From the Church Council

What does the merger between St David’s and Augustine mean to the wider Augustine Community?

Late in November, the people of the St David’s Uniting Church Canterbury and the Augustine Uniting Church voted to merge into one congregation. This decision was made following several months of discussion and planning.

What does this decision mean for the Augustine Centre?

The major change is for the Sunday morning gatherings. These will now be held at St David’s every Sunday at 10.00am. However on the fourth Sunday of the month, an additional gathering, still called Soul Food Café, will continue to be held at the Augustine at 10.15am.

Other spiritual practices will continue to operate from the Augustine Centre. Regular contemplation sittings and times for walking the labyrinth offer a period of reflection and meditation for small groups of people.

The Oases Program will continue and expand as new students undertake post-graduate studies.

A greater congregational base may bring new people into our programs and practices and allow a mixing of ideas and energies. Children and their young parents will add life and spice to Sunday gatherings and to the ongoing life of the congregation.

The Uniting Church owns the property and the Church Council acts as its stewards and trustees. There are no plans to sell any property in the short term. However the property needs of the combined congregation will be looked at over the next couple of years. The property of the combined congregation will need to provide a sound financial base for the ongoing life of the church.

The Augustine Centre is fully used all week and continues to play a significant role in serving the needs of the community here and overseas. This is acknowledged in wider Uniting Church circles.

A new Combined Church Council has been formed comprising equal numbers from both Augustine and St David’s members. Augustine’s representatives on the new council are: Roland Cropley, Erica Downward, Weston Elvis, Dimity Fifer, Ash Hauser Ann Sartori and Jan Coops.

This both an exciting time and one faced with a little apprehension. We look forward to a positive outcome.

Jan Coops

Chairperson

St David’s and Augustine Church Council