Page 1 Anglican e-News March 2014 Anglican VOL. 1 No.1 e-News Reporting on the Anglican Church in Central and Western NSW March 2014

Fire destroys South Bathurst church

130-year-old building gutted in early morning blaze Police investigations are continuing into the fi re that destroyed the historic Anglican church of St Barnabas, South Bathurst, early on Sunday morning February 23. The fi re was noticed at around 1:00am, and by the time the fi re brigade arrived shortly afterwards it was burning too fi ercely to allow the fi re fi ghters to enter the building. The interior of the building was com- pletely destroyed, and part of the roof collapsed in the blaze. All the stained glass windows have also been destroyed. Parish priest James Hodson and the church wardens notifi ed members of the church before they arrived for Sunday morning services. Most of those who arrived for the 8:00am service waited DESTRUCTION: A police offi cer guards the site as fi remen pack their around, and when the 9:30 congregation equipment after extinguishing the fi re. While the church building was had gathered as well James Hodson, with assistance from retired priest Ian largely destroyed, the church hall was not harmed and the bell tower Crooks, set up a card table as a tempo- escaped serious damage. rary altar and held a communion service on the footpath in front of the buildings passers-by who were invited to join in. strong determination to continue as the adjacent to the church. James Hodson assured the congrega- church in their part of Bathurst, they As the fi re brigade and packed up their tion that although the building might showed no bitterness towards whoever hoses in the parking area in front of the have been destroyed, “the building is was responsible for the fi re; during the church and police began their investiga- not the church; we are the church, and worship service they prayed for the cul- tions, more than 50 people took part in we are still here”. prits and asked God’s forgiveness for them the worship service, including several While the congregation displayed a James Hodson has said that the church leaders are still waiting for an engineer’s report on what remains of the structure, before deciding what will be done. However, neither he nor the con- gregation are thinking of closing down the church. For the next few weeks, Sunday services will be held in the chapel of St Joseph’s Convent, Perthville, about ten kilometres out of Bathurst. However, the parish hall behind St Barnabas’ church was not affected by the fi re, and once the damaged building has been made safe to walk past then services will be held there. Postscript In a symbolic act of unity with the South Bathurst congregation, parishes across the diocese used ashes from the HOPE: The congregation of St Barnabas’ Church South Bathurst made burnt-out church for the Imposition of a strong statement of determination as they held their Sunday morning Ashes in their Ash Wednesday services worship service on the footpath beside their burn-out church. this week. Anglican e-News March 2014 Page 2

New Deacons: Dubbo gets Daryl, while Narromine gets Louis! By Ken Phillis may be authorised to baptise and It was a hot Saturday morning on preach, to administer Holy Com- 21st December when Holy Trinity munion and to conduct funerals. Dubbo played host to Bishop Ian for The Gospel reported the change the ordination of two deacons, Daryl in Thomas, one of The Twelve, from McCullough and Louis Stringer. a position of doubt about the bodily A good congregation came resurrection of Jesus to a point of together from various places to wit- sure belief at which he exclaimed ness and support these two young “My Lord and my God!” men and their families as they take The Bishop made it quite clear this next step in ministry. Bishop that both ordinands should be certain Ian shared with the congregation of that same faith and understanding something of the move of God in if their ordination were to proceed. their lives that brought them to this Then, as a mark of his own under- point. standing of the life of service into Their two-day retreat was con- which they were entering, he pub- ducted by Bishop Graham Walden, licly washed their feet as part of the who received strong public rec- service. ognition from Bishop Ian for this So Holy Trinity now has a second DEACONS: Darryl McCullough and ministry. deacon and Macquarie Anglican Louis Stringer with Bishop Ian. The service sheet reminded us Grammar has a deacon as their Dep- that deacons have a role in inviting uty. Daryl together with his wife, the congregation to confess their sin, Dianne, and their three children CLERGY APPOINTMENTS Caitlin, Will and Tom, now embark read the Gospel, lead the interces-  The Reverend Daryl McCullough on a challenging life of service in sory prayer of the church, and send has been appointed Deacon Assis- the people out of the service to be the church. It’s our job to support tant in the parish of Dubbo. Christ’s body in the world. They them and encourage them.  The Reverend Louis Stringer has been appointed Honorary Deacon Assistant in Narromine parish.  The Reverend Kaye Colwell, for- Two new parish ministries begin merly CGS Companion in Residence in Condobolin, was commissioned Bishop Ian Palmer commissioned just across the diocesan boundary and as Priest in Charge of the parish of Dan Henby as Bishop’s Deacon in the is in the Diocese of Sydney). Gulgong on Friday, February 21. parish of Oberon last Tuesday evening Gulgong  The Reverend Dan Henby was (March 4). Bishop Ian also commissioned commissioned as Bishop’s Deacon The parish put on a warm welcome Kaye Colwell as Priest in Charge of in the parish of Oberon on Tuesday, for Dan, his wife Mandy and their fi ve Gulgong parish, on February 21. March 4. His previous appointment children - Isaac, Emily, Adara, Jael The parish had been under the pas- was Assistant Minister in the parish and Josiah. toral oversight of Max Wood, rector of of Oakhurst (Diocese of Sydney). Prior to moving to Oberon, Dan Mudgee, since the retirement of Jorie Henby had served as Assistant Minis- Ryan as parish priest in late 2012. Anglican ter in Oakhurst parish in the Diocese Kaye Colwell has served as the of Sydney, where he was also chaplain Company of the Good Shepherd’s e-News at the local TAFE College. He has also Companion in residence in Con- A newsletter for the western NSW served in Hornsby parish. dobolin since 2009, prior to which Anglican Diocese of Bathurst Dan gained a science degree from she was Honorary Priest Assistant in Editor: the University of NSW in 1994, and Coonamble for fi ve years. She was Lew Hitchick 62 6331 1722 worked in the Commonwealth public also Diocesan Education Offi cer from email: service as well as in the private sector 2005-2013. [email protected] before undertaking his theological She was ordained Deacon in 2001 Web: training at Moore College. and Priest in 2004, after a career in http://www.bathurstanglican.org.au/ Oberon parish includes the village education. In 2008 she was awarded Disclaimer: churches at Black Springs, Tarana a Master’s degree in Theology from The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily refl ect the policies of and Mutton Falls, and also provides Charles Sturt University. services at Hampton (which is actually the Anglican Diocese of Bathurst. Page 3 Anglican e-News March 2014

Mission in a changing world

Clergy Conference considers implications of rapid changes in society The speaker at the Autumn Clergy Conference held in Orange on February 23-24, Robert Daborn, delivered three challenging sessions aimed at helping parish clergy to discern the mission of the church in a rapidly changing world. Rob Daborn has served as a parish priest in rural areas of England, and then headed Local Ministry (also known as Mutual Ministry or Collaborative Ministry) in the Diocese of Lichfi eld before taking on his present role in a ministry training college in the Diocese of Hereford, in western England. He acknowledged at the outset that he didn’t come with any ready-made answers: “I don’t think I have any right FACILITATING: Rob Daborn outlines the processes of helping people to come here with answers, but I hope deal with change. that by the process and form of the ses- sions we’ve put together it will help you “This applies to those in ministry as This paradigm shift was summarised to begin to sort out something of where well as congregations,” he noted. by US writer Tim Dearborn: you go next as a diocese.” He described the neutral zone as “the It’s not the church of God that has In his fi rst session, entitled Change untidy bit where you’re living between a mission in the world, but the God of and Transition, Rob Daborn high- the two”, and said it could overlap with mission who has a church in the world. lighted the increasing pace of change the other two stages. It is a time of In his third session, Rob Daborn in the world. He said that in the Mid- stress, but potentially time of renewal. posed the question: What is God call- dle Ages, a person might encounter “We need to accept ambivalence and ing us to be and do? one signifi cant technological change live with it,” he said, adding that the He said we have a calling to grow the in their lifetime; today, it is estimated process “is made much more complex Kingdom, and the church is called to be that there is a signifi cant technological when we are working through multiple what Lesslie Newbiggin described as change somewhere in the world every changes simultaneously”. ‘a sign, instrument and foretaste’ of the 30 seconds. People can only move on to a new Kingdom. Adjusting to such rapid change pre- beginning when they have fi rst made an He spoke of a shared ministry, using sents a challenge for many people. ending, and then spent some time in the the resources of the whole church (lay “Much of the pastoral care that we neutral zone. and ordained), and listed some of the offer others, or receive from them, will His second session asked the ques- features that could encourage such a be at times of signifi cant change,” he tion: What is God calling us to be and church: pointed out. do?  an enabling style of ministry Quoting researcher William Bridges, Speaking of discerning the mission of  fl exible structures Rob Daborn differentiated between God and serving, he said that the tradi-  discernment of gifts, calling out, change (external differences) and transi- tional or received paradigm was that: equipping for ministry and appropri- tion (the psychological process people  mission happens beyond Christendom ate authorisation go through to come to terms with a new  mission is planned and carried out by  clarity over job descriptions, lines of situation). the church accountability and review He listed three stages of transition:  mission takes our faith to others  the primary focus of the church life is  ending  However, the church was moving beyond itself – on the mission of God:  the neutral zone towards a new paradigm in which: what is God calling us to be and do in  a new beginning.  the mission belongs to God this place? He said that we need to acknowledge  the Missio Dei is to realise the crea- To help answer this fi nal question, the end of a traditional pattern, and end- tive and transformative Kingdom of Rob Daborn referred to “triple listen- ings involve grief. A major obstacle to God ing”: listening to the people in the change is that people are unwilling to  the Kingdom is defi ned prolepticaly church, listening to the community and face the fact that their tradition will not (in anticipation) in the person and listening to the Holy Spirit. be continuing. ministry of Jesus Christ. Anglican e-News March 2014 Page 4

Trundle priest planning 96km ‘walk for Christ’ A date to remember Sunday April 6, Church Albert when 2014. he arrives. Brian Schmalkuche, Priest in Resi- His estimated dence of the Anglican Parish of Trundle, arrival time is is going to walk the length of the Parish 11.30am Thursday from Bogan Gate through Trundle and April 10. Tullamore to Albert, a distance of some Sponsorship will 96kms. be gratefully accepted This pilgrimage is all about the Spirit and it will be used of God that exists in the Parish area and for Brian’s continued Brian has extended an invitation to every- ministry in the Parish. one to join him for some time or distance What an excit- over the four-plus days he believes it will ing time is planning take for this Walk for Christ. a pilgrimage and I Brian believes it will be an amazing am so heartened by opportunity to pray for those who join people’s interest and him, for those who occupy the properties encouragement. he passes and to give thanks for the count- “I believe God’s less Christian ministries that already exist Spirit is alive and in this unique, rural locality. well in my communities, it just needs a on April 6. He said he is excited about the chal- little tweaking from time to time,” Brian On a number of occasions Bishop Ian lenge and is looking forward to sharing said, “so come and help me tweak it.” has expressed his enthusiasm for pil- this Walk for Christ with as many as can Bishop Ian Palmer has said that he grimage, and he has walked the Camino join him. There will be a celebration will be joining Brian for the fi rst leg of de Santiago pilgrimage trail in Spain Church Service in All Saints’ Anglican the walk, from Bogan Gate to Trundle, three times Sarah Macneil breaks stained-glass ceiling In a history-making service in Grafton Cathedral on Saturday March 1, former Canberra priest Sarah Macneil was consecrated as the fi rst woman Diocesan Bishop in Australia. While there were already four female Assistant Bishops in the Australian church, Sarah’s consecration broke one of the last barriers to equality for women in ordained ministry. Sarah Macneil had served as rector of All Saints’, Ainslie, for fi ve years before accepting an appointment as Dean of Adelaide Cathedral. She was Diocesan Archdeacon of Canberra and Goulburn Diocese from 2003-2009, and Vicar-General of Adelaide Diocese for 2010-11. In late 2011 she resigned as Dean of Adelaide and returned to Canberra, where she had been serving as Priest EPISCOPAL SISTERHOOD: Australia’s four female Assistant Bishops Assistant at Holy Covenant, Jamison, were on hand to congratulate Sarah Macneil: (from left) Bishops Kaye when she was elected Bishop of Grafton Goldsworthy (Perth), Genieve Blackwell (Canberra-Goulburn), Sarah late last year. Macneil, Barabara Darling (Melbourne) and Alison Taylor (Brisbane).