Report of the Standing Committee meeting held on 7 December 2009

Archbishop Peter Jensen led in prayer.

Appointment of a new assistant bishop for the Diocese of Sydney

Under clause 5 of the Assistant Bishops Ordinance 1947, the Standing Committee approved the appointment of the Rev Canon Peter Lindsay Hayward as an Assistant Bishop, to be the next Bishop of Wollongong to succeed Bishop Alan Stewart upon him taking up his appointment as Director of the Department of Evangelism.

Bishop Alan Stewart

Standing Committee placed on record its gratitude to Almighty God for the faithful, enthusiastic, energetic and exemplary ministry of Alan Stewart whilst serving as Bishop of Wollongong. 

Minutes of the Mission Board

Standing Committee noted the minutes of the Mission Board of 9 November 2009.

Minutes of 9 November 2009

Standing Committee approved of the minutes of 9 November 2009.

Ordinances

St James' Sydney Phillip Street Property Amendment Ordinance 2009

The purpose of this ordinance was to amend the St James’ Sydney Phillip Street Property Ordinance 1962.

Wollongong Leasing Ordinance 2004 Amendment Ordinance 2009

The purpose of this ordinance was to amend the Wollongong Leasing Ordinance 2004.

Meetings (Quorum, Attendance and Resolutions) Ordinance 2007 Amendment Ordinance 2009

The purpose of this ordinance was to amend the Meetings (Quorum, Attendance and Resolutions) Ordinance 2007.

Rosemeadow Trust Ordinance 2001 Amendment Ordinance 2009

The purpose of this ordinance was to amend the Rosemeadow Trust Ordinance 2001.

Elections

Membership of the Standing Committee: Qualified Minister elected by the members of the Synod

Bishop Al Stewart was elected with effect from ceasing to be an ex-officio member as the Bishop of Wollongong.

Council for Continuing Education for Ministers

Miss Jane Tooher was elected.

Licensing Review Group, Parish Relationships Ordinance

The filling of these vacancies was deferred until the 2010 Synod.

New College Limited

Mr Brian Street was elected.

Nomination Board, alternate member on

The Rev Phil Wheeler was elected, with effect from 31 December 2009.

Provincial Synod, Diocesan Representatives on

The Rev Dr Mark Thompson was elected, with effect from 31 December 2009.

Stipends and Allowances Committee

The filling of this vacancy was deferred until after the next meeting of the Stipends and Allowances Committee.

Sydney Diocesan Education and Book Committee

Standing Committee resolved that these vacancies not be filled.

Sydney Diocesan Secretariat

The following persons were elected –

Canon Bruce Ballantine-Jones
Mr Mark Ballantyne
Bishop Robert Forsyth
Mr Benjamin Koo
Mr Andrew McLoughlin
Mr Ian Miller
Mr John Pascoe
Dr Laurie Scandrett

Synod Pool, Parish Disputes Ordinance

The filling of these vacancies was deferred until the 2010 Synod.

William Branwhite Clarke College Council

The Rev Martin Kemp was elected.

Members of the 48th Synod under Part 8 of the Synod Membership Ordinance 1995
Arden Anglican School Council
Council of Churches in NSW, Diocesan Representatives on
Diocesan Tribunal
Safe Ministry Board
SCECGS Redlands Ltd, Board of
Sydney Anglican Car and Insurance Fund, Sydney Church of England Finance and Loans Board
Tara Anglican Girls’ School Council
Tertiary Education Ministry Oversight Committee

These vacancies were deferred.

Casual Vacancies

(a)      General Synod, Diocesan Representatives on – The Rev Chris Moroney had resigned and a vacancy was declared for a member of clergy.

(b)      The Illawarra Grammar School Council – The Rev Dr Stephen Barrett had resigned and a vacancy was declared for a clergyman of the Anglican Church of Australia.

(c)      Sydney Anglican Schools Corporation – Mrs Lesley Ramsay had resigned and vacancy was declared for a person.

(d)      Mission Board – Canon Jim Ramsay will cease to be a member upon his retirement as Director of Evangelism Ministries on 31 December 2009 and a vacancy was declared for a Head of an Organisation.

(e)      Minute Reading Committee – Archdeacon Deryck Howell had ceased being a member of the Standing Committee upon his retirement as the Archdeacon of South Sydney and a vacancy was declared on the Minute Reading Committee for a person.

(f)       Membership of the 48th Synod Part 8 – Mrs Lesley Ramsay had resigned with effect from 31 December 2009 and a vacancy was declared for a lay person.

Secretariat and Glebe Board

Minutes

Standing Committee noted that the minute book for the Secretariat and Glebe Board has been tabled.

Report of the Chief Executive Officer

Standing Committee received a report.

Financial Matters

Review of policy for determining minimum stipends

Stipendiary principle

Standing Committee adopted the following as an expression of the “stipendiary principle” –

“Stipends, allowances and benefits are paid for the exercise of office to allow ministers to do their work effectively in the sphere to which they are called.  The rate of stipend determined should generally be sufficient to allow ministers to live without undue financial worry and to maintain themselves and their families at a standard which might be described as neither poverty nor riches.”

Graduations of stipend

Standing Committee endorsed the current graduations of stipend for clergy and lay ministers reflecting differing levels of qualification, experience and responsibility.

Consideration of personal circumstances

Standing Committee does not consider that personal circumstances of the minister should be taken into account for the purposes of setting the minimum stipend but may be taken into account by individual parishes when considering whether to pay a stipend in excess of the minimum.

Deferral

Standing Committee deferred further consideration of the benchmark for determining the minimum stipend.

Actions by the Work Outside the Diocese Committee under delegated authority

Standing Committee noted the Work Outside the Diocese Committee action taken under delegated authority.

Amendment to Mission Board Terms of Reference

Standing Committee approved revised terms of reference for the Mission Board.

Amendment to Work Outside the Diocese Committee Terms of Reference

Standing Committee approved revised terms of reference for the Work Outside the Diocese Committee.

Diocesan organisations – half year reporting

Standing Committee noted a report summarising Diocesan organisation’s compliance with clause 13 of the Accounts, Audits and Annual Reports Ordinance 1995.

Synod

Resolutions of the Synod

Standing Committee noted a report and the action taken or proposed to be taken in relation to each resolution made by the Synod at its recent session.

2/09 Environmental initiatives in the Diocese

Standing Committee received a report from the Diocesan Secretary and appointed a committee comprising Dr Karin Sowada, Mr George Lymbers and Mr Bruce Cooke for the purposes of undertaking the work requested in Synod resolution 2/09.

16/09 Questions of principle relevant to electing the Archbishop

Standing Committee received a report from the Diocesan Secretary and requested Bishop Glenn Davies and Mr Peter Kell to bring to the meeting on 15 February 2010 the key questions of principle relevant to electing a person to the office of Archbishop of Sydney together with such other material as would facilitate a policy discussion on these questions at that meeting.

32/09 Qualifications and experience of candidates and members

Standing Committee received a report from the Diocesan Secretary and agreed with the approach to dealing with Synod resolution 32/09 outlined in the report.

46/09 Anglican Communion

Standing Committee received a report from the Diocesan Secretary and requested that the Rev Gavin Poole move a motion at the General Synod session in September 2010 affirming that the Anglican Church of Australia be in full communion with the Anglican Church in North America.

Referral of remaining motions on the Synod business paper

This matter was deferred.

Acts of the Archbishop-in-Council

Parish of Waverley

Standing Committee received a notification from the Registrar and recommended to the Archbishop-in-Council that it be determined, in the circumstances, that the parish of Waverley should have the benefits under the Nomination Ordinance 2006.

Extra-parochial declaration for Nowra Anglican College

This matter was deferred.

Other Matters

Services at General Synod

Standing Committee, noting the guidelines for services at General Synod which were made available to Bishop Forsyth by the Executive of the General Synod Standing Committee for tabling at this meeting, requested the Diocesan Secretary to write to the Archbishop of Melbourne (who, we have been informed, has the supervision of divine worship during the meetings of the next General Synod) to the effect that –

(a)      the services within or held in connection with the meetings of the General Synod should emphasise that which we, as Anglicans, have in common and should eschew matters on which we do not agree, and

(b)      all services should follow exactly one or more of the services provided in The Book of Common Prayer 1662 or An Australian Prayer Book, these being the only service books authorised for use throughout Australia, and

(c)      all expositions of scripture should be true to the biblical text, and

(d)      no person invited to lead any part of a service should be a person whose lifestyle does not comply with the requirements of Faithfulness in Service, the code of conduct adopted by the General Synod.

Diocesan Corporate Governance Policy

Standing Committee appointed a committee comprising Bishop Glenn Davies, Dr Bryan Cowling, Mr Steve McKerihan, Mr Peter Kell, Dr Laurie Scandrett, Mr Robert Tong, Mr Bruce York and Mr Robert Wicks (secretary), subject to their consent, to prepare a paper on Corporate Governance for Diocesan organisations generally with the intention that the Standing Committee would propose to the 2010 Synod a “Diocesan Corporate Governance Policy” that would enable the matters contained therein to be applied consistently across all Diocesan organisations.

Application of Federal industrial relations system to all NSW employees

Standing Committee received a report from the Manager, Legal Services and requested the Manager, Legal Services to advise parishes generally about the implications of the move to the Federal industrial relations system.

Productivity Commission’s Draft Research Report on Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector

Standing Committee received a report from the Diocesan Secretary.

Review of Marriage Equality Amendment Bill 2009

Standing Committee received a report from the Social Issues Executive.

National Church Life Survey in 2011

Standing Committee noted a media release. 

Appellate Tribunal reference on administration of Holy Communion by persons other than a presbyter
Appellate Tribunal references concerning the National Register Canon 2007, the Special Tribunal Canon 2007 and the Offences Canon Amendment Canon 2007    

These matters were deferred.

Expressions of appreciation

The Archbishop expressed his appreciation for the work, fellowship and commitment of members of the Standing Committee during the year, particularly the lay members. 

Dr Laurie Scandrett expressed appreciation for the fellowship and contribution of the clergy members.

Date of next meeting

Monday 15 February 2010.