This report from the Conference Secretary is somewhat focused on numbers but while preparing it, Pr Craig Gillis was very mindful that each number represents a being created in God’s own image, whose value can only be weighed by considering the willingness in which Christ gave His life that all who believe will be saved.
This past quadrennium has seen some significant highs and lows. The highs came in 2019 with our evangelistic program, Harvest Victoria’s public outreach campaign, Revelation Today, and the people giving their lives to the Lord as a result. The lows came in 2020 with the unprecedented impact of COVID19 which restricted our public gatherings and even baptisms in an attempt to curb the spread of the virus.
The quadrennium under review concluded with the Victorian Conference having 118 worshipping communities consisting of churches, companies and groups, totalling a membership of 11,644. We currently operate six schools across eight campuses, five early learning centres, two aged care facilities, 133 Independent Living Units (including 41 in Pavilions Blackburn Lake), Camp Howqua and the Adventist Book Centre.
Despite the challenges of 2020, the past four years have seen positive CHURCH GROWTH in our churches and institutions, and we give all glory to our Heavenly Father for His ongoing blessings and guidance.
We welcomed six churches into the “sisterhood” of Churches in our Conference during this time. Gateway City (2017), Samoan Endeavour Hills (2018), Lynbrook (2019), Westpoint (2019), Gilson College Community (2020) and Werribee Karen (2020) Churches. Bendigo Karen Church joined in 2021.
Sadly though, two of our congregations dissolved. We recognise the past ministry of Numurkah Church and Heritage Company, both which closed in 2019.
Fourteen new companies have officially formed and we welcome them. Australian Zomi (2020), Bendigo Karen (2018), Berwick (2018), Bundoora (2018), Gateway East (2017), Gateway Lighthouse (2018), Gateway West (2017), Melbourne City (2017), Melton (2018), Point Cook (2019), Samoan Hillside (2018), South East (Oromo Service)(2018), The Harvest (2018), and Victorian Adventist Wantok (2020) Companies.
While there is no formal process in the Church Manual for the recognition of groups, the Victorian Conference works with new groups and church plants in a way that enhances the mission of the Church in Victoria. We welcomed six newly authorised groups over these last four years . The Avenue (2020), Clyde Connect (2020), Karen Remnant (2018), Melbourne Vietnamese (2018), Myanmar (2019) and The Rock (2017) Groups.
The Conference’s CHURCH MEMBERSHIP has seen an increase of 1.8% per annum during this four-year period under review. (We also note that over the past ten years, the annual growth on average has been 2.38%.) Keeping in mind the population growth for Victoria over the same period has been almost 2%, while our Church has continued to grow, our current growth rate represents an ongoing challenge to the Great Commission we have been given.
We note with sadness those who have fallen asleep in Jesus and we note the losses of those who have had their membership removed at this time. Please pray that God’s Holy Spirit will continue to work upon their hearts that they might come back into fellowship.
VICTORIAN CONFERENCE EMPLOYEES are spread over three companies, Victorian Conference Ltd, Adventist Schools Victoria and AdventCare, and total 1,156 people. Of our Victorian Conference Ltd staff, the majority are field staff (ministers, bible workers, youth pastoral workers and lay pastoral workers), and at the conclusion of 2020, we had 64 full time positions and 42 part time. There are just over 30 full and part time administrative office staff. The four years under review saw an increase in staff of 11%, due to the growth of the Conference.
The Youth Pastoral Worker (YPW) Program continues to provide local church training and mentoring opportunities for young people to experience ministry employment in their local church. Local church YPW employment opportunities are reviewed annually, with the Conference and local church typically agreeing to a twelve-month funding partnership for approved YPW positions. This program also includes Lay Pastoral Workers and Bible Workers who provide pastoral support at the local church level.
Answerable to the Conference Secretary in meeting the needs of our workforce, government regulation and compliance, the Conference company also employs a HR manager, who manages the ministerial and departmental workforce, and a HR advisor who provides expertise in the management of office support staff, the ABC and Howqua staff.
To be compliance in Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) matters, an OH&S officer was employed at the beginning of 2017, the role being shared on a part time basis with Adventist Schools Victoria and the AUC. The officer has been instrumental in the adoption and implementation of numerous OH&S policies and procedures for the Conference Office and local churches. His expertise through the challenges brought about by COVID19 have been greatly valued by all.
The chart below (left) shows total employees across the Victorian Conference’s three Companies as of the close of 2020.
At the commencement of the four year term under review, AdSAFE began functioning as the service for protecting children and vulnerable adults in Adventist organisations across the South Pacific Division. AdSAFE’s role is to develop and implement prevention strategies to mitigate the risk of sexual and physical abuse against children and vulnerable persons, and to assist Adventist organisations respond to alleged incidences of sexual and physical abuse against children and vulnerable persons. This includes the coordination of training for all Seventh-day Adventist Church denominational employees and Church appointed volunteers who interact with children and vulnerable persons; providing psychological support and legal justice or restorative justice pathways for survivors of abuse and their families; coordinating independent investigations into allegations received; and managing persons of concern and known offenders.
In 2020 AdSAFE released two new safeguarding documents which were adopted by the Victorian Conference and recommended for adoption to all local churches and companies: the Child and Vulnerable Person Protection Policy (replacing Safe Place Service’s Creating a Safe Place Policy) and Role Requirement Guidelines.
And prior to the close of 2020, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Australia and her various entities were formally declared by the Australian Government Minister as participants in the National Redress Scheme.
Pr Craig Gillis
Conference Secretary