GLORIFYING AND ENJOYING GOD AS CHRIST-LIKE COMMUNITIES 
Pulse Articles
The Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW is to get a brand new, purpose-built theological college.
Approval for development and design of the new Presbyterian Theological Centre on the site of the current college in Sydney’s Burwood has just been received and PCNSW is ready to proceed to construction. As well as the college, the $30 million development will also include independent living for seniors.
the assembly that was 2011
A change in name for the Safe Church Unit, the adoption of a revised Breaking the Silence policy, farewells to two committees, welcomes to 15 new ministers and a lot of discussion about the need for an expanded theological college. Not to mention three thought provoking Bible expositions and addresses on topics from education to diversity.
That about sums up the 2011 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Australia in NSW (PCNSW),which was wrapped up in four of the five days allotted to it during the July school holidays.
For full details about the assembly, including:
- the consideration of a formal women's ministry committee
- Minister shortage - or not?
- Newly installed State Moderator, Sandy McMillan, writes about the Norway massacre "Lets fix our eyes on Jesus"
See the full edition of the Pulse September 2011
Pass the baton, urges Moderator
...as PCNSW gets down to business
It would be a tragedy if baby boomer ministers and other church leaders didn’t effectively pass the baton to their younger, Generation X peers to ensure the future growth of the Presbyterian Church in NSW, newly installed Moderator for the 2011 General Assembly, Rt Rev Sandy McMillan, told the opening night crowd in his empassioned Moderatorial speech.
Mr McMillan, who is minister at St Aidan`s Presbyterian Church in Wagga Wagga, told the gathering of guests and Ministers and Elders representing the 185 pastoral charges and home mission stations which make up the PCNSW, that he had a vision to see the baton passed well in families, churches and leadership.
But he was just as adamant that if the baby boomers currently populating most of the Church’s Assembly committees did do so, then the said Generation X-ers must in turn, "step up".
God has His hand on NZ earthquake rebuilding
By Chanah Gillman, just returned from Christchurch
Although it didn’t last very long on the news here in Australia – the devastation in Christchurch, New Zealand is still very real and the destruction is almost overwhelming.
The shallowness of the 6.3 magnitude earthquake is what made it so catastrophic with the horizontal force back and forth at ground level reaching 2G. The estimate cost of rebuilding has reached $16 billion (NZD) with 60per cent of homes needing repair.
There continues to be homes without power, water and sewage. Now that the State of Emergency has been lifted it is expected that 20,000 more names will be added to the welfare queue.
New Testaments for Vanuatu
Imagine if there were only 50-80 Bibles available for sale in Australia? That’s something of the current situation in Vanuatu. Vanuatu is a nation that has been profoundly touched by the gospel and for many years the Presbyterian Church of Australia has been partners with the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu.
In recent times it has become clear that there is an urgent need to reprint the Bible in Bislama, the national language. Vanuatu has about 60,000 Presbyterians but not all have a Bible. A coalition of Christians in partnership with the Presbyterian Church of Vanuatu and the Assemblies of God are looking to print 30,000 New Testaments for just over $1.00 each.