Synod 2011 – green and soon!

The Hunter Presbytery is gearing up to host the 2011 meeting of the Synod of New South Wales and the ACT later this month. It will be a “green” Synod with specially-designed keep- cups for members and other environmentally-friendly initiatives.

Hunter minister and Moderator-elect, the Rev. Dr Brian Brown, will be installed as Moderator at Synod’s opening service on Friday September 23 at 7 pm.

The Synod meeting itself runs from Saturday September 24 to Tuesday September 27 and is being held at the University of Newcastle’s attractive bushland campus.

The theme chosen for the Synod in 2011 is “…on new and risky paths”. Dr Brown says each day Synod members will explore an aspect of the theme. Following God; Walking with Jesus; Led by the Spirit; and Sent out … on new and risky paths. The Bible study leaders for these (respectively) are the Rev. Dr John Hirt, the Rev. Dr Monica Melanchthon, the Rev. Tim Hein and Ms Katalina Tahaafe-Williams.

Major issues on the agenda include the future shape of presbyteries, the future of the Korean Commission and discussions about the structures and processes of the Synod.

Celebrations of the recently-concluded Board of Mission and Board of Education and of the ministries of key personnel and ministry agents; consideration of proposals about juvenile justice and tertiary chaplaincy; a beach picnic at Redhead Beach, a concert at Adamstown Uniting Church and a Synod’s Got Talent event at Jesmond Park Uniting Church will also feature during Synod 2011.

Dr Brown says his favourite Robert Frost poem speaks of “taking the road less travelled”. And his hope is that Synod members would hear Christ’s call to eschew the comfortable and predictable in order to explore new paths and vital issues in Australia and beyond.

More details on the Synod Meeting Website