VISITATION REPORT-DRUMMOYNE

It was resolved that Presbytery

a. Receive the report of Rev CS Tang on the visitation to Drummoyne Presbyterian Church

2. commend the Session and ministers in the Drummoyne Charge for their visionary and energetic ministry, by which in the kindness of God, in the last decade three congregations have been strengthened (9:00am) or established and grown (10:30am and 6:00pm).
3. commend the Rev Craig Tucker and his wife Cathy, for their sacrificial ministry within the charge, and encourages them to press on with the vital work God has placed before them as they continue to pursue the God given vision for strengthening existing congregations and establishing new ones.
4. commend each of the members of Session for their dedicated and gifted ministry in leading the Drummoyne congregations, and encourages them to continue to maintain excellent relationships with the various levels of leadership within the charge, and to provide support to one another, and to each member of the congregation in the faithful use of their God given gifts.
5. commend the Session in its plan to establish new congregations beyond Drummoyne, as God gives opportunity to do so.
6. commend the committee of management and its office bearers, for their dedicated and gifted service to the Drummoyne charge, encouraging them to continue to support the leaders of their church in practical ministries, and in particular as action continues to be taken to strengthen existing congregations and plant new ones, noting in particular the service of the recently retired Treasurer who served in this challenging ministry for approximately five years.
7. encourage Session to:
   
   1. give priority to the employment of an Administrator, as this would enable the inducted minister to serve even more effectively.
   2. continue its plans to recruit more ministers to continue with Session in pursuing its exciting vision to 'Connect, Grow, Serve';
   3. consider the possibility of regular sabbatical years (one year of leave after every six years of service) as an option for Session members;
   4. continue to maintain excellent communications with the Committee of Management, so that the Committee continues to have a clear understanding of the Session's vision.
   5. encourage the inducted minister to regularly take his holidays and long service leave;
   6. ensure the record of baptisms are duly attested by the minister officiating as soon as possible after the baptism takes place; that session minutes are initialled on each page; and that the communicants' and adherents' rolls, kept in electronic form, are regularly 'backed up' offsite (e.g. by emailing to one or two selected elders);
   7. continue to send older records, such as minute books, to the state archivist of the Presbyterian Church in NSW, from time to time as these are no longer needed for the Session's operations.
8. encourage the Committee of Management to:
   
   1. ensure the Committee's minutes are initialled on each page; and that the financial accounts, kept in electronic form, are regularly 'backed up' offsite (e.g. by emailing to one or two selected managers);
   2. continue its attention to the proposed maintenance schedule for all buildings.
9. Encourage the Committee of Management to give priority to internal painting of the Manse in its management of the property.
   Encourage the Committee of Management to continue considering options for  re-furnishing the present office space to improve its functionality, by e.g. providing cupboard space, shelving, a meeting table and chairs and painting the walls.  
   Bill
10. Encourage the 9 am congregation to prayerfully consider changes they might have to make in order to accommodate families.
11. Encourage members of the 6 pm congregation to step up in ministry responsibility with the movement of key people out of DPC, and prayerfully consider how they could be more effective in gospel growth.
12. commend the Drummoyne congregation for its sacrificial support for growing gospel ministry, within and beyond the Drummoyne charge, (including its support for the work of the Presbytery and the Assembly and through the generous support of candidates for the ministry.)

m. Thank and discharge the committee

n. Request the parish report back to presbytery in 12 months on the actions taken regarding the above recommendations.