Provincial Synod Session 1998
(A report from the Standing Committee.)
Introduction
1. The 31st Provincial Synod of the Province of New South Wales was held in Sydney on 3 February 1998. The next Provincial Synod must be held by 3 February 2003.
2. The 31st Provincial Synod consisted of 73 members of whom 34 were from the Diocese of Sydney. It passed 6 substantive resolutions and 2 ordinances.
Resolutions
Commissions
3. By resolutions 1/98, 2/98 and 3/98 the Provincial Synod reappointed its Education, Media and Youth Commissions.
4. By resolution 4/98 the Provincial Synod appointed a new commission, the Welfare Commission. The text of resolution 4/98 is -
"This Synod -
(a) receives the report of the working group comprised of representatives of the dioceses of the Province;
(b) notes the desirability of State-wide focus on -
(i) disaster welfare responses,
(ii) drought relief responses,
(iii) life after prison activities;
(c) supports Anglicare NSW as its authorised agent to represent all dioceses in relation to dealings with Government agencies and all appropriate non-Government organisations; and
(d) establishes a Welfare Commission to coordinate State-wide activities, and appoints the following members:
The Rev H Dillon (Convener)
The Ven R T Platt (Sydney)
Mr J Hansen (Armidale)
Mr C Shevels (Newcastle)
The Very Rev G Reynolds (Riverina)
The Rev G Malcotsis (Grafton)
The Rev B Craig (Bathurst)
The Right Rev R Randerson (Canberra-Goulburn)
The Provincial Registrar (Ex-Officio)".
5. The Standing Committee of the Provincial Synod has asked that the Sydney Synod pass a resolution to "implement" resolution 4/98.
6. One of our representatives to the Provincial Synod has prepared a paper for the Standing Committee commenting upon the Provincial Commissions System and raising concerns about the funding of the Commissions, their authority and constitution. The Standing Committee has appointed a committee to consider those comments and prepare a report, including recommendations. The Standing Committee recommends that consideration of a resolution to "implement" resolution 4/98 be deferred until the 1st session of the 45th Synod by which time the committee appointed by the Standing Committee will have reported.
5/98 Reconciliation of Indigenous People and Later Arrivals
7. The Provincial Synod noted the statement of confession and reconciliation by the heads of churches in Newcastle at the Aboriginal welcome for the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1997, affirmed its desire for reconciliation between indigenous people and later arrivals and, committed itself to the support of Aboriginal Christians in their ministry and pastoral care of their own people.
6/98 Reconciliation with Aboriginal People
8. The Provincial Synod has set up a task group to -
(a) examine the Bringing Them Home Report as it applies to the Anglican Church in New South Wales;
(b) prepare, in accordance with the recommendations of the report, information relating to the role of the Anglican Church in New South Wales in the removal of indigenous people and care in homes run by the Church;
(c) give advice as to any ongoing care, counselling or support which would still be given to those affected by forceable removal;
(d) give advice concerning any reparation which should be paid by the Church to those affected by forceable removal; and
(e) report back, with recommendations, to the Standing Committee of the Provincial Synod in 1999.
9. The Provincial Synod has instructed the task group, in consultation with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and the Bishops of the Province, to prepare an occasion, including word and symbolic actions, to forward the cause of reconciliation.
10. Sydney has been invited to appoint a person to the task group and has been asked to provide a response to resolution 6/98. The Standing Committee has deferred further consideration of these matters pending receipt of recommendations from the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples' Ministry Committee.
Ordinances
11. The Provincial Synod passed the Defence Force Diocese Ordinance 1998 by which the Provincial Synod agreed to the proposal to form a Defence Force Diocese from the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn. The ordinance was passed to provide a constitutional way for the matter to be debated at General Synod in February 1998. The General Synod did not approve the creation of this new diocese.
12. The Provincial Synod Constitution Amendment Ordinance 1998 seeks to remove clause 9 from the Provincial Synod Constitution Ordinance 1907. This Ordinance needs to receive the assent of each Synod in New South Wales and be ratified by a canon of the General Synod before it is effective. A bill to enable the Synod to give its assent is being promoted to this session of the Synod: see the separate explanatory statement and bill.
For and on behalf of the Standing Committee
MARK PAYNE
Diocesan Secretary
14 August 1998