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

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 a trained mentor and pastoral supervisor. 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
Facilitate Intentional Transition Ministries

Bern Merchant (Associate Superintendent – Peacemaking & Welfare)

Prior to working for Ministry & Mission, Bern served in rural and city churches, large and small, in both solo and team roles. He has studied Biblical Counselling at Westminster Theological Seminary and CCEF, and has completed peacemaking training through to mediation level.

Bern is married to Alison and they have three school-age children.

His role at M&M is focused on peacemaking and welfare. Within the peacemaking space, his role includes:

promotion and facilitation of Biblical peacemaking
peacemaking training (and preaching, when available and as requested)
conflict coaching
pastoral support and counselling, generally but especially during ministry challenges
assistance with various conflict resolution approaches
development and deployment of peacemaking resources
liaising with other denominational bodies which are involved in peacemaking or conflict resolution
meeting with ministers and leaders to discuss their own approach to peacemaking or the impact of conflict, through coaching and/or counselling

He is also responsible for some of the remuneration / personnel ministry areas of M&M:

recommendation to the M&M Committee the annual terms of settlement or appointment
advice regarding remuneration packages and the recruitment, pastoral care and healthy working conditions of ministry personnel
review job descriptions / contracts for various church workers (as requested)
administration of M&M’s counselling subsidy for eligible ministry personnel
generally supervise M&M’s long service leave administration
provide general advice in areas such as FBT and non-cash benefits (NCBs)
Terms of Call responsibilities:
- revision and maintenance of the Terms of Call form
- appraisals and approvals
- generally advise churches, Presbyteries and personnel

Bern is available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Sammi Wong (Administrative Assistant)

Sammi joined the team in June 2024 and is part of the Chatswood congregation, where she serves as a youth group leader (among many things) and is hugely passionate about discipleship and ministering to the young adults in her community. Before joining, she worked in Marketing at Koorong/Bible Society Australia and has a background in HR and Operations.

If you need to contact M&M about any of the following, please get in touch with Sammi at sawong@pcnsw.org.au:

General enquiries
Car loans
Long service leave
Website questions
Reimbursement for things like SRG retreats

Anna Moss (Women’s Ministry Facilitator)

Women’s Ministry In The PCNSW: www.pcnswwomen.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.

Sylvia Siu (Women’s Ministry Facilitator)

Women’s Ministry In The PCNSW: www.pcnswwomen.org.au

Sylvia joined Anna in the Women’s Ministry Facilitator role in 2021, with a specific focus on communications, to better resource women’s ministry and encourage women’s engagement in the PCNSW.

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.