Postkiwi

I’ve spent this evening fixing up a PowerPoint presentation in preparation for the Queensland Synod that starts tomorrow night.

The presentation is for South Moreton Presbytery, the regional body that connects 45 congregations and one ‘faith community’ between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. We have ethnic and multicultural congregations. We have threshold congregations who are reinventing themselves. We have regional congregations coming to terms with healthy systems. We have congregations and Uniting Care agencies developing stronger partnerships.

South Moreton Presbytery aims to foster a creative, adventurous & inclusive church, celebrating life in Christ. Mission and ministry of the people of God grow out of our worship of God who loves and redeems us and sends us out to make disciples

Congregations are encouraged to partner with other congregations by sharing personnel & material resources, sharing ideas for enhancement of Christ�s mission across congregations, and filling placements with people desiring to see our vision become a reality.
The three zones are encouraged to be gatherings where congregations and service groups share ideas, stories of God�s presence are shared, leaders are encouraged, trained and sustained, and networks are nurtured.

Presbytery, through it officers, committees & meetings will streamline decision making processes, encourage and assist congregations in achieving their goals, and encourage mutual accountability in fulfilling our vision of a creative, adventurous & inclusive church.

All this is in the context of a growing population. The Queensland Government, in its South East Queensland Regional Plan, has outlined expectations of growth from the current population of 2.7 million to between 3.5 and 4 million by 2026. In the South Moreton Presbytery area we’re expecting 40 % population growth - 20,000 per year for the next 20 years. Growth areas include the Western side of the Motorway on the Gold Coast, the Northern Gold Coast from Coomera to Ormeau and Yatala, SouthWest of Sunnybank Hills, west of Beenleigh, between Redland Bay and the Mt Cotton area, south of Manly, and on the Gold Coast seaboard (think lots of apartments). That’s without the possibilities in the area between Mt Lindsay and Beaudesert.