Imprint June 2017

Conference News
From the General Secretary
As you read this edition of Imprint, consider that
2017 is …. insert the appropriate word or words
that describes this moment in 2017 for you. For me,
its half over. How have the first six months passed by
so quickly? Has the time been used wisely? Have we
achieved what we set out to do? I recognise that time
ticks by at the same rate each day, however the busyness
of schedules, priorities, commitments and balancing
work – life, seem to make the days & weeks pass
rapidly.
Visiting the regional areas during the first quarter of
this year, following our visits in the last part of 2016,
provided opportunity to worship and fellowship with
our members and determine the top priorities for our
conference vision. The priorities that have been determined
by our church members are Community Involvement,
Training, Mentoring Young Leaders, Small
Groups and Evangelism with Prayer as the overarching
theme. These priorities will form part of our upcoming
Constituency meeting later this year.
Yes 2017 will be the 85th Constituency meeting for
the Seventh-day Adventist Church in South New South
Wales. Delegates, nominated by their local church, have
accepted the responsibility to represent their church at
the constituency meeting, which will be held on Sunday
17th September in Canberra. I would ask you to keep
this meeting in your prayers, that God will continue to
bless His conference so that we all can continue to “Be
and grow flourishing followers of Jesus”.
As you reflect on the ‘fill in the blank’ at the beginning of
this article, I’m reminded of the text, “Be still and know
that I am God”. Psalms 46:10 NLT. As we continue working
for Him, let’s not get distracted by the busyness of
life that we forget the mission God set for us. Take time
to be still with Him daily, seeking His guidance and wisdom
for our lives.
- Calvin Drinkall
General Secretary
Safe Churches
Recently I had the opportunity to attend the Safe as
Churches 8 conference. This conference is organised
by the National Council of Churches in Australia
(NCCA). The aim of NCCA is focused on helping local
church leaders and congregation leaders to fulfil their
pastoral, legal (i.e. duty of care, child protection, due
diligence), insurance, risk management, denominational
and ethical roles which includes responsibility for
the spiritual, emotional and physical safety of all people
within their ministry.
This year the conference had an update by The Hon.
Justice Peter McClellan AM, Chair of the Royal Commission
into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
In his address, Justice McClellan shared some facts, including,
Fifty seven Public Hearings have been conducted by
the Royal Commission. Public Hearings concluded in
March 2017. Six thousand seven hundred private sessions
have been held with survivors of child sexual
abuse 6305 have been analysed 59% of those sessions
that have been analysed, have occurred in Faith based
organisations.
The question that the Royal Commission is asking once
it was revealed that the ‘majority of offences’ have occurred
in faith based organisations is, Why? 0.4% of reported
cases to the Royal Commission have occurred in
the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Yes, you read correctly, 0.4% of the responses made to
the Royal Commission have occurred within our church.
That’s sad. Our responsibility is to ensure survivors and
their family are cared for properly, and that we do all we
can to keep our churches and institutions safe.
If you’re reading this and need advice or want to report
a sexual abuse matter, contact AdSafe on 02 9847 3499.
AdSafe have also advised they will be reviewing the
training modules, and once completed I will notify you
of ‘Face to Face’ training opportunities for our conference.
- Calvin Drinkall
General Secretary