Outcomes of Church Council (CC) meeting of 29 November 2021

The current and new CC members met on 29 November with the following outcomes:

• The new executive for 2022 were chosen:
  • Bronwyn Asquith and Jenelle Martin will co-chair the Council.  
  • The new Secretary is Bruce Warren
  • John McKenzie has agreed to become Treasurer.
• CC agreed to the baptisms of Elijah and Esther King and Elly Lee and Johnno Jun’s daughter Ita 
• The National Church Life Survey (NCLS) will be conducted during February 2022
• CC will approach members of the congregation to become trained as “Presiders” over communion and baptism where a minister is not available
• Church services over Christmas will be held Christmas Eve (evening), Christmas Day and Boxing Day
• There will be no increase in hall hire fees for 2022 at this time
• CC decided to rent the manse out while we await a new minister
• The Church Profile has been progressed.  Members of the congregation will be approached to form the Joint Nominating Committee to select a new minister
• CC agreed for Matt Grudnoff to approach possible supply ministers
• The Pastoral Care Committee noted that they had received an overwhelming response from the congregation to participate in pastoral care.  Possible pastoral care coordinators will now be approached.
• CC decided to continue streaming services.  We will, however, need to purchase new equipment, as the current camera belongs to Darren.  Advice to be sought on appropriate technology. 

Community Garden

At the recent AGM, CC agreed to come back to the congregation on the proposed community garden after:

• Other possible partners such as Canberra City Care were approached; and 
• Advice was sought from COGS whether or not GUC/the food pantry could have a plot within the garden.  

CC agreed that GUC will continue to explore the setting up of a community garden with Canberra Organic Growers Society (COGS).  

• While Canberra City Care were approached, they do not have a community garden.  Their pantry garden model may be a possible alternative should we ultimately be unsuccessful in setting up a community garden.
• COGS agreed to GUC/the food pantry becoming a member of the community garden and having a plot.  This means GUC will have genuine mission opportunities; there will be real potential for the Food Pantry/GUC to be part of the garden community; to develop relationships with other garden members; and for greater synergies with and opportunities for the Pantry and GUC
• COGS is currently arranging to meet with the ACT government to explore grant opportunities.
• CC did not consider GUC had the resources or volunteer base to set up a community garden itself.  Previous attempts by Ministers had been unsuccessful.

CC also agreed that in the event that COGS is unable to set up a garden, they will explore:

• alternative ways to lift GUCs profile in the community
• other options to better utilise our land, for example a pantry garden; regeneration of the land etc

At our Church Council meeting on Monday 19 April, we spent time reflecting on the book ‘Can Our Church Live?’ by Alice Mann.  This book was recommended to Darren by Elizabeth Raine as part of our Mission and Vision workshops.  We reflected deeply on 3 questions…

• Who are we (especially at a faith level)?
• What are we here for?
• Who is our neighbour? 

You can access chapter 1 of the book here

We also discussed plans for our next Mission and Vision workshop on Saturday 1^st May.           

We encourage all members of the congregation to attend this workshop and be a part of the mission and vision of this community.  Once again, the workshop will be catered for, and so long as we know in advance, childcare will be available on the premises.  

Church Council has devised a draft Pastoral Care model which will be shared with the congregation after the second Mission and Vision workshop on 1^st May.  After the workshop Church Council will contemplate any final adjustments before seeking feedback from the congregation.  We thank you for your patience as we have grappled with different ideas, and greatly appreciate those members of the congregation who use their gifts to support and encourage others.

The church building is undergoing some repairs.  These include a leaking roof and problems with guttering and downpipes in the office area, as well as maintenance to the playground.

We have updated our COVID Safe plan so that we can continue with communion and reintroduce singing.  We are seeking guidance around ventilation with a hope that we won’t have to have doors and windows open in the middle of a cold Canberra winter. 

Each year congregations give money to Presbytery and Synod.  Church Council has agreed to once again give $15,900 this financial year.

Boys and Girls Brigade continue to grow from strength to strength.  Using money obtained from a grant, Boys Brigade is organising canoe training to enable them to provide greater opportunities for the boys.  They are also looking forward to one of their senior brigade members coming back this term.  Girls Brigade has welcomed two new members this term and will be running Pioneer Leader Training in the near future.

Report on Congregation Mediation

Church Council spent a lot of our last meeting discussing the results of Terrence Corkin’s report, based on his interviews and the Saturday workshop. 

• CC agreed to set up a working group to further address the issues.
• This group will seek the views of those who have not previously responded in the process. 
• The group would follow the terms of reference in Terrence’s mediation report, including generating options for action. 
• CC agreed that Terence’s offer to chair the working group would be accepted.
• CC agreed on people to approach and ask for their participation in the Working Group.
• CC agreed that Darren would not be on the Working Group but that the Working Group would consult with him.

Christmas

Darren is currently in discussions with the Salvation Army about how we may use the carpark for Christmas gathering/s.

Ordination of Geoff Wellington

GUC have been asked to host the ordination for Geoff Wellington on 28 November. Details to be confirmed.

Synod Request

Synod have requested all congregations devise a plan for how they would respond in the event of any Covid19 outbreak within the church community. As Alison has experience with the Covid19 Safe plans, she will be asked to work on this.

Church Council Nominations 

Nominations for Church Council are in progress. The same procedure will be followed as last year – that one person would check the nomination forms and approach those who received more than one nomination to see if they accept.

Finance Report

The Annual Financial Return was agreed on and a draft budget for the AGM is being devised by Treasurer and Chair.

Dear GUC Congregation

Church Council met on 22 October 2020. There have been many matters to attend to in the last few months, requiring lengthy discussions. Your Church Council members have been doing our best to weigh the considerations of each matter and make decisions with care for all members of our congregation.

At this month’s meeting, Church Council heard about some of Darren’s recent work. With Aimee Kent from Kippax Uniting, Darren has been leading some well-attended outdoor nature services for families. Church Council supports Darren continuing to seek to engage families who have not felt able to return to our Covid impacted services. Darren has also been working with the Salvation Army to plan one or more joint Christmas services.

There are plans underway for an anniversary service in February 2021 to commemorate 10 years since our building opening and 25 years since the forming of the Gungahlin Uniting Church.

Liz Warren has stepped down from the music coordination role. Liz has done a huge amount of work for many years behind the scenes in addition to her frequent piano playing for services. Church Council want to thank Liz for her long and faithful service, always undertaken with patience, humility, and good humour. 

Church Council decided that we will move into weekly worship services at our building starting in November. 

Our AGM will be held after the service on November 8^th. This is a meeting where we will elect new Church Council members for 2021 and hear how our very capable treasurer, Narelle Dodd, is steering us through the financial challenges ensuing from Covid19. There are copies available of our 2020 annual report, prepared by Bruce Warren.

Existing Church Council members, Matt Grudnoff, Jack Barnard and Kat McIver were elected for two years and will be continuing in 2021. Existing members, Narelle Dodd, Bruce Warren and Jemimah “JJ” Hamilton have been re-nominated. In addition, there are new nominees: Lyn Butson, Jenelle Martin, Elizabeth Phythian. Church Council considered the impact of Covid on our nomination and voting process and decided not to introduce any unnecessary changes to the system. However, if you are unable to attend the AGM in person, but you want to participate in the vote for church council members, please contact Margaret Reeson (6262 3677/0404 148 201) or Church Council Chair Matt Grudnoff (0402 483 782). They will be able to arrange an absentee vote.

The Working Group proposed by mediator Terence Corkin to manage recent conflict issues has been set up with Terence as Chair. The other members are: Matt Grudnoff, Chris Dodd, Margaret Reeson, Shirley Williams, Janelle Martin and JJ Hamilton. We are thankful to each of these people for stepping up to help in this challenging task. Church Council debated several options regarding the release of Terence Corkin’s mediation report, with regards to limiting any further conflict or harm to the congregation. It was decided that printed copies of the report will be made available to members of the congregation who would like one.

Church Council has received requests from Canberra Presbytery on behalf of the Salim (Korean speaking) Uniting Church group, currently meeting in a home in Gungahlin, to use our premises; Church Council has been exploring a possible mutual arrangement and considering the implications. Church Council regularly receives requests for hall hire, hire of car park space and approaches from other congregations seeking a worship space. Each request is considered by Church Council.

Church Council also oversees the maintenance of the building. We agreed to the working Bee at the church for 31^st October. We have, so far not been able to find a roof repairer willing and able to attend to various issues requiring fixing on our roof.

Church Council is also arranging a plan for the unlikely event that an outbreak of Covid19 occurs within our own community.

These are just some of the issues that were addressed in the last month by your Church Council. Thank you for your understanding as we manage the many issues on your behalf.

Yours in Christ

Jack Barnard
Secretary
Gungahlin Uniting Church Council.