the anglican church of australia

146 Pages·2010·2.41 MB·English

THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

DIOCESE OF PERTH

We uphold the Five Marks of Mission of the
Worldwide Anglican Communion

 To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom

 To teach, baptise and nurture new believers

 To respond to human need by loving service

 To seek to transform unjust structures of society

 To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation
and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

DIOCESE OF PERTH

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Summons to the

SECOND SESSION

of the

FORTY-SEVENTH SYNOD

You are hereby summoned to attend the Second Session
of the Forty-Seventh Synod of the Diocese of Perth

Dated at Perth, 4 September 2010

+ ROGER PERTH
ARCHBISHOP

Synod will commence with the Eucharist at 7.00pm on Friday 1 October 2010
in St George’s Cathedral, Perth

The First Sitting of Synod will commence at 8.30am on Saturday 2 October 2010
at All Saints’ College, Bull Creek

The Second Sitting of Synod will commence at 1.15pm on Sunday 3 October 2010
at All Saints’ College, Bull Creek

PREFACE TO THE SYNOD REPORTS

It is with much pleasure that I present the Summons and Reports to Synod for the Second Session
of the Forty-Seventh Synod of the Diocese of Perth.

This volume includes reports from organisations which, by virtue of their respective constitutions, are
obliged to report to Synod each year in respect of their activities. It also includes reports from various
committees established by Diocesan Council and from commissions established pursuant to statutes
or resolutions of Synod.

We are grateful to the many people who have worked tirelessly throughout the year to fulfil the
mission of these organisations, committees and commissions - the results of which are reflected in
these reports.

At the half-way point of our five-year Mission Plan, people throughout the diocese continue to focus
on opportunities to Proclaim, Worship and Serve enabled by Inspirational Leadership and Life-Giving
Systems and Structures. I hope that the reports contained in this volume give an indication of the
extent to which the people in the Diocese of Perth are ‘Daring to live God’s promises’. I challenge
you to look through the Mission Plan lens and see the myriad possibilities that lie ahead.

We thank the Anglican Community Fund for their ongoing support in sponsoring the printing of
Synod-related material.

Please take the time to read these reports which many people have worked hard to bring to you.

Mr Hamish Milne
Director of Diocesan Services and Diocesan Registrar

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CONTENTS

PREFACE TO THE SYNOD REPORTS ............................................................................... 1

REPORT FROM THE EPISCOPATE .................................................................................... 5

REPORTS ON THE BUSINESS PAPER
DIOCESAN COUNCIL ................................................................................................. 13
THE PERTH DIOCESAN TRUSTEES ......................................................................... 29

FORMAL REPORTS
ALL SAINTS' COLLEGE .............................................................................................. 34
AMANA LIVING ........................................................................................................... 37
ANGLICAN BOARD OF MISSION – AUSTRALIA ........................................................ 39
ANGLICAN CARE (INC) .............................................................................................. 40
ANGLICAN CHILDREN AND YOUTH MINISTRIES ..................................................... 41
ANGLICAN COMMUNITY FUND (INC) ........................................................................ 42
ANGLICAN ECOCARE ................................................................................................ 43
ANGLICAN MEN'S SOCIETY ...................................................................................... 44
ANGLICAN MESSENGER ........................................................................................... 45
ANGLICARE WA ......................................................................................................... 46
BUSH CHURCH AID SOCIETY OF AUSTRALIA - WA ................................................ 47
CEBS (WA) - THE ANGLICAN BOYS SOCIETY ......................................................... 48
CHAPLAINCY ADVISORY GROUP ............................................................................. 50
CHRIST CHURCH GRAMMAR SCHOOL INC ............................................................. 52
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY - WESTERN AUSTRALIA INC ............................. 53
CROSSLINKS .............................................................................................................. 55
DIOCESAN ARCHIVES ............................................................................................... 55
ESPERANCE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL ..................................................... 56
GFS/KIDS PLUS+ - AN ANGLICAN MINISTRY ........................................................... 59
GUILDFORD GRAMMAR SCHOOL (INC) ................................................................... 61
GUY ELKINGTON MEMORIAL FUND (INC) ................................................................ 64
HALE SCHOOL ........................................................................................................... 64
JOHN SEPTIMUS ROE ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL ...................................... 66
JOHN WOLLASTON ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL .......................................... 68
MEATH CARE (INC) .................................................................................................... 70
MU – AUSTRALIA........................................................................................................ 72
PARKERVILLE CHILDREN AND YOUTH CARE (INC)................................................ 73
PETER CARNLEY ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL.............................................. 75
PETER MOYES ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL ................................................. 78
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITIES COMMISSION .............................................................. 80
ST BARTHOLOMEW'S HOUSE INC ........................................................................... 81
ST GEORGE’S COLLEGE (INC) ................................................................................. 83
ST HILDA'S ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS ........................................................... 84
ST MARK’S ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL ........................................................ 86
ST MARY'S ANGLICAN GIRLS' SCHOOL (INC) ......................................................... 87
SWAN VALLEY ANGLICAN COMMUNITY SCHOOL .................................................. 89
SWANLEIGH ............................................................................................................... 91
THE ANGLICAN SCHOOLS COMMISSION (INC) ....................................................... 93

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DIOCESE OF PERTH ................................................................................................ 101
SWANLEIGH ............................................................................................................. 131
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THE EPISCOPATE

The Most Reverend Roger Herft
Bishops, as our Prayer Book reminds us, are to be “wise and faithful stewards of the mysteries of
Christ”. They are called to serve the Church in such a way that does not allow the burdens and
anxieties of office to blunt their purpose or cloud their vision. They are to strive always to be pure
in heart, to be Christ’s servant and to follow Jesus. Who can live up to such an expectation? Only
by the grace God and the prayerful and practical encouragement of the church, clergy and laity,
can such a call be fulfilled!

Provincial
The Diocese of North West Australia celebrated its Centenary in 2010. This diocese is one of the
most challenging in terms of its vastness, resulting in bishops having to travel great distances,
encouraging small communities often made more demanding by the Aboriginal/European divide,
and the bust/boom mining cycle with its fly in-fly out culture, that does not provide much stability
and nurture to the local community.

The visit of Bishop Joseph Abura from the Diocese of Karamoja in Uganda from 25 June to 6 July
2010 and the signing of a Partners in Mission agreement marked a new stage in the life of the
Diocese of North West Australia. Bishop David and Maureen’s contribution to the life of the people
is deeply appreciated.

The retirement of Bishop David McCall as Bishop of the Diocese of Bunbury was an occasion to
give thanks to God for one of the most senior bishops in the Australian Church. Appointed to
Willochra in 1987 Bishop David served in Bunbury from 2000-2010. Bishop David served the
Australian Church at a number of levels, including the Long Service Leave Board, ABM, and
Mission to Seafarers. With Marion they proved to be formidable, fun loving examples of joyful
Gospel ministry. Bishop Allan Ewing was elected and installed as Bishop of Bunbury on 10 July
2010. Allan and Tricia bring a wealth of experience in episcopal service to the Province. We look
forward to their ministry in our midst.

Diocese of Perth
The Mission Plan, Daring to live God’s promises, has highlighted the need for cultural change at
every level of diocesan life. In order to model the need for review and transformation through a
process of listening and learning, Bishops Brian, Kay, Tom and myself engaged in a review
process conducted by Dr Stephen Truscott. There was strong affirmation from many sectors for
the collaborative spirit of open partnership engendered by the Episcopate. The distributive nature
of episcopal leadership was commended with the inclusion of key lay leadership in the diocese
receiving strong affirmation. It was noted the Bishops are tempted to become solely captive to the
“bad, mad and the sad” and can lose the capacity to celebrate the “glad”.

There were concerns raised about the delegated aspects of episcopacy. The review has helped in
creating a better space for decision making between Bishops and Territorial Archdeacons. The
Senior Staff has been given a more consultative role. At the request of the clergy the Ad Clerum
gave way to a more ‘open style’ Pastoral and Leadership Advisory. There has been some concern
expressed about this and a review of the “communication” within and outside of the diocese is
underway with a “branding” concept being researched.

Theological education and formation continues to provide us with challenges. The decision to
appoint The Reverend Marcus Edwards as Director of Education to take on a role in the transition
stage will help provide the structures for the new and emerging education model.

The decision to bring together the EcoCare, Social Responsibilities and Children and Youth
Ministries Commissions, school and agency networking, and theological formation and education
in one space at Wollaston should assist in providing a comprehensive programme that is in
keeping with the aspiration of the Mission Plan.

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The Reverend Dr Elizabeth Smith continues to provide energetic opportunities for the Mission Plan
to take root and flourish in the diocese. The area of structures in the diocese was reviewed with
Mr Brian Dixon taking on the role of Executive Officer and Diocesan Secretary. Mr Hamish Milne,
Director Diocesan Services and Diocesan Registrar, Mr Richard Kelaart, Director of Finance, and a
new position of Director of Facilities Management will all report to Mr Dixon.

Evangelical zeal embedded in catholic wholesomeness is what the Episcopate seeks to model in
open and transparent communication. Sometimes this is skewed, but by and large parishes,
schools and agencies have appreciated the presence of the Episcopal Team in their pastoral,
sacramental and teaching role.

The retirement of Bishop Kyme has required a significant workload in ministry to be borne by
Bishops Tom and Kay.

Appointments
To help in the administration area, including policy matters, Pastoral Handbook and overseas
immigration matters, Mr Scott Faragher was appointed as Director Episcopal Services for a fixed
tenure.

The Reverend Lionel Snell was appointed as Archdeacon of Perth with specific responsibilities for
locum and supply appointments.

Bishop Howell Witt, on his appointment to the North West, asked Archbishop Appleton what the
difference was between a priest in parish or sector ministry and a bishop. Archbishop Appleton
replied “Bishops are those who are given more opportunities by God to carry the Cross – and to
give thanks for the privilege”.

I am grateful to the retired Bishops David Murray, Michael Challen and Brian Kyme, Bishops Tom
and Kay, clergy and laity who by their prayer and practical encouragement help to ease the burden
and to keep the vision ever glorious in God the Holy and Blessed Trinity.

The Most Reverend Roger Herft
Archbishop

The Right Reverend Tom Wilmot
Expanded Oversight
One of the privileges of episcopal ministry derives from the essential nature of that ministry being
one of oversight or as some call it a “balcony view”.

The big change this year was the redistribution of areas of episcopal oversight as we moved from
having three Assistant Bishops to two in the wake of Bishop Brian’s “retirement”. Bishop Kay and I
now share an area of episcopal oversight with Archbishop Roger which equals approximately one
half of the diocese each, including allied ministries and Anglican schools. Objectively this means
the episcopal oversight delegated to my care in 2010 now includes the Gnangara and Joondalup
Deaneries in addition to the Kalgoorlie, Avon, Eastern, Moore, Swan and Armadale Deaneries.
Because the episcopal diaries with particular reference to “episcopal visitation” are set a year in
advance the pattern of episcopal visits (EVs) is yet to reflect and include this new “geography”. My
hope is the “bias” of my EVs in the new calendar year will be towards those new archdeaconries,
allied ministries and schools now under my episcopal oversight.

Episcopal Visitations
It is also my intention to be systematic about pastoral EVs to those principals, CEOs and chaplains
in my area of episcopal oversight. My other aspiration is to get out into the deaneries a bit more,
however, this is probably best done on the initiative of the Area Deans inviting Bishops to attend
deanery meetings rather than have the “purple people” impose themselves.

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The Mission Plan: my take!
The Mission Plan: “Daring to live God’s promises” has reached mid-point in the original five year
term. Bishop David Moxon, one of the inspirations for our plan, says a Mission Plan should be
organic, ie over time it should morph and re-energise the church as we respond to the “green
growing edges” of God’s dawning Kingdom. All very poetic but what I take this to mean is the plan
should not become a code but a map; not become a law but a spirit, not become a static set of
measures but a daily inspiration to help us pick up the traces of the Holy Spirit which “blows where it
will!” Our attentiveness therefore should not be to the letter of the plan but to the goading of the spirit
to get on with the joyful business of heaven in our local parish, school, agency and our lives.

One of the abiding temptations of the church is to adopt a new rhetoric without adopting a new
culture to match. This is one reason why “the more things change the more they stay the same”.
The Mission Plan is about the transformation of you and me from the inside out. Without that change
the old paradigm/culture will subvert the new because it will persist as our natural fallback position.

Fresh Expressions – a new paradigm is here!
The themes of the Fresh Expressions Conference in Canberra I attended last year called the
church to confess that basically most of what we are doing now isn’t working with respect to our
core business of mission. There are valiant and temporary phenomena we can point to which buck
the trend but essentially the church in the Western World is in accelerating decline. In the face of
this challenge our posturing out of the old ecclesiological paradigms ie Catholic-Evangelical,
Conservative-Progressive are not only a waste of our limited energy but fail to grasp the essential
truth ie a new paradigm has emerged. This finds expression in new emergent churches which are
radically different to the Christendom era institutional churches yet predictably contain the essential
elements described as characteristics of the church in the New Testament, for example, the
cell/house church movement in the USA and Europe is now said to be approaching parity in size to
the institutional church (NB This is difficult to calculate because this informal church does not get
caught up in our current survey mechanisms!). It is encouraging to note, however, that large
numbers of Christians meet in each other’s homes to break the bread, enjoy fellowship and
orientate their daily lives by the inspiration of Holy Scripture. I am not so sure that this
phenomenon is happening to the same extent in Australia which by any measure is the most
secular culture on the planet but as we are all aware we are in a transitional period of history where
something familiar passing away and something new is definitely emerging. My own sense of this
is that we need to see God’s new thing and, where sensible and possible, “get on board”.

The Failure of Religion?
The other notable feature of the conference was a “lament” clearly articulated by Brian D McLaren about
the failure of the world’s great religions to provide a meta-narrative which is big enough and persuasive
enough to save us from the greed/fear which is destroying the planet. Please refer to “Everything Must
Change” when the world’s biggest problems and Jesus’ good news collide. This book is not a
comfortable read but then when was prophetic vision ever a comfortable thing to live with?

Rediscovering our prophetic voice – passing our inheritance on!
I mention this big-picture stuff because I have got a growing conviction that this really matters to
those who would, but no longer go to church, because the church has lost its prophetic voice and
even worse seems to be increasingly consumed with “internal issues” rather than its mission to the
world. I say this because when “the young” are given a taste of robust Christianity eg “Pilgrimage
of Hope” they are drawn to the Christ they see in the “needy” and those who minister to them but
upon their return to Australia don’t quite know what to do with that transforming experience or who
to share it with?

My hunch is because our church looks and feel like the “complacent middle classes at prayer” to
paraphrase an old descriptor of the Anglican Church from former times; the thoughtful, the
concerned and the young are staying away in droves. Andrew McGowan said at our Rural
Conference in July that tough and demanding Christianity is proving to be increasingly attractive to
the young. I have heard Scott Cowdell say a similar thing. Difficult, challenging Christianity
attracts the young. Have we made it all too easy?

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