1.

PARISH PROFILE

Anglican Parish of Forster Tuncurry

www.forsteranglican.com.au

April 2014

SECTION ONE:

1. The parish is situated 160 kilometres by road North of Newcastle NSW (2

hours driving). Airport access from Williamtown, Newcastle airport. The parish

extends from Redhead/Hallidays Point on the coast in the North to Bungwahl in

the South. It extends from Forster/Tuncurry on the coast in the East to

Krambach in farming country in the West. It should be noted that access to

most of the parish is by a single road, namely the Lakes Way. Map included.

a. Government facilities and resources available for parish missional and

outreach use include

Tuncurry Hall---High Schools Forster & Tuncurry---Nabiac Showground hall---

John Wright Park Music Bowl at Tuncurry---Pacific Palms School---Nabiac

School---Community Hall, Bungwahl---Community Hall, Coomba Park---

Community Hall, Krambach.

b. Community activities include

Men’s Sheds & Women’s Shed.

c. Welfare agencies include

Centrelink at Tuncurry---Salvation Army---St Vincent de Paul Op Shop---

Anglican Op Shop---Forster Neighbourhood Centre.

d. Health related community facilities include

Forster Private Hospital---Golden Ponds Retirement Village---Barclay Gardens

Nursing Home, Forster. Beaumont Terrace Nursing Home, Tuncurry---

GLAICA aged care facility, Tuncurry---Kularoo Gardens aged care facility,

Forster.

e. Areas designated by local council for development

Residential area North of Tuncurry, and residential developments in the

Hallidays Point area.

f. Major environmental/industrial areas

Light industrial areas at Forster & Tuncurry.

g. Other

Forster Court House

h. Other Anglican entities There is no Samaritan presence or Anglican School within the parish.

There is an Anglican School and Samaritan presence in Taree.

2. Web addresses are www.greatlakes.nsw.gov.au and www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au

www.nabiac.com.au www.forsteranglican.com.au

2. 3.

Community demographics: Forster/Tuncurry, Nabiac Failford Darawank Rural North, Pacific

Palms Blueys Beach Coomba Park. 2011 census. Figures are from Great Lakes Council and Greater

Taree City Council web sites. www.greatlakes.nsw.gov.au and www.gtcc.nsw.gov.au

Age Number Female Male Employed Retired % Number since 2006

2011 2006

0- 4 1409 4.7% 1416 -0.5%

5-17 4258 14.2% 4306 -1.1%

18-64 15143 50.5% 14857 +1.9%

65-84 8006 26.7% 7399 +8.2%

85> 1169 3.9% 925 +26.4%

Total 29985 15292 14693 100.0 28903 +3.7%

51% 49%

Population & households by area. 2011 census.

Area Number % Households

Forster 13701 45.70% 6079

Tuncurry 5809 19.37% 2896

Nabiac/Failford/Darawank/Rural North/1/3 Wingham Balance 3998 13.33% 1572

Pacific Palms/Blueys Beach/Coomba Park 3116 10.40% 1326

Hallidays Point/Red Head/Diamond Beach 3361 11.20% 1317

Total 29985 100.00 13190

4. Striking features which impact general community

This is a tourist area, with many dwellings used purely for holiday letting. (not included in above

statistics) In peak holiday season accommodation becomes scarce and roads become congested

(especially between Forster and Tuncurry). After hours medical help is poor with the closest

accident and emergency hospital being at Manning Base Hospital, Taree.

5. List social concerns of local community

Unemployment and under employment (especially with young people and people in their fifties),

family breakdown, alcoholism and illicit drug use is similar to other communities.

How is the Parish engaged with any of these community issues? It has not as a faith community.

3.

Anglican Parish of Forster Tuncurry

SECTION TWO:

PARISH DETAILS & STATISTICS

1. Date of Profile. April 2014

2. Involvement of other stipendiary, or Local Ordained Ministers who provide clergy

assistance.

Father Milton Fowell, Reverend Bill Green OLM.

3. Name & location of Church Centres and distance from Rectory. A) Parish Church St

Albans Forster—adjoining rectory. B) St Nicholas Bent St Tuncurry with Clergy House

adjoining---2 km (10 mins) from rectory. C) St Johns Dyers Crossing---30 km (30mins) west

of rectory. D) St Pauls Nabiac---23 km (23 mins) west of rectory. E) St James Bungwahl---32

km (30 mins) south of rectory. (Note: the travel times are in good weather and not in peak

Holiday times)

4. Worship a) By church or other location…Service times, style of worship, size of

congregation, which groups of community for whom the worship is made particularly

welcoming.

Church Times Style Size Group

St Albans Forster

6pm Saturday

9am Sunday

Communion

Communion

18

81

50-90

50-90

St Nicholas Tuncurry

9.30am Thursday

7.30am Sunday

Communion

Communion

15

35

50-90

50-90

St Johns Dyers Crossing

10am 2nd

/4th

Sunday

Communion

20

50-90

St Pauls Nabiac 10am 1st/3

rd Sunday Communion 16 50-90

St James Bungwahl 11am 4th

Sunday Communion 6 50-90

Glaica Aged Hostel Twice a Month Communion 16 65+

Kularoo Gardens Monthly Communion 8 65+

Total 215

b) By church or other location note involvement of Lay Liturgical Assistants, type of music and

musicians.

Church Times Lay Liturgical Assist. Music Musicians

St Albans Forster 6pm Saturday

9am Sunday

1 Chalice Assistants

2 Chalice Assistants

1-3 servers

Organ

1

St Nicholas Tuncurry

9.30am Thursday

7.30am Sunday

1 Chalice Assistant

& server

Organ

Organ

1

1

St Johns Dyers Crossing 10am 2nd

/4th

Sunday

1 Chalice Assistant/server Organ

1

St Pauls Nabiac 10am 1st/3

rd Sunday 1 Chalice Assistant/server Organ 1

St James Bungwahl 11am 4th

Sunday 1 Chalice Assistant/server Organ 1

Kularoo Gardens Monthly Organ 1

Glaica Aged Hostel Twice a Month Organ 1

4.

5. Trends: By church or location are services still being conducted with regularity and

frequency as they were 3 years ago. Note any changes.

Yes.

6. Parish faith community demographics: Number of parishioners based on Age & Gender:

Age Female Male Employed Retired

0-5 0 0

5-12 0 2

13-17 0 0

18-25 0 0 0

26-55 5 5 5 5

55-70 18 8 6 20

70-> 128 49 177

5.

Parish groups Separated by their general parishioner or missional orientation, noting trends in size, and any

‘yardsticks’ the group has for effectiveness. List groups even if a ‘one off’ or occasional responsibilities.

Eg fete committee.

1. Outreach/Missional groups.

Name of group,

Attached to

parish, centre or

external group.

Leader for how

long.

Size of

group.

Rector a

member,

leader?

Intention Tools of ministry Risks Outcomes Financed by & $$

Annual

Sea Food Dinner

Yes (100) Outreach &

fellowship

Noel Gogerly’s

supply &

preparation

Nil Fund raising &

fellowship

Those attending

Annual Parish

Lunch

(80)Yes

Yes

Fellowship

Outreach

Guest speaker Nil Uniting parish Those attending

Bible Studies

3 groups

(22) No

Biblical

growth

Study book/Bible Nil Spiritual growth Those attending

Catering Group (10) No Fund

raising &

outreach

Mini lunch

Funeral catering

Nil Funds raised

for parish

Self funded

Courthouse

Ministry

(16) No Showing

Christian

concern

Tea & coffee Nil Appreciation by

recipients

Parish

Crafty Tuesdays (12) No fellowship Participants. Nil Friendship and

caring for one

another

Participants

Cursillo

Movement

Yes Spiritual

Growth

in member

Gatherings/

testimonies

Nil Spiritual growth Participants

Dyers Crossing

Ladies Guild

(8) No Fund

raising

Harvest

Festival

Seafood

Dinner

Fashion

Parade

Volunteers Nil Funds raised/

fellowship

Self funded

EFM Group (8) No Educating

for ministry

Materials from

EFM

Nil More trained

parishioners

Those attending

Garden

Maintenance

Groups

(7) No Maintain

church

surrounds

Garden tools Nil Beautification Parish

Great Lakes

5000 Poppies

Project

No (30+)

Parishioners

(100+)

Community

A

community

project to

make 5000

poppies by

Anzac Day

2015

Participants. Nil Outreach/

Church becomes

more visible in

the community.

RSL sub branch/

Parish/participants

Home Groups (2) No Study

weekly

readings-

Share with

each other

Study book

Bible readings

Nil Spiritual growth

Care of one

another

Those attending

Lenten Studies (30) Yes

Yes

Learn more

about

significance

of Easter

Booklet & audio Nil Focus on Easter Participants

Meals on Wheels (16) No Delivery of

meals

Supplied by

council

Nil Appreciation Great Lakes

Council.

Men’s Bi

Monthly Dinners

At St Albans

(35) Yes Fellowship

& outreach

Guest speakers

Volunteer cooks

bible reading

Nil Contact with

non churched

Participants

Mini Lunch

Forster Monthly

(35) Yes Fellowship

& outreach

&

fundraising

Volunteer cooks Nil Contact with

non churched

Participants

Nursing Home

Visiting

Yes (5)

Yes

Minister to

residents

Communion Nil Appreciation Nil cost

Op Shop

No (20) Fundraising

& ministry

outreach

Low rent shop Nil Raised $40,000

in 2113

Nil cost

Pictures & Pizza (10) Yes

Monthly

movie/

Discussion

DVD/Pizzas

Nil Fellowship

Those attending

Prayer Grid No (12) Pray for

those in

special need

Telephones to

contact

Nil Prayer in action Members of

prayer grid

Sacristan

Servers

(10) Yes

Yes

Assist in

Eucharist

Nil Smooth running

service

Nil cost

SRE teachers &

helpers

Yes (6)

Yes

Ministry to

primary

schools

Booklets Nil Sowing the seed

of Christianity

Parish council

Take- a- break (20) No Outreach &

fellowship

Guest presenters Nil Friendships Nil cost

Tea-Toast &

Theology

(6) Yes Mid-week

theological

discussion

Various materials

Nil Spiritual growth

& friendships

Those attending

Tuncurry

friendship group

(12) No Fellowship/

fund raising

Nil Fellowship/

funds raised

Nil cost

Walking group (5) No Fellowship Nil Fellowship Nil cost

Women of Faith

Quarterly

Gathering

No (50)

Fellowship/

outreach at

breakfast,

morning

tea,

lunch or

high tea.

Guest

speaker/men

volunteers

For catering

Nil Fellowship/

funds raised

Nil cost

6.

2. Parishioner or Diocesan-wide spiritual and pastoral support and growth groups

Name of

group,

Attached to

parish, centre

or external

group.

Leader for how

long.

Size of

group.

Rector a

member,

leader?

Intention Tools of

ministry

Risks to

ministry

Outcomes Financed

by & $$

Meal Bank 3 Pastoral

support

Pre cooked

meals

nil Appreciated

by recipients

Self

funded

Welcoming

Lunch

4 Welcoming

& outreach

Shared

meal &

fellowship

nil Appreciation Parish

7.

Parish Council 1. a. In last 3 years how has Parish Council encouraged and who lead major activities in

the following areas of parish life:

Stewardship

Yearly---led by Clergy

Spiritual growth

Bible Study Groups/SRE (Lay leaders)

Home Groups (Lay leaders)

Lay/team leadership

Mission committee recommendations accepted.

Engagement in the community

Animal Service.

Grief Ministry Dinner (Rector)

b. In the last 3 years what are the factors, which have hindered these ministries?

Stewardship

Lack of enthusiasm by parishioners due to age demographics.

Spiritual growth

Lack of encouragement or enthusiasm.

Lay/team leadership

Lack of encouragement or enthusiasm.

Engagement in the community

Lack of encouragement or enthusiasm/ lack of delegation.

8.

2. Identify any areas of missional ministry new in the last 3 years---how would you

anticipate a new incumbent being involved? The new incumbent, to encourage or enthuse the laity to dream and implement fresh expressions

of outreach and worship.

3. Identify any major areas of grief with which a new incumbent might be involved. eg.

Closer of a church or group etc.

a) Viability of St James Church Bungwahl---Also viability of having both St Pauls Nabiac and St

Johns Dyers Crossing, being so close to each other, with many parishioners worshiping at both

churches.

b) The “them & us” attitude between Forster & Tuncurry, which exists not only in the Parish but

also in the whole community.

c) Committee structures exist.

4. Identify any areas where the Parish would anticipate the new Rector would bring gifts

of leadership, teaching, on-going education to assist parishioners in their current or

planned ministries

a) Encouragement, diplomacy & innovation.

b) Alternate types of church services aimed at 20 to 50 year olds. (Or other age groups apart

from 60+ who are currently well catered for)

c) Stewardship.

d) More Bible Study Groups or Growth Groups.

e) A willingness to explore the implementation of the Ministering Communities in Mission

Programme with the whole parish.

5. Are there any projects underway or anticipated which are a major focus for Parish

Council?

A) 5000 Poppies Project to make 5000 poppies for Anzac Day 2015.

B) Pastoral Partners Program as a lay program of care and connection.

Becoming Ministering Communities in Mission: 1. List top 3 parish goals, and detail people, property and financial resources

dedicated/required to achieve these goals.

1) Alternate types of church services.

2) Pastoral Care across the parish.

3) Evangelistic Outreach especially to 20 to 50 demographics.

2. Note the time lines for planning and implementing of these 3 goals.

As soon as the parish resources have been developed to meet these goals. Pastoral Partners is

commencing mid-2014.

3. What would be 3 major indicators that these goals are being achieved over the next 18-

month period?

1) Increasing attendance at new services & a reduction in the parishioners’ average age.

2) Increased contact with parishioners who don’t attend church or are missing from church.

3) New seekers in the Churches.

4. Is the Parish involved with the Ministry Development Officer in the Ministry

Communities in Mission Programme? At what stage in the process?

In initial planning stage.

5. Are any in the Parish involved in the Bishop’s Certificate in Theology for Ministry?

Yes.

Finances: 1. Attach last AGM audited accounts and summarise the proportion of income to parish

from fundraising and from offertory contributions.

Attached.

2. Is the Parish able to meet full time stipendiary and Diocesan contribution expenses? Yes.

9.

3. Detail any Permanent or Temporary Trusts held and any specifications for their use. Is

any interest capitalised? No.

Trust Amount Specifications Interest Int. cap.

Miss M Whitehead (Perm) $13,861 $525.08

Rev K. Steel (permanent) $ 1,145 $42.10

Flo. Belton (permanent) $ 2291 $84.20

ASDF Term Deposit $203,125 Parish Development $ 6099.41

ASDF General A/c $40,666 Parish Funds $ 811.47

ASDF Rectors Discretionary $ 5611 Rector’s discretion.

St Nicholas Dev. A/c $450 Repairs St Nicholas Church $ 974.14

ASDF Parish A/c $3885 Parish Funds

4. Is the Parish carrying debts?

No.

5. List of all parish buildings with general state of repair of each building in line with the

annual property inspection reports.

St Albans Church Forster---26-year-old brick building with hall attached in good condition.

Recently painted inside & out for the first time.

Rectory Forster---17 year old brick veneer 4 bedroom plus study & double garage, with church

office adjoining Church.

St Nicholas Church Tuncurry----54 year-old timber building, modernised in 1995, and brick

veneered, in good state of repair. (However there is asbestos sheeting and roofing in its fabric).

Clergy House Tuncurry---35-year-old brick veneer 4 bedrooms plus study & tandem garage

adjoining the Church. (Currently tenanted for $420pw).

St Johns Church Dyers Crossing---74 year old building with hall attached in good state of

repair.

St Pauls Church Nabiac---110-year-old timber building, with hall attached, in fair state of

repair.

St James Church Bungwahl---130 old timber building, in need of constant attention, requiring

external painting.

6. Is there a rolling maintenance programme for property and grounds? If maintenance

or repair work is underway please detail anticipated detail financial commitments for

the next 3 years.

There is a program in place.

7. Parish buildings that are regularly rented to external groups.

Nabiac Church Hall rented to Kids Shack for $60 per week, which is before and after

school/vacation care. Clergy House at Tuncurry currently rented for $420pw.

8. At 2006 Synod it was agreed that parishes would aim to contribute 10% of their income

to Diocesan ministries (eg chaplaincies). What is current parish level of contribution?

10% of envelopes, cash collections & donations.

8b. various missions were given $10,939 in 2013.

.

Parish Consultation at a Parish meeting on Monday 19th May 2014 undertaken by Archdeacon Arthur Copeman

1. What is there about this Parish which is a cause for celebration?

Location

100 – 130 parishioners attend any one of the five centres each week.

Many gifted retirees

Financially generous Parish in regard to giving and missions.

Four active bible studies and two active home groups.

Many people contribute.

Community presence awareness and participation.

Not debt laden.

Good plant.

Welcoming presence in all centres.

Active Parish Council.

Faction free.

Large number of monthly services and activities.

Strive to improve Church practices

Parish Vision/Mission Statement.

Encouraged by people’s faith in coming week to week to worship.

Strong fellowship and friendship.

Good hospitality (including food).

Poppy Project (symbol of enthusiasm).

St Alban’s choir.

Parish members give good community witness to faith.

Prayer tree at Tuncurry markets.

Multi centre allows presence in a variety of places.

Community use of facilities.

Congregation contains community leaders.

Large number of monthly services and activities.

ASDF Reserves.

Mature Parish.

Services at Nursing Homes.

Home Communion.

2. What would make this Parish stronger, better and more successful as a Christian community?

Growth at youth and families in congregation.

Acceptance of ‘retiree status’ and work on that group (outreach). How much better this could be done?

Encourage greater participation in Parish activities in bible studies and home groups.

Stepping out of ‘retiree mode’.

Strong leadership across the Parish.

Greater ‘togetherness’ across the Parish.

Long term plan for future development of the Parish which has the support of regular members.

Improving listening and speaking skills.

Parish action for community needs.

Promotion of church presence.

Better communication of needs.

Open and excited to change.

Stability of the Parish Clergy.

Variety of modes of worship.

More teaching and exhortation.

3. What are in your opinion the essential characteristics required in the next Rector of your Parish?

As in the prayer.

A strong leader

A good manager

A people person.

Experienced Parish Priest.

Able to discern of people’s gifts and encourage them to be use them both in the community and Church.

Awareness of mature nature of Parish.

Visiting/Pastoral Rector.

Able to be supported by the Parish delegates.

Hard to answer without clarity as to future direction of Parish (?) or Shared Planning (?)

The person needs to want to be in this parish for the long term.

Energising. Have energy and capacity to be an example of joy and enthusiasm to infect others with joy.

Realise that there are 5 centres plus Halliday’s Point, Pacific Palms and Smith’s Lake and 23 mailable addresses.

Genuine belief in lay ministry.

Supportive family, if married.

Innovative worship. (I think this means be prepared to institute innovative worship, otherwise it ought to be under Q.2)

4. What would you like to see the next Rector undertake in their first hundred days in your Parish?

Getting to know Parish - with Parish not expecting too much.

Listening (asking questions)

Getting to know logistics

Integrating into the community with

- local councillors

- other churches

- charities/welfare agencies

- local aboriginal groups

Put a lot of thinking time into Parish Plan

Put aside pre-conceived ideas

Outwardly as little as possible

Lead good worship from first Sunday in the Parish

Take time out to enjoy and appreciate the area and God’s creation

Communicate with the congregations what they are doing in the hundred days.