UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIA - UCA

UNITING CHURCH IN AUSTRALIASYNOD OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND THE ACTSYNOD STANDING COMMITTEEMINUTES for the meeting of the Synod Standing Committee held at Centre for Ministry on 7th and 8thApril, 2017DECISIONSDecisions recorded in these Minutes were reached by consensus unlessotherwise indicatedTIMES 3.30pm6.00pm8.30pm10.45amAGENDA29/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeeadopt the Order of Business as printed subject to changes suggested by theGeneral Secretary and alterations made by the Synod Standing CommitteeAPOLOGIESRev. Myung Hwa Park, Ms Rebekah Allcroft, Rev. Grant Bilbey,Rev. SimonHansford, Mr Warren Bird, Mr Michael Anderson, Mrs Jacki Watts, MissKatelyn Stevenson,Mrs Lillian PeneATTENDANCESESSIONSRev. Jane FryMr Paul BallardMr Kevin BarringtonRev. Christine Bayliss KellyMr David BarrowRev. Glenys BiddleRev. Dr Brian BrownRev. Karyn Burchell-ThomasMr Craig CorbyMr Paul CreekRev. Lindsay CullenRev. Kevin DilksRev. Tara CurlewisRev. Garry DronfieldRev. Salesi 1,2,3All

IN ATTENDANCEMrs Sue GravesRev. Robert GriffithMrs Robyn HarveyMr Bruce LyonMr Ian LawrenceRev. Darren LiepoldRev. Stephen de PlaterMr John K MartinRev. Stephen MathewsRev. Graham PerryRev. Ivan RobertsRev. Stephen RobinsonMr Graeme TolsonMrs Diane TorrensMrs Heather AllMrs Karyn WarnerAllASSOCIATED MEMBERSMr John CollinsMr John KitchenerMr Peter WorlandRev. John ThorntonMr Peter AndrewsRev. Rhonda WhiteDr Iain BrownMr Jonathon ReaMr Ross JohnsonMr Ian lvedThat the Synod Standing Committeeconfirm the Minutes of the Synod Standing Committeeheld 3rd and 4th February, 2017CONSENTAGENDA31/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeedetermine that matters listed in the agenda be adopted13

ACTINGGENERALSECRETARYREPORTReference - Working Paper 132/17SCResolvedThat Synod Standing Committee(i) note the report(ii) approve an increase to the current maximum InterimRedress amount from 100,000 to 150,000SYNODPATHWAYSPROJECTReference - Working Paper 2, 2A33/17SCResolvedThat Synod Standing Committeenote the report of the Project TeamSYNOD BUDGETSTEERINGCOMMITTEE –FUTURE INCOMESTREAMSReference - Working Paper 334/17SCResolvedThat Synod Standing Committee approve:(i) the introduction of a contribution program consisting of a landbased levy on Institutions and Schools and a budgeted contributionprogram for other entities to be phased in from 1 July 2017 for threeyears or until the Synod’s 10 year plan is completed inclusive of a longterm funding approach(ii) the annualised target for the contribution program in FY18 of 5M(iii) subject to legal advice and appropriate communications, thecommencement date for the contribution program being:a. Institutions: 1 July 2017b. Schools: 1 January 2018c. Church: 1 July 2018(iv) the levy for Institutions and Schools in year one (FY18) be set at0.3% of unimproved land value and there-after indexed annually at thelower of CPI or 3%14

That Synod Standing Committee:(i) request Presbyteries to engage with and support the budgetedcontribution program, providing guidance to the appropriate requestfrom each Congregation based on the understanding of the life ofeach Congregation(ii) authorise the General Secretary to approve the Communications Plan asreferred to the General Secretary by the Budget Steering Committee(iii) request that the Communications Plan be tabled at the June SSCBUDGETFY 2018Reference - Working Paper 3A35/17SCResolvedThat Synod Standing Committeenote the reportUNITINGRESOURCESREPORTReference - Working Paper 436/17SCResolvedThat Synod Standing Committeenote the reportSYNOD OVERSIGHTAND RISKCOMMITTEEReference – Working Paper 537/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committee (SSC)approve the following SROC recommendations (superseding 3 February2017 SSC Resolutions)1. That SSC require:(i) Wesley Community Services (WSC) to ensure that the SanctionWorking Group meets more regularly to support the next stage ofWCS reaccreditation process and post implementation;(ii) Copies of the Sanction Working Group minutes are to be providedto SROC for review, comment on and observations and anyrecommendations to be included in SROC’s reports to SSC inJune 2017 and onwards (as directed by SSC);15

(iii) WCS to ensure that the Sanction Working Group reviews itsTerms of Reference and ensure it provides for the extended workrequired by SSC and reporting undertakings to both WCS andUniting Boards as well as to SROC;(iv) SROC to review the amended Terms of Reference andrecommend any changes to WCS and Uniting Boards;(v) WCS to ensure that the Sanction Working Group can present areport on action taken and underway to SROC at its June 2017meeting for SROC review and comment and/or recommendations;(vi) The revised Terms of Reference to be endorsed by the WCSBoard at its earliest convenience.2. SSC requires WCS to prepare a more detailed ‘root cause’ analysis and atimeline of improvements to be in place and to be reviewed by WCS’sBoard for comment, directives and/or recommendations. SROC is toincorporate an update in its June 2017 report to SSC.3. SROC is to continue to report to SSC at each of its meetings until SSC issatisfied that outcomes and work completed can now be left for the WCSBoard to report in their own capacity.LIFELINEAUSTRALIAUPDATEReference Working Paper 1138/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenotes the decision of Lifeline Northern Rivers, Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter,and Lifeline Central Coast to Lifeline Direct (supported by the decision of theUniting board) to each transfer their operations to Lifeline Direct, subject to thefollowing terms;(i) the Transaction can only occur when Lifeline Direct has been established,and endorsed as a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) in order to be aneligible recipient of assets and operations under the respective andcurrently operating constitutions, but no later than 1 July 2017;(ii) the Transaction be subject to terms and conditions to be incorporated intothe required Transaction documents (including, but not limited to, theLifeline Direct Operational Framework and satisfactory lease terms beingentered into for any real property held by the Property Trust);(iii) the Transaction will involve the transfer of all staff, volunteers, liabilitiesand assets of Lifeline Northern Rivers, Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter, andLifeline Central Coast to Lifeline Direct. Such transfer will not include anyreal property of The Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust (NSW);16

(iv) further work is to be undertaken to determine the future arrangements forthe real property, including lease arrangements for the continuedoccupation of Lifeline Direct.determines that:(i) to the extent that the Synod has authority to authorise the transaction inthe absence of the relevant board being in a position to do so, then theStanding Committee delegates to Uniting the authority to authorise thetransaction for the purpose of executing the agreement to give effect to thetransaction;(ii) upon completion of the Transaction:a. Lifeline Northern Rivers, Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter, and LifelineCentral Coast operations will cease to be recognised as anInstitution of the Uniting Church in Australia Synod NSW and theACT (as contemplated in the Regulations); andb. the current constitutions and unincorporated bodies of LifelineNorthern Rivers, Lifeline Newcastle & Hunter, and Lifeline CentralCoast will be wound up, contemplating that the role of currentBoard members will ceaseUNITING MISSIONAND EDUCATION- UPDATESReference Working Paper 1039/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeereceive the report(by agreement)GOVERNANCENOMINATIONAND REMUNERATIONCOMMITTEE(GNRC)Reference Working Paper 740/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committee(i) endorse the proposed changes to the composition of the SynodStanding Committee; (agreement) Refer Appendix Band as a separate matter(ii) note that the process to be followed to identify the GeneralSecretary will be based on interview and not JNC protocols17

ACTINGASSOCIATESECRETARYREPORTReference Working Paper 841/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the reportWALKINGON BUNDJALUNGCOUNTRY42/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the presentationRETIREMENTS43/17SC(a) Rev. Stephen De PlaterReference – Presbytery letter dated 20 March, 2017ResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the retirement of Rev. Stephen De Plater in accordance with Regulation2.6.1(d)(i)(1) effective 31 December, 201744/17SC(b) Rev. Darrell McKeoughReference - letter dated 12 March, 2017 and email dated 29 March, 2017ResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the retirement of Rev Darrell McKeough in accordance withRegulation 2.6.1(d)(i)(1) effective 3 September, 201718

45/17SC(c) Rev. Mark HillisReference – Letter dated 10 February, 2017ResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the retirement of Rev. Mark Hillis in accordance with Regulation 26.1(d)(i)(1) effective 31 August, 2017APPOINTMENTSa) Wesley College Council46/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeeon the recommendation of the Uniting Mission and Education Board approveaffirm the nomination of Ms Catherine Hallgath to the Wesley College Councilb) Synod 201747/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeeappoint Mr Ian Lawrence as Returning Officer and Mr Scott Stanton asAssistant Returning Officer .ADMISSIONOFMINISTERSRev. Andrew Cunningham48/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committee(i) note that the Rev. Andrew Cunningham has fulfilled all requirements as setby the Admission of Ministers Committee including the following studies;a. THL 319 Uniting Church Studiesb. THL 230 Practice of Cross Cultural Ministryc. A Literature Review on UCA Sexuality and Leadership Documentsd. Ethical Ministrye. Cross Cultural Orientationf. Living our Valuesg. Polity 2(ii) endorse the recommendation received from the Admission of MinistersCommittee that Rev. Andrew Cunningham be admitted as a Minister ofthe Uniting Church in Australia.19

(iii) refer this application to the Assembly AOM for final approval for therecognition of Rev. Andrew Cunningham as a Minister of the Word of theUniting Church in Australia.ACTIONITEMSReference – Working Paper 949/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the reportLOCALLYMANAGEDCHILDREN’SSERVICESReference – Working Paper 1350/17SCResolvedThat the Synod Standing Committeenote the reportWESLEYCOLLEGEReference – Working Paper 1551/17SCResolvedThat the Standing Committeeapprove the new By-Laws as proposed by Wesley College (refer Appendix A).OBITUARIESMrs Margaret Goodwin, wife of Rev. Martin Goodwin tragically passed away 23 February 2017CLOSE: 10.45amNEXT MEETING: 2-3 June, 2017 at Centre for Ministry .Chairperson Date20

Rev. Jane Fry All Mr Paul Ballard All Mr Kevin Barrington All Rev. Christine Bayliss Kelly 1,2,3 Mr David Barrow 2 Rev. Glenys Biddle All Rev. Dr Brian Brown All Rev. Karyn Burchell-Thomas All Mr Craig Corby All Mr Paul Creek All Rev. L