Congregations
Our local Congregations in the Presbytery range in size from memberships of a handful of people to groups in excess of one hundred regular worshippers. Some congregations have a number of preaching places. Many congregations have chosen to operate as independent congregations linked through sharing the cost of a ministry agent. The Presbytery is currently engaged in a number of conversations with congregations considering becoming Faith Communities.
Presbytery Meetings & Structure
The Presbytery meets three times each year – March, July and November. On each occasion the meeting begins on Friday evening and concludes after worship on Sunday. The July meeting is a live-in meeting at PCYC Leadership Centre, Yeppoon, and the other meetings rotate around the congregations with those attending being billeted. The July Presbytery is followed by the annual retreat for ministry agents, spouses, and support persons. The Presbytery has a Pastoral Relations/Standing Committee and Property Committee. There is a less formal communications team, aimed at keeping people informed. There are also active Emmaus and Chrysalis Communities in Central Queensland. To provide support with the administrative responsibilities of the Presbytery, a part-time Administration Assistant is employed.
Demography
Most of the population in the Presbytery lives within 100 kilometres of the coastal perimeter. There is significant population variety. Rural towns generally have gradually declining populations with a diminishing pastoral property base. In areas such as the Central Highlands where coal mining dominates, the population is very mobile. These centres are influenced by shift work patterns and fly in/fly out staffing practices. This makes community life in mining towns difficult to maintain. In other established rural areas the adult population is less transitory with the exception of young adults who leave the areas to study and find work. The majority of rural towns in the Presbytery have been affected by rural decline and the drift of population to larger centres. Mining and Rural sectors are subject to significant variations in profitability which, in turn, has a significant impact on the surrounding towns.
UnitingCare
UNITINGCARE COMMUNITY is active in three areas of the Central Queensland Region – Mackay/Whitsunday, Gladstone and Central Queensland (Rockhampton).
BLUECARE operates throughout the area, although its lines of management do not match the Presbytery boundaries. In the southern half of the Presbytery BLUECARE is managed by Central Queensland (Rockhampton) and from Mackay northwards BLUECARE is managed by North Queensland (Townsville).
Geography
Meets at the Roman Catholic "Star of the Sea" centre just outside of Seaforth - 2241 Yakapari-Seaforth Rd, Seaforth, QLD 4741.
Part of Northside Mackay and Seaforth Uniting Church.
42 McIntyre St, Calen QLD 4798.
It is part of the St Paul's (Mackay City), Armitage and Calen Uniting Church congregation.
11 Silverton Drive, Tannum Sands, Queensland, Australia
1 Uniting Place, Telina (Gladstone), Queensland, Australia
22 Archer St, Emu Park, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Capricorn Coast Uniting Church.
17 Lorikeet Avenue, Yeppoon, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Capricorn Coast Uniting Church.
321 Berserker Street, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Fitzroy Uniting Church.
312 Campbell Street, Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia
East Street, Mount Morgan, Queensland, Australia
90 Kroombit Street, Biloela, Queensland, Australia
North Street, Banana, Queensland, Australia
1-3 Scenic St, Moura, Queensland, Australia
43 Power Street, Baralaba, Queensland, Australia
1 Coolibah Street, Blackwater, Queensland, Australia
Borilla Street, Emerald, Queensland, Australia
43 Huntley Street, Capella, Queensland, Australia
40 Box Street, Clermont, Queensland, Australia
27 Clematis Street, Blackall, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Central West Uniting Church.
7 Maple Street, Barcaldine, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Central West Uniting Church.
107 Galah Street, Longreach, Queensland, Australia
28 Victoria Street, Mirani, Queensland, Australia
3 Bold Street North, Walkerston, Queensland, Australia
Brooks Street, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
99 Evan Street, Mackay, Queensland, Australia
Macalister Street, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
4 Fleurs Way, Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Northside Mackay & Seaforth Uniting Church.
Herbert Street, Proserpine, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Proserpine-Whitsunday Uniting Church.
St Martins Place, Cannonvale, Queensland, Australia.
Part of Proserpine-Whitsdunday Uniting Church.