I’ve just agreed to take on a new role with the Uniting Church in Australia, based in North Parramatta. From January 1 2014 through to December 31 2015 I’ll be placed as Director of the Uniting Learning Network in an Intentional Interim Ministry placement. The Uniting Learning Network is an educational resourcing network with a staffing hub at the Centre for Ministry in North Parramatta, put in place by a resolution of the Synod meeting held in May this year. It’s an integral part of the ministry of Uniting Mission and Education, a major division within the NSW/ACT Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia. The Network has been established to facilitate the faithful participation of members, congregations, agencies and presbyteries across the Synod in its mission, equipping and developing lively and diverse followers of Jesus Christ fully engaged in the world.
I’ll be primarily responsible to provide:
(1) leadership and coordination of the Uniting Learning Network team, and its activities, with a particular focus on developing cohesion between the UME Resourcing Team and the Faculty of UTC, and any other employees of Synod engaged in delivery of educational services.
(2) development of key and strategic relationships within UME, with presbyteries, other agencies and congregations.
Intentional interim ministry involves five developmental tasks for an organisation – coming to terms with history, clarifying shared identity, refocusing leadership, building connections with the wider church, and working on a shared vision for the future.
I’ll be needing to use skills in personnel management and change management, as well as theological and educational skills, to work with staff who have been operating within existing, quite different, structures. A key focus will be to bring together the diverse elements into one cohesive entity. I won’t have any direct role in the oversight of the academic requirements for faculty within the theological college (research and teaching), but will work with the (Associate) Head of the School of Theology to ensure that programmes and offerings for academic and discipleship activities are brought into closer relationship. I’ll be working from an office at the Centre for Ministry at North Parramatta and will be living on campus.
Congratulations Duncan – your rich set of skills and sensitivity to all the stakeholders’ issues will make this a very fruitful ministry. God be with you on this journey. Thanks for the learning you have passed on.