AIM |
WHAT IT MEANS |
A. To consider all matters referred to it by the General Assembly and to take appropriate action; |
The Church and Nation Committee is the body which acts, within the terms of reference set for it, for the NSW General Assembly from the moment that the latter adjourns for the year.
It puts the Assembly’s decisions into effect. This can range from communicating that body’s resolutions to congregations, community or governments to investigating particular matters and reporting to a later Assembly.
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B. To report regularly to the Assembly on matters of public interest and Christian concern in respect to the welfare of the Church, community or state. |
The Committee is obliged to report to the General Assembly annually. Its reports can cover the general activities of the Committee, or they can include reports on specific issues which may have originated from previous Assemblies or which may have arisen in the intervening period.
The reports are followed by recommendations, called deliverances.
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C. To foster research into matters of public interest as bear upon the mission and message of the Church, and to disseminate the results of such research as widely as possible. |
The Committee is empowered to investigate matters of current interest and concern.
Unless the Assembly has on a past occasion made a pronouncement on the matter, the Committee cannot declare anything to be ‘the Church’s opinion’ or ’the opinion of Presbyterians‘. However it can assemble and distribute information in an even-handed manner that is intended to keep church members informed and to promote discussion.
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D. To make submissions on social and moral issues to appropriate authorities when Executive considers such action to be urgently necessary; and |
The Church and Nation Committee is empowered to prepare submissions that may assist governments, political parties and parliamentary committees to make laws that benefit the community. These submissions are understood to be the views of the Committee and not the Church or its individual members.
Where the Scriptures are clear and unambiguous the Committee can make authoritative statements, but these need the endorsement by subsequent Assemblies.
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E. To advise and assist the Moderator in composing and issuing pastoral letters and public statements other than those authorised by the Assembly. |
The public ‘voice’ of the Assembly is the Moderator, who acts simply as the Chair and spokesperson of the Assembly. He has no other powers or authority in his own right. The Moderator is not the ‘head’ of the Church. Jesus Christ is the only Head of the Church.
On the rare occasions when the Moderator is called upon to speak on public issues for the Presbyterian Church, the Church and Nation Committee advises him.
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