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National Executive & Reference Board Profiless
Rev Dr Ian Breward
Ian has been Archivist for the Synod of Victoria since 2000. Prior to that he was Professor of Church History at the Theological Hall, Ormond College, University of Melbourne from 1982-1999. He served on The Assembly Commission for Doctrine till it moved from Melbourne and still is on the Assembly Committee for reception of ministers from other churches. Currently he is on The Board of WVA and is a member of the Pt Melbourne Congregation.
Rev Dr Max Champion
Ordained in 1975 I have been a parish minister in city and rural parishes in Victoria and overseas for over 25 years. At present I am a minister at St John's, Mt Waverley. I am 56 and married with 4 children.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to provide leadership in a number of areas, particularly with groups that are committed to robust encounter of the Gospel with modern society. These include:
Chair and member of Board of Communication, Synod of Victoria, (4 years) responsible for the church paper (Church and Nation) and radio and TV ministry.
Chair of Doctrine and Liturgy Committee, Synod of Victoria (7 years).
Chair of Forum on Faith and Society (15 years) which held quarterly seminars on theology and public issues, which published 15 Forum Booklets and The Auburn Report, to which I was a regular contributor on a wide range of topics.
Chair of The Galatians Group (5 years), an ecumenical group which published the proceedings of annual conferences on aboriginal reconciliation, social justice, multiculturalism, education, values and the arts.
Editor of and contributor to Forward Together: On What Basis? Essays on the Basis of Union (Forum Booklets No. 6, 1994), including articles by Rev Drs Davis McCaughey, Norman Young, George Yule and Gordon Watson.
Editor of and contributor to The Unity of Worship and Mission in a Pluralistic Society (Committee on Doctrine & Liturgy, 1991).
Synod elected representative to the 1994 Assembly of the UCA.
Member of the Commission of Mission, Synod of Victoria (3 years).
Director of the Armadale Centre for Church and Society (3 years).
Member of Wesley College Council, Melbourne (7 years).
Member of Queen's College Council, University of Melbourne (3 years).
President of the International Student Association, Princeton Theological Seminary (2 years).
I studied in W.A., Victoria and USA. In 1988 I completed a doctorate in theology from Princeton Theological Seminary.
My thesis was on Dietrich Bonhoeffer, German Lutheran theologian and a staunch critic of Nazism. He was a key figure in the Confessing Church which opposed the Church's acceptance of National Socialism as being compatible with the will of God. He supported the Barmen Declaration (1934) which confessed the sole lordship of Christ over against Hitler. He was active in ecumenical circles in Britain, Europe and USA. He was hanged in a Gestapo prison in 1945 for his part in a conspiracy to kill Hitler.
I have been greatly challenged and encouraged by Bonhoeffer's courage and thought-provoking theology. In Letters and Papers from Prison he described Jesus Christ as the 'Man for others' who embodies the suffering love of God for self-willed people. In The Cost of Discipleship he spoke of God's 'costly grace' in Christ and criticised the 'cheap grace' which he saw in the Church. In Ethics he criticised 'thinking in two spheres' - private and public, spiritual and material - on the ground that Christ is the reality of the world. True faith, he said, doesn't look for 'God in the gaps' in our knowledge or at the edges of life, but in the midst of the world. Thus, the faith of the Church is not an escape from life - as many critics said - but a calling to practice a 'non-religious' faith at the centre of life.
Today, the Church is also faced with a cultural crisis which demands deep thought and bold action. The present crisis is not only about homosexuality. It is about a Church that cannot or will not challenge the 'culture of death' that permeates modern Western societies, including Australia. Too often, we haven't resisted frequent attacks on the human dignity for which we have been created and redeemed in Christ. In many places, the Church has meekly succumbed to strident criticisms of Christianity and, in order not to cause offence, has settled for the kind of tolerance and decency that is so widely applauded. Generally accepted values - such as compassion, diversity and inclusiveness - have largely replaced the distinctive marks of the Christian life - such as forgiveness, unity and discipleship 'in Christ.'
The attached sermon should give you a good idea of how I see the crucial issues facing the Reforming Alliance as it responds to 'Proposal 84.' We should insist that the UCA continues to uphold the clear biblical and theological word on the unique relation between male and female. That will involve us in some plain talking - on matters of substance, as well as of process.
We must always keep in mind, however, that our goal is that the UCA shall remain part of the 'one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church' and continue to be a faithful witness to God's transforming grace in the lives of folk, like you and me, who are easily attracted to ideas, values and relationships that are destructive of the high purpose for which we have been created and reconciled.
The Executive Committee met Monday 23rd February. Soon, you will receive material that should help you to participate in the process that has been authorised by Assembly Standing Committee, particularly in relation to decisions that must be made by congregations before 30 April.
Rev Stephen Estherby BTh
Steve was converted to Christianity in 1983 whilst a serving member of the defence forces. After completing his military service he trained for the ministry. Steve has pastored numerous congregations in NSW. He is currently the Pastor of the Northern Illawarra Congregation.
Steve has served for 12 years as a member of the Evangelism and Renewal Committee of the NSW Synod Board of Mission. He became heavily involved in promoting the Alpha course in NSW Synod congregations. He has a passion for mission, mission planning and preaching evangelism.
In the past, he has been a member of the NSW Council of Synod, JPSAC and ACCOMP, he is currently a member of the PRC of the Illawarra Presbytery.
Steve has been a member of EMU NSW executive since it was established, and was appointed EMU National Spokesperson in September 2005. He has actively and vocally lobbied and worked for reform in the Uniting Church.
He is married to Lyndal with three sons.
Dr Rosalie Hudson:
Registered Nurse, Bachelor of Applied Science (advanced nursing), Bachelor of Theology, Master of Theology, Graduate Diploma of Gerontological Nursing, Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Health Sciences Latrobe University Melbourne), Honorary Principal Fellow, School of Nursing, University of Melbourne, Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, Australia, Fellow of the Australian Association of Gerontology
Rosalie is an Aged Care and Palliative Care Consultant engaged in teaching and other nursing projects. She has presented papers nationally and internationally, and has published books and articles in nursing and theological texts. Rosalie is a member of the Bioethics Committee, UCA Synod of Victoria and chairperson of the Australian Theological Forum. Rosalie is a member of the Uniting Church, Hotham Parish North Melbourne, and enjoys family life with her husband John, their adult children and grandchildren.
Rev Rod James
Rod is a Minister of the Word, who after 25 year of parish ministry now conducts an itinerant ministry of preaching, teaching and resourcing. He also functions as a roving field worker for the Reforming Alliance. He is based in Adelaide and his ministry takes him throughout Australia.
Rev Ivan Kirk
Ivan has been in settlement as minister at Coolum Beach, Queensland since 2000 and previously in Biloela, Qld 1997 to 1999. He is bold to speak the gospel to our confused and divided Uniting Church.
Rev. Dr. Gordon Moyes A.C., M.L.C., B.A., D.D., LLD., Litt.D., F.R.G.S., F.A.I.M., F.A.I.C.D. M.A.C.E.
Gordon is a Member of the Legislative Council in New South Wales. Recipient of Commonwealth Government's Centenary Medal (2003).
Married to Beverley since 1959. They have four children. Beverley as a volunteer charity fund-raising committee President raised more than $3.25 million. She is also a member of the Order of Australia, was chosen by the Bicentennial Authority as one of Australia's ten outstanding women and by The City of Sydney as "Citizen of the Year".
Gordon is a Minister of the Uniting Church. He was Chairperson of the Sydney Presbytery, Uniting Church in Australia in 2002.
Superintendent of Wesley Mission 1979 2005, Gordon has preached in almost every city and large public building in Australia and in 20 countries. Lectured in universities, colleges and seminaries throughout the world. Lectured in business management to 200 of Australia's top companies and in five overseas countries. Authored more than 55 books and booklets, winning four national book awards. Scripted forty-six documentary films made in five countries and sold internationally. Hosted more than two thousand TV programs including the weekly "Turn Round Australia", and hosted the 4-hour radio talk-back program "Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes". Chairman and Director of a number of companies in film production, commercial radio, general insurance and life assurance, publishing, public and life assurance, public and private hospitals.
Mr Ifalemi Naitoko
Occupation - Teacher with the Victorian Department of Education (28 years) Married to Rosemary with 2 adult children
'Ifalemi came to Australia from Tonga in 1970. His involvement in the Uniting Church has included:
Member of the Victorian Synod Ethnic and Immigration Committee (in the early days of the UC).
Member of Presbytery of Maroondah representing Nunawading UC, 1985-1987.
Member of Presbytery of Bourke (late 80's to 2000's) - representing firstly Hyde Park and later Canterbury UC's
Chairperson of Parish Council, Nunawading UC , 1985-1986
Treasurer Canterbury UC, 1992 -2003
Chairperson of Church Council, Canterbury UC, 2002-2003.
Lay preacher
Elder
Prior to 1987 when the Tongan Christian Fellowship joined the Hyde Park Parish 'Ifalemi was the President of the Tongan Christian Fellowship (the original Tongan fellowship in Melbourne) for many years.
After the Assembly in July 2003 'Ifalemi and Rosemary resigned from all responsible positions at Canterbury, although still retaining their membership there at this time. Since July 2003 they have been attending worship at a number of different churches, most frequently at North Ringwood Uniting Church.
Throughout his involvement with the UCA and particularly at Hyde Park and Canterbury 'Ifalemi's main focus has been to assist Tongans in Melbourne to become fully and actively involved in the life of the church such that they can work and worship side-by side with other Australians.
'Ifalemi is delighted to support the work of the Reforming Alliance which he sees as providing much needed spiritual leadership to the members of UCA at this critical time. He believes that honouring real Christian diversity must be based on firm biblical principles.
Mrs Thelma Pendlebury (NSW)
Thelma is a member of Bexley Uniting Church, itself a member of the Reforming Alliance. She is presently treasurer of the Reforming Alliance.
Rev. Dr. Gordon Watson BA, BD, MTh, PhD (Edinburgh).
Currently Retired from Head Systematic Theology: Trinity College Synod of Queensland Uniting Church. 2001 His is married to Joan a Nurse ( 'Bethesda' UCA. Alzheimer's Disease Hostel. Retired 2001.
History of placements include:
Smithton (Tasmania) 1963-1965 (Methodist Church Victoria & Tasmania Conference). Kaniva (Victoria) 1966-1968 (Methodist Church Victoria & Tasmania Conference)
Edinburgh 1969-1971 (University of Edinburgh & Parish Assistant Longridge/Crofthead, West Lothian, Bathgate Presbytery, Church of Scotland.), Wesley College, University of Sydney, vice-Master 1972.
Warrnambool (Victoria) 1973-1978 (Methodist Church Victoria & Tasmania Conference & Uniting Church), Wattle Park (Melbourne) 1979-1988 & Presbytery of Bourke Presbytery Minister 1989-1993
Trinity College (Uniting Church Synod Brisbane) 1994-2000 Head: Systematic Theology
Gordon has a PhD in theology, University of Edinburgh, has published many significant books and papers. He has a vast experience of the wider church, chairing several Presbyteries, and Synod and Assembly commissions.
Was Chaplain to President of Uniting Church in Australia, Professor James Haire, 2000-2003.
Dr Barry Webb
Barry is head of the Old Testament Department at Moore Theological College, Sydney, and assistant editor of the Reformed Theological Review.
He is married to Alison and has three daughters. His Ph.D. thesis, published in 1987, is on the book of Judges. His published works since then include commentaries on Isaiah and Zechariah. As well as his College work, Barry is involved in ministry at Newtown Mission (Uniting Church), and in preaching and Bible teaching throughout Australia and overseas.