The Synod of Queensland or Queensland Synod is a state council of the Uniting Church in Australia.
Synod also describes the regular meeting (every 18 months) of representatives of the state-wide church. These meetings are known as the Synod in Session.
Overview
editThe Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is the national council of the Uniting Church, headed by the President of the Uniting Church, with a general secretary as chief executive officer. The six geographically based synods are responsible for overall support and resourcing of the church in their area especially in community services, mission planning, theological education and other educational services, administration relating to ministers, and property and financial services. The elected head of each synod is the Moderator, and a general secretary is usually appointed as the chief executive officer.
The Moderator is the spiritual head and the main spokesperson for the Uniting Church in Queensland. The current Moderator is Reverend Andrew Gunton, who was inducted at the 35th Synod on 22 October 2020.[1]
Presbyteries
editThe Synod of Queensland contains several presbyteries within its bounds. A presbytery is a council of the Uniting Church which has oversight of congregations, ministries and programs within a region. Ministers of the Word and deacons are responsible to their presbytery, which has the duty of caring for them and ensuring their work is carried out faithfully. Presbytery meetings include ordained ministers, lay pastors, and elected lay persons from every congregation.
The Synod of Queensland has seven presbyteries.[2]
Education
editTrinity College Queensland provides theological education for ministers and laypeople. Degree courses are accredited by the Australian College of Theology.[10]
Raymont Residential College is a residential college for tertiary students. It is co-located at the Uniting Church Centre in Auchenflower, Brisbane with Trinity College Queensland. Grace College is at the St Lucia campus of the University of Queensland and caters only for women.
Moderators
editThe following individuals have served as the Moderator of the Queensland Synod:
| Ordinal | Officeholder | Term start | Term end | Time in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rev Prof Rolland Busch | 1977 | 1979 | 1–2 years | |
| 2 | Rev Ronald Elvery | 1979 | 1980 | 0–1 years | |
| 3 | Rev Duncan Harrison | 1980 | 1981 | 0–1 years | |
| 4 | Rev Dr Douglas Brandon | 1981 | 1982 | 0–1 years | |
| 5 | Rev Dr Lewis Born | 1982 | 1983 | 0–1 years | |
| 6 | Rev Alan Kidd | 1983 | 1984 | 0–1 years | |
| 7 | Rev Eric Moore | 1984 | 1985 | 0–1 years | |
| 8 | Rev Ray Hunt OBE | 1985 | 1986 | 0–1 years | |
| 9 | Rev Barry Dangerfield | 1986 | 1987 | 0–1 years | Recognition withdrawn in 2019[11] |
| 10 | Rev Ray Thompson | 1987 | 1988 | 0–1 years | |
| 11 | Rev John Mavor | 1988 | 1989 | 0–1 years | [12] |
| 12 | Rev Don Whebell | 1989 | 1990 | 1–2 years | |
| 13 | Dr John Roulston | 1990 | 1991 | 0–1 years | First lay person to be Queensland Moderator |
| 14 | Rev Bryan Gilmour | 1991 | 1992 | 0–1 years | |
| 15 | Rev Cecil Schloss | 1992 | 1993 | 0–1 years | |
| 16 | Rev Don Whebell | 1993 | 1996 | 2–3 years | First full time Queensland Moderator |
| 17 | Rev Dr David Pitman | 1996 | 1999 | 2–3 years | |
| 18 | Rev Dr Ray Reddicliffe | 1999 | 2002 | 2–3 years | |
| 19 | Rev Allan Kuchler | 2002 | 2005 | 2–3 years | |
| (17) | Rev Dr David Pitman | 2005 | 2008 | 2–3 years | |
| 20 | Rev Bruce Johnson | 2008 | 2011 | 2–3 years | [13] |
| 21 | Rev Kaye Ronalds | 2011 | 2014 | 2–3 years | First female Queensland Moderator[13] |
| 22 | Rev David Baker | 2014 | 2020 | 5–6 years | [14] |
| 23 | Rev Andrew Gunton | 22 October 2020 | incumbent | 3 years, 235 days | [15][1] |
References
edit- ^ a b O'Callaghan, James (23 October 2020). "Rev Andrew Gunton inducted as new Queensland Synod Moderator". Journey. Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 1 November 2020.
- ^ "Presbyteries". Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod. Archived from the original on 7 November 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ "Bremer Brisbane Presbytery – Uniting Church in Australia". Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Carpentaria Presbytery". www.ucacarpentaria.com.au. Archived from the original on 29 October 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Central Queensland – Presbytery of Central Qld, Qld Synod, Uniting Church in Australia". Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Presbytery of Mary Burnett". www.maryburnettpres.org.au. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Moreton River Presbytery". Moreton River Presbytery. Archived from the original on 20 October 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "| South Moreton Presbytery". Archived from the original on 22 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "Church | The Presbytery Of The Downs | Toowoomba City". Downs Presbytery. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
- ^ "About". Trinity College Queensland. Archived from the original on 5 February 2020. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
- ^ "Minutes of the 34th Synod, 2019" (PDF). The Uniting Church in Australia in Queensland. July 2019. p. 25. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 July 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
- ^ "John Mavor finally retires". Journey. Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland. 5 April 2007. Archived from the original on 19 April 2017. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
- ^ a b "Synod of Queensland". 13th Assembly reports. Uniting Church in Australia. 2012. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 8 November 2016.
- ^ "The Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod". Archived from the original on 2 October 2016. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
- ^ Rogers, Ben (18 May 2019). "34th Synod in Session: Day two – Now is the time to sow". Journey. Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. Archived from the original on 7 July 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
External links
edit- Official website
- Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland Records 1862-1995; State Library of Queensland
- Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland Records 1936-1990; State Library of Queensland
- Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Queensland Records 1879-1993, State Library of QueenslandThis article's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wiki How. (November 2020)