Wollongong Regional Council Annual Report 1998

Introduction

1. During 1997, Wollongong Regional Council held 5 bi-monthly meetings. Below is a summary of the major issues dealt with by the Council during the year.

Regional Planning

2. Regional Council devoted considerable time during 1997 to clarifying goals both for the whole region and individual deaneries. Members of Council met again for a Regional Planning day at Gilbulla in July. They evaluated progress towards the achievement of goals set in previous years and sharpened their focus for the future. Following the Archbishop's Presidential address to the last session of Synod, Council discussed at length how the Archbishop's goals could be incorporated into regional planning.

Disbursement of Regional Grants

3. Regional Council has made a real effort to continue to refine the whole process of disbursing grants. Members of Council have been very encouraged to note the wide variety of ministry initiatives being planned by parishes, and have sought to distribute funds as fairly as possible.

Guarantees of Funding

4. Three regional areas of ministry have been given guarantees of ongoing funding for 1998, 1999 and 2000. These priority areas are Cross Cultural Ministries, Shoalhaven Counselling and the Chaplaincy at Wollongong University. These guarantees will enable more effective long term planning to take place in these areas but account for approximately 44% of the available funds and significantly limit the ability of Council to assist in other initiatives.

Kedesh House

5. In the past, the Regional Council had rights to appoint some of the directors of the drug rehabilitation centre, Kedesh House. After much thoughtful discussion, Council decided in April to cease any formal involvement with the centre.

Improving Effectiveness of Representatives

6. Regional Council has taken active steps to help parish representatives be more aware of the issues being raised at Synod by promoting pre-Synod meetings. At these meetings, an attempt has also been made to explain to new representatives the procedures adopted by Synod. The Region has also adopted procedures to ensure that suitably qualified people from the Wollongong region could be nominated for vacancies in diocesan organisations.

Other Involvement

7. Increasingly, the Diocese has asked Regional Council to comment on various matters. In 1997, Council made recommendations to the following groups -

(a) Committee on the Composition of Anglican School Councils;

(b) "Interest Group" Committee;

(c) Ministry of Parishes with incomes below $70,000 Committee;

(d) Standing Committee's guidelines for "Large Receipts"; and

(e) Standing Committee's recommendations on election procedures.

Meeting the Challenge

8. Regional Council is beginning to see some of the fruits of its labours over the past few years. Members of Council are encouraged to see a sense of regional cohesiveness developing in spite of the obvious diversity that exists within the region. There is now greater consensus about future directions we should take and a desire to encourage new initiatives for the proclamation of the gospel to be taken up.

For and on behalf of the Wollongong Regional Council.

REG PIPER
Regional Bishop