Rev Philip Burns, Assistant to the Clerks
The PCV’s Commission of Assembly gathered on Tuesday May 6th, within the Assembly Hall, 156 Collins Street, Melbourne, with the Moderator, Rev Ian Hutton, in the chair. The weather outside was unusually warm for this time of year and the fellowship inside matched the conditions outside. The Commission began with prayer and a brief devotion by the Moderator’s Chaplain, Rev Gerald Vanderwert, based on Hebrews 11:32-40, followed by the singing of the great hymn, ‘How sweet the name of Jesus sounds’ before the business began.
Moderator Designate
One of the responsibilities of the Commission is the election of the Moderator Designate for the next General Assembly. There was only the one nomination received from the Presbyteries for this position, that of the Rev Rod (Rodney) Waterhouse of the Portland PC. Rod’s appointment at Portland will end before the General Assembly convenes in October, enabling him to have the freedom to take on the role of Moderator. After being unanimously elected, Rod addressed the Commission requesting prayer for him and his wife Sandra, that God might give them health, strength and grace to complete the task faithfully and well. The Moderator then congratulated Rod (pictured left) on his appointment and led the Commission in prayer for them both.
Assistant to the Clerks
The Clerkship Committee, through its Acting Convener, Rev Robert White, requested approval for the immediate appointment of Rev Philip Burns (Bendigo PC) as ‘Assistant to the Clerks’, noting that Philip has been in the role of ‘Acting’ Assistant to the Clerks since the 2023 Commission of Assembly. The Commission unanimously agreed to this request. The Moderator then congratulated Philip on his appointment and led the Commission in prayer for him in this role.
Finances, finances, finances…
One of the main business items that the Commission must deal with is the General Assembly’s finances. This includes the setting of the Assembly rate and the GMP program ($308,000), as well as the stipend, non-cash benefit, superannuation and travel rates for 2025/26 for those in ministry. These are all now calculated through an agreed formula proposed and agreed to by the Maintenance of the Ministry Committee. The Commission also gave attention to the 2025/26 budgets for the General Assembly itself and for eleven of the Committees of the General Assembly. As you could imagine, these budgets take up a large proportion of the printed papers presented to the meeting. These financial matters come to the Commission through the PCV’s Board of Investment and Finance (Chairman, John Walter) and the Maintenance of the Ministry Committee (Convener, Elder Colin Morrow). The supervision of the General Assembly’s finances is quite a major task and much of the day-to-day responsibility for this management falls to the Acting General Manager, Elder Dennis Wright, and the conscientious PCV Office staff. We can give thanks to God for their faithful service and pray that we may, as a denomination, continue to be faithful stewards of God’s many gifts and blessings to us.
Ministry Development Committee
The Ministry Development Committee (MDC), through its Convener, Rev Stuart Withers, requested approval from the Commission for the creation of a new ministry position entitled the ‘Ministry Leadership Coach’ (MLC) who would work under the MDC’s direction alongside the current Ministry Development Officer (Rev Chris Siriweera), with the purpose of;
- developing, overseeing and implementing the MDC’s ‘Revitalisation Track’ program;
- coaching Ministers and Sessions through that Revitalisation Track program;
- building a network of gospel ministry coaches for service in the PCV
After much debate, the Commission approved the proposal and the position description and also authorised the MDC to fill the new position from 1 July 2025.
Theological Education Committee
The Theological Education Committee (TEC), through its Convener, Rev Kevin Maxwell, requested approval from the Commission for the approval of the position description for a full-time ‘Lecturer in Practical Theology’ (Congregational ministry) commencing 1 January 2026. The Commission approved this request and gave permission to the TEC to bring a nominee for this position to for the 2025 General Assembly in October for approval, or, if needed, to an urgent meeting of the General Assembly.
Board of Investment and Finance
In a supplementary report to the Commission, the Board of Investment and Finance reported to the Commission on matters referred to it by the 2024 General Assembly; namely, 1) identifying a source of funds that could be used as a grant to Scots’ Church, Melbourne, to assist in the transfer of a minority interest in Assembly Hall to their oversight, and 2) identifying ways in which funds may be applied to effect a purchase of 690 Elgar Road, Box Hill North for the ministries of the PCV. As a result, the Commission authorised the Assembly Clerk and the Minister of Scots’ Church to ‘ripen’ a proposal regarding item 1), and also authorised the BIF to enter into negotiations regarding item 2) so that this might be presented to the 2025 General Assembly for approval. Please pray for this!
Petitions
Two petitions were presented to the Commission.
- From the Presbytery of Melbourne North seeking permission to continue to apply to the Church Planting Committee for grants to the Fresh Start (Donnybrook)PC, notwithstanding the five-year limit for such grants.
The Commission authorised the extension of grants as requested for the 2026 and 2027 calendar years.
- From BayChurch (Cheltenham) PC,within the Presbytery of Flinders, seeking permission to expend monies held in their name in the Sites Reserve, on renovations and improvements to the kitchen, foyer, office space and foyer, anticipated to be in the order of $530,000.
The Commission gave permission for the Sites Reserve funds to be used in this way.
All in all, it was an encouraging day, and we give great thanks to God for His favour and ask that He might continue to lead us and bless us in His ways, knowing that without this our work is in vain (Psalm 127:1).