St James', Berala and St Paul's, Carlingford may be 13 kilometres, seven suburbs and a 20-minute drive apart and located in suburbs with very different demographics, but an imaginative partnership has evolved between the two churches.

A comprehensive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which took four months of discussion to formulate, was signed at the morning service at Berala on May 11 amidst great anticipation of what God might do.

As of May 11 the rector of St Paul's, Carlingford the Rev Bruce Hall (pictured centre) also become the acting curate-in-charge of St James', Berala for at least the next five years, as the two parishes work very closely together.

The wheels for the new concept were set in motion when Bishop Ivan Lee (pictured right) made a request to the rector and churchwardens of St Paul's Carlingford to assist in a reinvention of St James' Berala.

"I dreamt, I prayed and then I asked and I was delighted when the Carlingford leadership was willing to consider the idea seriously, prayerfully and strategically," says Bishop Ivan Lee.

"And I was equally delighted that the Berala congregation voted for change and a brave new beginning, with the goal of becoming a strong, vibrant independent church in about five to seven years."

Having planted a diverse range of congregations in Carlingford and surrounding areas, Bishop Lee believes St Paul's has the experience and resources to assist the "small but faithful" Berala congregation in bringing the gospel to the challenging mission field at their doorstep.

The mission field awaits

Bishop Lee sees Berala as a mission field with huge potential, particularly for cross-cultural and families ministry.

The area has one of the largest public schools in NSW, with 1070 students, 36 different cultural groupings and 94 per cent originating from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Berala churchwarden Malcolm Purvis (pictured left) says is extremely supportive of this initiative.

"This MOU is a terrific idea. We know that there will be difficulties, and that the future isn't certain, but we are encouraged by the possibilities," Mr Purvis says. 

"This sort of creative approach to revitalising ministry is what the Diocesan Mission needs."

Part of the partnership means, for example, that all phone calls to St James', Berala will go straight to the Carlingford office.

Mr Hall says 2008 will be a year of "getting to know one another and strengthening the current ministries".

"Initial plans for the future include a student congregation, an Asian congregation and Muslim ministry," he says.

The Western Sydney Regional Council is also an enthusiastic partner in this initiative, having backed it with $70,000 of support.