The Diocesan Council (Standing Committee), the Trusts Board and the Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board meet monthly. Read on for some highlights from September and October this year

Diocesan Trusts Board

• Simon Courtney was appointed as a member of the Social Justice Committee in September.

• Glen Murtagh was appointed for a further three-year term on the St Barnabas Rest Home Trust Board in September

              
  

Diocesan Council and Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board

New Diocesan Council Members

Diocesan Council's October meeting saw new members (see the end of this article) brought on board, which included signing declarations and other paperwork. Council also spent time reflecting on Synod in September and ways that we can improve how we do this. They are looking to spend some time in retreat in the new year. A vote of thanks was given to those who had not sought re-election to Diocesan Council.

New Bishop's Arrangement Committee

This group has been progressing well with significant work to date - see our updated article on this and progress towards our Electoral College.

Royal Commission – Vicar-General Jan Clark reported that the Anglican Church through the Archbishops responded to Recommendation 130 of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Abuse in Care by publishing their response as to whether they accept the Inquiry’s findings. We are making a national church response, and this was published on 24 Sept. It is also  on our website. We accepted the findings and commit to working hard to transform church culture to address the findings. We also encourage other survivors if they have not already done so to come forward.

Social Justice Committee Grants

Grants were approved by Diocesan Council in September from Aged Care funds for Upper Clutha Parish (towards the cost of their Aged Care Worker), Leslie Groves (towards the purchase of recliner chairs), Home of St Barnabas (towards the cost of re carpeting the Teal wing of the Home).

Grants were also given from the Disadvantaged Youth Fund to Oamaru-Maheno Parish (towards the provision of the Literacy Group for Youth) and Anglican Family Care (towards the cost of providing their Home Based Family Support Service). Diocesan Council also made an extra contribution to Anglican Family Care in recognition of what they are facing following the decision of Oranga Tamariki ceasing to fund some programmes.

Faculties

A faculty was considered from Otago Peninsula Parish to purchase a new organ - this has now gone to the DDTB (whose meeting has been delayed this month).

Lumsden Closure and Dissolution

A report from the Lumsden Property Commission was considered by Diocesan Council and the DDTB and the sad decision was made to close this local church and ready it for sale. A Service of Secularisation took place on Sunday 22 September and a formal motion to dissolve the church will be taken to Synod in 2025.

Diocesan Office Summer Closure

The Diocesan Office be closed to the public from 20 December 2024 to 13 January 2025.

Regular Reporting

Vicar General: Jan reported that the heavy rain fall that hit the south caused some disruption to Dunedin, Clutha and parts of Southland. Some of our parishes had lake like vistas but so far, there have been no reports of people or property damage. Thanks be to God. The repair of infrastructure will take some time. As will the recovery in some of our rural areas – farmers around Balclutha have pastures inundated with water. They are calving and don’t know what state the pasture will be in or how long it will take to drain. Please continue to uphold the region in your prayers.

Jan also updated Diocesan Council with changes in St Matthew's Parish with the final service for Barbara and Francis Noordanus taking place on 6 October. A group of parishioners, clergy and other friends farewelled them on Friday 11 October.

Diocesan Ministry Educator: Anne van Gend reported that two pre and post -ordination training events have been held. Monthly Scattered People of the Good Shepherd services continue (Bishop Kelvin is assisting with these when able) and the Bishop’s Companion Programme participants are focusing on “living out the life of Christ” with Diving Deeper ones currently focusing on the “I am” statements in John’s gospel . Rural Chaplain training events have been taking place and the Southland Rural Chaplains are joining with Rural Support Trust and “Milk R Us” for a “Gumboots and lunch” event on Oct 4th. Anne continues to be involved in gospel conversations, a variety of lay training events and meeting with people interested in St John’s College Trust scholarship applications.

Diocesan Child Youth and Family Educator: John Graveston has been participating in safeguarding training in the Diocese of Christchurch and was able to ensure younger people were able to participate in the New Bishop consultation. Along with Julianne Clarke-Morris and Rachel Slade, John facilitated a session at the Anglo Catholic Hui in August, leaving the group with a challenge that even if they can’t run a weekly children’s ministry they should pick a few feast days to run special children ministry events. John also highlighted his attendance at The Rev’d Susan Wallace’s ordination on 22 September as the Diocesan Representative, and how important it was to have someone from the Diocese there.

A reminder of who is on Diocesan Council and the DDTB: 

Diocesan Council: 

Clergy: The Ven Jan Clark (Vicar General); The Ven Liz Cheyne [Southland]; The Very Rev’d Dr Tony Curtis SCP; Rev'd Natalie Milliken [Dunedin City]; The Ven Damon Plimmer (Archdeacon of Central Otago); Rev’d Canon Michael Wallace [Dunedin City]

Laity: Mr Keith Gover [Southland]; Mr Steve Mitchell [Southland]; Mr Theodore Rose [Dunedin]; Ms Nikki Gordon-Smith [Dunedin]; Dr Gillian Townsley [St Hilda's Collegiate Chaplain].

In Attendance each meeting

Mr Andrew Metcalfe (Diocesan Registrar - Kaiwhakahaere), Rev'd John Graveston (Diocesan Child, Youth, Family Educator), The Ven Dr Anne Van Gend (Diocesan Ministry Educator ), The Ven Barb Barb Walker (Archdeacon of the Rural South), The Ven Sue McCafferty (Archdeacon of North and East Otago)

Diocesan Council Committees: These are currently being reviewed, members in September 2024 included

• Stewardship Committee - Steve Mitchell – Chair; Rev'd Liz Cheyne; Fr Tony Curtis; Fr John Graveston; Megan Marshall; Ven Jan Clark.

• Ministry Committee – The Ven Dr Anne van Gend, Rev'd Natalie Milliken, Eirwen Harris-Mitchell, Rev'd John Graveston.

• Mission Committee - Dot Muir (Chair), Lynda Turner Heaton, Rev'd Natalie Milliken,  Stuart Young, Caroline Oliver. 

• Social Justice Committee – Dot Muir as Diocesan Council committee member, other members include Ven Jan Clark, Lisa Burton, Carolyn Tregea and Rev'd Rose Scott (currently two vacancies)

Dunedin Diocesan Trust Board - DDTB

• Mr Stephen Grant (Chair)

• Mrs Janice Burton

• Rev’d Richard Johnson
  

• Ms Susie Johnstone

• Mr William Paterson
  

• Rev’d Eric Kyte

• Mr Brian Tegg

• One vacant seat - click here for information for potential Trustees.

In attendance: Ms Fiona Gray (Diocesan Accountant - Secretary), Mr Andrew Metcalfe (Diocesan Registrar - Kaiwhakahaere)

Other Information

The Diocesan Council is the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Dunedin Synod as regulated by Statute 1: To regulate the composition and procedures of the Diocesan Synod and to establish a diocesan council

The Trusts Board considers applications for vacancies on various Boards, Trusts and other Committees for Diocese of Dunedin organisations.

The DDTB manages two investment funds (the Income Fund and the Growth Fund) as trustee for diocesan institutions. It also has legal ownership of all Diocesan properties i.e. it acts a trustee for all Diocesan institutions including local churches and parishes, who are the beneficial owners, who make use of these resources for their mission and ministry.

For any correspondence to the Diocesan Council or Trusts Board, contact Andrew Metcalfe: registrar@calledsouth.org.nz, Telephone (03) 488 0821. Any matters for these committees need to be received 7 days before scheduled meetings so that members have time to read all the material required. Diocesan Council usually meets on the second Tuesday of each month.

For DDTB related matters, contact Andrew Metcalfe or DDTB Secretary Fiona Gray accountant@calledsouth.org.nz. The DDTB usually meet on the thirst Tuesday of each month. 

Diocesan Council and (joint) DDTB Meeting Schedule 

12 November 2024 – Full Meeting (including joint meeting with the DDTB)

10 December 2024 - Short Zoom Meeting (if required).

Please continue to hold the Diocesan Council, Trusts Board and the DDTB in your prayers.