ILLAWARRA PRESBYTERY REPORT - NSW/ACT Synod

ILLAWARRA PRESBYTERY REPORT

1. PLEASE PROVIDE A SUMMARY OF YOUR MAJOR ACTIVITIES SINCE SYNOD
2019:

Highlights
Since Synod 2019, Illawarra Presbytery (IP) has focused on missional development. Strategic thinking
to resource mission activities and assisting congregations facilitate their mission plans, has guided
many of the Presbytery’s decisions.
Presbytery’s 2019-2024 Mission Plan has the priority areas of:
1. Commitment to the renewal of the living church.
2. Commitment to wise stewardship of presbytery resources with a major strategy of financial
   independence.
The 2019/20 bushfires were devastating for south coast communities. Milton-Ulladulla UC’s recently
opened community outreach centre played an important role in supporting the community. The
Presbytery acknowledges donations from around the Synod that were received by MUUC. The
Outreach centre will continue to offer enhanced engagement with the community.
The placement of the Shoalhaven Zone Mission Development Minister occurred in July 2020, to
support congregations in the Shoalhaven zone in their ability to grow disciples, identify community
needs, develop missional engagement and to assist congregations in the zone to share resources and
work together.
Gerringong UC completed the development of an expanded multi-function facility. This will provide
additional space for the expanding congregation in a growing town.
Illawarra Presbytery formed the Strategic Property Task Group (SPTG) to investigate the best use of
assets for financial independence.
Presbytery committees have focused on where and how the Presbytery can assist congregations
change, grow and facilitate mission. Moving forward, this will involve the SPTG working closely with
the Strategic Mission Committee.
Utilising Presbytery income for mission, in 2021 Illawarra Presbytery has been able to offer Grants
for Mission to our congregations. $90,000 was made available for projects, placements or capital
works, with submissions requested to: fit within the Congregation’s Mission Plan or Presbytery
Mission Strategy; be a new project or variation on an existing project; lead to growth or better
delivery of church functions and services; have a SWOT Analysis and/or SMART Goals; and be based
on demonstratable needs.

Presbytery Report to Synod 2021                                                          P a g e |1

COVID-19 and the resulting shut-down of services gave Illawarra Presbytery unique opportunities for
change. Ministers and congregations have used their context to hold together the people of God of
their congregations.
COVID shutdowns were particularly hard for international university students, who did not qualify
for government funding. Tertiary Minister, Rev Doo Ah Leeming initiated a giving appeal resulting in
collections from across the Presbytery. This assistance encouraged long-term student members to
join Rev Leeming’s outreach activities.
With the increase of activity by the Presbytery and congregations, and to assist with communication,
Illawarra Presbytery appointed an Administrator in January 2020. In 2021, the Presbytery has leased
an office as a central meeting space, communal work hub, and training centre.
Challenges
Since the last Synod five ministers have been called out of Illawarra Presbytery and five new
ministers have been inducted. Additionally, the IP Business Manager resigned in 2020.
2020 commenced with bushfire and floods in parts of the Presbytery. These were of particular
challenge for Shoalhaven Zone congregations.
COVID-19 created disruption, doubt and isolation, especially as there are many aged congregations
and aged service providers in the Illawarra Presbytery. Acknowledging the passing of people during
COVID-19 restrictions and pastoral care during this time were challenging.
Loss of income from the closure of the church and related activities, and reduction in rents from
tenants has been a challenge for some Illawarra congregations.
Additionally, while some congregations were able to rapidly advance their technology and change
their delivery of worship services, many lacked the technical skills and finances required to equip
them through this period and beyond.
Congregations who were able to stream or upload worship services found the number of views they
received were hundreds of times higher than their number of congregants. Converting this interest
and viewership into church membership is a problematical opportunity.
Congregations are challenged by building compliance and governance. These issues drain resources,
energy, time and people from missional activities. The challenge for the Presbytery is to adjust its
structure and resources to enable it to support congregations to release them to achieve their
missional objectives.
A stressful year with additional workload for ministry agents, resulted in Illawarra Presbytery
providing extra support through the development of trio groups for mutual sharing and support. The
trio groups were positively received and will continue as life giving.
Lessons Learnt through COVID-19
2020 has also brought Illawarra Presbytery opportunities for change; change that became
immediate, rather than years of slow progress; change that can offer us an opportunity for growth
and new life.

We have learned to use technology and develop communication to deliver church and outreach
activities in new ways. Specialised tech teams of volunteers have formed and resources have been
allocated for technology upgrades.

Illawarra Presbytery Report to Synod 2021                                                 P a g e |2

Inventive initiatives included Zoom church, YouTube services viewed by hundreds of new people,
online playgroups, home delivered DVDs of services and drive in church. Illawarra Presbytery thanks
the Synod for the rapid implementation of Zoom licencing. This opportunity was embraced widely in
the Illawarra. Long term communication improvements across IP and with the Synod have been the
result.

With the reduction of COVID-19 restrictions, Illawarra Presbytery embraced UME’s initiative for Hub
viewing of the Healthy Churches Expo. The Hub concept will be utilised by Illawarra Presbytery at
every opportunity for education and discussion, and for a range of events from UME and offered
across the Presbytery.

The initiatives by congregations during the COVID period proved that we could be flexible in the
delivery of church. This sparked an initiatives group that resulted in the Standing Committee
examining the Presbytery’s activities, structure and strategic plan. Presbytery is now seeking to be
proactive so that issues can be resolved to enable stability and growth.

Even though the strategic plan was completed just prior to COVID, the world and our church are very
different and the strategic plan will be adjusted to support the initiatives of congregations and the
new ways of being church.

2. HOW HAS YOUR PRESBYTERY RESPONDED TO SYNOD 2019’S INVITATION TO
REORGANISE AROUND GROWTH IN DISCIPLESHIP, RELATIONSHIP, NUMBER AND
IMPACT?
The catalyst for Standing Committee strategic planning conversation has concerned:
How do we move from a focus on survival to a focus on mission?
We have acknowledged some key points that have and will continue to influence our reorganisation:

•   The importance of ‘being’ rather than ‘doing’ church.
•   Strategic thinking concerning mission, use of resources and staffing.
•   Relieving congregations of governance.
•   The need to support congregations to work through risk and compliance reports.
•   The Presbytery Minister has assisted some congregations to meet their compliance obligations.
•   Collaboration – the sharing of resources and skills across congregations to develop a greater
    capacity for ministry.
•   Rationalisation of property for investment, creating income that can be utilised for mission and
    resourcing congregations.
•   The forming of the Strategic Property Task Group to investigate and advise on the best use of
    property resources.
•   Reconsideration of the Lloyd Rees Building and how to better use this resource to support
    disadvantaged young people.
•   Improved communication, utilising the IP Administrator, website and newsletter.
•   The need for a Uniting Church presence in the West Lake/West Dapto area, the fastest growing
    residential area in NSW outside the Sydney region where 19,000 homes are planned.

Illawarra Presbytery Report to Synod 2021                                                  P a g e |3

3. HOW IS YOUR PRESBYTERY SUPPORTING GROWING HEALTHY
CONGREGATIONS, DEVELOPING VITAL MINISTRY AND PROMOTING
TRANSFORMATIVE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
Presbytery has supported our congregations with these goals. Growth, vital ministry and community
engagement is evidenced by:

•   Strategic thinking relating to Presbytery staffing to support healthy congregations and enhance
    ministry.
•   Strategic thinking for a UC presence in West Lake. Presbytery wide meetings have been held for
    prayer and visionary discussion.
•   Commencement of a Grants for mission process. Eight applications have been received, with
    funding available from July 2021.
•   Hosting of the UME Discipleship Weekend in March 2020.
•   Funding and support four leaders to attend 2021 Gospel Yarning.
•   Tertiary Minister, Rev Doo Ah Leeming Has continued to develop vital ministry, increasing
    engagement with young people including:
    − Facilitating the participation of students and next gen in UME/Pulse Retreat Yourself
          weekend, January 2021. She meets regularly with the Pulse team.
    − Signing up 25 additional students to her already well attended Wellbeing Club at University
          of Wollongong.
    − During COVID, the Wellbeing Club met through Zoom connecting with isolated international
          students with activities such as bible study, prayer meetings, cooking classes, yoga and life
          skills classes. These continue face-to-face now restrictions have eased.
    − Presbytery and Illawarra Congregations responded to the appeal by Rev Leeming to support
          international students who lost all forms of income during the COVID period. Vouchers,
          blankets, clothing, meals and food parcels were donated.
    − Connecting students to congregants of Wollongong Mission with picnic days and joint
          activities.
•   The placement of Rev David Russell, Shoalhaven Zone Mission Development Agent. Rev Russell
    has facilitated new dialogue within the zone and encouraged the five congregations to reach out
    to a wide cross-section of the community as well as raise much needed funds to support mission
    and ministry.
•   New bathroom and laundry facilities at Bowral UC enhances their support of vulnerable people,
    already assisted through the congregation’s meal program.
•   Wollongong Mission UC continues to provide lunch for 80 to 100 people each weekday. Through
    COVID this operated as a takeaway service.
•   Northern Illawarra UC continues to offer a weekly Community Dinner program for 60 people.
    Through COVID this operated as a takeaway service.
•   Keiraview UC has commissioned two Church and Community Workers who have grown youth
    activities and connected young people to Pulse events. Keiraview has been operating a
    mentoring program at a nearby school and children now regularly attend youth events at KUC.
    The congregations will operate a daily breakfast program at the school in 2021.
•   All Illawarra Op Shops increased support for those recovering from the bushfires and for people
    who became unemployed or suffered reduced hours during and after COVID. Additional to
    meeting physical need, Bay and Basin and Milton Ulladulla congregations have made
    connections and offered community engagement through their Op Shops.
•   The use of Zoom and online worship has enabled broader relationships and new connections.
    The Presbytery continues to plan for ways to build on this new way to be church.

Illawarra Presbytery Report to Synod 2021                                                  P a g e |4

•   Pastor training has commenced for two leaders of the Worship Service at Wollongong Mission
    for resettled refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
•   Congregations have recommenced the range of outreach activities they offer their communities,
    including:
    − Playgroups and a vast array of kids and youth activities.
    − Prayer groups, bible study, fellowship, Christian meditation and youth bible study.
    − Coffee groups and cafés.
    − Market days, men’s groups, craft, sewing, cooking, gardening, computer, fitness, musical
         clubs and classes for outreach.

Illawarra Presbytery Report to Synod 2021                                             P a g e |5