Resourcing more readily and effectively: Survey for Lay-Led Congregations
A Reference Group comprising Lay Leaders and ordained ministers from rural, metropolitan, and CALD communities has been formed to develop a survey to identify the specific needs of our rural, regional, remote, CALD, and UAICC communities.
Calling Lay-Led Congregations!
Members of the Transition Commission (TC), along with Presbytery Leaders and Synod Resourcers, have long recognised the often multiple needs of Lay-Led Congregations. A Reference Group comprising Lay Leaders and ordained ministers from rural, metropolitan, and CALD communities has been formed to develop a survey to identify the specific needs of our rural, regional, remote, CALD, and UAICC communities. Our lay-led congregations often “punch above their weight” and have done so in some places for 30 years or more, yet they often “fall through the cracks” when under-resourced presbyteries cannot provide support and encouragement. In recognition of your ongoing work, this survey seeks to learn about you so that our 3P presbyteries can resource you more readily and effectively, and so that this Reference Group can advocate for Lay Leadership.
We expect our new presbyteries will be in transition for the next two years, particularly regarding the placement and employment of presbytery ministry agents and the roles they will undertake. New presbytery staff may not know you as well as before. Having your congregation on record through this survey will mean that, as presbyteries reorganise, they will already have information about you and some understanding of the help you may need. This also keeps your presbytery up to date with your information.
We know that at this time congregations and their members are being encouraged to complete their NCLS survey. We suggest that both surveys will work hand in hand. However, we hope the TC survey will directly impact your undertaking of the mission of God, enabling your communities to flourish, as presbyteries can respond to specific congregational needs. If you do not receive a link to the survey by email within the next two weeks, please contact your 12P PRC. The survey is the most comprehensive gathering of information about our lay-led communities since Union and will take about 30 minutes to complete. If you need help with the survey, as it will be online, please ask a neighbouring congregation or your 12P PRC for assistance. If you have any other questions, please contact transition@nswact.uca.org.au. We are asking for the surveys to be completed by 31st October.
The raw data collected will be sent to the new 3P PRCs. A report on the dominant themes, compiled by the Reference Group, will also be sent to your presbyteries and, via the Transition Commission Report, to the Synod Standing Committee to advocate for Lay-Led Congregations.
My thanks to Liva Tukutama and Tony Shumack (TC members), and to Alan Harper, Alison Westcott, Andrew Watts, Jen Lawlor, Kyle Moffitt, Sue Duncan, Carolyn Sharp, and Martin Levine for your time and wisdom.
Every Blessing as you continue in God’s mission and for your ministry. Thank you for completing this survey!
Further Information
To discuss the Lay-Led survey in more detail, transition@nswact.uca.org.au.
For more information about the NCLS, please click on the buttons below.