Church Governance

Bobbin Head Anglican Church (BHAC) is a congregation of St James Anglican Church, Turramurra. It has official status within the Diocese of Sydney as a congregation under the Parish Administration Ordinance 2008.

Overall responsibility for, and authority over, BHAC rests with the rector of St James (the Rev Dr Michael Stead). In accordance with Diocesan regulations, the elected Parish Wardens of St James are also the wardens for BHAC, and exercise various responsibilities under the Parish Administration Ordinance 2008, and under certain Federal and State laws.

The pastor of BHAC (the Rev Stephen Calder) is employed at the discretion of the Rector of St James as an Assistant Minister. The pastor of BHAC regularly reports, and is accountable to, the Rector and Wardens of St James.

Under this official leadership/accountability structure, a team leadership model has been adopted as a means of local governance support at BHAC. This model utilizes the gifts and abilities of lay leaders in the strategic planning and week-to-week running of the congregation, in partnership with the pastor of BHAC. The team is called the Steering Group.

The members of Steering Group are appointed by the pastor of BHAC, at his discretion. As such, Steering Group is not an elected body, but members of BHAC are welcome to recommend others, or offer themselves, for service within the Group.

The Steering Group’s roles to date have included church goal-setting, ministry-oversight, administration, planning and implementation. Members of Steering Group are expected to be mature Christians according to the pattern set down in the New Testament for elders and shepherds of God’s flock (e.g. Titus 1:6-9, 1 Peter 5:1-4).

Pastoral responsibility for the members of BHAC rest with the Pastor of BHAC and with the leaders of our network of small-groups known as Growth Groups. Growth Groups meet for prayer, Bible study, mutual encouragement and accountability and to promote mature discipleship. Growth Group leaders are responsible for modelling and fostering such growth, and are accountable to the Pastor of BHAC.

For more information about the governance of BHAC, email Steve Calder at stephen@bobbinheadchurch.com.au