THE “FAMILY JEWELS” ? - DISSECTING WHAT’S TRULY IMPORTANT

Many of you would have seen our previous post about our recent meeting with representatives from within the Department of Justice and Attorney General concerning our Letters Patent Application. The ball is definitely in the court of the PMSA and the Presbyterian Church now.

Regardless of which way the decision on our Application goes, how the “influencers” within the Presbyterian Church and their delegates decide to “direct” the PMSA to respond to our Application will determine whether successful governance reforms for our schools will ever be implemented. As a natural extension, it will also determine whether or not the PMSA and BOTH Churches continue to carry lifelong “luggage” with them in their efforts to deliver and grow their respective religious and educational missions through our schools and their communities.

The irony is that Beyond PMSA actually DO want both Churches to be successful in delivering their religious missions through our schools. The PMSA and the missions of both Churches can not only survive but THRIVE “without” Letters Patent. Many religious and charitable organisations across Australia are already waking up to the virtues of such change. They understand that they don’t have to “hide” behind these types of secretive structures to “protect” themselves. In the long run, its a ZERO SUM GAME that places hurdles in front of the pathway to success.

Whichever way you look at it, holding this document is a PRIVILEGE granted by the Crown. USING it in the way it has been historically used by the PMSA is a CHOICE. But with the privilege of choice also comes great RESPONSIBILITY. The demonstrated absence of responsible use of this instrument of governance by the PMSA should NOT be endorsed by our legislators, not least because it affects the lives and futures of children. This is NOT a small issue that can be ignored, nor should any of us allow it to be subjugated by PRIDE and feigned INCREDULITY.

Beyond PMSA’s objectives have NEVER included any intention to “take over” the PMSA, nor challenge the ownership of the schools by the Churches or the delivery of their respective missions. For those who are “imagining” conspiracies around this, or who may have been DISINGENUOUSLY feeding those theories to others to support an argument for the continued “protection” provided by Letters Patent, or who are worried about being ostracized as the ones who “lost the family jewels” - then you are scared of shadows that simply do not exist. Your fear and/or the misguided v

alue that you place on this archaic document is HARMING our schools.

Beyond PMSA’s objective is to deliver a modern, effective and respectful governance framework. Once that objective that is achieved, Beyond PMSA will cease to exist. It MUST, so that the PMSA can get on with the business of governing our schools the way they deserve to be governed - in full sunlight and with complete trust.

There can be only ONE road to success. There can be no successful solution where some of us end up on the “winning” team and others on the “losing” team in this debate. We are all in this together and we ALL win or we ALL lose.

All of us should genuinely ponder that thought over the holy period, because until the Attorney General makes her decision, the choice presently lies with less than a very tiny and isolated handful of people, and their respective consciences.

The more than 5,000 people (plus) in the community that DO support Beyond PMSA’s objectives understand that the family jewels are NOT Letters Patent. The family jewels are our CHILDREN, and the wonderful STAFF and educators who nurture and care for them ! What’s more important than that? We hope that the Attorney General can help clarify that issue for that small few who are continuing to perpetuate so much harm and damage by refusing to open their minds to reasonable debate.

Merry Christmas to you all - and onward into 2019 with vigor and a renewed determination to deliver constructive change !

We are not going away!