Asension Anglican Church - Parish Profile

Attributes we Seek in an Incoming Rector

Based on a Ministry Unit meeting with Bishop Keith Joseph in September 2020

A sense of call to our Ministry Unit.
A person of prayer.
A Priest who is prepared to support and encourage the establishment of programs designed to develop the Parish.
A Priest who will explore ways to develop new ministries for youth and families in the community including services for families.
A Priest who strongly believes in the importance of pastoral care ministry and encourages and supports lay ministry and pastoral care within the Ministry Unit.
A Priest who is prepared to engage with the Ministry Unit family and with the wider church and community, in particular James Cook University and the Defence Forces.
A Priest who is prepared to support and encourage the established development programs.
A Priest who will encourage evangelical/charismatic services whilst maintaining a traditional service for older members.
A team player with a sense of humour.

History

The Reverend John Hoog recalls;

"In March 1962 the Parochial District of King Alfred was formed from the Saint Matthews Parish Mundingburra, with Fr AJ Bell as Priest in Charge. This was previously part of Saint Matthew’s Parish. All Saints, Aitkenvale was also formed from Saint Matthews.

Right from the district’s inception, difficulty was experienced in maintaining services in two centres and plans were afoot as early as December 1962 for the acquisition of suitable land to centralise these activities. The lack of parish finances continually thwarted these early efforts.

In December 1964, the parochial council set, as its first priority, the employment of a second priest to enable the pastoral ministry to be effectively carried out. A lay assistant, Clive Watson, was appointed in March 1965. The first assistant priest joined the parish in March 1966.

On 31 August 1966, the parochial district was elevated to parish status with Fr Bell being inducted as the first rector. Plans were in hand for the acquisition of two acres of land off Nathan Street, and committees were formed for the forward planning for occupying the site. In 1967, the parish had its first vocation to the Sacred Ministry when Mr D Barter entered St Francis’ Theological College, Brisbane.

During 1968 and 1969, a great deal of attention was given to ways and means of establishing suitable facilities at the present site. This was eventually brought about by the sale of existing assets with the building of a new rectory and the shifting and enlarging of the former All Saints’ Church. High hopes were held for a new church building, but this was not to be."

THE ASCENSION, HEATLEY

The Parish of Ascension Heatley was formed in 1969 through an amalgamation of the congregations from King Alfred Gulliver, and All Saints Aitkenvale. The first combined service at Heatley was conducted on Sunday 24 October 1969, with Bishop Ian Shevill as the celebrant.

Further Fr Hoog recalls;

"A Parish Centre was built in 1972 to replace a covered area which had been demolished by Cyclone Althea. The provision of such a building was necessary for the education work of the parish and as a meeting place for the various organisations.

In November 1973, Fr Bell resigned as rector, having been connected with the Parish for 12 ½ years. He was replaced by Fr John Hoog.

A long-awaited dream became a reality in July 1978, with the dedication of the new, modern ministry centre on the site by the Bishop of North Queensland, the Right Reverend John Lewis SSM. The new complex was the culmination of several years’ planning and hard work by a wide range of parishioners and was completed at a cost of approximately $85,000. The new church can accommodate 300 people, while additional facilities exist for administration, pastoral care, outreach, youth work and training. The church has been designed for our climate, with an overall feeling of coolness and airiness throughout."

The Parish continued to flourish for many years as the population in the area rose with young families taking up residency. Well attended church services, Sunday School and youth groups, Bible study and fellowship groups generated a vibrant church.

However, over recent years the population of the area has changed as has society’s lack of beliefs and interest in worshipping God. We now find we have an aging attendance at services and the call for the revitalisation of Christianity in our community is urgent.

In 2019, the district experienced extreme rainfall and flooding. Although parts of Townsville experienced major flooding, the western suburbs did not. However, because of the prolonged rainfall, all areas experienced serious and dangerous mould damage. Consequently, many of the churches in the North Queensland Diocese (including The Ascension) needed major reconstruction to eliminate this and repair the damage.

Refurbished church interior, 2019.

Our insurance cover enabled our repairs to proceed. This took almost six months to complete. During this period, services and activities were held in the church hall and in July 2019, the Ascension family were pleased to joyously celebrate Holy Communion in a greatly improved and welcoming church. For the remainder of 2019, we gave thanks for God’s generosity in the wonderful and improved restoration of our worship space.

In 2020, with the COVID-19 restrictions (unable to gather for services), by God’s grace and the expertise of our former Rector, our Ministry Unit continues to live stream services for all who are in isolation. We praise God for his care and blessings.

Demographics

The Ministry Unit of The Ascension is in the centre of an expanding residential area, approximately 10km west of the CBD. It is located in the suburb of Heatley with a catchment area including the suburbs of Vincent, Currajong, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Kirwan and Upper Ross. New suburbs developed towards Hervey Range and Bohle Plains are also a potential catchment of the Ministry Unit.

Included in the Ministry Unit boundaries are James Cook University and Townsville University Hospital. Townsville also has the Lavarack Army Barracks and the RAAF Base at Garbutt. Many military personnel and their families reside in these suburbs, with over 5% of the population being employed by Defence compared with 0.8% for the rest of the country. In addition, Townsville is a major service centre for the mining industry in the hinterland with many fly in/fly out and drive in/drive out personnel and their families in town.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics figures, details of the distribution of religious groups from the last census, within the greater Townsville region (population 229,000) in 2016, 68% of the population was at least nominally Christian, with 15.6% Anglican. There was thus about 35,000 nominal Anglicans of which maybe 1,000 attend church regularly. There are about 30,000 Anglicans which the Diocese does not regularly reach.

There are about 12,000 local businesses and 100,000 people employed with 78,000 workers living in the area. 64% of these are aged 25 to 54 years.

Congregation/Worship

Mission Statement – To offer ourselves as living sacrifices to live and work to the praise and glory of God in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Five Marks of Mission:-

To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom.
To reach, baptise and nurture new believers.
To respond to human need in loving service.
To transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

Sunday Services

Heatley (Church of the Ascension)

7.00 am – Holy Communion (every Sunday)

9.00 am – Holy Communion (every Sunday)

There is opportunity after each service for fellowship whilst enjoying light refreshments.

Normally during school terms at the 9.00 am service, an interactive program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, is provided in the Atrium for children aged 3 to 6 years. This is a Christian formation process for children in which they experience and form an authentic, faithful relationship with God. A Sunday school program is provided for children aged 6 to 12 years.

Rasmussen (Upper Ross Congregation)

10.30 am – Morning tea

11.00 am – Holy Communion

Due to COVID-19, the Upper Ross services are not currently taking place. Members are joining with the 8.00 am service at Heatley.

Other Weekday Services in the Ministry Unit

Monday 9.30 am Holy Communion at Regis Aged Care, Kirwan.

Wednesday 10.30am - Holy Communion at St Vincent Care (2nd Wednesday of the month)

Thursday 9.30 am Holy Communion at St James Village, Heatley.

Thursday 11.00 am Holy Communion at Parklands Aged Care, Kirwan.

These services are conducted by lay members of the Ascension with reserved sacrament.

Ministry Unit Council

Council members are responsible for various ministry activities within the Ministry Unit under the direction of the Rector and Church Wardens. The number of Ministry Unit councillors is decided at the Annual General Meeting and the required number, having been nominated prior to the AGM, are then elected.

Wardens One Rector’s Warden

One People’s Warden

Administration Team Rector and the two wardens who meet regularly prior to the Council meeting and when the need arises.

Councillors A number divisible by three which is decided upon at the AGM.

Office Personnel Volunteers

At present the Ministry Unit Council meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 7.15 pm in the Heatley Centre.

Staffing

Full time, paid Ministry Unit Priest

The Ministry Unit also has two (non-stipendiary) retired priests who are available to assist when required. Defence Force Chaplains are also available to be called upon to assist if needed.

Volunteers

Lay Assistants Intercessors PowerPoint operators

Readers Sacristans Morning Tea providers

Musicians Welcomers Flower arrangers

Roster secretary Pew Bulletin secretary Sides persons

Sunday School / Catechism of the Good Shepherd leaders

Ministry Activities

Anglican Mothers Union Australia – Heatley Branch – meets on 4^th Thursday of the month.

School Religious Instruction – several Ministry Unit members are active in this area, assisting across all of Townsville.

Home Groups – there are currently four home groups involving a number of Ministry Unit members who meet in homes each week.

Pastoral Care Ministry – while there is a core group of dedicated members who keep in touch with some members of the congregation who need care, there is presently no structured scheme in place as there has been in the past.

Baptism Preparation – the current policy developed by the former Rector is available.

Prayer Meetings – a dedicated group of members meets regularly at the church every Saturday morning.

Sunday School and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd – children are an important part of our church community. While we love having them around us, we are also aware that they are full of energy and bounce. Children also have a different way of learning and need a suitable environment to grow together. Of course, they also take part in our services at various times and in different ways, too.

During the 9.00 am service an interactive program called the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is provided in the Atrium for children aged 3 to 6 years. This is a Christian formation process for children in which they experience and form an authentic, faithful relationship with God.

Playgroups – there are community play groups operating from the church hall, however these are presently in abeyance due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Music Ministry – music is an important part of our worship and we are keen to welcome new musicians. We have an active music ministry with a roster of musicians. We encourage more people to join this ministry.

The musicians meet at the Ministry Unit centre each Saturday morning to rehearse for the Sunday services, using various music sources, encouraging the learning of new hymns and songs. Members offer music to glorify God and to contribute to the worship.

Strengths and Challenges

Strengths –

Strong core of faithful members, many of long standing – 15-40+ years.
Several authorised lay ministers, well experienced (established roster), who assist at all services and can take services when clergy are unavailable.
Strong but small group of musicians who provide music for all services.
Access to two retired, non-stipendiary priests as needed, as well as ADF Chaplains.
Primary school age and youth group activities offered in conjunction with St Matthew’s Ministry Unit, Mundingburra.
Atrium – Catechesis of the Good Shepherd and Sunday School for young primary school aged children, during the 9 am service.
Dedicated group of workers who maintain the church buildings and grounds.
Home groups that meet weekly, most have been operating for over 10 years.
The Ministry Unit has a long standing (and proud) history of substantial “mission support” for CMS, ABM, Bush Church Aid, Leprosy Mission, National Home Mission, Anglican Aid Abroad, Church Army, Scripture Union, and local school Chaplains – giving both privately and through Ministry Unit funds.
Strong support for Townsville’s inter-church Christian events, such as Stable on The Strand.

Challenges –

Aging congregation, many now in retirement, with the consequent restrictions on income levels and ability to actively participate.
Few worshippers in the 18-35 age bracket.

Church Buildings

The Church, offices and hall are situated on a large block of land at the corner of Fulham Road and Mill Drive, adjacent to a retirement village (St James Village). The Diocese sold the village, the former rectory and some of the church land to the Church of Christ in 2012.

Upper Ross Services are held in the Roman Catholic Good Shepherd Community Centre, Allambie Lane, Rasmussen, which is approximately 12km from the Ministry Centre. However, this service is currently in recess due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Rectory is a 4-bedroom home located at Kirwan, 4km from the Ministry Centre. It is envisaged that the new Rector and family would reside at this location. A car is also provided for the Rector.

Rectory, 34 Squires St Kirwan

Use of the Church Buildings by others – we provide a safe meeting place for social groups including AA, Al-Anon, Gamblers Anonymous, Justices of the Peace, etc. A nominal fee is charged.

Diocese

NQ Diocese. For scale, the Peninsula is similar in size to Victoria.

The Diocese of North Queensland covers a vast and varied region stretching from Sarina in Central Queensland to the Torres Strait in the North and to the Northern Territory border in the west. Bishop Keith Joseph took over as the Diocesan Bishop from Bishop Bill Ray in 2019. More information on the Diocese can be found at https://www.anglicannq.org

Bishop Keith Joseph.

A review of the status of the historic Parish structure was undertaken by the Diocese in 2018. Due to the particular ministries of various parishes and the mobility of the population, some ministries had no strict parish boundaries while others appealed to particular demographics. This led to the replacement of the traditional geographically based “parish” structure with the current flexible “ministry unit” structure.

Deanery

The Ascension Ministry Unit is part of the Townsville Central Regional Deanery. Clergy from the deanery meet monthly for mutual support and discussion.

Stable on The Strand

Stable on The Strand is an annual nativity play usually held in The Strand Park but this year is “Stable on the Streets” due to COVID-19 restrictions It has been described as “part installation, park fun fair and part theatrical performance”. The play has been staged just before Christmas for over two decades with festivities including a mock Bethlehem with actors playing soldiers, shepherds and the Holy Family. The event attracts up to 40,000 visitors a year.

Townsville

Townsville is Australia’s largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a population of over 195,000 with 229,000 in the greater Townsville area at the 2016 census. It is situated in the dry tropics on the east coast of Queensland at latitude 19 degrees south. It is 350km south of Cairns and 1,300km north of Queensland’s capital, Brisbane. It has humid, often wet, summers and lovely dry, mild winters. https://www.townsvilleenterprise.com.au/

Townsville temperature and rainfall.

The Queensland Tourism website (https://www.queensland.com/au/en/places-to-see/destinations/townsville ) advertises Townsville as:-

“A taste of the tropics

From the Great Barrier Reef and its tropical islands, to the lush rainforests and World Heritage listed national parks, the once quiet coastal town has merged into a modern metropolis. It’s a place to discover, appreciate and immerse in nature. Long known as a military base, the Townsville region today remains home to one of the country’s largest army barracks, as the official home of Australia’s 3^rd and 11^th Brigades. But it’s thanks to this influx of army personnel and their families that the city has prospered – the town today is Australia’s largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast.”

Magnetic Island is a short ferry ride to the north and The Strand and the parks along the Ross River are highlights. Townsvillians by and large are rugby league enthusiasts and somehow convinced the politicians to build the local team (the Cowboys) a new $300m stadium.

Ross river dawn Weir park on Ross River

Townsville Port: The major regional import-export hub with $1.6B.p.a. international exports.

Townsville is the regional retail and wholesale hub for North Queensland and regional mining activities. Its economy is diverse with key industries including the port, defence (army, air force and some navy), education and research, retail, aviation, government, and professional services (largest outside Brisbane) and tourism. Major industries in terms of export income are mineral refining, manufacturing, transport, and education. In 2018-19 manufacturing exports from Townsville totalled $760M, 24% of Australia’s total.

Educational Facilities

The Diocese has separately incorporated Co-educational schools in Cairns (Trinity Anglican School), Townsville (The Cathedral School of St Anne and St James), and Mackay (Whitsunday Anglican School). The Cathedral School and Whitsunday Anglican School both have boarding facilities.

There are numerous State primary and high schools as well as 15 private religious schools and colleges. Townsville is the home of James Cook University, several TAFE campuses, as well a campus of Central Queensland University.