PASTORS E-NEWSLETTER
SEPTEMBER 2011
Hi fellow Pastors!
I realize that many of you may be currently taking a break during this school holiday period so I trust you have a great break and come back quite refreshed. This month’s newsletter is just a quick update on a few developments and activities that have currently happening amongst us. I trust there may be some items of interest for you.
IMPLEMENTATION of DIRECTIONS 2012 DECISIONS
Since the decisions that were made at the May and August Assemblies in regards Directions 2012 there has been much activity in starting to implement the decisions. These have included:
- The appointment of a Constitution Committee who have commenced drawing up a new constitution for the denomination.
- The appointment of a Vision Committee who will begin clarifying the vision and direction of our denomination to assist in the revitalisation of churches and the planting of new churches.
- The raising of support for the denominational vision.
- Advancing the appointment of Regional Ministers throughout NSW and ACT.
- The appointment of a Pastor to Pastors to commence early in 2012.
- Considerations of how we can assist churches in their leadership development.
These and other implementations are being pursued while still seeking to sustain and develop our current ministries. I ask you to be prayerful for us and be patient as we pursue these implementations.
REVIVE 2012
This will be held August 17-18 at the same venue as this year. We will have a better understanding of how to use this site for future Revives. Next year’s keynote speaker will be Matthew Barnett, founder of he Dream Center in Los Angeles. If you don’t know the story of the Dream Center then I encourage you to either google it or read Matthew’s book The Cause Within You which is co-authored with George Barna. Matthew will be both inspiring and challenging so make sure the dates are in your diary.
DIRECTOR of YOUTH and YOUNG ADULTS
The response to the advertisements for this position was quite large and subsequently the selection panel interviewed 5 good candidates. A person has now been appointed but we are unable to publically announce this for a couple of weeks. We will then send out a press release. Please pray for Andrew Palmer as he endeavours to finish well and move into the next season of ministry God has for him. There will be significant loss for Andrew as he leaves behind an area of ministry to which he has devoted himself for so long. At the same time there will be great excitement for the new opportunities God will now give him. Pray too for the person who will build on Andrew’s ministry and lead our youth and young adult ministries into a fresh season.
IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR AUTHORISED MARRIAGE CELEBRANTS
Over the past four years MSD has annually held 6/7 Marriage Celebrant’s refresher courses throughout the state and ACT to ensure that authorized celebrants are up-to-date. Those who do not complete a refresher course within 5 years may not be able to retain their celebrant’s registration as the Attorney General’s Department requires all celebrants to have undertaken professional development in this area and we need to guarantee that all celebrants are familiar with the Marriage Act.
Today we received an email from the Births Deaths and Marriages Registry indicating that they are responsible to ensure they receive the appropriate paperwork for all of the marriages that occur in NSW. The Registry is to planning to conduct an audit of the marriages. Where it appears that the Registry has not received the appropriate paperwork they will also be writing to the authorised celebrant who has solemnised the marriage. They want to ensure all authorised celebrants adhere to the Marriage Act 1961. This occurred a few years ago with Civil Celebrants resulting in a significant number having to resign as celebrants as some of the marriages they conducted were in breach of the Act.
We will be holding another Celebrants Refresher Course on Tuesday 29th November 2011 at the Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping 9.00am – 11.00am. We will also hold another 4 refresher courses throughout the state in 2012. After then, those who have not completed the course will most likely not be able to retain their registration.
RETREAT for PASTORS and for PASTOR’S SPOUSES
Unfortunately details for the retreat for pastors and for pastor’s spouses to be held at Collaroy Plateau on October 16-18 were somewhat late getting out. I apologise for that but encourage all who can come to join with us for the few days. Registration forms can be found at www.msd.org.au/resources. There will also be elective options for pastors, for spouses and for couples. This is part of MSD’s endeavours to support and provide input into the lives and ministry of pastors and also Pastoral couples. Subsidies are available for any pastor’s wives who come from rural and regional areas. Please let Ros know if you would like to apply for a subsidy.
PASTORAL TEAMS TRAINING DAY
This year’s teams’ day on October 28 at the Baptist Ministry Centre, Epping is entitled Building and Sustaining Teams: Corporate Skills, Kingdom Perspectives. Sometimes churches decry the ‘corporatisation’ of the church, fearing that some of the skills from the world of business might damage the vital Kingdom perspective of the Christian community. That need not be the case. Used wisely and prayerfully, business skills can greatly increase the power of a team and a church ministry. The presenters on this day will bring the perspectives of both the business world and church-based ministry, particularly when it comes to leading and developing effective teams. Further details and registration can be found at www.msd.org.au/resources.
If you also have an article or link that you would like to share with your colleagues in ministry, please pass it on so that I can include it in further newsletters.
The Baptist Ministers Association Executive has also included a letter with this e-newsletter for all their members. It can be found on www.msd.org.au/resources.
Ken Clendinning
Director of MSD
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