Serving the Combined Ministry District of St Paul’s Manuka, St David’s Red Hill and St Luke’s Deakin Community Three churches: one community No. 20 Winter 2012 St David’s 40th anniversary celebrations “Let the little children come to me” A new stained glass window, with authentic Australian imagery of native birds, animals, trees and flowers was dedicated by the Auxiliary Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Bishop Trevor Edwards, on Sunday, 4 March. The window, in a new baptistery area, was dedicated to the memory of Bishop Neville Chynoweth. Adjacent to the window is a wall hanging meticulously made by Beth Lee. The message on the window is from Matthew 19:14 “Let the little children come to me” for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to them.. t David’s Patronal festival, the attended the dedication service, A feature of the lunch was a photo S 40th anniversary of its foundation conducted by the Rector of Manuka display prepared by Suzanne Curtis and the memory of Bishop Neville Parish, the Rev'd Dr Brian Douglas. showing St David’s activities over the Chynoweth were all celebrated on After the dedication 120 people years, right back to the empty block of Sunday, 4 March. Bishop Trevor (past and present members of St land. Edwards dedicated a stained glass David’s) enjoyed a lunch at the In his sermon for the occasion, window in the new baptistery area Hellenic Club at which the Rev’d Bishop Trevor recalled his visit to St made possible through gifts from St Robert Willson spoke on “The joy of David’s Cathedral in Wales, the David’s parishioners and the planning history in Christianity” and John holiest site in Wales because it is the of the Vestry. Mather spoke of his friendship and burial place of St David who founded A large congregation, including travel experiences over the years with a Celtic monastic community there in members of the Chynoweth family, Bishop Neville. (Continued on page 8) of legal interventions aroused when It was not until December, 1992, Drama in the ordination was first proposed by almost 12 months after the initial date Bishop Dowling, then Bishop of the set for the ordination that, along with the cathedral Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn, other Dioceses, Bishop Owen was were a drama in themselves, able to proceed. involving at different stages the By then the NSW Court of his year is the 20th anniversary NSW Supreme Court, the Appellant Appeal had dismissed the T of the ordination of women to Tribunal and General Synod of the proceedings on 3 July 1992 and the the order of priest in the Anglican church. General Synod of the Anglican Church in Australia. The Supreme Court in its interim Church of Australia had passed At St Saviour’s Cathedral, injunction observed that the appeal legislation to remove existing Goulburn, on 2 February, Bishop had come before the court in impediments to the ordination of Stuart Robinson conducted a special circumstances of great urgency. women in Australia and the matter Eucharist to recognise the Underlying it was a dispute which was one for individual Dioceses. contribution Bishop Owen Dowling involved issues of wide public In the interim, Archbishop Peter made to the ordination of women importance. Carnley, of Perth, on 7 March 1992, priests and the 11 women he had According to the narrative of the had ordained the first 10 women as intended to ordain on 2 February Movement for the Ordination of priests in the Anglican Church in 1992, but was prevented from doing Women, on 2 February 1992, 11 red Australia. so as a result of restraining court roses in most cathedrals honoured The events remain pivotal in action which was finally overturned. the women who were to be ordained. Anglicanism in Australia and a Bishop Stuart dedicated a plaque in A rally preceded the ordination momentous year for the movement his memory. service at St Saviour’s Cathedral. for the ordination of women. The service was attended by Eleven women processed into the Another chapter in the ordination Gloria Dowling and Bishop Owen's Cathedral as deacons alongside six of women was written at St Saviour's adult children who live in Australia, men. Bishop Dowling examined Cathedral, Goulburn, on Saturday, 31 Matthew and Mary. His eldest son, them and found them fit for the March, when the Rt Rev’d Dr Brian Tim, was represented by his eldest office of priest. In accordance with Farran, Bishop of Newcastle, daughter, Eveline, visiting Australia the injunction, Bishop Dowling then consecrated Archdeacon Genieve as part of a “'gap year”. ordained six men as priests; the Blackwell the first woman Bishop in The public controversy, women processed out as deacons. New South Wales. (See separate surrounding the events and the timing story). Congregations are religious bodies, having to do with A congregation of theological the things of God. Clergy and lay leaders face all kinds of coherence challenges. In problem solving mode, it is easy to forget the primary subject of a congregation. However, clearly recalling and consistently acting on the reality that God is everal conditions enhance a congregation’s ability to the subject of the congregation provides congregations the address the challenges and opportunities it faces— S energy and thoughtfulness needed to address their most use of outside resources to learn new capacities, clergy pressing challenges and opportunities. and laity learning together, and congregations assuming Clergy and lay leaders make essential aspects of faith the initiative over their futures. comprehendible by being articulate about God, and then Another emerging condition we’re observing is shaping congregational life in ways consistent with what theological coherence—the ability to think clearly about is being articulated. God and then act accordingly. A congregation that is clear and consistent about how it understands God, and applies “The Congregation of Theological Coherence" by Tim this understanding to its daily life, is more able to deal Shapiro originally appeared in the first 2012 issue of effectively with challenges and opportunities. There is a Congregations magazine. Copyright © 2012 by the correlation, after all, between the way leaders think and Alban Institute. speak about God and the health of a congregation. IN THIS ISSUE Licensed as lay Minister 6 When the wall becomes a window 7 St David’s 40th anniversary celebrations (cover Realising Bishop Neville Chynoweth’s wish 8 story) Five-year plan for church hall 10 Drama in the cathedral 2 St Paul’s new red vestments blessed 11 A congregation of theological coherence 2 Building Episcopal capacity for new challenges 12 In worship and prayer together 3 Pushing the boundaries 13 Casting the vision 4 Ringing in the Queen’s years 14 Open Day at St Luke’s 5 Just who do you think you are 15 Jill Elliot retires to the pews 6 The back page 16 2 In worship and prayer together or the last three years the connected with both parishes but now F Combined Ministry District no longer able to come to church. The Council (CMDC) has overseen the list of those needing additional implementation of mission and pastoral care is long. In addition ministry across the Combined visiting to hospitals and other aged Ministry District of Manuka and care facilities is carried out at times of Deakin Parishes through the three need. This takes considerable time and churches of St Paul’s, St David’s and effort on the part of the clergy team. St Luke’s. It is time to reflect on The planned giving campaign held what it has achieved and how we across the CMD in early 2011 resulted continue to support our mission in a modest increase of seven per together. cent. During the year, however, the Operation of the district devolves income received declined to the Rector of St Paul’s and the significantly. In the first few months Priest-in-Charge of St Luke’s who, of 2012 little, however, seems to have the Bishop on 24 February with our assistant and honorary changed; the CMD is still some considered an extensive discussion clergy and lay ministers, carry out its $16,000 under budget for planned paper on the options, together with pastoral and liturgical work. giving. The total budget for the CMD other papers submitted by members Liturgical services are a priority for 2012 is $482,700 which means we of the review group. for the clergy team. In a normal need $1322 a day to function. Only two options were seen as week there are 11 regular services of The district’s enthusiasm for new viable: abolish both parishes and worship conducted across the district staff, expressed at the special meeting create a new large parish; or with over 300 people attending. of the District, needs to be matched continue the present arrangement. The CMD Mission and Ministry by continuing commitment to provide The review group is considering Plan has three strategies: the funds, principally from regular a second draft of the discussion giving by parishioners, the main A worshipping and prayerful paper before wider consultation source of our funds. Continued giving community across the two parishes. at adequate levels is now required to Community development The most important matters for continue and expand the ministry Stewardship discussion have concerned the team. The best way to do this remains These strategies depend on each inefficiency of the present the use of the direct debit system. other. Without commitment to them arrangements, with four governance all we cannot achieve what we set out bodies (CMDC, St Paul’s Parish to do.