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".

“We have the best news in the world, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ,” Mr McMillan said.“We have the glorious grace of God, the Kingdom of his Son, the sure hope of everlasting life. There’s nothing better on offer.

“I know God won’t fail. I know the gates of hell will not prevail against his church. But I am talking aboutourlittlecornerofthevineyard.I’mtalking about the Presbyterian Church in NSW. God can work with us or despite us.What a tragedy it would be, if we failed to do what God calls us to do.”

Self confessed baby boomer Mr McMillan, who followed Elder Peter Graham into the honorary role which required him to moderate the week- long Assembly at PLC Sydney from July 4-7, used the Biblical illustration of the trellis and the vine to further his topic.

“To grow a vine you need a trellis. You need structures,” he said.“But the trellis isn’t what it’s all about.The vine is.So as much as our denomination and our ways of doing things helps the vine to grow helps the gospel to be passed on, then it is valuable.

“But if ever it should get in the way, and hinder gospel growth, then it is the gospel and not thesystem we need to hold on to. Because that is the baton we should not drop.We must pass the baton of the gospel onto the younger generation.”

Mr McMillan was supported in the role he said he hadn’t designed to have but was honoured to accept by his chaplains, Jeff Read, minister at Chatswood Presbyterian Church and David Powell, associate at Albury Presbyterian Church. His wife Karen and two of his daughters were also on hand to share the evening.

Other highlights of the opening night of what was the 145th session of the General Assembly included a welcome for 15 newly inducted parish ministers – Christopher Chan (Chinese PC), Kenneth    Gray    ( Temora),    Wilson    Fernandes (Brazilian Christian Ministry), Ian Halbisch (South Wagga Wagga), Kristian Hartberg (Coonabarabran),JoshuJung(Wollondilly),James McFarlane (Beecroft), Winston Mah (Granville- Merrylands), George Medvedsky (Mullumbimby), Stewart Playsted (East Lismore), Brett Richardson (Wollongong), Jason Smart (Bathurst), Martin Spadaro (Rose Bay), Darryl Spriggs (Nambucca) and Kamal Weerakoon (St Marys). Each man now gains a seat on the Assembly.

Congratulations were also passed on to two ministersandtwoEldersforwhom2011marks50 years since their ordination – Rev AR Harvey, Minister Emeritus and Rev Dr CJ Paton, Minister Emeritus and Mr MT Gibson and Mr GJ McLennan – while two former Assembly members who had died during the year, Rev JJT Campbell and Very Rev J Mullan, were remembered.

The Assembly continued with acceptance and discussion of reports from its ordinary committees, boards, councils and Trustees, special committees and organizations. Be sure to get hold of a copy of the September Pulse magazine for the full report.

READ THE MODERATOR’S ADDRESS ON PAGE SIX of the August Pulse>