(A report from the Standing Committee.)
Contents
1. The 32nd Provincial Synod of the Province of New South Wales was held at the Meroo Christian Conference Centre on 30 and 31 August 2002.
2. The 32nd Provincial Synod consisted of 73 members, of whom 34 were from the Diocese of Sydney. It passed 6 substantive resolutions, 1 rule and an ordinance.
3. By resolutions 1/02, 2/02, 3/02 and 4/02 the Provincial Synod reappointed its Education, Media, Youth and Welfare Commissions.
5/02 Drought relief
4. There were several presentations to the Provincial Synd which addressed the drought affecting most of New South Wales. In the light of the drought the Provincial Synod respectfully asked that the Metropolitan consider launching an appeal to the national church to provide direct assistance to rectory families, and for maintaining ministry, in drought affected communities. The Synod also asked that the Metropolitan and the Diocesan Bishops of the Province call upon the Anglican Community in NSW to have a day of prayer for rain and for those suffering from the effects of drought in our rural areas.
6/02 Sexual Misconduct
5. By this resolution Provincial Synod expressed -
(a) regret for all incidents of sexual abuse within the Church and its agencies and apologised unreservedly to all victims of such abuse,
(b) support for the initiatives of the Bishops' Conference and General Synod Standing Committee in developing guidelines, protocols and procedures to prevent sexual abuse and to deal with claims of abuse,
(c) requested that an attitude of zero tolerance to any sexual abuse be the guiding principle in developing these guidelines, protocols and procedures, and
(d) encouraged the whole Church to take up this opportunity to review how the gospel of Christ is lived out in all relationships.
6. The Provincial Synod made a rule to amend its standing orders. The main changes were to impose time limits on speeches, simplify the ordinance making procedure and amend the procedures for the consideration of ordinances.
7. The Provincial Synod passed the Provincial Synod Commissions Ordinance 2002 to provide formally for the establishment of commissions to carry out the work of the Anglian Church throughout the Province of New South Wales. We are still to consider this Ordinance and our recommendation to the Synod. We will report to a future session.
For and on behalf of the Standing Committee
MARK PAYNE
Diocesan Secretary
24 September 2002