Jenan Taylor
12 September 2024
Management of diocese-owned holiday units may be reviewed as they are now advertised at rates higher than commercial property, if synod agrees to a motion put to October’s synod.
The motion calls for a review of the new commercial management arrangements of Phillip Island and Point Lonsdale units.
Synod representatives will also be asked to encourage endowments to aid the provision of Anglican healthcare chaplains in Melbourne’s hospitals as part of a Healthcare Chaplaincy motion.
The synod may also request that archbishops, bishops and Archbishop in Council review who is required to commit to a clause in the Code of Conduct for Child Safety and Wellbeing forbidding people engaging in conduct to change or supress a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
Under 18s may also be able to become synod and parish council member if the synod agrees to a motion regarding the minimum age.
The Reverend Graham Stanton moved the motion calling for the Children and Youth Ministry Steering Committee to identify the legislative changes needed to enable anyone who is confirmed become a member of a parish.
The Latham and Rose Trust holiday accommodation
Delegates will be asked to request a review of the Latham and Rose Trust’s management arrangements of diocesan-owned holiday units in Cowes and Point Lonsdale.
They are asked to note that accommodation prices in Cowes are no longer reduced for diocesan workers, and marketed at rates higher than commercial properties.
This has happened since a new management agreement with real estate agency First National Phillip Island.
The motion also calls for a review of the trust’s charitable purposes, and whether management arrangements of the holiday properties align with these.
The Reverend Dr Christopher Porter will move the motion, which will be seconded by the Reverend Dr Luke Hopkins.
Read more: ‘Review case for five-day week for clergy’: Synod motion
Healthcare chaplaincy
Synod will be asked to encourage endowments to support the creation of a sustainable funding mechanism for part-time Anglican chaplains in Melbourne’s hospitals.
Archbishop in Council agreed to consider funding part-time chaplains to three trauma hospitals if additional funding arose from endowments, according to a Reports to Synod paper released on Wednesday.
A healthcare chaplaincy working group formed after the 2023 Melbourne Synod requested consideration of this funding in the 2025 budget, in a report submitted to AiC in May.
Read more: Melbourne Synod special session passes professional standards changes and more
The Healthcare Chaplaincy motion also asks representatives to recognise and affirm healthcare ministry in the diocese’s future strategic plans, and encourage parishes to support the ministry financially, and through partnering with it.
The diocese ceased hospital chaplaincy funding at the end of 2023, and state government funding finished at the end of June this year.
The Reverend Dawn Treloar will move the motion, which will be seconded by the Reverend Melanie Moore.
Minimum age for parish and synod membership
Representatives will be asked to direct the Children and Youth Ministry Steering Committee to identify the law changes necessary to enable parish and synod membership of any person who is confirmed, without waiting until they are 18 years old.
The motion also asks synod to bring a bill to establish this change to the next synod session.
The Reverend Graham Stanton will move the motion, which will be seconded by the Right Reverend Genieve Blackwell.
Code of Conduct for Child Safety and Wellbeing
The archbishop, bishops and Archbishop in Council may also offer advice on a clause in the Code of Conduct for Child Safety and Wellbeing forbidding conduct to change or supress a child’s gender identity or sexual orientation.
Read more: Professional standards to come before special synod
The motion asks that this review includes advice on the interpretation of the clause, and the categories of people required to commit to it.
The Reverend Canon Dr Peter Adam will move the motion, which will be seconded by the Reverend Jerome Dias.
Reconciliation, people seeking asylum, disability inclusion and accessibility, and Hope 25 are also on the synod agenda.
The 2024 Melbourne Synod is scheduled to take place from Wednesday 9 October to Saturday 12 October.
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