PARISH OF NUMURKAH-NATHALIA
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN HAMON PARISH CENTRE, NUMURKAH.
THURSDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2014.
1. Welcome and Opening:
Rev. Sally Boothey opened the meeting with a prayer at 8.15 pm
2. Present:
Rev Sally Boothey, Judy James, Bev Leaf, Mary Muntz, Merle Cobbledick, Ron Cobbledick, Wendy Watson, Rob Elliott, Robyn Pendlebury, Keith Schier, Carol Lugg, Lou Hamon.
3. Apologies: Bev Patrick.
4.Confirmation of Minutes:
MOTION: “That the Minutes of the Parish Council held 21st August 2014 be confirmed as a true and correct record.”
Moved: Ron Cobbledick. Seconded: Wendy Watson. Carried.
5. Business Arising from previous minutes:
5.1 Rectory Heating. Fan replaced but still not functioning properly. Another service to be contacted.
5.2 Parish Centre Hot Water Service installed and connected.
5.3. Mission Fund Raising. Suggestion received – candle making.
6. Correspondence:
Inwards:
6.1. Bishop: ABC Compass: Rev’d Helen Malcolm EFM Trainer of Mentors.
6.2. Chaplain: The Bible in the Life of the Church
6.3. AWA Annual Luncheon 23rd October.
6.4. St Matthew’s Garden walk – 29th September.
6.5. ACT/Access/BS/BCA/Anglican Church Calendar
6.6. Origin Energy x 5.
Outwards:
6.7. Nil.
MOTION: “That the correspondence inwards be accepted”.
Moved: Robyn Pendlebury. Seconded: Rob Elliott. Carried.
7. Rectors Report:
Written Report tabled and discussed.
Rector’s Report to Parish Council – September 2014
Since our last meeting, I attended the clergy conference and retreat. The conference featured two guest speakers – Ken Morgan, who holds the Diocese of Melbourne’s position as the Ministry Vision and Project Facilitator. Ken is a youngish layman who is employed to look at Diocesan ministry with an eye to growth and engagement with the increasingly populated ‘out-centres’ of Melbourne. He works closely with the rectors of a few key parishes to work out and work through appropriate growth strategies. The other speaker was Rev’d Howard Langmead, whose parish in Caulfield, is one in which Ken is currently working.
In the course of the two-day presentations, a particular ‘pathway’ for growth was outlined and explained. This Pathway, in essence, provides optimal opportunity for growth in any parish. The basics are simple and not surprising, but it was helpful to have the full sequence clarified and to be encouraged to be very intentional, focused and persistent about growth strategies.
I have included a schematic of the pathways as was explained to us. There may be some advantages to doing a ‘Pathways Audit’ in the parish to help show us our own strengths and weaknesses.
A couple of aspects of this approach troubled some of the clergy at the conference. There was some resistance to the intentionality of the pathways process, focused primarily as it is on Jesus’ command to ‘go and make disciples’. It was felt there was little appreciation of the sacred aspects of worship and of simply being a presence in a community. Too much ‘doing’ and not enough ‘being’. One comment by Ken Morgan likened a parish to an apple orchard where, the primary focus is producing good quality apples. ‘If what happens doesn’t contribute to growing apples, stop doing it’ – a very focused disciple-making approach. He also said the two ‘f-words’ in ministry were fundraising and fellowship. They’re not the main game.
Understandably, this was controversial for some, but the stark truth remains that numbers of attendees are falling, and churches are closing, and no natural ‘turn around’ is visible on the horizon.
The stories Ken told (and Howard verified from his own parish experience) were of growth. Usually it was gradual and from very small beginnings. The constant warning was NOT to do too much at once, nor to tackle more than could comfortably be followed through.
My own enthusiasm was tempered by the realization that all these examples came from a city context and weren’t readily suited to small country towns. Parishes like Albury, Wodonga, Shepparton and Wangaratta may benefit most, if they take the process on board. Our parish may be able to link in with Shepparton, or another ‘hub’ parish if we choose to go that way, but, as things stand, in my opinion, only St George’s, (almost and maybe), has enough active parishioners to follow any ‘pathways’ initiatives through.
So… some interesting and possibly fruitful possibilities for the diocese of Wangaratta…
The retreat, led by Rev’d Dr Colleen O’Reilly was very good and I came away spiritually, mentally and physically refreshed and I’m still aware of the benefits.
In the past month, Holy Trinity hosted one Memorial Service, for Beverley Armitage, followed by the interment of the ashes of both Beverley and her husband Norman at Nathalia Cemetery.
The ‘Living the Questions’ studies continue fortnightly at Joan Hardings and services at the Nursing and Hostels continue.
I have been attending meetings of Bishop-in-Council and of the school council for Christ the King Anglican Grammar, Cobram. There have been some excellent developments for the three Diocesan Schools in that they have all been taken over by the Anglican Schools Commission, based in Western Australia. This means that Trinity College, Cathedral College and Cobram Grammar will all have a much more solid financial foundation and be part of a large National Anglican Schools group. There will be an expectation of ‘Anglican’ and accountability for governance, budgets and standards – which can’t be a bad thing. Schools are such big operations these days that it is difficult for any diocese to take responsibility for their development and operation.
In the process, the ‘comfort letters’ given by the Diocese to underwrite the overdrafts of the schools have been taken over by the ASC. This means the Diocese (and schools) are no longer so financially exposed and it is now possible to move on with the Incorporation process for the Diocese. The Diocese received some money in the ‘sale’ and the schools also received grants immediately to move forward with approved development programs. This is all very good.
On a not so good note, the palm crosses made for Palm Sunday and stored in a plastic bag in the vestry at St George’s have all gone black and furry, so I threw them out. We have enough ash in a jar if needs be, but we may decide to have a ‘cross gathering’ before next Shrove Tuesday.
This coming week is my 2nd week of Annual Leave and I would like to take a fortnight after Christmas, to finish the year’s leave entitlement. I don’t want to ‘store it’ and will attempt to engage a suitable priest for the two Sundays.
New signage is being made for Barmah. The grass at Wakiti Creek has been cut. May not get a generator for St Paul’s as it hasn’t been needed all winter. Sunday 28 September is ‘Commitment Sunday’.
The Parish has a few things to think about in the coming months if we are to undertake any intentional and focused growth pathway. It may be that we cannot realistically do much that’s different.
Regardless of what is decided, we need not fear or worry about the future, for everything is in God’s hands. As long as we are faithful and committed to proclaiming, in our words and actions, and as Christian communities, the Kingdom of God, as Jesus taught and showed us, then we have fulfilled our tasks. We live and minister in the present and there is always praise and thanksgiving and joy in our being Christ’s own each day!
Reverend Sally
MOTION: “That the Rector’s report be accepted”.
Moved: Rev Sally Boothey Seconded: Judy James. Carried
- Financial Report:
Cheque Account $ 1698.36
Investment. Account $ 11784.39
St George’s ladies Guild $ 1827.41
Holy Trinity Ladies Guild $ 1188.03
Holy Trinity Mother’s Union $ 334.05
Holy Trinity Strawberry Festival $ 1498.45
Holy Trinity Diocese Wang. $ 243.82
Betty Daniel Scholarship Term Deposit $ 8724.43
Offertory $ 5548.75
Accounts payable $ 2119.47
MOTION: “That the interest in the Betty Daniel Scholarship be used to pay for the organ repairs and the capital reinvested”.
Moved: Wendy Watson Seconded: Rob Elliott. Carried.
MOTION: “That the financial report be received and accounts passed for payment”
Moved: Wendy Watson. Seconded: Carol Lugg. Carried.
9. GST Business:
9.1. Catering: Saluting their Service afternoon tea.
9.2. Hall Hire: Orana Day Care.
9.3. Funerals: Beverley Armitage 8th September.
9.4 Fundraising:
MOTION: “That the activities listed above be Input Taxed”.
Moved: Lou Hamon. Seconded: Bev Leaf. Carried.
Warden’s Reports:
St. George’s: 10.1. Hot Water service replaced in Parish Centre.
10.2. Free standing oven approximately $850 to be ordered.
Holy Trinity: 10.3. Numbers down due to cold frosty mornings.
All Saint’s Barmah: 10.4. Need for extinguisher for electrical fires to be installed.
10.5. Payment to Leesa Barnes for mower fuel.
MOTION: “That Chubb be authorised to supply and install fire extinguisher and $50 be paid to Leesa Barnes for mower fuel”
Moved: Keith Schier. Seconded: Robyn Pendlebury. Carried.
11. Other Reports:
11.1 Holy Trinity Ladies Guild
Bank balance $ 1188.03
Catered for Ron Cover funeral.
Visited Barwo 15th September. Estelle Chaulker showed photos of trip to Israel.
Blums 25th September.
11.2 Mothers’ Union.
Commenced working on Strawberry Festival Luck Dip.
11.3. St George’s Ladies Guild.
No report.
MOTION: “That the Reports be received”
Moved: Ron Cobbledick. Seconded: Mary Muntz. Carried.
12. General Business:
12.1 Discussion on Pathways – schematic tabled by Rev’d Sally.
12.2. High Tea October 19th at 2.30 pm. Fiona Paterson and Rob Elliott to provide entertainments. 8 tables, $10/head plus raffle. Food will be provided.
Next Meeting: Thursday 16th October: Holy Trinity Nathalia.
Meeting closed with the grace at 9.42 pm.
Minutes confirmed……………………………………………. Date………………………………….
Anglican Parish of Numurkah-Nathalia 