The Rural Presbyteries Meeting 2015

 January is a quiet time for many but not Rural Presbyteries.  It was the time for the annual meeting in Dubbo and just to make it worth the trip we had a RMU meeting the day before too. This is not a report on the meetings so I am not going into a "who's who at the Zoo" or a word for word of what was said but I want to sketch for you what happened to keep you in the loop.

The trip for me started Monday afternoon. I drop BJ off at the kennels and headed out. The land had a green flush as I drove, then some dry spots and  back to green. Lots of candy*cars even on the back road and lots of trucks. I caught up with contacts on Tuesday morning, then had our first meeting -good to catch up with the team. We shared things that had been happening as a way of devotions. The field days in August was the main item.

Discussion, networking, catching up, swapping insights and numbers.

Come on the Darling River run and then stay over for the field days! Wow - lots of great things planned! Plus teaching, pampering and..... well, tell you that later.

Networking is a key part of these days. The Synod staff made themselves very available to all present. I find this time so useful -what you do,what we can offer and "No, that's X does that but I can give you contact number for them." We also had the Moderator  present. Her smile is infectious, her love for the Rural Presbyteries is real.



A number of  Executive Directors*..... well, all of them ..were there. I think I found it a positive interaction overall. Yes, we have issues about money and stuff but let's see what to change and ask can we do things in a different way together! Not the same in a different box!

More discussion, networking, catching up, swapping insights and numbers. 

Peter Walden, Executive Director of Uniting Care, told us the facts. We are the leader in non- government organisations offering more service provisions than the Salvos and the Catholics.It is Uniting Church - the feeling of it as not part of the church has changed. He outlined his vision and plans based on Isaiah and Matthew 25 but also making it pay and that funds come back into UCA.* Great passion!

UME* was there too - Kath Merryfield outlined what UME is looking to do. It is about to come out to Rural regional areas. Ask your reps about the great things planned plus think about what you need so this can go back to UME and we get what is relevant on issues of education for Ministry Agents who work in our churches - those lay and ordained, scripture teachers and Church councils members and elders.
The Rural Chaplains had a say too -the news in the last blog from Julie and I talked about my work with drought and those congregations who have supported me in this in a number of ways.
Paul Creek showed a video on the Darling River tour 1st - 9th of August and handed out poster and flyers - letting us get on board.

Meeting time 

Bronwyn Murphy, UME's Rural Ministries coordinator, did a great job setting this platform for discussion of the rural church and education.  As I said earlier, talk to your Presbytery Rep for feed back. I saw this meeting as a hope we can move towards a new way of being God's face in our communities.

 It was good to hear of Peter Waldon's base on Matthew 25.  This is the key to the drought work and what makes us different to many services.Working with one person is valued as that person is a child of Christ.




This great week ended sadly with the passing of BJ, my sometime talked about, pet. He loved going to the kennels and loved coming home but he will sleep in peace at his other home.

Thanks to the wonderful people, Danny and Vicky, owners who like all who met him, loved him.
Thank you,
Phill Matthews.

Vale BJ

* candy cars- police highway cars (for those non-roadies like me- Sue)
* Executive Directors - Directors of various departments within the Uniting Church administration.
* Uniting Church in Australia.
*UME -Uniting Mission and Education.