In brief: Big decisions

Madeleine Collins | 27 September 2006

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Each month Southern Cross reports on the major decisions of the diocesan Standing Committee.

Sydney helps to fund dispute panel

Standing Committee will give $3000 in Synod funds to the Anglican Communion Office. The money will help meet the cost of international travel for members of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Panel of Reference (pictured), which has been set up to investigate disputes between parishes and their bishop. The work of the Panel is not being fully resourced by the Communion and applicants are being asked to meet some of these costs themselves. Standing Committee agreed to contribute ‘as a sign of our goodwill and commitment to the work of the Panel’.

Funds freed for urgent repairs

Funds were released to replace the roof of the church hall at St Paul’s, Riverstone. The roof of the main hall has rusted through so the building leaks when it rains. Funds will also buy a drainage easement at St Peter’s, Schofields to increase its amenity and value.

Disused church to be sold

The sale of St Luke’s, Cattai has been authorised. The church site, which has not been used since 2000, is considered to serve no purpose to the parish and maintaining it is at the expense of the parish. The church, built in the 1930s, is made of fibro, seats 40, rests on piers and has no toilet facilities. Funds from the same will go towards employing a full-time assistant minister in order to develop week-day ministry and evangelism and bring new people to church. Ministry will be centred at the churches in Pitt Town and Wiseman’s Ferry. The Mission Property Committee does not consider there is any strategic value in retaining the site for the purposes of the Diocesan Mission.

Trust fund for Oak Flats

A trust fund has been established for St Andrew’s, Oak Flats. The aim is to free up income for the church and enable the Property Trust to lease or licence property.

Churches seeking parish status

Standing Committee requested that the next Synod assent to the reclassification of Wilberforce and Annandale as parishes.

Should presbyters and laypersons administer confirmation?

Standing Committee received a report from the Sydney Diocesan Doctrine Commission about whether both presbyters and senior lay persons should be able to administer confirmation. The Doctrine Commission’s report assessed the majority and minority views on this matter expressed in a report to this year’s Synod. The Doctrine Commission’s report will also be provided to the Synod.

Annual financial returns

Standing Committee noted that the Finance Committee had received the a report from the Secretary as to the status of parishes that have not yet filed Annual Financial Returns for the year ended 31 December 2005, and noted that in each case action is being taken in conjunction with the regional Archdeacons to resolve the outstanding issues.

Synod to be held this month

The Sydney Synod will meet in the Wesley Centre, Pitt Street on 16, 17, 18, 23 and 24 October. For daily breaking news and analysis from Synod visit http://www.sydneyanglicans.net. Southern Cross will provide a wrap of news and analysis of proceedings in the November edition.

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