Who is SMG
In South Australia the heads of the 11 Christian Church denominations are united together to form the South Australian Heads of Christian Churches. Originally having oversight of Christian ministry in schools, the group established the Heads of Churches State Schools Ministry Coordinating Group Incorporated, commonly known as Schools Ministry Group, or SMG.
SMG is responsible to the Heads of Christian Churches in South Australia for the initiation, provision, coordination and support of Christian ministry in all government schools in South Australia.
The Board of Management includes children's and youth denominational workers representing the Heads of Christian Churches in South Australia, and the Director of every children's and youth mission organization involved in South Australian Schools.
The Schools Ministry Group supports the cooperation and unity among the Christian churches and denominations.
The Schools Ministry Group is a non-profit organisation with charitable status. In today's world there are unacceptably high levels of despair and disconnection in our young people. At the same time, many young people are looking to make a difference in their own lives and the life of their community. Through the work of SMG young people are finding hope and purpose, and having an opportunity to make a positive difference in the world we live in.
Our Vision and Values
Our Vision
Helping a young generation discover purpose, value and hope
Our Goal
For every school student and their community to have the opportunity to experience support and care from a positive Christian role model.
Our Ministry Principles
Partnership
Servant hearted
Advocacy
Professionalism
Our Core Values
Respect
Integrity
Inclusion
Compassion
Our Story
In the early 1970's Religious Instruction was removed from the curriculum of government schools in South Australia. Not long afterwards, a bill was passed with regulations that allowed for Christian option seminars to run for up to a half-day per term and the "United Christian Forum" was formed with the responsibility of conducting these seminars.
In 1991 the major Christian Churches and Youth Mission Groups in South Australia brought together the work of United Christian Forum and the Heads of Christian Churches Chaplaincy Planning Group, who had been responsible for the appointment, training and review of Chaplains in state secondary schools since 1986 to form Schools Ministry Group.
In 2006 a new name for the "Chaplaincy Program" was established. After negotiations with the Department of Education and Children's Services and the Heads of Christian Churches, the agreed name is the "Christian Pastoral Support Program". The title "Chaplain" was replaced by "Christian Pastoral Support Worker". This identifies the faith represented by the worker of this program and is clear about the nature of the support they offer.
Right across the state students in government schools are being challenged with a new way to live life and are hearing a message of the dignity and value of each individual and of hope for the future. SMG has a unique opportunity to influence a whole generation and hence the future of Australia.
Governance
SMG (ABN 99 713 472 424) is recognised as a Public Benevolent Institution and has deductible gift recipient status.
SMG is governed by a voluntary Membership consisting of twenty-two, including SMG's Director, which meets two times a year.
The Membership's responsibilities include ensuring high levels of accountability to our stakeholders, approving annual budgets and ensuring funds entrusted to SMG are managed appropriately, ensuring SMG acts legally and ethically, providing strategic direction, raising organisational awareness in the community, and monitoring risks.
The Mebership delegates responsibility for the operational management of SMG to the Executive Director who in turn works for the Board of Directors consisting of nine representatives of the Membership to deliver on organisational objectives.
SMG Management Board of Representatives Structure:
Denominational Church Representatives:
Anglican Church http://www.churchoffice.anglicare-sa.org.au/
Assemblies of God http://www.aog.org.au/
Baptist Union http://www.baptistchurchessa.com.au/
Catholic Church http://www.adelaide.catholic.org.au/
CRC Churches International http://www.crcchurches.org/
Churches of Christ http://www.churchesofchrist.org.au/sa/
Greek Orthodox Church http://home.it.net.au/~jgrapsas/pages/Welcome.html
Lutheran Church http://www.sa.lca.org.au/
Presbyterian Church http://www.pcsa.org.au/
Salvation Army http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/
Uniting Church http://www.sa.uca.org.au/
Children's and Youth Organisation Representatives:
Bible Society http://www.biblesociety.com.au/
Encounter Youth http://www.encounteryouth.com.au/
Fusion Australia http://www.fusion.org.au/sa/index.html
In 2 Life http://www.in2life.org.au/
Outreach And Church Ministries http://www.oac.org.au/
Scripture Union http://www.su.org.au/sa/
Youth Alive http://www.youthalivesa.com/01_home/home.php
Youth for Christ Australia http://www.yfc.org.au/branches/sa.htm
Youth with a Missionhttp://www.ywamsa.org.au/
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