Report of the Viability & Structures
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T HE A NGLIC T HE A NGLIC A N C HURCH OF A US T R A LI A A N C HURCH OF REPORT OF THE A US T R A LI VIABILITY & A The Sixteenth General Synod STRUCTURES TASK FORCE & other materials impinging on the Small Groups Discussion Program RE P OR T The OF T HE Sixteenth V I AB General ILI TY & Synod S T RUC BOOK T URES TA S K FORCE - 2014 B O Adelaide CITYWIDE PUBLISHING O June/July 2014 K 8 8 The Anglican Church of Australia REPORT OF THE VIABILITY & STRUCTURES TASK FORCE & other materials impinging on the Small Groups Discussion Program The Sixteenth General Synod BOOK 8 Adelaide 29 June - 4 July 2014 Published by: The Standing Committee of the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Australia General Synod Office Level 9, 51 Druitt Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia ©The Anglican Church of Australia Trust Corporation 2014 Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the copyright holder – apply to the General Secretary, General Synod of The Anglican Church of Australia, General Synod Office, at Suite 2 Level 9 51 Druitt Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia. [email protected] CONTENTS PAGE 1. INTRODUCTION ii 2. REPORT OF THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES 8-001 TASK FORCE, JUNE 2014 3. REPORT OF THE DIOCESAN FINANCIAL 8-073 ADVISORY GROUP, 22 APRIL 2014 4. REPORT OF THE NATIONAL CHURCH UNITY 8-085 TASK FORCE, 11 APRIL 2014 5. PROPOSAL OF THE GENERAL SECRETARY FOR 8-089 IMPLEMENTATION OF STRATEGIC INITIATIVES, 8 MAY 2014 6. THEOLOGICAL REFLECTION BY THE RIGHT 8-095 REVEREND PROFESSOR STEPHEN PICKARD i BOOK 8 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION In November 2010, the then newly elected Standing Committee met for the first time after the Fifteenth Session of the General Synod. One of its tasks designated by s3 of the Strategic Issues, Commissions, Task Forces and Networks Canon 1998 was to identify the specific strategic issues to be addressed in the period to the next session of the General Synod. Section 2 of Book 3 of the Synod papers outlines the Standing Committee’s response to this task, commencing at page 34. Two strategic issues arose from resolutions of the Fifteenth Session of the General Synod, namely, the viability of dioceses and unity in the Church. The Standing Committee established the Viability and Structures Task Force and the National Church Unity Task Force to address these matters. In parallel, the work of the Diocesan Financial Advisory Group during the triennium caused it to become concerned about the quality of financial management, financial reporting and governance, all of which are relevant to questions of viability. In light of the work of these three groups, the Standing Committee considered that the Church would benefit from the General Synod devoting time to small group discussion of matters vital to the Church’s mission and ministry at this session. To facilitate the small groups discussion program, this volume brings together reports of the three bodies already mentioned. It also contains an edited version of a proposal put by the General Secretary to the Standing Committee to deal with the complex task of implementing the kinds of recommendations made in those reports. Finally, but by no means least, the Standing Committee wished to provide a theological reflection to prompt us to consider what God is telling us in our current situation. As will be seen from the reports of these and other reports in the Synod papers, matters of viability and unity are related. The connection may be expressed in three questions: how should the Church as a whole respond to crises in one or more of its parts; how should the Church as a whole respond to legitimate community concern about events in one or more parts of the Church which impinge on the reputation of the gospel that the Church serves; and how can the Church best address the spiritual needs of the nation? An outline of the Small Groups Discussion Program is provided in Book 6 of the Synod papers. The small groups discussion program and this volume of materials are commended to your prayerful consideration. ii BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT Anglican Church of Australia Viability and Structures Task Force VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT TO GENERAL SYNOD ST PETER’S COLLEGE, ADELAIDE 2014 8-001 BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT CONTENTS Preface 3 Introduction 5 Chapter 1: Dioceses and their Viability 10 1.2 Viability Criteria 13 Chapter 2: Australian Dioceses - Their Viability and Structures 19 2.1 Governance 20 2.2 Demographics 24 Chapter 3: The Survey of Dioceses 31 Chapter 4: The Future 38 4.1 Models of Co-operation 38 4.2 Suggestions for the Future 42 4.3 Findings 44 Chapter 5: Recommendations 53 Appendices Appendix 1: Number of People Identifying as Anglican 55 Appendix 2: Australian Active Clergy - 1961 - 2011 56 Appendix 3: Number of Clergy Across the Anglican Church 57 of Australia Appendix 4: Anglicans per Clergy 58 Appendix 5: Dioceses into the Future 59 Appendix 6: The General Synod Office - Resources for 69 the Way Forward 8-002 BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT PREFACE At the meeting of the General Synod Standing Committee meeting on 12-13 November 2010 it was resolved to form a Viability & Structures Task Force. The Task Force was given the following Terms of Reference: (a) Theoretical: What is a diocese? How should we restructure our groups of dioceses? What is the existing structure for provinces? What is the impact of changing demographics? Do we need to adjust our rural/urban structures? Problems with our small rural dioceses or large metropolitan dioceses. What models need to be adopted to encourage and enable people in remote locations to minister to themselves? What are the marks of a viable diocese; pastorally, missionally, risk management and human capacity? (b) Practical: How do we enable the dioceses and provinces to deal with problems? How do we reorganise a diocese in trouble? Do we have sufficient ability to deal with such a problem promptly? If not, how do we get that ability? Since its formation, the Task Force has met regularly over three years, sorted information from every Australian diocese, looked at overseas experiences of dioceses in similar situations and met with a cross section of people from around the Anglican Church of Australia to seek their views and gather information. In addition to this, a number of individuals and bishops wrote, made submissions or sent material online to the Task Force. In preparing the report, the Task Force drew upon a great deal of data from the 2011 Census, material prepared by the Christian Research Association, diocesan websites and Synod reports. The Task Force also sent out a survey to all dioceses, with 18 out of 23 responding. Standing Committee members were also surveyed about their own views on diocesan viability and restructuring. It is important to note that a lack of data was a key problem for the Task Force. Many dioceses were able to supply some data, but most lacked a comprehensive data base on a range of matters the Task Force would have liked to have examined. For example, many dioceses were not able to supply statistics on Sunday worship over the past decade and, in some instances, over the past five years. The Task Force wants to acknowledge the assistance and information it received from the Diocesan Financial Advisory Group (DFAG). The group also helped in the framing of some parts of the Report. The General Secretary of General Synod, Mr Martin Drevikovsky, gave invaluable help to the Task Force on a range of matters. 8-003 BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT Members of the Task Force appointed by the Standing Committee in 2010 were: The Right Rev’d Stuart Robinson, Bishop of Canberra-Goulburn The Most Rev’d Jeff Driver, Archbishop of Adelaide (Resigned 2013) The Right Rev’d Doug Stevens, Bishop of Riverina (Resigned 2012) The Right Rev’d Garry Wetherill, Bishop of Ballarat (Appointed 2012) Mrs Audrey Mills, Diocese of Tasmania The Hon. Robert Fordham AM, Diocese of Gippsland The Right Rev’d Andrew Curnow AM, Bishop of Bendigo, Convenor 8-004 BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT INTRODUCTION The Anglican Church of Australia is at a crossroad. For over 30 years it has been slowly declining and the time has come for a revolution if it is to be a strong and sustainable church for the future. As we approach the middle of the second decade of the 21st century, there are 23 dioceses in the Church and of that number, nearly all are experiencing significant challenges about their future. It may not be economic or resources issues, but it may be rapid urban growth and the inability of the parish system to keep pace. This report begins with a look at what a diocese is and the criteria for establishing viability. It then considers the present state of Australian dioceses including an examination of current structures and the impact of changing demographics. It concludes with findings and recommendations. Map of the Anglican Dioceses of Australia Province of Victoria Province of South Australia Province of New South Wales 1 Gippsland 6 The Murray 9 Sydney 2 Wangaratta 7 Adelaide 10 Canberra & Goulburn 3 Melbourne 8 Willochra 11 Riverina 4 Bendigo 12 Bathurst 5 Ballarat 13 Newcastle 14 Armidale 15 Grafton Province of Queensland Province of Western Australia Extra Provincial Diocese 16 Brisbane 20 North West Australia 23 Tasmania 17 Rockhampton 21 Perth 18 North Queensland 22 Bunbury 19 The Northern Territory 8-005 BOOK 8 THE VIABILITY AND STRUCTURES TASK FORCE REPORT It is vital to say at the beginning of this Report that all the material presented is done with a profound understanding and commitment to the mission of Christ’s Church.