1.1 We live in times of rapid change. Change is also the key to the Ministerial Education Commission. This is reflected in the composition of the Ministerial Education Commission, its activities, responsibilities and concerns.

2.1 The membership of the Commission has changed significantly since Assembly last met. The Assembly significantly reduced the size of the Ministerial Education Commission, (but not its task) at the 1997 Assembly. There have been further changes with a shift in age group towards slightly younger members and more women (50%) than previously on the Min-isterial Education Commission.

2.2 There have been a number of changes of staff in the theological colleges. New members of college staff are:

2.3 The Ministerial Education Commission has no staff except the secretary who is paid for one day a week funded by the Synod of Victoria.

2.4 The composition of the Executive has also changed drastically. Since 1998 the Executive has been based in Victoria, with Rev. Dr John Henley as the Chairperson, initially Rev. Dr Gwen Ince as Secretary, but since December 1998 Rev. Dr Marian Zaunbrecher as secretary. Current Executive members are Rev. Graham Bartley, Mrs. Nancy Bomford, Rev. Jenny Byrnes, Assoc. Prof. Renate Howe, Rev. (Deacon) Alison McRae, Rev. Dr Peter Matheson, and Rev. Audrey Schindler.

2.5 The Ministerial Education Com-mission has met twice since the 1997 Assembly (in Melbourne and Sydney) and will meet again in Adelaide immediately prior to the Assembly out of which further proposals and recommenda-tions shall emerge.

3.1 The major responsibility of the Ministerial Education Commission in the past triennium has been the implementations of the decisions of the last Assembly regarding Ministerial Education (see below - Activities).

3.2 The Commission’s Working Groups continue to work on issues relevant to the specified ministries and advise the Commission.

3.3 The Commission is responsible for ensuring adequate and appropriate courses of study for the specified ministries. To this end there is a regular visitation of colleges, assisted by the development of a revised set of Guidelines approved by the Ministerial Education Commission in 1999.

3.3.1 Two teams of two members of the Commission visited Parkin-Wesley College, Adelaide in May 1998, as well as Theological Hall, Melbourne.

3.3.2 In 1999 the visitation team visited the United Theological College in Parra-matta. The Commission is encour-aged by the high standards provided by our training colleges and the high standards of professionalism and commitment of the staff while recognising their inordinately heavy workloads.

3.3.3 The 2000 Ministerial Education Commission will receive the reports of the visitations to Coolamon College and Trinity College, Brisbane during early 2000.

3.4 While the National Committee on Distance Education (Coolamon College) is now directly responsible to the Assembly and the Standing Committee, the Ministerial Education Commission continues to have good relations with Coolamon College with the latter being represented at all Ministerial Education Commission meetings.

4.1 The major activity of the last three years has been that concerned with matters referred to the Ministerial Education Commission from the last Assembly (see Appendix 1)

4.2 Matters referred and activities taken since 1997

4.2.1 The main focus of the Ministerial Education Commission has been the implementation of the four phases of Ministerial Education. With a lot of hard work and co-operative effort, the interim guidelines for the Period of Discernment were accepted by the Ministerial Education Commission and Assembly Standing Committee. All Synods should now have a copy of these guidelines. Coolamon College has developed a resource document to assist Presbyteries in the implementation of the PoD.

4.2.2 Major discussions have taken place regarding alternative ways in which the goals and ideals of the Licensed Year can be implemented. There maybe substantial recommendations regarding the Licensed Year coming to the Assembly from the Ministerial Education Commission meeting just prior to the Assembly meeting. Unfortunately such proposals will not be available until the meeting the Assembly.

4.2.3 As regards the Core programme, Synods have been asked to provide theological education by increasingly flexible modes of delivery. The Core Programme includes existing Ministerial Education Commission rules #6 for Ministry of the Word, #8 for Ministry of Deacon, and #6 for Ministry of Youth Worker, and the study and practice of theology and local mission and evangelism. (see Appendix 2)

4.2.3.1 The previous rules in General and Cultural Studies have become guidelines and advice for colleges, with the implementation of this the responsibility of local Ministerial Education Boards and colleges from the date of its introduction (2001). The Commission antici-pates further development of the issues regarding the Core Programme at its July 2000 meeting.

4.2.4 Following up from Assembly Resolution 97.32.11 regarding ecumenical formation the Commission has strongly encouraged theol-ogical colleges to include within their respective ministerial formation programmes an intentional focus on the theology and practice of ecumenism.

4.2.5 Similarly, theological colleges have been asked to follow up the 1997 Assembly recommenda-tions regarding multiculturalism awareness in ministerial formation.

4.2.6 Assembly asked the Ministerial Education Commission to explore the appointment of a Deacon Education Co-ordinator. The Min-isterial Education Commission has approached the Assembly Standing Committee and asked it to pursue means of funding the position. In the meantime the Victorian Deacon Advisor has agreed to address some of the tasks. While we are grateful to Rev. (Deacon) Alison McRae for her work, we recognise that this is but a temporary solution.

4.2.7 Similarly, the appointment of a Youth Worker Education Co-ordinator has been explored but has foundered due to lack of finance for this position.

4.2.8 As regarding Assembly minutes 97.32.07 (d) the Rev. Jenny Byrnes has been the member of the Task Group on the Review of Ministerial Education appointed to the Ministerial Education Commission Executive.

5.1 The Ministerial Education Commission has commended to all colleges the need for education in indigenous spirituality and the church’s role in the process of Australian colonisation. Colleges have also been asked to consider a compulsory unit of field placement in an Aboriginal setting supervised by the UAICC.

5.2 The Working Groups on the specified ministries continue to exercise an important advisory role for the Commission.

5.3 The work of the Ministerial Education Commission Deacon Working Group, based in Victoria, since the last Assembly has been in the following areas:

5.3.1 The Working Group conducted a national survey of all Deacons regarding Continuing Education. There were various responses, with Deacons being creative about how they sought to fulfill Continuing Education requirements. Some expressed frustration about lack of relevance for them from the churches Continuing Education bodies. The results of this survey were presented to the MEC meeting in 1998.

5.3.2 The Working Group Continued to monitor the conduct of the National Diaconal Ministry Presessional. In 1999, it was the responsibility of Parkin-Wesley Theological College. In 2001, it will be the responsibility of United Theological College, Sydney.

5.3.3 The Working Group worked with the Ministerial Education Commission Executive in order to respond to Assembly recommendation 97.32.07 (c) (iv) regarding the appointment of a National Deacon Education Co-ordinator. The Working Group would be keen to see this develop beyond the current interim arrangement.

5.3.4 The Working Group welcomes the opportunity for closer communication between other Working Groups of the Commission, and in particular the appointment of a Deacon representative onto the Continuing Education Working Group.

5.3.5 The Working Group responded to a number of requests from the Ministerial Education Commission, including response to the Interim Code of Ethics and implications arising from the introduction of the new 4-phases of Ministerial Education. The Group has concerns in a couple of areas, most notably likely implications for Deacons during the Licensed Year.

5.3.6 The Working Group affirms some positive responses on the part of the church and the Theological Colleges to the ministry of Deacon but continues to be concerned about apparent difficulties in providing for ministerial formation and in placing Deacons in appropriate placements. The Group remain concerned where there appears to be a lack of awareness or willingness to understand the nature of this ministry within the church.

5.4 The work of the Continuing Education Working Group, based in Victoria, has resulted from the 1997 Assembly in Perth, the Uniting Church in Australia took a decision to "require all Ministers and Youth Workers to enter into three to five year continuing education agreements with their presbytery or other appointing body in order to fulfil their responsibility in section 3.4 (a) of the Interim Code of Ethics" (Assembly minute 97.32.08.)

5.4.1 The code of Ethics states: "Ministers have a responsibility to maintain high standards of knowledge and skills in all the areas of ministry relevant to their settlement/appointment. This responsibility requires that the Minister undertakes continuing education appropriate to this ministry." (Interim Code of Ethics, 3.4 (a))

5.4.1.1 To this end, the Ministerial Education Commission was asked to provide guidelines that could be helpful to Synods and Presbyteries in implementing the continuing education initiative.

5.4.1.2 A Continuing Education Working Group was established in January 1999 to draft and promote the guidelines. Representatives from the Deacons, Ministry of the Word, and Youth Workers were invited to join, as well as corresponding members from each of the Synods and members with expertise in continuing education.

5.4.2 At the time of writing this report, the Working Group is in the process of drafting guidelines, drawing on resources from the various Synods and input from the other Working Groups and interested parties. The Group hopes to have draft guidelines finished in 2000 for comment from the wider church.

5.5 Ministry of Community Minister Working Group – based in NSW

5.6 Ministry of Lay Pastor Working Group – based in Queensland

As many Lay Pastors are involved in ministry in remote placements it was decided that this Working Group would be best served by its members coming from the Presbytery of North Queensland, with Rev. Barbara Bailey, a former Lay Pastor, being the chairperson. Meetings of the Working Group are to be organised through Teleconferencing and the electronic media, due to the vast distances between committee members.

5.7 The Ministry of Lay Preacher Working Group, based in Western Australia is active in promoting Coolamon College courses for Lay Preachers and other activities as referred by the Ministerial Education Commission.

5.8 The Ministry of Youth Worker Working Group, based in Queensland has been responsible for conducting National Youth Worker Inservice every two years. The last three were held in Queensland and planning for 2001 in Sydney is already underway. Intensives designed to address areas that are not covered in existing courses have also been conducted, and encouragement given to each Synod’s Youth Worker students to attend, and to offer other Intensives.

5.8.1 The Working Group has also considered the broader issues of Youth Ministry, such as Community Youth Work and National Com-petency Standards, working through how these impact on Youth Worker Training. The Group continues to work in areas referred to it by the Ministerial Education Commission.

5.9 Ministry of Ministry of the Word Working Group – based in SA

5.9.1 The agenda for this Group has been largely set by the new provisions in the Interim Code of Ethics, and the four-phase programme of ministerial education.

5.9.2 Following the Ministerial Education Com-mission meeting in July 1999, the Working Group has been given the task of considering the core programme in the light of the educational task of "formation for ministry in the Uniting Church" It is the Group’s intention to consult widely and nationally to produce recommendations. This will be a major assignment.

5.10 Prior to the full Ministerial Education Commission meeting, separate meetings of Principals, representations of Ministerial Education Boards and convenors of the Working Groups were held. This enabled these three groups to share common concerns and bring subsequent issues to the full Ministerial Education Commission meeting for discussion and/or action.

5.11 The Ministerial Education Commission has further asked education ministries to provide educative strategies to address issues of professional conduct, ethics, prevention of sexual misconduct and discipline in all four phases of ministerial education. The Ministerial Education Commission Executive has con-vened a consultation of those engaged in the training of professional supervisors and other appropriate persons to identify issues relating to the provision of professional supervisors under the Code of Ethics and how these issues might be addressed. It is anticipated that the Ministerial Education Commission will report to the Assembly regarding this matter.

6.1 The Executive of the Commission has been located in Victoria since 1998. Many of the members of the Executive were new to the job and membership has meant a rapid learning curve. The Ministerial Education Commission recommends that the Executive remain based in Victoria for the next triennium in order to capitalise on this learning, and provide effective leadership for the future. Considera-tion should be given to locating the Executive in another state after this time, with strategic mechanisms in place for effective handover.

6.2 In common with most other church agencies and commissions the Ministerial Education Commission struggles with lack of adequate financing. At present the Victorian Synod is subsidising the Ministerial Education Com-mission by funding a secretary at a cost of one day per week. While the Ministerial Education Commission is grateful to the Synod of Victoria, consideration should be given to adequate resourcing of the Ministerial Educa-tion Commission.

6.3 Employment opportunities for ministers. The Ministerial Education Commission is concern-ed about the changing employment oppor-tunities for ministers and plans to discuss this at its next meeting with a view to bringing a recommendation to the Assembly.

6.4 It is anticipated that other proposals will be brought to the Assembly as a result of the Ministerial Education Commission meeting held just prior to Assembly.

(c) to request the Ministerial Education Commission to:

(i) ensure that all colleges provide for the study and practice of the theology and planning of local mission and evangelism and that this study be compulsory for all candidates.

(ii) ensure that each theological college demonstrate to the Ministerial Education Commission how the college's developing curriculum, educational methods and variety of courses enables the church to achieve its goals for Ministerial Education, with particular reference to the way people develop their understanding of Scripture as evangelical word, to mission and evangelism, and to the practical skills needed for Ministry (Section 6.2.2 (b) of the report);

(iii) ensure that each college continues to develop adult learning processes in the planning and presentation of courses, and enables college staff to extend their skills in adult education principles and process;

(iv) explore ways in which the appointment of a Deacon Education Co-ordinator may be made to assist all colleges to prepare annual events and to keep an up-to-date listing of resources, and to report to the Standing Committee (the need for the position to be reviewed after five years by the Ministerial Education Commission) (Section 7);

(v) explore ways in which the appointment of Youth Worker Education Co-ordinator may be made to assist the colleges and Ministerial Education Boards, and to report to the Standing Committee (the need for the position to be reviewed after five years by the Ministerial Education Commission);

(vi) report to the Ninth Assembly on the changes that have occurred and what further changes are required;

(d) notwithstanding Regulation 2.2.18(a), to provide for membership of the executive of the Ministerial Education Commission for one member of the Task Group for a period of three years;

to refer to the Ministerial Education Commission the proposal:

and that the MEC report to the Standing Committee, and that the Standing Committee be authorised to take decisions.