Parishes
“Reaching Out in Loving Service”.
The Diocese of Perth and Anglicare WA have developed this program to strengthen the Diocesan Mission Plan strategy “Reaching Out in Loving Service”. It is a three year program designed to develop partnerships between our Churches and Anglicare , as well as other Anglican community organisations.
This continues Anglicare's commitment to be part of the Western Australian Anglican community and to carrying out the mission of the Church. Anglicare is committed to reaching out in loving service to those in need in our community.
There are many projects in place where parishes and schools work in conjunction with Anglicare . These relationships have strengthened our ability to reach out to a growing number of children, young people and families all over our state.
Some examples of these joint ministries and possibilities for partnerships are:
- Co-Location
- Programs
- Hosting
- Support
These are described in detail below.
If you would like to know more about Parish Partnerships, or to discuss some of your own ideas, please contact:
The Rev'd Mark McCracken
Parish Partnerships Co-ordinator for the Diocese of Perth and Anglicare WA
Phone: (08) 9263 2124 or 0403 368 248
Email: mark.mccracken@anglicarewa.org.au
Co-Location
One emerging aspect in the developing cooperation and ministry between Anglicare and Anglican Churches has been the placement of a number of Anglicare WA services alongside local Church congregations. This has included a range of options: from the loan or rental of Church office and meeting spaces, to the permanent establishment of an Anglicare WA service at a Church, and even to the extent of redeveloping Church buildings as shared facility for Agency and Church use. Here are only some examples:
St Nicholas' Centre, Rockingham
The St Nicholas Centre is an exciting project, developed cooperatively between the parish of Rockingham, Safety Bay , Anglicare and a number of community organisations. It includes an Op Shop run by the parish, Emergency Relief as a partnership between Anglicare and the Church, along with a Financial Counselling service offered by Anglicare . These facilities are also made available to a number of community groups.
Good Shepherd Centre, Balga
Until recently The Church of the Good Shepherd ministered as the Anglican parish in Balga/Girrawheen . After amalgamation with a neighbouring parish, the centre has taken on a new life as a vibrant community centre – offering a meeting place for many local groups and developing some care programs offered by the parish. In its next stage of development, the Good Shepherd Centre will be completely refurbished and become a shared Anglicare /Church community centre.
St John's , Albany
This Church centre has offered the community support over some time. In their partnership with Anglicare the parish have now developed a much larger scope to their work. The St John's Centre has had major refurbishment and now offers Anglicare and Church community services to the people of Albany .
Hilton and Victoria Park
St Edward's Hilton is now a joint parish and Anglicare centre. One half of the building is set aside for worship and Church community activities. The other half of the building has been converted into office space for important Anglicare services. Victoria Park has refurbished its hall and now hosts Anglicare's large youth services section on site.
Programs
Emergency Relief Partnerships
In many Churches around the state, Anglicare supports emergency relief activities with training, volunteer support and funding assistance.
Some of the Churches active in their communities in this way are:
- All Saints Belmont
- All Saints Kwinana
- The Church of the Ascension Midland
- Collie Anglican Church
- Denmark Anglican Church
- St George's Dunsborough
- St John's Albany
- St Mary's Busselton
- St Nicholas' Rockingham, and
- St George's Cathedral.
Education
Anglicare WA offers a huge range of education and professional development services. Some Churches and the Diocese have tapped into this resource in order to offer training and seminars to their volunteers, staff, students and the wider community.
Hosting
A number of Anglican Churches have made their facilities and other resources available to Anglicare as needed.
Christmas Hampers
Anglicare is committed to making its services as accessible as possible to people in need. One development in 2008 was to distribute Christmas hampers through local Churches. This makes access easier and provides a more relaxed environment.
In 2009 Christmas Hampers will be distributed from Good Shepherd Centre, Balga , the Church of the Ascension, Midland , and St David's, Applecross .
Holiday Programs
There are a number of Anglicare programs designed to care for children. SCAPS is designed to assist children who are dealing with issues around the separation of their parents. They are running holiday programs for groups of these children. The parish of Mt Lawley is hosting this program free of charge.
Support
Anglican Churches are very good at supporting those in need through their donations and mission giving. Below are some of the more systematic ways this support is offered.
Food Support
The contribution that parishes make to Anglicare's emergency relief services is essential to its proper functioning. Frequent donations are received from Anglican Churches across the State. Without these offerings Anglicare could not offer the level of help it does to people in crisis.
Op Shop Clothing bins
In the light of the Mission Plan our Churches have been encouraged to make every attempt to support Anglican services and organisations, whether they be mission orientated, educational or those which reach out in loving service. One very visible way our churches and schools can offer support like this to Anglicare is through the placement of an Anglicare Op Shop clothing bin at the parish centre. Around 45 Anglican churches and schools support Anglicare in this way.
Mission Giving
Many parishes place Anglicare one of the organisations on their mission giving list. This regular budgeted offering is very helpful to Anglicare as it plans it's work in the community.
Some Opportunities for Partnership
- Community Development projects and activities
- Hosting Anglicare services
- Shared Facilities and activities
- Specific Projects: such as Christmas hampers, Christmas Appeal, Knit-In
- Host Counselling / Relationship Education
- Volunteers
- Host some education seminars of interest to your community
- Emergency Relief
- A Deanery food collection depot
- An op shop partnership
- Donate money, goods, and practical support
- Offer a home to a teenager.
- Offer some Mentors.
- Provide work experience
- Offer Positive Parenting workshops
- Hold Teen Forums, and
- An Op Shop clothing bin.
What can you imagine?
The partnerships program is willing to explore any options with your Church or school. There are many resources in our caring agency which can support you as you reach out in loving service.
Parish Partnerships Contact
Phone: 9263 2124 or 0403 368 248
Email: mark.mccracken@anglicarewa.org.au