The annual meeting of the Synod of Western Australia occurs every September. Lay and ordained members appointed by reporting bodies meet over two days to worship together, share our experiences, receive reports and make decisions about the direction and administration of the Church. Between Synod meetings the elected and ex-officio members of the Synod Standing Committee act on behalf of the Synod and deal with specific issues that come out of the Synod.
2020 Synod Meeting
The 44th Annual Meeting of the Synod of Western Australia will be held from Friday 11 September to Sunday 13 September in Wesley College as follows:
Opening Worship + Installment of Moderator
- Friday 11 September 2020 at Wesley College Chapel at 7.00 pm
- Message delivered by Susy Thomas, Moderator.
- Numbers are limited – Do not attend unless you have an official invitation.
- Opening Worship Zoom ID 845 1767 7556 (no passcode required).
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84517677556
Download the Order of Service (PDF 1MB) (Uploaded 10 September 2020)
Annual Meeting Day 1
- Saturday 12 September 2020 from 9.00am to 9.00pm at Joseph Green Centre Goatcher Auditorium (Level 2)
- Service of Thanksgiving and Tribute Zoom ID 881 7290 3643(no passcode required). Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88172903643.
Annual Meeting Day 2
- Sunday 13 September 2020 from 9.00am to 4.00pm at Joseph Green Centre Goatcher Auditorium (Level 2)
Download: Wesley College Campus Map
Register Online
The cost to attend the Business Sessions of the Annual Meeting (as a Member) is $100 per person. This covers the cost of all arrangements, including meals and travel & accommodation for non-metro attendees. Registration details have been advised to all eligible persons.
Notice of Meeting
- First Mailing Letter (PDF, 1MB) (uploaded 7 July 2020)
- Roll of Synod (PDF, 1011kb) (updated 11 September 2020)
- By-Law S2.1 Membership of the Synod of WA (PDF, 142kb) (uploaded 7 July 2020)
Order of Business
Order of Business (PDF, 831kb) (Uploaded 9 September 2020)
Reports
All reports, proposals and other information will be available on the website on 4 August 2020.
In light of the Synod’s Green Church Policy, this will be a paperless Synod.
Synod Governing Bodies’ Reports
- Bridging Entities Report (882kb) (Uploaded 9 September 2020)
- Business Committee Report (PDF, 493kb) (Uploaded 3 September 2020)
- Church Law Committee Report (PDF, 208kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Committee for Counselling Report (PDF, 558kb) (Uploaded 7 August 2020)
- Committee for Discipline Report (PDF, 210kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Covenanting Commission Report (PDF, 690kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Ecumenical Affairs Network Report (PDF, 432kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- International Partnerships & Development Commission Report (PDF, 769kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Nominating Committee Report(PDF 616kb) (Updated 13 September 2020)
- Placements Commission Report (PDF, 634kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Pneuma Network Report (PDF, 807kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Property Trust Report (PDF, 416kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Resources Commission Report (PDF, 637kb) (Uploaded 9 September 2020)
- Budget Presentation (PDF, 865kb) (Uploaded 8 September 2020)
- Social Justice Commission Report (PDF, 770kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Synod Standing Committee Report (PDF, 786kb) (Uploaded 3 September 2020)
- Appendix A Resolutions Synod Standing Committee (PDF, 520kb) (Uploaded 4 August 2020)
- Culture of Safety (PDF, 518kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Disaster Relief & Community Recovery Working Group (PDF, 304kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Uniting Church Archives (PDF, 126kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Uniting Church Adult Fellowship (PDF, 126kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Uniting Church Mission Fellowship (PDF, 436kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- WA Regional Committee of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (UAICC) (PDF, 618kb)
Other Reports
- Moderator Report (PDF, 548kb) (Uploaded 1 September 2020)
- Presbytery of Western Australia Report (PDF, 626kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Uniting Church in Australia Assembly Report (PDF 246kb) (Uploaded 8 September 2020)
- Voluntary Assisted Dying Working Task Group Report (PDF, 300kb) (Uploaded 10 September 2020)
Resources for Synod Meeting
- Members orientation
- Manual for Meetings
- What does the Church look like in 2030?
School Reports
- Methodist Ladies’ College (PDF, 677kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Penrhos College Report (PDF, 186kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Presbyterian Ladies College Report (PDF, 154kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Scotch College Report (PDF, 461kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- St Stephens School Report (PDF, 621kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Tranby College Report (PDF, 550kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Trinity College Report (PDF, 139kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
- Wesley College Report (PDF, 437kb) (Uploaded on 3 August 2020)
Caring Agencies’ Reports
- Beananging Kwuurt Institute (BKI) Report (PDF, 112kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- UnitingCare Forum Report (PDF, 242kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Good Sammy Enterprises Report (PDF, 135kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Juniper Report (PDF, 123kb) (Uploaded 3 August 2020)
- Uniting WA Report (PDF, 549kb) (Uploaded 13 August 2020)
Proposals
- Business Committee Report (PDF, 132kb) (Uploaded 3 September 2020)
- Nominating Committee (Extension beyond 10 years) (PDF 439kb) (Updated 11 September)
- Social Justice Commission: Building Back Better: Prioritising investment in renewable energy and social housing in WA. (PDF, 565kb) (Updated 13 September 2020)
- Prioritising investment in renewable energy and social housing in WA (plain English summary) (PDF, 400kb) (Uploaded 1 September 2020)
- Covenanting Commission: Protecting Aboriginal Heritage Sites (PDF, 277kb) (Uploaded 13 August 2020)
- Protecting Aboriginal Heritage Sites (plain English summary) (PDF, 409kb) (Uploaded 1 September 2020)
- Covenanting Commission: Reducing the Number of Children in Care (PDF, 507kb) (Uploaded 18 August 2020)
- Reducing the number of Aboriginal children in care (plain English summary) (PDF, 403kb) (Uploaded 1 September 2020)
- Inclusion of Plain English text in reports and proposals (PDF, 712kb) (Uploaded 27 August 2020)
- Resources Commission: Approval of 2021 Budget (PDF, 589kb) (Uploaded 4 September 2020)
- Standing Committee: Extension of Placement General Secretary (PDF, 502kb) (Uploaded 3 September 2020)
- Voluntary Assisted Dying (PDF, 762kb) (Uploaded 10 September 2020)
- Nominating Committee: Final Report (to be available by close of Synod)
- Placements Commission: Conclusion of Chaplaincy at Royal Perth Hospital (Uploaded 11 September 2020)
Ballots
16th Assembly Nominee Profiles (PDF 694kb) (Uploaded 10 September 2020)
Motions of Appreciation (to come)
Travel Claim Form (for members)
- Members traveling more than 100km to the Synod Meeting may submit a request for a refund to recover travel and accommodation costs.
- Travel refunds will be calculated at 70c/km for the full return journey.
- Members are encouraged to carpool.
- An accommodation refund not exceeding $100 per person may also be requested.
Download Forms
- Annual Synod Meeting Travel Claim Form (PDF, 352kb)
- Annual Synod Meeting Travel Claim Form (Word, 27kb)
Nominations for Synod Commission and Joint Bodies
The following document/form(s) are also available on the Membership of Synod Commissions page.
- Call for Nominations to Synod Governing Bodies (PDF, 85kb) (uploaded 7 July)
- Nomination Form Synod Governing Bodies (PDF, 74kb) (uploaded 7 July)
Nominations close Thursday 10 September at 5.00pm - Call for Nomination to Synod Standing Committee (PDF, 104kb) (uploaded 7 July)
- Nomination Form – Synod Standing Committee (PDF, 72kb) (uploaded 7 July)
Other Information
Manual for Meetings
The Manual for Meetings provides the official standing orders and rules of debate for the Uniting Church in Australia. This Manual is commended to all congregations, presbyteries, synods, and, of course, members of the Assembly as a resource that will enable their full and effective participation in the UCA’s decision-making process. Download: Manual for Meetings (PDF, 315kb)
Contact
For further information about the upcoming Synod, contact
Maree Kemp
Executive Assistant
Phone: (08)9260 9800
Email: [email protected]
