mgpcpastor's blog

The Presbyterian Church of Victoria held their Commission of Assembly last week. The following statement explains what a Commission of Assembly is and what it does.
Reading these decisions is interesting and informative. It allows us to know what is happening in other parts of the kingdom.
It also provides us with information that we might be able to use in our work.
Thanks to John Wilson, Clerk, and Peter Phillips, Deputy Clerk of the PCV for providing this summary.

Matters of Interest from the May 2010 Commission of Assembly

Each year the October General Assembly appoints a Commission with the same membership as the Assembly to meet in May to do business referred to it by the Assembly, and to deal with other urgent matters which may have arisen. This Commission met this year for the first time in the newly refurbished Assembly Hall, renamed “The Werner Brodbeck Hall”. These are some matters decided this year by this Commission of Assembly.

• Appointment of Moderator-Designate: For the first time for many years a Moderator of the General Assembly will serve a second consecutive term in office, the Rt Rev Andrew Bray being appointed by the Commission as Moderator Designate of the 2010 General Assembly.
• Money Matters: The Commission this year approved:
• The General Mission Program for 2010, a total of $222,210 allocated to the presbyteries according to a formula approved by the Commission for allocation to their parishes.
• The Assembly Committee budgets as presented by the Board of Investment and Finance.
• An increase in the minimum remuneration for ministers from $45,312 pa to $46,212 pa.
The Commission also accepted a recommendation from the BIF that it designate this year’s interest on funds held for the General Assembly of Australia to provide additional support for our highly valued National Journal, Australian Presbyterian. This journal has been suffering from a loss of private contributions, a decline in subscriptions, and increases in production costs.
• Appointment of a Christian Education Co-ordinator: the Christian Education and Nurture Committee brought to the Commission for its approval a job description for the position of Christian Education Co-ordinator, and a name for appointment to the position. The Commission approved the job-description and appointed the Rev John P Wilson to the position from a date mutually satisfactory to him and the Committee. As Christian Education Co-ordinator his responsibilities will include:
• the teaching and ministry resources of the CENC.
• encouraging the development of Christian Education and Nurture through:
• advising and assisting presbyteries in the planning of Fuelled Training Days and similar events;
• speaking in churches, camps, events, and activities as directed and/or authorized by the CENC;
• preaching in churches and occasional events where the CEC can be of influence, training and encouragement.
The Christian Education and Nurture Committee of our Church sees this appointment as necessary to fulfil its function, and is seeking to work with other Assembly Committees to further develop a training culture in our denomination.
• CENC Youth Worker: the CENC reported that it was unable at this time to present a name for appointment to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Rev Andrew Vines, and asked that the Church pray that the Lord would find someone to fill the position of the CENC Youth Worker soon.
• Church and Nation: the Church and Nation Committee reported on arrangements for its Religion in the Public Square Colloquium (22nd – 24th July 2010), the Government’s Equal Opportunity Bill 2010, and the review of identity motivated hate crime in Victoria being conducted by retired Supreme Court Judge, Geoffrey Eames QC, appointed to this task in January by Attorney General Mr Hulls. The Commission resolved to commend the Religion in the Public Square Colloquium to the wider church, and to request that ministers, elders, and other leaders distribute the registration brochures widely and encourage attendance. Email me for a copy of the Committee’s report to the Commission of Assembly.
• Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care Co-ordinator: the Health and Community Chaplaincy Committee reported that the field of chaplaincy and pastoral care is expanding rapidly, but places a lesser emphasis on clergy and is no longer exclusively Christian, while theological qualifications are still mandatory for the majority of pastoral care workers and chaplains. At the same time, increased Government funding opportunities should enable our Church to further develop our chaplaincy without relying on the Church for funding. The Committee believes that an executive co-ordinator for its work is vital to the day to day management of existing chaplaincy and pastoral care ministries, and to the development of future ministries. The Commission gave interim-approval to the Committee’s job description for this position till the October Assembly, opening the way for the Committee to make an appointment when it is ready.
• Kirkbrae Retirement Village Development Stage 1A: the Social Services Committee reported to the Commission on its proposals to respond to changing needs and demands on its buildings (now 50 years old) to provide “in home” nursing care services to ageing residents and to ensure the financial viability of its operations at Kirkbrae. The Commission approved the committing of $9.3 million of the committee’s funds over a period of 24 months to construct 24 one and two bedroom units and a village community centre and chapel, subject to the BIF approving the financial funding of the project.

Peter Phillips
Deputy Clerk