Victoria

The Victorian Chapter is the largest chapter in the Academy consisting of some 30 members though at the moment not all are currently financial.

Several members are based in rural centres or on the outskirts of Melbourne. The average attendance at meetings is 12 to 15.

In the past, meetings have been held at various churches and institutions where members have been able to provide hospitality, and for some time now we have been privileged to be guests at the South Yarra Baptist Community in Surrey Road, South Yarra.  During the years we have experimented with various times for meetings and at present have settled on a late afternoon meeting at 5 pm over refreshments. This enables members to attend later engagements.

As far as possible, meetings have been centred around some particular topic or event to be discussed, though we have not for some time had papers specially prepared for discussion by members as in past days.

Topics this year have been Robert Gribben’s introduction to the Melbourne Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies, and his comments on the Armenian Liturgy.

Our last meeting has discussed the proposals for the forthcoming conference in WA in January 2005, and the next meeting on July 27^th will discuss the recent English texts issued by the Roman Catholic Church and the situation regarding ecumenical relationships.

Earlier this year the Chapter met with the Revd Dr Paul Sheppey to hear his address in Ormond College on funeral rites, and later entertained him to dinner where we were further treated to some very interesting comments on current ecclesial matters.

The Victorian Chapter in conjunction with the Melbourne College of Divinity has responsibility for the H.F. Leatherland Exhibition, a prize given every biennial year for an essay on a liturgical topic and if suitable published in the Australian Journal of Liturgy. Appointed members of the Victorian Chapter with the Melbourne College of Divinity also form the H.F. Leatherland trust.

The Victorian Chapter also sponsors the Austen James Lecture given from time to time by a liturgical scholar. This year the lecture is to be given in conjunction with the Institute of Spiritual Studies at St Peter’s Church, Eastern Hill, Melbourne by the Revd Dr Frank Senn, Pastor of Emmanuel Church, Illinois USA. Dr Senn is the author of Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical.  His address is entitled ‘Liturgy and Culture’ and this lecture is open to the public on Thursday, October 7^th at 7.30 pm. To defray expenses there is a charge of $15 (concession $12).

The present Convenor of the Victorian Chapter is the Revd Canon Albert McPherson, 1206/442 St Kilda Road, Melbourne 3004. Telephone (03) 9821 5753, or email at abmcp@ozemail.com.au