Taree: A collaborative ministry team

(photo: Lauren, Phoebe and Lisa at Taree PC.)

On Sunday mornings at Taree Presbyterian Church, you will see both men and women serving up front. The minister and elders will lead the service and preach. Other men and women deliver the Bible reading, pray, give the Children’s Talk, lead the music and singing.

You will also notice men and women working behind the scenes in hospitality and welcoming, teaching the children in Kids Church and the Tots team. During the week, men and women are engaged in growth groups, leading the ministry teams, caring for various practical needs of people in the congregation, praying together. This is a church where men and women are working together in gospel ministry.

Vaughan Smith has been the minister of this church since 2020, working with the other six elders to oversee the congregation, to preach and to lead services.

“It’s good when godly men lead well”, Vaughan says.

The church also has a Ministry and Leadership Team which meets with Vaughan each month over a meal, to discuss what is happening in the various teams and to pray together. Every three months, the elders join them to plan and pray. Vaughan is excited at how well the teams are working together. There is open and regular communication between the eight team leaders and the Session. Vaughan describes his role as “a leader of leaders”.

(Photo: Susan Mumford (right) leads the care team at Taree PC.)

Fifty per cent of the Ministry and Leadership Team are women. Lisa Donnelly is the gifted Kids Ministry Coordinator. Tiernan Schwenke is the MTS worker, a dynamic woman who disciples women, leads the large youth group, and is beginning a Mainly Music ministry as an outreach to the town. Susan Mumford
leads the Care Team, a remarkable leader who serves faithfully behind the scenes to assist elderly people and others in the church with diverse practical needs. Vaughan meets with these leaders each week. The church also employs a part-time administrative worker, Phoebe Arnold.

Vaughan explains that there are many roles for men and women who are not elders.

“Ministry is more than what happens in church [services],” he says.

“People own their church and love it. They willingly step in when there is a need.”

For example, this includes membership in Growth Groups, taking turns on the rosters that serve the church community, leading and caring for one’s family, and looking out for people who are ill or need a lift to a medical appointment.
Vaughan reports that about five per cent of the congregation are new Christians.

“They hear the gospel in church, become converted and baptised, and now attend growth groups. Their lives have been changed,” he says.

Click here to read more from our Ministering Together magazine.