National gatherings of Presbytery Ministers along with other regional and national leaders in the Uniting Church are terrific opportunities to share experiences and learn together. Almost fifty leaders gathered at White Gums retreat centre at the foot of Tjoritja / the West MacDonnell Ranges during August, exploring together how to ‘build the team’ in a variety of ways. The Tasmanian team of Presbytery Ministers attended together, and took a lot of photos!
The conference program included a welcome to country from a local indigenous leader and listening to the water coursing up the trunks of white gums growing along the edges of an apparently dry creek, worship & preaching by three leaders from the Northern Synod, input on leadership from Rev Dr Jenny Byrnes and Mr Craig Bailey, prayer triangles with other Presbytery Ministers to share challenges and support, fun and deeper conversations with other Uniting Church leaders (across Presbytery, Synod and Assembly roles), space for reflection in the central-Australian landscape, and the fun of a concluding boat race on the dry Roe Creek as well as a shared communion service.