Moderator Dan Wootton announced the outcome of the second ballot to the Synod meeting just after 5.30pm on Day 2.

In her response, Ms Hollis thanked the Synod for entrusting her with the role of moderator.

“I am overwhelmed and humbled,” Ms Hollis said.

“While there is much that is new and hard about being the church at this time, there is also much that is exciting and I consider it a privilege to be able to offer leadership at this time.”

Making reference to the bereavement she experienced last year, Ms Hollis said that the last 10 months have taught her in an acute way that resurrection in life is not neat.

“It does not take away the suffering and struggle, it is messy.”

However, Ms Hollis was quick to point out that God’s hope was found in the messiness – and the miracle of God’s new life would emerge again and again.

The Moderator-elect spoke of the importance of community in Christian life and formation. In particular she paid tribute to communities that had helped her grow – Mont Albert and St. Columba’s Uniting Churches – where she was their pastor, and CTM which called her to be an educator.

Earlier in the Synod meeting, Rev Alistair Macrae, convenor of the Moderator’s nominating committee, did not mince words when he addressed the Synod prior to present ing the three candidates for Moderator-elect to the Synod.

Mr Macrae expressed disappointment with the level of response to the invitation to participate in the process of nominating potential candidates.

“The quality was high,” Mr Macrae told the Synod, “but the quantity was not.”

“Did all Presbyteries consider the task and only three could generate suggestions? Or did some not make time for this discernment at all?”

Mr Macrae described the three candidates as people deeply grounded in the Christian faith and committed to its expression through the Uniting Church.

The three nominees put forward by the committee – Rev Ian Brown, Rev Dr Sunny Chen and Rev Sharon Hollis – featured in a video clip presented to Synod members. This was a deviation from normal process as one candidate, Mr Brown, was overseas.

Nominees addressed the question of the Church’s mission in contemporary

Australian life as well as the gifts and graces they would bring to the role of Moderator.

Ms Hollis acknowledged her fellow nominees after the result was announced.

“It has been a pleasure to share this journey with Ian and Sunny – both of them faithful leaders who I am sure will continue to use their many gifts and graces to serve the church and God’s reign.

“We all owe them our gratitude for being willing to stand for moderator.”

Rev Sharon Hollis will remain in her current role at CTM for the next 18 months.

MODERATOR-ELECT ANNOUNCED

Rev Sharon Hollis will be the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania’s new moderator in 2016-2019

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S Y N O D M E E T I N G 2 0 1 5

While the Synod meeting is primarily concerned with the serious business of the church, stalls set up in the foyer of the Union building offer agencies the chance to highlight their work.

Josephine Lunghi is the marketing manager with UCA Funds Management. Ms Lunghi has been pleasantly surprised at how busy she has been fielding queries from Synod members and the general public.

“I even had a student approach me to tell me she wanted to invest with us,” Ms Lunghi said.

“She wasn’t a member of the Uniting Church, just a student very much interested in investing ethically with an organisation that is based on Christian values. She was fascinated to learn that we were Australia’s first ethical investor and that we’ve been around for 30 odd years.

“It just goes to show the demand out there, especially among young people who are pretty switched on in terms

of what is available in ethical investment.”

Jenni Ferris said the SHARE stall had been busy, with people already ordering Christmas cards and taking brochures explaining various activities.

“There’s been a lot of talk about the asylum seeker issue because Robert Gruhn launched the report at lunch time yesterday, so we’ve had a lot of people coming up interested in that.

Karli McRostie is staffing the MSR stall, and said she is expecting people to drop by over the next few days. “It’s not an information booth, just a feedback booth where people have the chance to share their thoughts and feelings,” Ms McRostie said.

Uniting Church Resource Centre has also been busy. David Caldecoat said he has already run out of some popular items. He said he has really enjoyed the opportunity to catch up with familiar faces from his time working at the synod office.

The General Secretary Rev Dr Mark Lawrence has spoken of the challenging period faced by the whole of Church over the last 18 months in his report to the Synod.

Dr Lawrence said there had been “many uplifting and enriching signs of God in us as ‘a pilgrim people always on the way’.”

But, sadly, he said in the stress and challenges in dealing with new processes and change – particularly in relation to Uniting our future – our behaviour and attitudes towards one another had, at times, not reflected the

reconciling, compassionate and loving nature of God in us as a Church.

“A sign of God in us is perhaps taking the opportunity to graciously find ways in which we might offer an apology to each other and confession for the times when we have failed one another and God, and seek the grace to forgive one another for anything that was hurtful to us.”

Dr Lawrence said the Synod theme of ‘Movement & Rest: signs of God in us’ invited all to reflect on the movement of the last 18 months and, where appropriate, in God’s grace to re-engage with each other to foster opportunities for Christ “through human witness in word and action”.

He said three distinct areas of the Synod’s activities had required considerable attention over the last 18 months. They were Uniting our future, the Major Strategic Review and the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sex Abuse.

CHURCH CHALLENGES

CHURCH ON SHOW

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SYNOD MEETING 2015

CrosslightSynod meeting 2014

A rawness came from the floor of the Synod as members expressed their hurt, anger, pain and appreciation for the property divestment program known as Uniting our future which grew out of two resolutions of the May 2013 Synod.

The deliberative session included the presentation of the Uniting our future report and questions and comments by more than 30 members. It began after morning tea,

was adjourned for lunch and continued in the afternoon session – a period of nearly two-and-a-half hours.

Many of the speakers expressed gratitude for the humility of Rob Costa, chairperson of the Uniting our future Project Control Group (PCG), as he shared personal reflections of the program.

Mr Costa apologised for the communication of the PCG during the consultation period, saying it left much to be desired. He acknowledged the “sheer unfairness” of the property divestment, saying it was never about fairness.

“We heard the anger and grief loud and clear. Anger at the Synod decision to invoke special circumstances. Anger at the loss of properties,” Mr Costa said.

“In the midst of this I experienced so much grace. Those instances of grace gave me personal encouragement.”

After the Synod accepted the report, the Moderator invited questions and comments. Speaker after speaker stood before one of the three microphones dotted around the floor of the Union Theatre, and respectfully and

passionately spoke of their own experience of special circumstances.

A number of speakers expressed deep concern about how special circumstances unfolded, using descriptions such as “abandoned our inter-conciliar process”; “breach of trust”; “emotional and psychological abuse”; “not true to the Basis of Union”.

“I have been a loyal and committed member of the Church since 1977 and my loyalty and commitment has taken a bit of a shaking as I have listened to some of the people who have been hurt in the process,” one person told the Synod.

A younger member told the Synod that the Uniting our future process was an impetus for change and difficult conversations that needed to take place.

“Whilst it has been a painful time, it has also been a truthful time,” she said. “It would be very tempting to revert to old ways and I don’t think that would do justice to the process we have just been through if we do that.”

A first-timer to Synod commended the members

for the discussion, acknowledging both the pain and appreciation that was evident in the room.

“We are imperfect. That’s the great and good news we have in Jesus Christ that we can offer forgiveness to one another and live with each other even if we disagree.”

A number of speakers affirmed the importance of speaking anger or hurt, the deeper issue was how the Church learned to deal with anger constructively.

One of the presbytery ministers intimately involved in the divestment process urged the Synod to recognise that now was the time to have courage to act.

“Let’s do something different based on what we have learned. How would we harness the energy this releases after the event? I wonder whether there is a way we can think together to pool our thoughts and ideas so we can learn together. Presbyteries can’t work on their own.”

At the conclusion of the session, the Moderator called for 30 seconds of silence before the next item of business was called.

UNITING OUR FUTURE NEARS ITS END

“We are imperfect. That’s the great and good news we have in Jesus Christ that we can offer forgiveness to one another and live with each other even if we disagree.”

SYNOD MEETING 2015

Karen So’oaemaleagai, Presbytery of Port Phillip West

“This is my first Synod, first day today. They are very old-fashioned. I came to see what they are about and to learn more about the Uniting Church. What better way then to learn from those who have done this all before? I’m looking to branch out and meet other young people along the way.”

Grace Leota, Presbytery of Yarra Yarra

“We’re part of the Next-Gen CALD (culturally and linguistically diverse) group. We’ve come to see what it’s about and instigate change, and have our voices heard. It’s got an old-school vibe and I’m just hoping we can instil in people that willingness to change.”

Freda Alaifea, Presbytery of Port Phillip East

“I guess there’s going to be change in the church, which is needed, because some of the ways of UCA are old and outdated. I thought they would have a debate on gay marriage but not sure if that’s going to happen. Would be good to see what other people think on that.

“The three of us – Grace, Karen and myself – are actually in the intercultural play tonight. It’s about being Second Gen in Australia.”

HOPES AND EXPECTATIONS

FOR SYNOD 2014

That was the question posed to Synod members on Tuesday by the executive director of the Centre for Theology and Ministry, Rev Dr Jenny Byrnes.

Dr Byrnes said many members of the church may view ‘normal’ as calm sailing under a clear sky with a gentle breeze. But as a church we have faced tough times over the past decade where the smooth waters have become turbulent and all hands were

JUST WHAT IS NORMAL?

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SYNOD MEETING 2015

needed to navigate through.

She asked members to consider whether it was just a matter of now holding on until calm waters returned or, perhaps, the new normal for ministry in the 21st century lay in learning how to thrive within the constant rapids of change and challenge.

“Could it be that navigating this new normal is what is at

the heart of being faithful and ministering in this complex society?” she asked.

“Could it be possible that our identity will be formed through thriving as a people of God in these challenging waters, rather than seeking to only survive.”

Members were asked to ponder three questions in working groups –

What have you noticed about the life of the church in the past two years that may indicate the old normal has passed and a new normal has arrived?

What is required of us to live in a new normal of constant change and adjustment and;

How might we, as a Synod, embrace this new reality?