18. The Rev Dr John Bunyan asked -

(a) Has the Standing Committee prepared an ordinance as requested in motion 26/92 moved by the then Archdeacon Roberts requiring the Registrar to advertise vacant parishes in suitable media and if not, for what reason?

(b) Did the Registrar in fact for a time list rather than advertise vacant parishes in Southern Cross and cease this practice on the grounds that the information was said to be sometimes out of date by the time of publication?

(c) Would not this difficulty be overcome if vacancies were advertised rather than simply listed, and only at the time of vacancies occurring, and is not this the regular practice in, for example, the Diocese of Melbourne with responses being directed to the regional bishops?

(d) Is there any objection to the Registrar again acting and advertising vacancies while any ordinance is considered?

To which the President replied -

(a) No

(b) Yes

(c) This question is not a proper question under Standing Order 27 (2) as it contains an argument.

(d) Yes, because there is no financial provision made for this activity.

The Rev Dr John Bunyan asked -

(a) Recognising that the appointment of Rectors is the province of the Archbishop, I ask with respect with reference to the workings of the Presentation Board whether members are provided with any minimum criteria and if so by whom?

(b) If there are such minimum criteria, for the sake of openness can they be made public and do they require, for example, that a parish must first seek for a Rector from within the Diocese, and that any Rector be qualified in New Testament Greek?

To which the President replied -

There is no provision for the giving of minimum criteria contained within the Presentation and Exchange Ordinance 1988.

Generally in the appointment of clergy in this Diocese I have indicated that I consider clergy within the Diocese before those outside the Diocese, and for all clergy in this Diocese there are minimum theological qualifications for licensing.

The Rev John Bunyan asked -

With reference to the last part of Answer to Question 14 on 29 October 1996, I give notice that as soon as the business of Synod permits, I should like to ask the following questions -

(a) Did the Standing Committee consider the request of this Synod that an ordinance be prepared for submission to Synod requiring the Registrar to advertise vacant parishes in suitable media?

(b) If it did not consider that request of Synod, why was that so?

(c) If it did consider it, why did it reject this formal request from Synod?

(d) From what source did the Registrar for a time finance the listing of vacant parishes in Southern Cross?

(e) What is the total annual budget of the Registry?

(f) What is the average cost of a 10 cm single column advertisement in the Southern Cross?

(g) If as stated in answer to question 14d the reason for the Registrar not advertising vacant parishes now when they occur, is the lack of financial provision for this activity, will the Registry accept donations to cover all costs involved?

To which the President replied -

(a) Yes.

(b) Not applicable.

(c) This part of the question is out of order as it makes a statement which is incorrect. For the record, the Standing Committee reported to the Synod in 1993 that the advertising of vacancies in Southern Cross did not require an ordinance and that the Registrar was advertising vacancies. On review at a later stage, the Registrar discontinued the practice as the costs were escalating and there was no allocation made for it. Also, the vacancies were often under offer or even filled by the time information appeared in Southern Cross due to the lead times required before printing.

(d) Synod Fund Contingencies.

(e) The "Registry" is a brief way of describing a part of the function of the Archbishop. It is not an accounting entity and does not have a budget separate from the budget of the Endowment of the See, the fund from which the episcopal, archidiaconal and registrarial functions of the Archbishop are paid.

(f) $95 plus $10 to $25 for typesetting if required. There would of course be staffing and associated costs in preparing the information each month.

(g) No. If the Synod allocates money for this, it can be reconsidered, even though in practice the information is often out of date when it is published.