93. PRAYER AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY (Ros McMillan and Geof Lilburne)

That the Assembly encourage Theology and Discipleship to explore the possibility of establishing a National Prayer and Christian Spirituality Network, with a view to establishing a National Working Group on Prayer and Christian Spirituality.

Rationale:

1. One of the mandates of Theology and Discipleship is "4. To promote spiritual development of church members."

2. We, as a church need to address the 'spiritual hunger' that exists in the wider community, and which has been recognised in the Strategic Planning Unit report (C21-28,29). People want to know and see that God is real.

3. The report of the Task Group on the Understanding and use of the Bible has only one small paragraph on a spiritual approach to understanding the Bible.

4. We, as a church, need to redress the perceived imbalance between the evangelical and social justice activities of the church nationally.

5. There needs to be a broader and deeper understanding of prayer and prayer ministry amongst Uniting Church members if they are to be further equipped for faith sharing (SPU, C21-16).

6. We all need to know and use the power and authority we have in Christ (John 14:11-14; Matt. 28:18-20; Matt. 18:18-20; Luke 10:19; Luke 24:49) in active, believing prayer.

94. CARE OF CHURCH LAND (Robert Bos and Geof Lilburne)

That the Assembly

(a) request Theology and Discipleship and Social Responsibility and Justice to initiate a conversation across the Church with a view to developing a statement on the care of Church land, the statement to include a biblical and theological basis as well as practical suggestions;

(b) request Theology and Discipleship and Social responsibility and Justice to bring such a statement to the Tenth Assembly for consideration.

Rationale:

In recent years we have become aware of major ecological problems as a result of human action. God's creation is threatened by human greed and apathy (sin). Not only does non-human creation suffer, the poor and powerless among humans are often the first to feel the effects of climate change, salinity, species extinction and the loss of diversity. A new relationship with the rest of creation is a major challenge facing humanity in the twenty first century. If the Church is to have a credible voice in these discussions, it needs to get its own house in order first. The Uniting Church in Australia holds title to thousands of properties across the country. Guidelines for the care of those properties will itself make an important difference, as well as being a practical demonstration to the wider society.

95. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSAL 57 (Rob Brown and Stan Clarke)

That the Assembly request the Assembly Standing Committee, on the advice of the Legal Reference Committee, to amend (amended) Regulation 7.7.8 (b) to read:

'In the event of a complaint being made the convenor shall designate, in respect of each complaint, an adviser to each of the complainant and the respondent and, [if the Convenor deems it appropriate, or] if requested to any other person affected by the alleged misconduct.'

Rationale:

This amendment adds an extra pastoral dimension to the procedures without changing the thrust of the regulations. The amendment is offered as a result of the Tasmanian Synod's experience of the processes of Discipline cases. It ensures that affected persons, where appropriate, are offered an adviser. Experience shows that in the early stages of the processes such people may not be aware of the option for the need of such assistance.

96. MINISTERIAL EDUCATION COMMISSION

Licensed Year Proposals

That the Assembly:

1. ask Ministerial Education Committee to 'reshape' the 3rd phase ('Licensed Year') in order to address the concerns regarding placement and funding;

2. recognise that the name of the third phase as the 'Licensed Year' needs to be reconsidered.

3. invite the MEC to develop interim guidelines for the third phase of Ministerial education, in response to the results of the ongoing consultation with relevant assembly and synod agencies and report to the ASC in March 2001 for approval.

Rationale:

1. This has been a time of transition and feedback in terms of the licensed year proposal. The MEC reaffirms the goals and ideals of phase 3 as passed by 1997 assembly. The issue is that of practicalities: how do we implement these in a way that is best for the church, colleges, candidates, synods, presbyteries and placements?

2. The MEC has been listening to the church, and it is saying that there are problems

a. The difficulty of finding one year placements
b. The division of payments with the placement paying 75% and 25% being paid by synods
c. The difficulty of placing candidates for one year e.g. the needs of spouses,
children. This is not impossible, but a problem.
d. Difficulties in commencing a placement as a candidate not yet ordained. This is an issue in the ecumenical understanding of ordination i.e. the celebration of sacraments, as well as in the secular context with community/agency/government recognition.
e. In at least one synod there is a problem getting payment at normal stipend level for a person not yet ordained.

3. The approaches being considered by the Ministerial Education Commission are

a. That the "Licensed Year" be the first year of a continuing placement
b. A renaming of this 3rd phase
c. Ordination/commissioning be after phase 2 (core phase) upon issue of Certificate of Completion of Core Studies
d. That the study component in phase 3 be an orientation to ministry as part of the terms of placement
e. Further study to be determined by Theological College after consultation with Presbytery, agency/congregation and minister.
f. A Certificate (Statement) of satisfactory completion of this phase to be issued by the MEC on recommendation of Faculty in consultation with the Presbytery. (Without the Statement the minister is not eligible for a further placement). Phase 3 may be extended.

4. The MEC recognises the need for urgent action to resolve the matter within the next twelve months, based upon continued consultation.

97. THE CONSOLIDATION OF THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION (Murray Fysh and Carolyn Kitto)

That the Assembly request the Assembly Standing Committee to direct the Minsiterial Education Commission to plan for a single theological College alongside Coolamon College, to provide for the training of candidates for the Specified Ministries throughout the Assembly, this consolidation to be completed and be ready to take students by the first semester of 2006.

Rationale:

1. The statistical information provided for this Assembly (Report C3-7) shows us that there are only 136 candidates in training for all the specified ministries (103 Ministers of the Word, 22 Deacons, 8 Youth Workers, 3 Community Ministers).

2. The provision of 6 separate theological colleges to provide training and reflecting the one set of guidelines (MEC) is an indulgence we cannot continue to afford.

3. The stewardship statement we make in the duplication of these educational institutions is beyond comprehension to those members of our congregations struggling to finance their local mission.

4. There are millions of dollars provided by the Church in each Synod. By consolidating into one institution, we will reduce the financial burden on Mission and Service Funds, while at the same time, we can provide a single, well resourced institution dedicated to providing the Church with Ministers trained to be effective Ministers within their ministry contexts.

5. To plan for implementation for First Semester 2006 will give the MEC and the individual colleges enough time and space to plan for the change both financially and in respect to the existing appointments within the present colleges.

6. There are many opportunities that will be created for creative approaches to the use of our financial, human and physical resources directed to the training of ministers for the Church into the future. This approach has been already outlined within the Strategic Planning Unit's report to this Assembly.

7. As we have already discovered through the enriching experiences of ecumenical sharing in theological education, working together can create a better future than going our separate ways. We believe a national theological faculty would provide further enhancement in our training of specified ministries.

8. The Strategic Planning Unit has called us to face our future in innovative and creative ways and we invite the Church to consider the possibilities of this innovation.

98. ADDITION TO PROPOSAL 46.5 (Social Justice and Responsibility)

That the Assembly add the following clauses to Proposal 46.5:

(i) encourage members, agencies, congregations and councils of the Uniting Church to welcome recently arrived refugees into their communities and to provide support and advocacy as they are able;

(j) express its concern to the Australian Government at the current practice of 'dumping' refugees into urban areas with inappropriate supports and resources, and with unsatisfactory notification of services within the placement areas;

(k) call on the Australian Government to:

(i) adequately resource placement of refugees within the community;
(ii) foster development of community networks and culturally appropriate support groups for refugees;
(iii) provide adequate services for access to education, trauma counselling, resettlement and employment services for refugees;

(l) previously listed as (i )
Rationale:

Since the drafting of the original proposal the incidence of refugees being moved from Australian centres to placements on temporary visas has increased. Of note in this transition however has been the lack of resources and of grace in the placement of refugees. There are inadequate services, and refugees are being resettled into communities where there are often no appropriate local support communities and where support services are limited. Concern has also been expressed about the timing of the places (e.g. relocation from Woomera to Adelaide at 6.00 p.m. on a Friday evening when no support services are available until Monday). We believe that the Australian Government in its acceptance of refugees has a responsibility to provide basic services to ensure a transition which is as smooth as possible.

99. ECOTHEOLOGY (John van Reit and Christine Cargill)

That the Assembly ask Theology and Discipleship to establish a national network for ecotheology to:

(a) explore a theology of creation;
(b) liaise with similar networks in other churches;
(c) liaise with Social Responsibility and Justice with respect to their second priority in the next triennium;
(d) provide resources to the Church for theological education, congregational life and evangelism.

100. AMENDMENT TO PROPOSAL 57 - DISCIPLINE REGULATIONS RE SYNOD SEXUAL MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS COMMITTEE (Chris Budden and Norman McDonald)

That the Assembly amend proposed Regulation 7.7.6 by:

(a) replacing '12' with '16' in paragraph (c);
(b) adding a new paragraph (d) to read: "Not less than twenty five percent of the members of the Committee shall be Ministers, and not less than twenty five percent shall be lay persons";
(c) re-lettering the subsequent paragraphs.

Rationale

1. Experience in the Synod of New South Wales has been that when several complaints are being dealt with concurrently, the present limit of 12 persons for the Committee is inadequate. When a panel deals with a complaint, the demands on time and emotional investment of the panel members is such that it is not desirable for a panel member to serve on more than one panel at the same time.
2. A similar requirement is in place for membership of the Committee for Discipline (Regulation 7.8.3(b)) and the proposed paragraph would ensure a similar balance in the Synod Sexual Misconduct Complaints Committee members.