Annual Congregational Meeting13th September 2026 | 12.00pm
Reforming our Plans and PrayersAnnual Report for the 12 month period
1st July 2025 to 30th June 2026
With grateful joyful thanks for everything the Lord has done, and praying for what He will do in and through Reforming Presbyterian Church.
Always Reforming
What happens at an Annual Congregational MeetingMinistry Reports
from the Session (Teaching Elder & Ruling Elders)
As another year passes, I am reminded that while man plans his way, the Lord establishes his steps. We seek to plan and look forward with hope to what God will do in and through us at Reforming Church, yet ACMs are also time to look back and give thanks for his provision and care.
As a Session, we are often so grateful for the many small and big blessings that our Lord gives us. New members, hearts turning to Christ, children trusting God more each day, newcomers welcomed and prayers answered to name a few.
What we’re on about at Reforming Church can be seen in the culture we strive towards shaping to be:
1) Of Christ
2) Caring
3) For change
1. Of all that we do and say among Reforming Church, our number one priority is to be about Christ. His message of good news, the gospel, for sinners like us. His Word that shapes and grows us by the Spirit. The hope that he is coming back again when all things will be put under his feet. So we want our lives to be lived in response to love for Christ, imitating him and pointing others to come to know the true joy that we have found ourselves. Where has Christ been at work in your life, for your glory and your joy this past year?
2. Because Christ has loved us, we want to love others. We want to keep growing into a church that cares for each other. Structures will help this happen, such as Elders’ Districts which are rolling out soon. More elders, leaders serving one another will help this. But the everyday one-anothering that all of our members get to take part in is where this truly shines. Where can you move towards someone among our church family and show care to them in small or larger ways?
3. Christ doesn’t just call disciples and expect them to remain unchanged. The Christian life is one of progressive growth (sanctification) where little by little we are being made into the image of Christ, we are becoming like our Father because we are truly children of Him. Our name “Reforming” continues to remind us that we are in a process of change. We need one another to change as we put sin to death and grow in the fruit of the Spirit. Where is Jesus calling you to change to put off sin and put on righteousness and who is praying for you in this?
May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ continue to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think and to Him be the glory now and in our years to come! (Ephesians 3:14-21)
With love and prayer,
Rory Weightman (Session Clerk)
from the Staff (Pastoral Assistants)
Evangelism & Equipping
At Reforming Church we want to love Jesus, love his church, and love the lost. In order to do this better have had some focused ministry in these areas.
Evangelism
Because we value people coming to know the Lord Jesus, and because we want to keep encouraging us as a whole church to help this happen, we decided to focus our very first Reforming Weekend on the topic of Evangelism.
We gathered together at the North’s property on the Friday evening to hear some members of our church share their stories in how they came to know the Lord Jesus. On the Saturday we had sessions at Reforming House on the ‘What?, Who? and How?’ of evangelism led by Rory and myself, as well as hearing from our church on things they have been doing to help their friends, families, workmates and neighbors hear about Jesus. Then, after some fun times together on Saturday afternoon and evening, Russ preached to us on Sunday morning about the ‘Why?’ of Evangelism.
This year we also formed an Evangelism Team. One of the key things our team did was organize and run an evangelistic Family Fun Day just before Easter, to encourage people to check out Jesus. This included games for kids, a BBQ lunch, a short talk and an Easter Egg Hunt. A big thanks to everyone who helped out in different ways to make that event happen. We’d love to do something similar again next year.
Reforming also ran the 3 week short course ‘Hope Explored’ at Reforming House, (and we’re about to run this again) for people who are looking into Jesus. Hope Explored involves a short video, some discussion questions and a short study from Luke’s gospel, looking at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus and what it means for our lives. It was great to have people, both inside and outside of Reforming come along and investigate Jesus. Please be praying for unbelievers as we run this again.
Equipping
This year we launched a new podcast, ‘Cruciforming’, with associated in person brunch gatherings to discuss some of the topics discussed on the podcast. The podcast has so far involved, Russ, Aimee and myself sitting down to chat through different topics, but I’d love to potentially involve others in future. It has been difficult to organize a consistent and regular time to record this material. But Reforming is working on setting up a media room to help lean into this space in the future.
We’ve also had a Reforming Bookclub this year. We met in our August Cruciforming slot to discuss Paul Miller’s A Praying Life. I personally found the book both convicting and comforting, and valued being able to talk it through with others. We have plans to again chat through Kevin De Young’s Crazy Busy at our November Cruciforming Brunch.
Men’s Ministry
Because we changed the structure of our equipping ministry this past year it meant ceasing our regular monthly men’s breakfasts. We did however trial a ‘Friday Food Fire and Faith’ event where we looked at the topic of Friendship as men. This was a really positive evening where around 20 men gathered to encourage one another. It was great to see men spending time together sharing about important things and also hanging around afterward enjoying each other’s company.
My hope for the next year is that we might run similar men’s nights to this (i.e. a Friday Food Fire & Faith get together) perhaps once a quarter. With topics like Fatherhood or Facing Difficulty.
It has also been encouraging to see other informal men’s stuff happening in our church life such as our men’s poker nights. A big thanks to Josh Knott for initiating this.
And lastly, but certainly not least, a big thankyou to our great God for his faithfulness and provision over the past year.
Ryan Smith (Evangelism & Equipping Pastoral Assitant)
from the Staff (Pastoral Assistants)
Women & Children
Women and children are precious to Jesus and so our ministry to these groups is precious to Reforming! We aim to see women and children love Jesus, love the church and love the lost.
Here is what has been happing through our church to love women and children this past year.
Playgroup
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6
We seek to be salt and light in our community through our Playgroup ministry.
We have on average 15+ non-church families joining us each week to sing, play and build relationships. Every term has a theme where we provide craft, mat time and morning tea. It is a BIG operation to run a playgroup both in administration, session content creation and relationship building but we are seeing wonderful fruit. We are always praying for our conversations to warm people’s heart to the gospel. Our Easter Playgroup evangelistic event was well attended, and we had two families attend our easter services. I have recently given a Bible to a seeking playgroup mum and we aim to advertise Christianity Explored soon!
I’m so thankful for the Reforming Playgroup Team: Elissa Weightman, Katie Pagliaro & Heather North who serve alongside me to run Playgroup.
Due to sickness or travel I am often running playgroup without any of our wonderful Reforming helpers. Would you be interested in joining to team? This is a great outreach opportunity!
Women’s Ministry
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children Titus 2:3-4
We have had a wonderful year of hearing women’s voices and seeing women trained and given opportunities to teach women and children. Our Women’s Brunches will see four different women from the church expounding sections of Romans 8 over the year.
We are excited to announce we are hosting next year’s WMV on the road conference on February 27th, 2027. This will also open teaching and leading opportunities for women in a women’s ministry context. If you are interested in serving in music, Bible reading, workshop running, MCing or catering please do let me know! The topic of the conference is ‘Identity in Christ’.
Children’s Ministry
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
We have been blessed with an explosion of kids in our junior kids room this year. It has brought with it great blessings with lots of little faces singing praises to the king. It has also brought knew challenges in how we navigate noise, allergies and neurodiversity needs in that space. I love that kids church is not just a classroom but it is also a family room, where relationships really do matter. So yes, it can be a bit chaotic but it is full of love!
We have had a wonderful answer to prayer with our growing number of senior kid’s teachers who are passionate about discipling 8-12 year olds. This is a pivotal age for understanding and believing the gospel.
Thank you to our growing children’s ministry team who make little disciples here at Reforming. A special thank you to Jessica Thornton, Josh & Amy Knott, Rory Weightman, Mel Jones, Nick Wall, Tanja & Leon Gouws, Michelle Rayson & Emma Spink as you have served in lead teaching this year. Thank you also to those who have heard the call to step up as lead teachers! Thank you to all the other leaders too without whom we could not run this ministry.
Aimee Grinter (Women’s & Children’s Pastoral Assistant)
Youth
As always, it has been a fantastic privilege to be part of discipling the youth of Reforming Church this year. Each night consisted of fun activities such as Nerf wars, messy games, cooking competitions, and theatre sports, followed by a leader-run Bible study.
The games serve as a way to switch off from a week of school (or work), enjoy each other’s company, and build confidence and relationships.
Our Bible studies are pre-planned by the leaders, and from Terms One to Three we looked at the books of Ephesians and Jonah. With each passage we aim to discuss what God is saying to us through His Word, what it reveals about Jesus, and how we can apply it to our hearts and daily lives.
It has been a great encouragement to hear the wisdom and knowledge of our leaders as they facilitate these discussions. Even more so, we have loved hearing and seeing the growth of our youth as they read and engage with God’s Word.
In Term Four we will be studying Life with Jesus: Youth Edition – A Discipleship Course for Teens by Tim Chester and Katy Morgan, which includes twelve Bible-focused sessions on the basics of being a Christian. Some topics include Empty Hands: Exploring Grace, Part of the Family: Exploring Church, and Root and Branch: Exploring Our Union with Christ.
We also welcomed Annika Trinidad to our youth leader team this year. She has been a great encouragement and a valuable addition.
Finally, we facilitated the Presbyterian Youth Victoria (PYV) ‘Big Day Out’, which saw around fifty youth from across the state come to Reforming House for a day of games and activities, group Bible studies, and a talk by PYV leader Nick Attrill.
We have been greatly encouraged in the youth ministry this year and look forward to another year of Christ-centred discipleship by his Word.
Grace to you,
Aaron Pagliaro, on behalf of the Youth Leaders:
Nick Wall, Mel Jones, Emma Spink
ACM 2026 Agenda1. Constitution of our meeting through prayer, after reading 1 Chronicles 29:10-14.
2. Apologies:
Present – Reforming Members (Communicant Members and Adherents), please sign the attendance sheet.
Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation sustain the apologies listed.
3. Minutes of Congregational Meetings
Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation confirm the minutes of the 2025 Annual Congregational Meeting, 12th October 2025.
4. Ministry Reports
(For our reading and encouragement, and prayer)
Session (Elders) Report
Pastoral Staff Reports:
Teams & Training Coordinator: Ryan Smith
Women’s & Children Coordinator: Aimee Grinter
Youth Group Report
5. Annual Report of the Board of Management
(For formal reception, and then approval for adoption)
Board Secretary’s Report
1. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation receive the annual report of the Board of Management for the year ended 30 June.
2. Questions of the report, and following discussion.
3. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation approve and adopt the annual report of the Board of Management for the year ended 30 June.
6. Consider the audited financial statement of accounts of 2025–26
(For formal reception, and then approval for adoption)
Board Treasurer’s Report (on behalf of the Treasury Team)
1. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation receive the audited financial statement of accounts, noting the auditor’s report.
2. Questions of the report, and following discussion.
3. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation approve and adopt the audited financial statement of accounts as the record of the financial year of 2025-2.
7. Terms of Settlement for 2026–27
1. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation give authority to the Board of Management to vary terms of settlement of the Minister (Rev. Russ Grinter) in line with the recommendations approved by the Commission of the General Assembly of Victoria.
2. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation give authority to the Board of Management to vary the terms of conditions for Pastoral Staff (Ryan Smith and Aimee Grinter), in line with the recommendations approved by the Commission of the General Assembly of Victoria.
8. Budget for 2026–27
Board Treasurer’s Board Treasurer’s Report (on behalf of the Treasury Team)
1. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation receive the 2026-27 budget as approved by the Board of Management.
2. Questions of the 2026-27 budget
3. Draft Motion: It was resolved that the Congregation adopt the 2026-27 budget for the current financial year.
9. Appointment of Auditor(s)
Draft Motion:It was resolved that the Congregation have authority be given to the Board of Management to appoint auditors for 2026–27
10. Number of Board Managers
Draft Motion: It was resolved that there be no change is required to the number of managers on the Board of Management.
10. Closing our meeting in prayer, with praise to God
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
from the Board Secretary
Managers: Cameron Spink (Secretary), Dave North (Treasurer), Mel Jones, Nick Wall, Jobrian Trinidad, Aaron Pagliaro
Elders: Rory Weightman, Cameron Clare, Ryan Smith
Chairman: Rev. Russ Grinter
The Board of Management is pleased to provide an update on the continued work being undertaken across our church facilities, with a particular focus on small improvements to the front playspace and the exciting progress toward the development of a new media room.
The front playspace is a place where families and children can gather, and in recent months we have invested in upgrades to make it more inviting, practical, and family-friendly. One of the key additions includes work towards the installation of a new permanent BBQ which will hopefully be completed soon.
Alongside the BBQ, further landscaping, safety improvements, and general fit outs have been steadily implemented, ensuring that the space is not only functional but also welcoming to all who use it. These works reflect our desire to create spaces that foster connection and belonging. The Board continues to view the playspace as an important hub for relational ministry, and we are committed to ongoing improvements as resources allow.
At the same time, significant progress has been made in establishing our new media room, which has been carefully designed with the future needs of our ministry in mind. A central focus of this development has been the construction and installation of acoustic panelling, ensuring the room is purpose-built to achieve high-quality sound recording. Once complete, the media room will provide a dedicated space for recording regular podcasts, teaching resources, and other digital media that will enable our message to reach beyond the walls of the church. This initiative recognises the growing importance of digital ministry and seeks to extend the gospel into homes, workplaces, and communities far and wide.
Looking ahead, the Board is also actively considering new projects across the church site, guided by both our mission priorities and the resources entrusted to us. None of this work would be possible without the faithful and generous support of the congregation. Your ongoing tithing and financial contributions have enabled these current developments and will be vital in ensuring the success of future projects.
We wish to express our deep gratitude for your continued support and encourage you to give generously, confident that every contribution helps us expand our capacity to serve God, care for one another, and make a lasting impact in the community around us.
Cameron Spink, Secretary of the Board of Management
Our God-given Generosity
The Audited Financial Statement of Accounts of 2024-25
Treasury Team: Dave North (Treasurer), Mel Jones, Cameron Spink
One of the instructions given in 1 Thessalonians 5 is to “give thanks in all circumstances”. We are thankful to our Lord for his faithfulness in the year to 30th June 2025 - that he covered all our financial needs.
From the Statements attached you will see that we has a slight surplus of just over $2,000. Our income was about $9,000 below budgeted income. Our expenses were also about $9,000 below budgeted expenses - so all our needs were met!
This financial year the outdoor playspace was completed - and we are so thankful for that area and ministry that can occur with that space. We are working on further improvements, and where we can will try to fund them with the existing budget (like the new cafe tables).
The board has budgeted for an increase in giving of 3.22% above last years budget - with a slightly higher proportion online and less in cash offerings. This is based on cost increases including wages (most Australian wages increased 3-3.5%) and an increase to manse allowance - which has not changed for a number of years.
We are thankful for the faithfulness shown in giving by the congregation - and we pray that each of you each year will prayerfully consider your financial giving. We ask you to pray for the Treasury Team and Board to be faithful, wise and courageous.
Any queries - please see Mel or Cameron for payments and Dave for Xero accounting / report queries.
Dave, Mel and Cameron
