South Sydney Regional Council
Annual Report for 2004
(A report from the South Sydney Regional Council.)
1. The Council met on 7 occasions in 2004 at Meriden School, Strathfield. We are very grateful to the School for its hospitality, specially the meal we enjoy when members have been able to get to know one another better.
2. As at 31 December 2004, the membership of the Regional Council was:
| The Rt Rev ROBERT FORSYTH | Mr Richard Arkell |
| The Ven Deryck Howell | Ms Sarah Blakelock |
| The Rev Antony Barraclough | Mrs Elisabeth Boyce |
| The Rev Francis Chalwell | Dr Robert Claxton |
| The Rev Tim Foster | Mrs Sarita England |
| The Rev Tom Henderson-Brooks | Mr Robert Freeman |
| The Rev Warwick de Jersey | Mrs Jeanette Glass |
| The Rev Trevor Oakley | Mr Warwick Lewarne |
| The Rev Jeremy Tonks | Mr Allan Pidgeon |
| The Rev Keith Mascord | Miss Alicia Watson |
3. In March 2003, Council received the resignation of the Ven Trevor Edwards, member of Council since its inception in 1996, to become rector of Wanniassa, ACT and Archdeacon of South Canberra. Council recorded its deep gratitude to God for his ministry in South Sydney.
During the year the Rev Andrew Graham was elected to fill a vacancy for a representative from the Gordon Deanery.
4. At each meeting of the Council, substantial discussion has taken place on the Diocesan Mission and its implications for churches and ministries in the South Sydney Region. We have set up a property task force, charged with the job of producing a kit for parishes facing sale or development issues with their property. The Diocesan Secretariat is involved in this as well and we look forward to its final production in 2005.
5. In terms of discussion of ministry strategies during the year, the Council’s focus of attention in 2004 continued on the two church planting projects, at Green Square and Pyrmont. This is the culmination of much prayerful planning and we are delighted at the progress being made by the staff of both churches. Council also rejoices at the growth of the ministry team at Concord West/Concord North and is keenly involved in encouraging the growth taking place there.
6. Council also funded or partially funded the employment of assistant ministers in parishes employing AM’s for the first time: Annandale, Croydon and Concord West/Concord North, with the aim of increasing significantly the ministry impact of those parishes
7. Funds from the Synod including various ordinances which have historically benefited the South Sydney region were distributed as follows:
| Parish | Purpose | Amount |
| Abbotsford | Youth ministry |
4,000
|
| Annandale | Assistant Minister |
35,000
|
| Broadway | Sydney University Chaplain |
41,400
|
| Broadway | UTS Chaplain |
41,400
|
| Broadway | Peninsula Comm. Church |
5,000
|
| Clovelly | Saving Grant |
5,000
|
| Concord West | Assistant Minister |
77,000
|
| Coogee | Childrens/youth ministry |
11,500
|
| Cooks River | Youth ministry |
30,000
|
| Croydon | Assistant Minister |
30,000
|
| Five Dock | Street evangelist |
25,000
|
| East Sydney | Youth ministry |
8,000
|
| Lord Howe Island | Relief ministry |
13,024
|
| Maroubra | Youth ministry |
8,000
|
| Newtown | Saving grant |
20,000
|
| South Coogee | Youth ministry |
12,000
|
| South Sydney | Aboriginal Ministry |
41,400
|
| South Sydney | Green Square church plant |
40,000
|
| Strathfield Homebush | Multi-cultural ministry |
9,500
|
| Summer Hill | Women's worker |
10,000
|
| Unichurch (UNSW) | UMSW Chaplain |
41,400
|
| Loan repayments | F& L Board |
6,668
|
| Fees |
672
|
|
| Other disbursements |
758
|
|
| Total |
516,722
|
8. Consideration of ministry partnerships for 2005 was completed at the November 2004 meeting and successful applicants were notified.
9. The Council’s Ordinance Review Panel met throughout the year under the skilled leadership of Mr Allan Pidgeon. It dealt with ordinances being promoted by the parishes of Enfield, Leichhardt, and King Street. This group performs an invaluable service for both the Synod and the region.
10. Acts of the Council: during the year the Council acted according to its powers to:
a) permit the parish of Strathfield with Homebush West to conduct a combined vestry meeting, elect a parish council as determined by that meeting and have one set of wardens for the whole parish;
b) to investigate and support the creation of the parish of Ashbury;
c) to investigate and commend to the Synod the raising of Petersham to full parish status; and d) to note the amalgamation of the parishes of Bondi and Bondi Beach.
For and behalf of the South Sydney Regional Council.
DERYCK K HOWELL
Archdeacon of South Sydney
28 June 2005