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
