Synod 2020: Book 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
2020 Session of Synod Book 1 (Pages 1 to 148) Annual Report of the Standing Committee and Other Reports and Papers Published 7 October 2020 in the absence of a session of Synod Standing Committee of the Synod Anglican Church Diocese of Sydney MISSION 2020 DIOCESE OF SYDNEY Our Vision To see Christ honoured as Lord and Saviour in every community Our Mission We commit ourselves afresh, in prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, to glorify God and love our neighbour by proclaiming the Lord Jesus Christ, calling people to repent and living lives worthy of him. Our Values Our values flow from our identity in Christ. We are created in God’s image and redeemed by Christ’s blood for the glory of our Heavenly Father. We therefore value and cherish: • God’s Word, the Bible, as our ultimate authority and guide • The reading and explanation of the Bible as the basic method of our ministry • The centrality of the cross of Christ and his resurrection in our proclamation and in our lives • Lives of holiness and humility that adorn the gospel • Prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit for power to speak and hearts to change • An urgent love for people who, apart from faith in Christ Jesus, face certain condemnation under the righteous judgment of God • Selfless flexibility and creativity to reach the many different peoples in our communities with the gospel • Partnerships between and among individuals, churches, Anglican schools, diocesan organisations and faithful members of the Anglican Communion • Repentant hearts and renewal by God’s grace Our Priorities Priority 1 Reach all the lost in our Diocese with the life-giving gospel of Christ Key factors include 1.1 Engaging with our local community and creating opportunities for evangelism at the local and diocesan level 1.2 Mobilising more people to share Christ’s love in word and deed 1.3 Strengthening our invitation, welcoming and integration Our first goal is to increase our members reporting their willingness to talk intentionally about their faith from 18% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 22% across the Diocese by 2020. Our second goal is to increase our members reporting that they have invited someone to church in the last 12 months from 40% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 45% across the Diocese by 2020. Our third goal is to increase newcomers* in church from 9% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 12% across the Diocese by 2020. * Newcomers are members aged 15 or more who were not regularly attending any church five years ago, as defined by the National Church Life Survey (NCLS). Priority 2 Deepen spiritual maturity among our members Key factors include 2.1 Ensuring congregational gatherings are significant places for spiritual growth 2.2 Enriching Christian fellowship through small groups 2.3 Strengthening personal and family devotions through prayer and Bible reading Our first goal is to increase our members reporting ‘much growth’ in faith from 47% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 60% across the Diocese by 2020. Our second goal is to increase our members reporting time spent in prayer, Bible reading, meditation, every day/most days from 43% (NCLS 2011) to 50%. Priority 3 Equip our members to exercise their gifts Key factors include 3.1 Strengthening leadership skills of clergy, especially rectors 3.2 Identifying and unleashing the gifts of church members 3.3 Encouraging risk-taking and new initiatives in outreach and discipleship Our goal is to increase our members reporting their use of gifts ‘to a great extent’ from 21% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 27% across the Diocese by 2020. Priority 4 Respond to the changing face of our society Key factors include 4.1 Loving our neighbours in local and cultural communities 4.2 Reaching children and youth 4.3 Connecting with people over 60 years of age 4.4 Planting new churches in rapid growth areas Our first goal is to increase our members born in non-English speaking countries from 15% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 20% across the Diocese by 2020. Our second goal is to increase the retention of our members’ children in church from 65% (NCLS 2011 statistic) to 70% across the Diocese by 2020. Our third goal is to plant 15 new churches in greenfield areas by 2020. Our fourth goal is to plant at least two new churches per Mission Area by 2020. 4 Report of Standing Committee & Other Reports & Papers 2020 Report of the Standing Committee and other Reports and Papers Contents Page 2020 Report of the Standing Committee ................................................................................... 5 Financial Reports Synod Funds Amalgamated Annual Financial Report for 2019 ............................................. 32 Parish Funds Amalgamated Annual Financial Report for 2019 ............................................. 43 Synod – St Andrew’s House Fund Annual Financial Report for 2019.................................... 52 Stipends, Allowances and Benefits for 2021 (2/05) ............................................................... 62 Special Reports Allowing diocesan organisations to align with the broader purposes of the Diocese............. 66 Convening the first ordinary session of the 52nd Synod // Deeming the date of Synod for conduct of elections ......................................................................................... 72 Doctrine Commission Report: A Theological Framework for Reconciliation, with special reference to the Indigenous Peoples of Australia // Indigenous Ministry in the Diocese (22/18) ....................................................................... 94 Doctrine Commission Report: Faith and Doctrine in the Constitution of the Anglican Church of Australia .............................................................................................. 103 Doctrine Commission Report: On the Need of Children for a Mother and a Father ............ 105 Domestic abuse leave for clergy // Responding to Domestic Abuse (23/18) ....................... 108 Fixed term appointment for the Archbishop (64/19) ............................................................. 114 Ordinances passed by the Standing Committee .................................................................. 122 Annual Reports Anglican Church Property Trust Annual Report 2019 .......................................................... 124 Ministry Spouse Support Fund Annual Report ..................................................................... 131 Regional Councils’ Annual Reports for 2019 ........................................................................ 132 Reporting on the National Redress Scheme (Annual Report) (42/18) ................................. 135 Safe Ministry Board and Professional Standards Unit Annual Report ................................ 137 2020 Report of the Standing Committee 5 2020 Report of the Standing Committee Contents Item Introduction 1 Actions with the Archbishop 2 Financial and Property Administration 3 General Administration 4 Relations with Government 5 The International, National and Provincial Church 6 Sydney Synod Matters 7 1. Introduction Charter The Standing Committee is constituted under the Standing Committee Ordinance 1897. Its duties arise under a number of ordinances and include the following – (a) making arrangements for the meetings of the Synod and preparing the Synod’s business, (b) acting as a council of advice to the Archbishop (the Archbishop-in-Council), (c) considering and reporting upon matters referred to it by the Synod and carrying out the Synod’s resolutions, (d) deliberating and conferring upon all matters affecting the interests of the Church, (e) making ordinances under delegated powers, (f) preparing and administering parochial cost recoveries and Synod appropriations and allocations, (g) appointing persons to fill casual vacancies among persons elected by the Synod to boards etc, and (h) monitoring the finances of diocesan organisations. Access Meetings are usually held in the Heath Centre, Level 5, St Andrew’s Cathedral School, St Andrew’s House. All meetings subsequent to the March 2020 meeting have been held via videoconference. Mail should be addressed to “The Diocesan Secretary, Standing Committee of Synod, PO Box Q190, QVB Post Office NSW 1230” (telephone (02) 9265 1555; email [email protected]). Office hours are 9 am to 5 pm. A report on each meeting is published a few days after the meeting on the website of Sydney Diocesan Services (SDS) at www.sds.asn.au. Meetings and members From October 2019 to 14 September 2020, we have met 10 times. The names of the members are listed below. The Archbishop The Chancellor Archbishop Glenn Davies Mr Michael Meek SC The Regional Bishops The Registrar Bishop Chris Edwards Mr Doug Marr Bishop Peter Hayward Bishop Gary Koo (started as Regional The Diocesan Secretary Bishop on 1/02/2020, ex Bishop Ivan Mr Daniel Glynn Lee) Bishop Peter Lin The Chief Executive Officer of Sydney Bishop Michael Stead Diocesan Services Mr Robert Wicks 6 Report of Standing Committee & Other Reports & Papers The Archdeacons Laypersons Elected by Whole Synod Archdeacon Neil Atwood (appointed Mr Michael Easton 1/11/2019)* Mr Stephen Hodgkinson Archdeacon Anthony Douglas (appointed Mr John Pascoe 22/06/2020)* Dr Laurie Scandrett Archdeacon Kara Hartley Dr Claire Smith Dr Robert Tong AM Dean of St Andrew’s Cathedral Mrs Melinda West Dean Kanishka Raffel The Hon Peter Young AO QC The Principal of Moore Theological Laypersons Elected by Georges River College Regional Electors The Rev Dr Mark Thompson Mr Clive Ellis Mr James Flavin Ministers Elected by Whole Synod Mrs