Executive Summary.
The
Historical Society serves the Synod by conducting Lectures of subject
matter
significant for the History record of the Church. These Lectures are
published
and copies are available for purchase. An annual well planned Walk is
conducted
of historic church sites which introduces participants to aspects of
The
Society through its Council administers the Uniting Church History
Centre
located at 44a East Avenue Black Forest. The Centre houses valuable
records and
memorabilia and provides information for history inquiries of the three
churches,
Congregational, Methodist, and Presbyterian, also
assist the Synod in fulfilling its
responsibilities to administer archival and historic records.
preserve
provide lectures, publications and displays
covering the history of the
assist in the planning of anniversaries of
significant historical events.
maintain and administer property held by the
Society for the purposes of a Uniting Church History Centre.
“So
different so quickly: The impact of Church Union on the Ministry” was
presented
by Dr Andrew Dutney. In the lecture Andrew examined understandings of
‘Call’ to
the Ministry and ‘appointment’ held by the Reformed Traditions of the
church
and the changes to those Traditions made by the
“A
Twenty-Year Labour of Love: The story of Free Presbyterian
Property Negotiations, 1986-2006” was title for Rev’d Keith Smith’s
Lecture in
which he traced the historic stages and explained the attendant
difficulties of
the negotiations over Free Presbyterian property.
Both
these Lectures are a significant contribution to the SA Church History
Record.
Copies are available for $2 from the History Centre.
Volunteers
continue with the sorting and recording of documents on Wednesday
afternoons when
the Centre is open for visitors. Church groups make bookings to visit
the
Centre and receive a presentation introducing them to ways of
researching and
writing local church history. The presentation gives a special focus to
the
‘Faith History’ of a local church. Tea and coffee refreshments are
enjoyed
after the presentation when information is given on the History Centre.
Rev’d
Potter receives invitations to church groups to speak about the work of
researching and writing church history.
Most inquiries for information are received by phone. This
service is
maintained by the phone being diverted to the Secretary’s home phone
number and
has made possible the providing of information for 121 inquiries from
August
2005 until August 2006. Added to this are the e-mails and letters.
The
History Centre Web page gives information on the work of the Society
and lists
the Publications available from the Centre. Web page address: http://historicalsociety.unitingchurch.org.au/
Displays
of historic documents and memorabilia were sought from three Churches:
Scots
(early SA Presbyterian), Clayton-Wesley (early SA Congregational), and
Dunn
Memorial, Mt Barker (early SA country Methodism). Added to these were
displays
from the History Centre collection. Some sixty or more people visited
the
Centre and appreciation was received for the historical information
received
from the display.
Forward Thinking and
Planning.
History
Workshop to be planned. This will be designed to provide congregations
with
ways to conduct research of their records, to write from the research
in ways
that present the history.
Charles
Wesley Tri Centenary of Birth Celebration December 2007. Professor
Breward is
making suggestions to the Synods or the Celebration. The Council of the
Society
has agreed to plan with Professor Breward a program suitable for the
Celebration.
Open
Day during History Week May 2007.
With
the assistance of the Presbytery/Synod to seek new ways to increase the
membership of the Society.
Proposal.
To
continue seeking ways through the Presbytery/Synod network for the work
of the
Society and the History Centre and the services offered to become
better known
to congregations.
Perpetual
membership for
Congregations $220.
Mrs
Val Canty, President.