshaw.
(Just to clarify: When inspecting the house and realising there was no light in our rear access, the additional light was initiated and approved by the building committee to be installed. After offering to do the work our friend who lives with us (the electrician) then purchased and installed the light, free of charge.)