About Us

Staff

Matt Oates (Superintendent)

Before coming to Ministry & Mission Matt spent twenty years pastoring Presbyterian churches in the country and the city. He’s led small and large churches; spent nine years as a solo pastor and led a staff team for eleven; he’s served as a denominational Trustee and in various other roles; all of which has given him a passion for the big ideas which lie at the heart of M&M’s mission – working towards “healthy, multiplying Presbyterian churches.”

Matt is married to Fiona and they have three children.

 

In his role as superintendent Matt is responsible for:

• Leading the staff team
• Overseeing M&M’s involvement in church planting
• Developing and implementing the church revitalisation strategy
• Coordinating the work of the committee including its property and finance matters
• Oversight of the Church Consultancy program
• Coordinating the graduating student appointment process
• Providing general advice to churches
• Assisting the committee in its strategic planning to advance the formation, staffing and fruitfulness of healthy, multiplying Presbyterian churches across NSW

 

John Irvin (Associate Superintendent – 1/2 time)

• promote and facilitate biblical peacemaking
• provide pastoral counsel and support to ministers, home missionaries and their families
• facilitate personal development of ministerial personnel and their spouses in relation to marriage enrichment, financial planning and similar domestic issues
• supervise recruitment, deployment and pastoral care of ministry personnel
• recommend to the Committee the standard terms of settlement or appointment
• revise and maintain the Terms of Call Form, develop clear guidelines for its use and educate presbyteries and congregational leaders on terms of call
• review and advise on Terms of Appointment
• draft or review job descriptions for various church workers as requested
• supervise long service leave administration and (generally) ministerial working conditions and remuneration packages
• provide procedural advice concerning Ministry & Mission policies and practices
• facilitate Intentional Transition Ministries
• provide advice on FBT issues, specifically on the administration of Ministers’ Benefit Accounts
• advise ministry personnel on entitlements through Centrelink and the Family Assistance Office
• maintain close liaison with the Conduct Protocol Unit to ensure that Presbyterian churches will be safe places for all people.

 

Paul McKendrick (Associate Superintendent)

Before coming to Ministry and Mission Paul was a PE teacher for 3 years, then 2 years at SMBC, then 2 at PTC and then was pastor of Evans Head church for 22 years. During that time, under God’s grace the congregation grew, the staff team grew and the whole church community had a major impact for the gospel on that community. While at Evans, Paul was involved in many community groups, P&C President of the school, at Presbytery level, in a number of roles and has been a member of the PTCC for the past 3 years. Paul has been involved in the Spiritual Renewal Groups as a member and facilitator for 18 years and is now training to be a mentor. Paul loves local Pastoral ministry and seeing Pastors, their wives, their families and local congregations seeking to bring the good news of Jesus to their communities in healthy sustaining ways.

Paul is married to Karina and their four children are now all married adults.

Paul’s Role at Ministry and mission is to support and encourage Healthy Pastoral Ministry across NSW.

This involves:

• Relationally connecting with those in Pastoral ministry across NSW.
• Supporting and encouraging those in Pastoral ministry and their wives and families
• Listening and seeking out how we can best support them to be healthy in pastoral ministry
• Setting up a strategy for Healthy Pastoral Ministry with both a proactive and reactive component. Examples: Mentoring Network, Spiritual Renewal Groups, Consultancy, Ministers family Camp
• Seeking to connect, network and partner with other people and organizations working in this area.
• Helping with coordinating Spiritual Renewal Groups
• Seeking to encourage Healthy Pastoral Ministry in congregations.
• Seeking to encourage Presbyteries to be facilitating Healthy Pastoral Ministry
• Being part of the recruitment and deployment of Personnel
• Being part of the Graduating Student process

 

Bern Merchant (Associate Superintendent)

 

 

Lani Zaragoza (Administrative Assistant)

Lani is our part-time administrative assistant responsible for general and financial administration.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna Moss (Women’s Ministry Facilitator)

womenministry.org.au

Working closely with the M&M team, Anna  is employed by the Women’s Ministry Committee as a Women’s Ministry Facilitator to support and assist with resourcing women in the Presbyterian Church across the state.

 

 

 

 

Kathryn Adams & Mark Maskell (Consultancy Coordinators)

Mark & Kathryn serve the Committee as the Co-ordinators of our church consultancy team. Contact them through the Superintendent.

General Office Personnel

We acknowledge, with appreciation, the support we receive from all members of the General Office staff, especially Fergus Tang who attends to all our accounting needs.