Northern Region Council Meeting

26th November 2002

Report to Diocesan Council

Chaplaincy in the region

The Rev'd Jonathan Joyce gave a detailed report on the scope of chaplaincy in the northern region. Commonly identified issues were the high demand for chaplaincy services and the lack of funding to provide additional services. Steps are being taken to improve connection with parishes and build clergy/lay ministry arrangements.

Regional Strategic Planning

A series of deanery based meetings were held to allow further discussion of how the Regional Strategic Plan can be used as a resource and catalyst for parish based planning. An audit / review format will be developed for the bishop to use during parish visits in 2003.

Five year Restructuring

Preliminary discussion has commenced regarding strategies for helping parishes to become financially secure without the need for Grant funding within the next five years. Regional grants will then be used to support creative evangelistic / mission project initiatives.

Brighton

This new Parochial District will be established in December 2002. Rapid development is occurring. A priest will be appointed in early 2003, as half time chaplain to Peter Moyer ACS and working half time in Brighton to establish a new Anglican community. Financial assistance has been promised by the developer.

North Kingsley / Woodvale

A strategy is being put in place to support this parish with regular priestly supply combined with clergy consulting support to parish council and lay ministry teams. The vision of developing the parish as a centre for education and ethics in the Northern Region is also being explored.

Mount Hawthorn

Conversations regarding the joint Mount Hawthorn Anglican / Uniting church development are progressing well. A number of legal issues are still to be resolved but all parties are confident that this is possible.

Whitfords

It was noted that Whitfords parish was one of the 27 Anglican Churches in Australia identified in the NCLS data as having grown by 100% between 1996 and 2001. This lends support to the Regional Strategy of locating parishes in schools. The other identified parishes in the Northern Region was Guildford parish which has been developed through building relationships with the community and in particular with young couples getting married in the church building.

Ballajura

The Bishop and Archdeacon have meet with the Parish council to commence strategy to address the accruing stipend arrears.


Balga / Girrawheen

A regular and thriving Sudanese worshipping community is has developed. Conversations will now be held with the parish leadership in relation to fast tracking indigenous elders through formation programs. John Septimus Roe ACS has signalled its intention to offer fully funded scholarships to this community as well as providing a bus.

Diploma of Theology

Lectures have been recruited to offer 1st year Diploma Theology units at Beechboro in 2003. Active promotion has been conducted in parishes using visiting guest speakers (current students) as well as e-mail and phone contact with parish clergy.

North Coast Youth Initiative

A central youth group (Heathridge / Whitfords / Greenwood / Balcatta. Has commenced meeting weekly at the St. Mark's Parish Centre.

Theological Education of Teachers

It was noted that every effort needs to be taken to promote the Theological Education of staff in Anglican Schools. Information about Trinity-on-line has recently been sent to principals of Anglican Schools.

Clergy Movement

The Rev'd Peter Bourne is moving to Lesmurdie Parish in 2003. The Rev'd Dean Griffiths is moving to Air Force chaplaincy in 2003.

Ministering Communities Development

The preliminary results of 95 Appreciative Inquiry Interviews conducted at Whitfords parish have been processed. A Vision Statement is being drafted and a preliminary Ministry Teams Structure has been developed.

Appreciative Inquiry interviews are continuing at Swan Parish

BMC Handbook Revisions

The Ministry Development officer has completed the revisions to the Becoming Ministering Communities Handbook. This will be printed and distributed in January 2003.

Youth Leadership Internship - JSP School

Three applications for 2003 have been received and they will be interviewed during December.

Ministering Communities Evening

A Ministering Communities Resources evening was attended by 20 people at Mirrabooka Parish Centre. Mr Ray Hughes-Odges from Bellevue / Darlington parish spoke about developing terms of reference for Ministry Teams.

Living Stones Conference

The Bishop, the Ministry Development Officer and one lay person (Ray Hughes-Odges) attended the Living Stones Conference in Adelaide in September.