newtimes - june 2011 special edition
DESCRIPTION
Faith, Youth and the Adult JourneyTRANSCRIPT
Faith, Youth and
the Adult Journey
June 2011
Spec
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Editio
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30, No
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sa.uca.org.au/new-times-home
Next issue: Healthy bodies, healthy minds?
The old adage, healthy bodies, healthy minds is proving problematic as our culture continues to impress the importance of perfection on us. It’s not a question of ‘have we gone too far’ as much as it is a question of ‘how far beyond too far’ have we gone?
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New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February
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I remember being a teeny-tiny five year old standing on the church benches to see (almost) over all the adults heads at a night-time worship rally.
Across the thousand-strong crowd thundered the words:
Majesty
Worship His Majesty
Unto Jesus, be all glory power and praise...
I was an astute reader, so could sing easily along with the crowd in words that helped me form a language of faith from early on, a faith that had an awareness of God’s enormity, and my minuteness.
To this day, whenever I hear that song, I still get tingles of reconnection to being so very small, and feeling held within the power of a majestic God.
It wasn’t until I watched the movie A Knight’s Tale though, years later, that I rediscovered this moment.
William Thatcher, the story’s protagonist, trying to describe what it is like to fall in love, implores his friend: “Don’t you remember what church was like when you were a boy? The fear? The power? The passion?”
And I thought, yes. Yes I do (obviously not as a boy though).
As a child, my small frame could have easily been lost amongst the throng. I could have been belittled for my childish attempts to sing along with adults in adult-words. I could have been turned away from a Believer’s baptism because I was too young to ‘believe’ for myself.
Risk and rewardBut those early strides of faith,
somewhat more stroll-like in the early double digits of my youth, built some strong faith legs to stand on when I took faith seriously for myself at the age of 17.
They set a framework for me that God is big, great, powerful, and fearsome. But it took me another few years to find out what all the jargon I’d learnt as a child really meant.
Often our churches explore faith solely through Christian words, Christian themes and Christian relationships. They limit the ability to take risks, to engage in relationships outside the church and endorse a vocabulary that we ourselves do not understand, but can quite happily iterate, and reiterate, to others.
It’s this disconnect between culture, language, humanity and authenticity that is causing a crushing blow to our churches. Young people are struggling to find faith in the public sphere, away from the safety of their church community where mutuality of beliefs and life choices abound. And they’re even struggling to find a place to belong within Christian communities.
Churches are bleeding young people from their bodies like car-crash victims losing their fight to live. Many of them have no idea how to stem the flow of loss - if they even acknowledge that their strength is waning.
People wonder why young adults aren’t in churches - that’s what this edition of New Times is exploring.
I hope you will open your hearts and minds to the young adults who have shared theirs with you in this edition. And I dedicate this to all of my friends who have left their faith behind because the chasm between church, culture and Christ became too wide for them to traverse.
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I’m one of those Baby Boomers whose parents took me with them to a Sunday School where they were teachers. Our Sunday School in the 50s and 60s had over 300 children and young people yet we were regarded by other churches around us as a ‘small’ congregation.
Now though, in my travels to congregations around our state, school-aged young people are missing; we have developed an aging church.
In talking with many young people, I’m left with no doubts that a lack of understanding of, and a reticence in accepting the gifts and talents of, young people, has emptied congregations of young people, many of whom now find no sense of community or belonging inside the church.
Australian social researcher, futurist and social commentator Mark McCrindle believes that the biggest divide in our society is the generational divide. He comments that age, current conditions and experiences are identifiable dividers. He readily acknowledges that meaningful communication with young people can be really difficult.
In his paper ‘Understanding Generation Y’, McCrindle identifies four essentials for meaningful engagements with youth.
(1) Be genuine in relationships with youth; ‘phonies’ will be quickly recognised.
(2) Spontaneous interactions will better lead to openness and relationship building.
(3) Reach true areas of interest.
(4) Care trumps knowledge. McCrindle states, “They don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care!” This requires the ability to ‘hang in there’ above all else.
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I still get surprises in my personal quest to keep relating with youth. Many of my assumptions about their assumptions about the Church prove to be wrong.
A growing number find deep significance in ‘traditional’ worship with attendant written liturgies and vested worship leaders. Some find ‘contemporary’ worship services aren’t really contemporary; instead they seem to be caught in the 60s or 70s style of songs or language. Others describe worship with bands and worship leaders as performance, not participation.
We may be enduring as a church, but only just enduring as the result of our failure to understand and respond creatively to the changes of history – even our short history as the Uniting Church.
I am going to have to remain open to fresh, meaningful ways of engaging with the ‘missing generation’. And I’m going to have to consider and get straight my motivation for doing so. These are issues we all need to be working on.
Rev Rob Williams
UnitingCare welcomes 2011 budgetUnitingCare Australia welcomed the 2011 Federal Budget and says it’s a carefully crafted, considered effort that will help people trapped on welfare find jobs and a more secure financial future.
National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds, said the winner this year with a $2.2 billion package is mental health.
“The national mental health reform package focuses on resourcing support for people in their community. It includes $600 million to expand mental health services in the community with a single point of contact where people can access a full range of supports from therapeutic care to housing and job security.
“People on disability payments, parents, and young people will be able to work more hours and still keep their payment.
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Breaking cycles of disadvantage leads to real jobs UnitingCare Australia has welcomed the Federal Government’s clarification of its plans for welfare and employment services reform.
National Director, Lin Hatfield Dodds, said Minister Macklin’s commitment to get people from welfare into work through programs that show respect, encouragement and support is a welcome departure from the punitive public debate of the recent few weeks.
“We know there are jobs and we know there are Australians looking for jobs. But there’s a mismatch. People without a job often don’t have the right skills, entry level jobs are rare and often short-term and part-time, employers are unwilling
to take a gamble on someone with a poor work history,” Ms Hatfield Dodds said.
“A range of practical measures can reduce long term unemployment. Through the Job Services Australia Innovation Fund, the Federal Government has tested different ways of working with people who have been out of work for a long time. These projects have demonstrated that it is possible to increase the participation and productivity of people whose life experience and education have limited their capacity to work.
“A successful program in South Australia delivered by a UnitingCare service pulls together state and federal resources to combine job
readiness training and skills development with interventions that address the barriers to work caused by insecure housing, overcrowding, family violence, disability, caring responsibilities, mental illness and other chronic health problems.
“These projects acknowledge that it takes time and money to break the cycle of disadvantage that comes from being disconnected from work or school. UnitingCare Australia wants to see measures that extend the provision of multi-dimensional programs that really do make a difference to getting people into work.
“In addition to these holistic responses to long term unemployment, we are also
keen to see more targeted training opportunities that link with real jobs and better incentives and support for the workplaces that employ people moving off welfare.”
The UnitingCare network provides social services to over 2 million people each year in remote, rural and metropolitan Australia. The network employs 35,000 staff and engages 24,000 volunteers.
“Overall the workforce participation package is solid.
“There’s a comprehensive range of initiatives and supports to help jobless families, long term unemployed, teen parents and people on the disability pension get the skills they need to find a job. Complementary initiatives encourage employers to take a chance on an unemployed Australian.
“But demand will outstrip supply.
“While wages subsidies are welcome and will be effective, there are 350,000 long term unemployed and only 10,000 wage subsidies. Getting off welfare and into work will still be a bit of a lottery, but it’s a solid start.
“The losers in this year’s Budget are those who have been shifted from one payment to another at a lower rate.
People moving from parenting payment to Newstart will lose $60 a week and people moving from Newstart to Youth Allowance will lose $40 a week.
“This is only an issue because welfare payments are too low to live on.
“There is no evidence that tough compliance measures get more people into work. Suspending payments does little to engage most people who are genuinely in need of support and services.
“Overall the Budget provides a good platform for sharing the benefits of the boom with more Australians.
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Denise Champion Ministry of Pastor, to Covenanting Officer (0.5) and State Development and Outreach Officer from 1 May 2011
Rev Adam Tretheway to International Mission Officer (0.5) from 1 May 2011
InductionsRev Coral Smith, Deacon Blackwood Uniting Church22 May 2011, 2pm
Rev Tony EldridgeWestbourne Park Uniting Church14 June 2011, 7.30 pm
Rev Jane McDonaldKimba 7 July 2011, 7.30 pm
Rev Wes HowlandWest Lakes United12 July 2011, 7.00 pm
CommissioningPastor Brian ScottCounty Jervois 10 July 2011, 2pm at Cleve
Placements news:
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On 17-18 June 2011, the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia will meet at Adelaide West Uniting Church for business and resourcing.
Beginning on Friday night with worship at 7.15 pm, the meeting will proceed with business which will continue at 1pm on Saturday. Business will traverse ordination proposals, reports of committee activity and presentations from strategy and development teams.
Saturday morning is designed to resource, refocus and reconsider ministry with young people with The Heart of Youth Ministry – Relationships Unfiltered. The keynote speaker
June Presbytery and Synod Meeting
Pre-sessional workshops are an excellent opportunity to focus specifically on ministry areas prior to the commencement of the Presbytery Synod meeting. The June workshops include:
• Child Safe Environments (full day) Cost: $33 + meal This course is compulsory for every person in placement, and every person
in leadership, especially those involved in children’s and youth ministry. Venue: Uniting College
• Child Safe Environments (1.30 - 4.30pm) Cost: $16 For those who did their training three or more years ago, your training needs
to be updated. Venue: Uniting College
• Mental Health First Aid (1- 4pm) Cost: $50 + meal (if required) Covers the basic principles of recognising and responding appropriately to
someone experiencing mental health problems before professional help is accessed. It is an evidence-based programme, supported by Orygen Research Centre, University of Melbourne and by the Mental Health Council of Australia.
The seminar is specifically adapted to support Uniting Church Ministers and Congregations. Venue: The Corner Uniting Church
• Ministry of Pastor (9.30am - 12.30pm) In this seminar we will walk through the reasons for and practicalities of
the Ministry of Pastor. This seminar will be essential information for people appointing lay people to their ministry teams and those hoping to be appointed. Venue: The Corner Uniting Church
To book in any of these Pre-sessionals, please contact Gill Morel:p. 8236 4204e. [email protected]
Pre-sessional workshops
will be Dr Andrew Root, an established scholar, lay minister and youth worker, who combines wide experience with young people and sharp theological thinking. This session will interest any adult relating regularly with young people – leaders, parents, grandparents, ministers and church members.
For further details, please contact Associate General Secretary, Malcolm Wilson:p. 8236 4206e. [email protected]
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The Uniting Church in Australia has written to all Federal Labor parliamentarians, expressing its shock at the cruel and punitive plan to ‘swap’ refugees with Malaysia.
The Church’s National Director for justice, Rev Elenie Poulos, said, “It is one of the truly low points in Australian politics that a Government has made a deal to trade people like commodities. It is shocking that they have reached this ‘people swap’ deal with a country that has an appalling human rights record.
“Australia has a moral obligation to provide safety for as many people as we can. We also have international obligations under the Refugee Convention to assess the claims for protection of everyone who comes to us seeking safety, regardless of how they arrive.”
President of the Uniting Church in Australia, Rev Alistair Macrae, said, “A commitment to increase the numbers of refugees Australia accepts from countries in our region where people’s lives are at risk is welcome, – but engineering a swap to punish people who are exercising their right to seek asylum is a punitive attempt to score cheap political points.
“Malaysia is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention and it has a record of human rights abuses against asylum seekers and refugees,” he said.
Amnesty International has also flagged its concerns about Malaysia’s record, with a 2010 report recording as many as 6000 refugees caned there every year.
“Across Malaysia, government officials regularly tear into the flesh of prisoners with rattan canes travelling up to 160km/h. The cane shreds the victim’s naked skin, turns the fatty tissue into pulp, and leaves permanent scars that extend all the way to muscle fibres,” the report stated.
Uniting Church shocked at people swapping plans“We have a country like Australia that has signed the
Convention sending people to a country that hasn’t signed the Convention, and where we know refugee protection is deeply problematic,” said Dr. Graham Thom, Amnesty International Australia’s refugee spokesman.
Rev Macrae has asked the government to clarify their position on the treatment of asylum seekers sent from Australia.
The letter addressing the Uniting Church in Australia’s concerns was sent in early May and included the following questions:
• How will the 800 people be chosen?
• Willchildren,familiesandunaccompaniedminorsbesentto Malaysia or will single men continue to bear the brunt of Australia’s damaging policies?
• HowwilltheybesupportedinMalaysia?
• Howwilltheirsafetybeguaranteed?
• HasMalaysiaagreedtoimproveitstreatmentofallasylumseekers and refugees or just the 800 sent from Australia?
• Thereare92,000refugees in Malaysia – who will choose who comes to Australia and on what basis?
“The Government maintains that Malaysia has agreed to treat the asylum seekers sent from Australia better than those already in Malaysia; it has also said that asylum seekers sent from Australia will not receive preferential treatment. We ask the Government to make clear what kind of treatment people will receive,” said Rev Macrae.
UC Invest Ad ARPIL 11 OUTLINES (18x12).indd 1 12/4/11 11:54:58 AM
Basic human needs won’t change; food, sleep, companionship. But the way we go about our lives will evolve, as technology develops and the earth decays.
What about the church of the future? The basics will remain; Christians meeting together, reading God’s Word, praying and sharing. But the way it happens will continue to evolve, as the way we go about our lives also evolves.
The new, ecumenical Mission Shaped Ministry (MSM) course focuses on new areas of outreach that engage with those outside the reach of the traditional church and is designed to help people establish fresh expressions of church. So far, over 1500 people have completed the course.
Rev Ruthmary Bond, Fresh Expression & Evangelism Officer of Uniting Church SA, sees this course as integral to setting a foundation for the church of the future.
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“The training of pioneer leaders is something we as a church need to attend to. This course is a great foundation and a solid step forward for our future,” said Ruthmary.
If you’re a youth leader, church council member, minister, home group leader, or regular church-goer who is passionate about reaching out to people in new ways, then this course is for you.
Along with Ruthmary the course is being led by Rev Dr Steve Taylor, Director of Missiology at Uniting College, Rev Tracey Gracey, Chairperson for the Anglican Mission & Evangelism Unit, and Mr Nevin Nitschke, Mission Facilitator of the Lutheran Church.
Local and national speakers are involved in MSM, which runs on 14 weeknights over two semesters and includes a focus weekend. As well as hearing about
practical aspects of mission, participants also have the opportunity to make the most of a mission coach or mentor, for encouragement and inspiration.
The six month, part time course launches its pilot in July.
For further information please contact Course Administrator, Eloise Scherer:
p. 0403 697 102e. [email protected]
Rev Dave Male who is one of the pioneers of Fresh Expressions in the UK will be coming to Adelaide to Launch Mission Shaped Ministry at Burnside City Uniting on 6 July at 7pm. Contact Eloise to attend.
Shaping tomorrow’s ChurchMuch ink has been spilt in speculation about the future of
our world. What will it look like in 2050? 2100? 2500?
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After discovering the internet in the early 90s while living in San Francisco, Andrew Jones saw the potential for mission – and never looked back.
“I liked the excitement and the rush of publishing immediately,” Andrew comments. “For me, blogging has been a place of healing and reflection, a place to store those pieces or moments – almost like a scrapbook.”
Known as ‘Tall Skinny Kiwi’ online, the tall, skinny Kiwi is a fulltime itinerant preacher and social media expert, and, with his family, lives on mission all over the globe. Currently, their motorhome is waiting for them in Prague, but it’s been all over Europe for the past ten years due to the family’s nomadic missional movements.
Travelling and the festivals circuit are just part and parcel of being a Jones – and knowing Jesus.
“Our family’s favourite is Slot Art festival in Poland. We also go back each year to Greenbelt and Cornerstone in the UK - they’re kind of like a training base for us.
“I find conferences really boring; festivals you stay up all night and enjoy an Old Testament feast style party atmosphere. You can’t always
stay up til 2am hanging out, but at festivals you can.
“Festivals are quite cheap and sustainable. Leaders from around the world gather at a round table sort of thing. There’s not a whole lot of money floating around so we all pitch in; they help us, we help them.
“It means everyone sleeps in tents and eats sausages on a barbie, but it also means poor folk can come along.”
For Andrew, inclusion is critically important, and has been a consistent part of his journey since he was a teenager.
As a teenager, Andrew often strode the streets as an evangelist. Then a self-declared fundamentalist, he would be out until two in the morning, “terrorising people in Jesus’ name.
“I became very frustrated though. People had to make such a big cultural leap to adjust to church culture. I wanted to see churches have a better fit for the people coming into them.
By the time he turned 21, Andrew was on the mission field overseas.
“When we led people to Jesus we’d try to stick them together into churches; they’d meet in homes, pubs,
coffee shops - anywhere they could find. It wasn’t paid professionals leading these churches – most of those didn’t want to hang out with the less-refined, tattooed young people.
“It led us to focusing our mission amongst those who didn’t have a church background. I like to help young people start new forms of church that make sense to them in their culture, to bring understanding.
“There are a lot of dynamics to church services that young people don’t like: the time, you can’t sit there with a coffee, you’re watching someone talk from a stage that you can’t interact with or question when they finish. If people do come, they want access to social media and interaction.
“Social media isn’t the answer for everything - it’s an extension, like a window on what you’re doing. Daniel had a window; through it, people saw him praying.
“The social media window doesn’t make your church more interesting, it just allows people to look into it more easily.
“I think the church has so much to share. We’re people who have our lives transformed by the person of
The skinny on social media – tips from AndrewChoosing which social media to opt for depends on what you’re interested in. If it’s photos, go to flickr.
If you love to tell stories, choose a blogging platform – wordpress is best.
If you’re big on friendships – Facebook. It’s the biggest social friendship platform.
Want to connect with trivia or up to date news and links? Twitter.
If you stick at it for a long time, you’ll find a combination of these that will work together, a dashboard of your various life streams.
Christ - we need to tell that through social media, through going to our next-door neighbour, through having a barbecue for our street.
“Young people are attracted to the mission of Christ. The first point in their journey as a Christian is on mission because they encounter Christ on the fringes.
“We need to become friends with people; through that the gospel message can flow and bring healing.”
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Vox populi, vox dei. “The voice of the people [is] the voice of God.” Old Proverb, Anon.In an era where young adults are largely missing from the church, this generation often ends up in the
‘too hard basket’ of ministry or are mis-assumed to be disinterested in faith and spirituality.
But what do young adults think about the church? New Times asked young adults who have some
connection with the church, why they do or do not attend church, why their peers might be choosing
similarly and what their hopes are for the future of the church.
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Carly, 29I’d left church partly because I didn’t fit in; partly because I was going
through a really difficult time and the community I was in didn’t know
how to support me. There wasn’t really a place for brokenness in that
community.Being part of a [different] church community helps me have
a routine and rhythm to my relationship with God. While I have a
community of friends who belong to various churches, and we support each
other’s faith, actually attending a church gathering is good for me – it helps me
make time in my busy life for spiritual growth.
I hope that the idea of ‘church’ will open up to broader possibilities than the
current model. I think we’re all so busy with life that it’s easy to just do church
the way our parents and grandparents did, except with electric guitars. Creating
new cultures of community and new ways to gather together takes time, effort
and creativity. Most of us are really time-poor and tired so we stick to repeating
old formulas, which are only fertile for a minority of young churchgoers.
I’d like to see church being a place where you’re allowed to be a young adult—
having a culture where it’s acceptable to wrestle with your emerging adult faith,
where being in this stage of life is actually valued, not dismissed as an awkward
phase of not ‘fitting in’, between teenage enthusiasm and adult identity.
Young adulthood is a time of asking questions, challenging yourself and
finding your adult identity. I think traditional churches often discourage doubt;
periods of uncertainty are seen as a ‘problem’ to be cured of as quickly as
possible, rather than a legitimate phase to dwell in. If you’re in a place of
uncertainty, you don’t fit in – so you leave.
Jason, 21I believe the greatest downfall in the church is that it is stuck in tradition and routine, afraid to be different and try new things. It’s too afraid to come out of its own shell to go out into the world and make a real difference. The world changes, as does the views on the church from those outside it; the church needs to continually find new ways to connect and be significant to the world. I hope it can stop looking inwards, stop worrying about what other churches and denominations are doing and start focusing outwards.People aren’t going to church because it’s boring, unexcitable, unrelatable and uninspiring. In a world that is continually pushing us to live fast-paced, exciting and most of all independent lives, something like church, where we go once a week, early Sunday morning and sit for a couple of hours, have someone tell us what we should and shouldn’t be doing and then have superficial conversations with people over a coffee, is not nearly as exciting, fun and relationship fulfilling as a Saturday night out. Also, in the bible we see stories of miracles, inspiring people who had incredible relationships with God and a God that seems to be way more interactive and relational with people than he is now. When that’s not happening anywhere, what is there to be excited about in being a Christian?I would like church to be a place where real community happens, where real relationships are built, where people support and discuss real issues in each others lives, build each other up and encourage each other in their relationship with God. I would like it to be a place of practical learning about God and how to live lives based on Jesus.
eD, 29During High School a group of friends and I encountered Jesus in a
significant way,
I wanted the young people at my church to experience it too. I became a
youth leader – it’s gone from there. I am involved in the church because
I love the church and I have hope for the church.
Young adults aren’t going to church because they have friends outside the
church that are faithful, non-judgemental and fun. They find transcendence
(even though it is sometimes momentary and in unhealthy ways) in
entertainment, partying and sex. They are already involved in great causes
doing good things which put them in touch with a sense of purpose,
belonging and communion with others and creation.
Instead of getting a feel good hour with a motivational talk and yet
another sermon series on the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ to help me get through next
week, my hope for regular Sunday worship is that it will become a time of
celebrating what God did in and through us from Monday to Saturday, so
that we can remember why we worship him, be confronted by what it means
to follow him and embody who we are as the body of Christ.
We have reduced the life of embodying Jesus into a moralistic self-
improvement scheme with abstract concepts. I just want the church
to be who the church is. We are a bunch of broken people in a broken
world following a King who was broken. I believe if we stop pretending
to have our crap together and our faith all sorted out, our communities
will be marked by intimacy, acceptance and support.
I am still in the church because I love the church. I believe God chose
the church and empowered the church to be the embodiment of his
arriving Kingdom - I am thrilled to belong to that.
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Charlotte, 22
I honestly think I got involved with youth ministry because I wanted to serve in
some format, and the option was easy and was there. I probably did it more
because it felt like I should be doing it, and it was an accepted (and respected)
form of ministry more so than out of feeling a real connection with teens. I’ve since
stopped serving in that way... but I learned a lot from doing it.
From what I’ve seen and can infer on why young adults are leaving the church is
that: the messages being delivered weren’t challenging or meaningful, and because
the church community wasn’t able to lovingly or compassionately walk alongside
those with life choices that didn’t fit within a certain range.
When I’ve wanted to leave it’s because I don’t find the messages relevant to how
I’m travelling, or at all challenging or interesting. When I did leave it was because
the fellowship wasn’t enough to make me bother attending if the previous problem
was still there. When I came back it was because I felt like I needed to be involved
in ministry more directly. Also, I realised I could arrive 20 mins late for the services
and miss most of the worship without anyone really being bothered. Or, at least,
without mentioning it to my face.
I hope it becomes more common for the tricky, unpleasant, distasteful questions
to be asked out loud. Even, perhaps especially, when there aren’t answers for them.
I hope more people start mentoring/being mentored. And I hope I stop meeting
other young adults who get shocked when the “s” word comes up in
conversation inside a Church Building. (And by “s” I mean “sex”.)
The greatest downfall of the church is not being bold.
Mike, 29How ministry could be rethought with this demographic is the million-dollar question. Like most ministries... look at the life of Jesus. Disciple and empower youth, particularly 15-17 year olds, to go deep in prayer and bible reading and be active in social justice causes and ministry areas. But here’s the kicker...make it THEIR ministry areas, THEIR causes. Let’s not have 50 year olds telling 20 year olds where their passions are or what they ‘need’ in terms of what church should look like. Older Christians need to guide, sure, offer advice, certainly. Poor discipleship and broken relationships are largely why young people leave the church. Often they head to uni/work for the first time and come up against opposition to their beliefs...to which they have no answer. I believe this can be helped by better mentoring/bible study/peer accountability. Or, they start a relationship which leads them away from God, or one within the church breaks up which leads them to question where He was in the process and pain of it all. The two link together - good discipleship leads to good relationships and you can’t have someone discipling you without a good relationship!The greatest downfall of the church though is its inability to change. Shouldn’t we be the most flexible group of people in the world? Founded on firm core beliefs, but able to question and analyse them, safe in our belief in their ideals and faith in the God who gave them to us? church is forever telling people to come in and be like us.
I want the church to be open, accepting and loving of all people. Challenging, confronting and questioning of local/global social injustice and congregational sinful behaviour (yes, the s word!). Devoted, faithful and selfless to Jesus and serving him in the wider community.
Dan, 27As I see Christian numbers decreasing all over the globe, part of me feels insecure. But I feel excited too - when Christianity is pushed to the margins it always thrives and its expression is much more pure. When interacting with young adults who have left the church, I tend to find people broadly fit into two different categories: (1) people who have become bored with church and lose connection to their faith, and (2) they want an expression of church that is deep and more relational with a bunch of people they can ‘change the world’ with.The greatest downfall of the church is that many young adults outside of the church are pursuing a somewhat open-minded approach to faith and life in general. A ministry run by people with an agenda
to only protect and defend their position as an institutional, personal belief system won’t get too far with young adults.I believe ministry with 18-35 year olds needs to start with listening and asking questions. There needs to be more emphasis on the journey than results and numbers. There needs to be a call to higher commitment; commitment to radical-Jesus-flavoured-discipleship not to an institution – a call that can actually change society.
I left the church because I felt God call me to start something organic which valued mutual contribution. I had experienced so much more of God than I felt was being presented from the pulpit - I simply got bored and frustrated. I’m now dabbling in getting involved in leadership in the Uniting Church again. Though I don’t believe in the institutional church, this is the place where many a Christian hangs out and I feel called to help the church transition from a modern to post-modern paradigm, hence, I’m hanging around again.
Sam, 25I want church to be a haven for the down cast, but that would mean
I’d have to change. So be it. I hope the walls of the church fall down.
And I hope it looks and sounds more like real life.
Its greatest downfall is the people. But that’s also its greatest
attribute. And its only attribute. The church as I see it is sick and
confused, lacking depth of meaning. Or maybe more like an
adolescent in its current state. Instead of people running away from
home, they’re running away from the church.
If young adults aren’t going to church it’s possibly because the
church as they experience it isn’t providing a worthy alternative to
the ‘world’. It’s an out of touch parent that’s struggling to come to
terms with change. It’s trying to stay in touch but it doesn’t know
how to embrace change whilst maintaining what it knew to be true.
Something about wineskins.
I think young people want something to hang the coat of their
faith on. We want to believe, we want to talk about faith in a real-life
context, but we don’t just want a ‘Tony Robins-esque’ motivational
speech about how to be a good guy with ‘Jesus’ in the
subtext.
Nicole, 18I think a lot of young adults aged 18- 23 stop going to church because, at that age, people are at such different stages of life: uni, trades, working, not doing anything, volunteering - even with relationships everyone’s different. Some people are married; others are single and haven’t ever been in a relationship. There are so many different things telling us what to be and how best to be it but we’re all at different stages, looking for different things.There also doesn’t seem to be much at churches for 18-20 year olds. Leaving the school system and youth groups, both with their structure and programmed events, to enter the adult world where there is no structure and churches commonly don’t have many structured events for youth adults is a difficult adjustment. Relational connections which were developed through regular interactions as a ‘youth’ get lost by the infrequency of young adults events.I think also that people who have grown up in a church feel that older church people don’t ever see them as adults. They remember them as 15 or younger – at least until young people obviously change to adult-status through getting married or leadership roles. Often they need to go somewhere else where they didn’t grow up because even as leaders, or married, they feel like people still think of them as a child.
Madeleine, 21
I’d love to see a church that is the centre of a community. A church
that isn’t necessarily about how many people attend on a Sunday,
but a church which is open all week, a place where people of all
ages feel comfortable enough to come for help, comfort and prayer.
I became involved in the church to give something back to the community
there, but in doing so I found that I have gained much more - skills, faith and
friends.For all the work that the church does about being welcoming, and based
on the loving ways of Christ, I think there is still the stereotype amongst
young people that church is all about rules and restrictions. This needs to be
challenged for young people to even consider attending church.
A lot of young people, particularly in their early 20s, are studying full-time.
Most also work part-time, leaving little free time. Young people want to have fun
and relax in their time off - church can seem too demanding or intense.
Young adults leave church for a variety of reasons, most of which aren’t really
confined to this demographic; other commitments, like sport/work, or it gets in
the way of time with friends. Some young people probably become frustrated
with the church structure and leave because they don’t feel they’re being given
enough support or opportunities.
It would be great to have programs that didn’t specify or assume belief but
were practical and Christ-like in their application. For young people, it’s much
easier to identify with the actions of Christ than the beliefs and traditions of the
church, especially because most young people in my generation didn’t attend
Sunday School and had little contact with the church growing up.
Tim, 29
The question isn’t so much why young
adults aren’t going to church, it’s why
would they? Looking at the church, it’s
hard to see what distinguishes the Christian
life from any other way. I think young adults are
doing their best to lead good lives, look after
their friends and make happy families - seeing as
Christians don’t seem to be any better at these
things than anybody else is, why would anybody
even consider going to church?
I’m constantly frustrated by the church but
I can’t think of a better thing to be doing than
sharing life with others. I don’t just mean the
people who you like or share your interests, but
all and any others who are in your vicinity, and
want to do the same. This, to me, is the very
heart of what it means to be the church, so I
guess I’m stuck here ‘til something better comes
along!I think the church is at its worst whenever
it views itself as some sort of marketing
department for God. Ironically, the more we
clamour to prove to the world how relevant, cool
or smart our faith is, the less we seem to notice
God’s grace-full work all around us.
I don’t think the church has a problem
connecting with ‘young people’ per se. I think it
has a problem connecting with all people - it’s
just that the young are where its decline is most
obvious.The key, to my mind, is to invite young people
not into belief, but into a community that is
a way of life. That is actually a very attractive
proposition to a young person. All we have to do,
to make this happen, is to actually start living out
this ‘way of life’ together, as the body of Christ.
Matt, 28In Australia in 2011 it’s difficult not to become apathetic or live like we carry God around in our back pocket (right next to our iPhone).My hope for all Christians is that we would recognise the central place Christ deserves in our lives, the power of God available to us, and the deep needs that only God can meet amongst our local and global neighbours. The place of the church in all of this, in its simplest form, is a gathering of believers to spur each other on to grow as passionate followers of Jesus. My hope for the future of the church is that we’re willing to explore more effective ways of facilitating this type of community, even if this means dropping some things that currently define us.While much of what young people are searching for can be found in God, He most often comes wrapped in packaging that looks like the church. For the most part, this packaging in the eyes of a young person is of a bygone era, giving off aromas of irrelevance or even hypocrisy.Each generation sees the world slightly differently, and understanding today’s young adults is a good starting point to rethinking how we connect with them. The church that most young adults might be attracted to looks very different to the mainstream church as we see it today. Having said this, it is worth noting that there are still young adults going to church in South Australia, and the Uniting Church has some vibrant faith communities working with this demographic. I believe there is still a place for a more ‘traditional’ model of church targeted at young people, but new models and fresh expressions are essential if the church in South Australia is to faithfully serve our God for generations to come.
Missing Generation
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Mardi, 31My hope is that the church is a place for intelligent, open
discussion on faith and life and a catalyst for change in regards to
human rights and the environment (as it has been in the past).
I want the church to be a community. Not just with like-minded
people but getting out of our buildings and working with our local
communities to show faith in action. Our ability to isolate what we
do on Sundays from the rest of our lives and our unwillingness
to openly discuss the difficult questions that young people
experience is the church’s greatest downfall.
I did leave the church for some time, not because I lost faith,
but because I moved and couldn’t find a new church. As one of
very few young people at my home congregation I was exhausted
from running youth groups and worship leading. I wanted a break.
I love that the Uniting Church appreciates us, but we [as young
people] still have a lot to learn. Sometimes that learning is best
done slowly and not from the front of the church.
I think young adults stop going to church because there is no
one else their age. At 18, people often move out of home, perhaps
even away from family influences. They start discovering who they
are, what kind of person they want to be and perhaps experiment
with a few things. Once out of the church it’s hard to get them
back until they start having their own kids. Also – young people
like going out on Saturday nights – it takes serious commitment
to get up early on a Sunday morning for church.
We need to think outside the box, connecting with people
where they’re ‘at’ (via social media or activities that
interest them) and support them through local church
communities.
Amy, 26I hated the church but was brought up in it and couldn’t escape its morality. Young adults aren’t going to church because it’s boring, smug, full of old people, at an inconvenient time, rarely relevant, often awkward, always embarrassing and full of judgemental people.They leave because they go to find meaning and then realise that the values and thoughts of some are shallow and inflexible. They aren’t allowed to ask questions. They are expected to marry within the ‘youth group’. Their true peers aren’t at church. They find more authenticity and honesty in their non-Christian friends. They’re curious, confused and sincere - those things aren’t welcomed by older people who’ve never really questioned their own faith.
I’d like the church to be an agent for justice and kindness, a place where people can talk and think about what it means to lead a good life, a body that presents society with a third way – a strong way that sidesteps aggression and passivity. A self sacrificing agent of peace and love.
I’d like church on my iPod. I’d like to join an organic cooking collective that talks about faith over dinner. I’d like a small group that met at a bar. I’d like it if a church asked my opinion sometimes. I’d like more opportunity to connect with church leaders and have ideas followed up on. I’d like a bit more clarity on what the church truly believed. I’d like to be embraced in all of my flaws and sins and be able to relax with church people. I’d like professed faith to link with action.I hope the church can be brave enough to change, to say what it really thinks or even to go down in flames if that’s what it costs to speak the truth and evolve.
These articles are shortened version of full responses.
For the full version, go online to [email protected]
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A couple of years ago I participated in a wonderful service of celebration. Seven young adults were baptised and/or confirmed. All of them shared their testimonies, every one a story of transformation. I was there that night as a leader, but I went home transformed and uplifted myself.
The style of the service was in keeping with the tastes of the young adults involved. The music was loud, skilfully played and full of life.
After the service, several visitors spoke to me. They were also uplifted and envious of what they had just witnessed. They said, “I wish we had young adults participating like that in our church.”
I replied by asking, “Would you allow young adults to lead your service in the way they wanted?”
What I was really asking was, ‘Would you welcome and celebrate young people as they are’? The answer she gave was, “Of course not.”
I was brave enough to reply, “Well I doubt that you will ever have young people like that in your church.”
None of us own our worship or how our community is to be constituted. Rather we are to welcome all whom God sends to us. Everyone who comes is to be received as a gift. Young people are to be loved, respected, mentored and trusted as leaders. It’s simply about love really, and we will be known as disciples when that is present.
REV ROD DYSONExecutive Officer, MRN
Getting to know...An Adelaide girl through and through, 25 year old Katrina Claire Levi, hopes to be part of a movement amongst young people in South Australia, seeing lives transformed by the ministry happening through local churches. Though her title of Youth & Young Adults Administrator may not seem as visionary as her hopes would suggest, Katrina sees organisation, task-completion and solid process as the perfect undergirding for ministry and mission. And she’s not afraid to help you re-organise yourself either.
Family: Husband, Brendan
Church: Hope Valley Uniting Church (HVUC)
Background: I started my working life in retail management before feeling a call to do some bible studies. What started on a ‘for interest’ basis soon moved me into a Bachelor of Ministry and I found myself working for HVUC as part of the Out of the Valley (OOTV) conference. This in turn became administration for the OOTV MRN centre [formerly based in HVUC] and leading the HVUC youth group.
Why you wanted this job: I am passionate about sharing the love of Jesus with people, very much with young people – seeing young people experience Jesus, be
transformed by Jesus and to live their lives following Jesus. This job is about helping this happen across the state, through events and, most importantly, through resourcing local churches.
Most peculiar fear: I’m not a huge fan of birds
Three words to sum you up: consistent, caring/thoughtful, disciplined
Person you most admire: My mum
Eyes on the prizeWill Hall
Late last year, leaders from around the state began to meet together to discuss, dream and strategise about all things youth and young adult ministry at a localised, grassroots level. The team, now known as the Youth & Young Adult Visioning Team, meet three times a year to continually look forward in mission, and help Uniting Churches across South Australia do the same.
This initial gathering sparked unified momentum for increased collaboration, sharing, and celebration of what God is doing in our midst; it asked the question of how the youth and young adults’ office in the SA Synod could best support localised ministries across the State. The answer seemed to be a commitment to networking and engaging young adults in leadership, decisions and strategy – and so, besides Katrina, myself and the visioning team, we have four young leaders meeting regularly to help shape mission and ministry for youth and young adults.
We have many collaborative initiatives on the go at present with Welcome to Australia, a reinvigorated attentiveness to ‘About Face’ and an ongoing commitment to working with leadership teams within Uniting Churches.
Though youth and young adult ministry has its challenges, we feel equipped to make an impact with a message of hope. We’re aiming to build a good foundation for mission by growing our network, our unity and keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Be topical, be brief, be timely.Letters over 150 words will be edited; responses to previous letters /articles will be considered within two months of the original item’s publication only.All letters are published at the editorial team’s discretion.
NO EASy ANSWER
Reading a recent article in the Advertiser, starting off with “The Uniting Church demands……” which goes on to incite the government to improve their handling of the asylum seekers, I would like to point out, that although being a popular topic, like improving the state of our Aboriginal people, Rev Rob Williams should realise and probably does, that there is no easy answer as to how to handle both of these problems, whether it be Liberal or Labor government. How about the Uniting Church putting its support for less popularist issues, such as the Christian Pastoral Support Workers in our schools and the seeking to maintain their role, and demanding rights for the unborn.
J Iles,Golden Grove
TO THE EDITOR
When I read your editorial in New Times - May 2011 issue, especially when you wrote, “The bible isn’t altogether encouraging in its female characters and metaphors”, methinks the editor doth protest too much.
Over the years I’ve discovered powerful femininity in the Hebrew and Christian scriptures.
In Exodus 1, five females thwarted Pharaoh. Judges 4, we meet Deborah, the only woman in the Bible to take on a man’s role and do it better. In that same chapter, Jael, the only other woman in the Bible to be called “most blessed of women”. One could never call Ruth weak and we must not forget Esther. And more from the apocrypha. Then there’s Jesus many conversations and friendships with women others ignored. The author of John’s Gospel is one of the most gender fair writers of his time and beyond.
Editor, if you were out to catch a fish, you’ve caught one.
C Ridings,Ryde, NSW
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Send your letters to: [email protected] or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.
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RECONNECT WITH YOUR INNER ARTIST and explore how what we see may change how we think at the Spirituality and Visual Arts workshop on 4 June from 10.00am – 3.00pm at Christ Church Uniting, Wayville. The workshop includes exploring techniques in visual art with graphic designer and artist, Tom Borgas and Dr Deidre Palmer. Registration and more info www.cmla.org.au. 4 June Cost: $40 / $30 concession (lunch provided).
ROSEFIELD UNITING CHURCH (2 Carlton St, Highgate) celebrates 100 years with a worship celebration, Sunday 12 June at 10.00am. Speaker: Rev Alistair Macrae (President). Worship leader: Rev Rob Williams (Moderator). There will be a special morning tea and memorabilia display. All welcome. Ph 8271 9528.
WELLSPRING SA invites you to its next meeting to hear Vicky Balabanski and Ron Hoenig speak about “Issues that bring Jews and Christians together”. Wednesday 15 June at Christ Church Uniting (26 King William Road, Wayville). Shared tea from 6.30pm, speakers from 7.30pm. Enquiries: Neville and Barbara Washington 8248 5142, [email protected].
ABERFOYLE UNITING CHURCH, in partnership with the Uniting Aboriginal and Island Christian Congress (UAICC) are sending a work party to Nyapari in mid July. The Nyapari Church has a new building and is looking for the following items; bell, communion table, font /bowl for baptism, cross inside (free standing or wall mount), little cross for the roof and lights. Donations and further information to Russell [email protected], 0451 050 892.
To have your upcoming event or message published here, email [email protected] with ‘Diary’ in the subject line.
THE RETURNED MISSIONARIES Get Together for 2011 will be held at Broadview Uniting Church (corner Collingrove and Galway Ave, Broadview) on Sunday 24 July at 1.30pm. Enquiries: Rosemary Nicholls 8295 1480.
MICHAEL HAWN is back in Australia. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear him speak and sing. Be inspired by music from around the world, liven up your music team, and encourage worship leaders. Sunday 19 June, 2.00pm – 5.00pm at The Centre for Music, Liturgy and the Arts (193 Brougham Place, North Adelaide). More info? Jennifer Hughes [email protected] Registration forms available at www.cmla.org.au.
STATE MISSION FELLOWSHIP meets on Tuesday 28 June at Scots Church upstairs. The Speaker will tell us more of our local church work. Morning tea at 10.00am. Sandwiches at 12 noon. All welcome.
CLINTON CENTRE CHURCH celebrates 125 years in October 2011. More details in following issues of New Times. Enquiries: Maxine Langford 8835 1331 or Brenda Coleman 8837 7017.
A NEW RESOURCE CENTRE is now open at Hope Valley Uniting Church. It is a retail outlet of Christian books and resources. Open weekdays: 9.30am - 4.30pm and 10am – 1pm on Sundays. Enquiries: Heather Bald [email protected], (08) 8331 9901.
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positionsvacant.sa.uca.org.au
Expressions of interest are invited for the position of
Executive Director, Uniting Mission & EducationThe Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT
The Uniting Church, multicultural and inclusive, has as the centre of our faith to confess Jesus as Lord and to know that our relation to God depends on the grace of God.
‘Moving with God transforming communities’ is the Synod’s vision to be achieved by being courageous, inclusive and generous. Currently, the Synod is exploring ways of transforming its structures to enable the best use of resources to do so.
Uniting Mission & Education (UME) is taking shape as the division of the Synod empowered to give focus to mission and education strategies that grow discipleship, leadership and engage communities in mission.
With its history in separate Boards of Mission and of Education, UME has sound foundations while embracing the opportunity to guide and equip the Church for mission and education in a creative and pioneering spirit appropriate to the modern Australian context.
The position of Executive Director, UME, is a new position formed out of this endeavour and expressions of interest by ordained and lay people are invited.
Further details including Position Description outlining competencies, qualifications and experience required may be found at http://www.insights.uca.org.au/jobs/listing/executive-director-ume or by contacting Rowena Tagaloa at RowenaT@nsw. uca.org.au.
Closing date for applications is August 12, 2011.
Uniting Mission and Education
RELATIONSHIPS & RESOURCING TEAM LEADERThe Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT
Are you a positive, energetic and team oriented leader who can see the ‘big picture’, as well as ‘manage’ the details?
Are you known for your ability to foster relationships and partnerships across a diversity of groups and individuals?
Do you have a strong commitment to growing positive ways forward across the Uniting Church, and in providing leadership within the strategic work of UME?
The newly forming Division of Uniting Mission and Education NSW/ACT Synod seeks to equip and empower the Church to engage in Gods mission, grow lay and ordained leaders, and be an advocate for creative approaches to mission, education, discipleship and ministry.
The Team Leader will report to the Executive Director and will shape the work of the new Relationships and Resourcing Team, through consultation and collaboration, to resource and build capacity across the Church. The team will focus on multicultural, rural and lay ministries, next generation, new initiatives, and leadership, discipleship and congregational development.
The Team Leader will be an suitably qualified and experienced Minister of the Word, UCA Deacon or Pastor, or lay person. This will be a full time appointment.
Applications
Please contact Sue Willgoss on 82674387, or at [email protected], to obtain a position description and information package. Applicants must address the selection criteria, and to nominate at least 3 people as referees.
Applications are to be forwarded to Ms Meg Herbert, Synod Associate Secretary (Ministry), PO Box A2178, Sydney South, 1235, or [email protected]
Further details including Position Description may be found at http://www.insights.uca.org.au/jobs/listing/team-leader-ume
Applications close Monday July 11, 2011.
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“I had a brilliant time with all the friendly people and activities.”
This was the response of one child after an inspiring weekend at Eyre Peninsula’s KCO. The overnight event, held at the beautiful Thuruna campsite near Tumby Bay on 9-10 April, saw 100 children gather from as far as Kimba, Driver River, Port Lincoln, Tumby Bay and Cummins to explore the theme of ‘I Wonder’.
Leaders from across the Eyre Peninsula also gathered to serve, using gifts and skills in a variety of ways through music, teaching, craft, cooking, and relating
Rev Matthew Carratt
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to the children themselves. Rev Dr Benji Callen and his wife Nicole, who commenced placement in Port Lincoln this year, provided upfront leadership. Their contribution included transformation into characters ‘Mark’ and ‘Wanda’, who helped explore questions big and small.
KCO-EP was an inspiring event for the organising team as we watched the Church in action, building into the lives of our next generation. There is great hope for our future.
Support UnitingCare Wesley Adelaide and help others this Winter.
Please give generously.
For further information about our There’s No Place Like Home Winter Appeal
or to make a donation please telephone 8202 5111 or go to www.ucwesleyadelaide.org.au
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Did Love Really Win?- Rob Bell & The Book No-One Read.
There has recently been a rigorous debate raging between prominent members of the Reformed Church in the US about popular son Rob Bell, of Nooma fame.
Bell has written a book on salvation entitled ‘Love Wins’ and prior to its release, his publishing house produced a provocative preview video which could leave one with the impression that Bell is promoting universalism.
Universalism is the theological concept that if God is love then He would not send anyone to Hell. This is an incorrect doctrine because the Bible tells us explicitly that faith in Christ is necessary to spend eternity with the Father. (We could continue this exploration another time, but I would go further by saying God doesn’t send anyone to Hell, people choose a life without God and He respects that choice.)
In response to this promotional video, Reformist heavy-weight and pastor of
Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minnesota, John Piper, tweeted (yeah he’s 65, but he still uses Twitter!) ‘Farewell Rob Bell.’
Those three words caused an internet uproar. Bloggers and theologians from across the world fired up in defence or in condemnation of Rob Bell’s theology… before anyone had even read the book.
Piper later clarified that he meant Rob Bell could say goodbye to the embrace of the evangelical community, but you could understand the world’s misinterpretation.
(An ironic side-note is that the person with the Twitter feed @robbell is a non-Christian UK IT specialist and after his Twitter feed was mistakenly bombarded with condemnations from Christians about ‘Love Wins,’ his reasons for steering clear of Christianity were further solidified.)
Eventually the book was released and the general consensus is that no-one really knows what Bell believes on salvation. In interviews since, he has said he believes in a form of Hell, but his book contains more questions than answers, more ‘exegetical
Callum Iles
Each of the short essays in this stimulating collection originated in another place. Some began as conversations which Andrew Dutney enjoyed with listeners while he was a guest on ABC radio. Others began as articles in The Independent Weekly, New Times, or Australian Leadership. Others are drawn from university classes and seminars, including at the University of the Third Age.
Whatever its source, each essay is what it claims to be. A conversation starter. About God. About where God intersects with ordinary and everyday life. Backyard theology.
The result is a mixed bag, and its not always clear for whom the essay was written. Some raise questions for all of us. The place of religion, and public discourse about religion. Science and theology. Miracles. The Bible. But others seem to be written for a Christian audience, and raise issues that may not be of wider concern. Denominational leadership in post-denominational times. Missional mentoring. Theology and leadership. I was left wondering about who I might give this to...
Nevertheless, these essays will provoke conversation. They are honest and refreshing. They are insightful. They are stimulating. Certainly I found them well worth reading.
- Alan Dutton
Conversation starters on life and faithBook: Backyard Theology
Author: Andrew Dutney
Recommended for: those wanting to strike up faith and life conversations within the public sphere.
In short: essays to stimulate everyday theological conversations.
RRP: :$14.95
Available from: MRN Resource Centre
gymnastics’ than solid teaching and more confusion than clarity. It’s hard to tell what Bell believes, and he spends a book asking questions without answers.
So what can we learn from this?1. Publishing houses are clever marketers
that create controversy and stir interest to sell books. Peruse their press releases carefully.
2. It is foolish and unhelpful to make controversial claims about books you haven’t read.
3. When dealing with issues of faith, only write a book when you know what you believe or you may create disillusionment among those seeking answers to weighty questions. People are confused enough!
4. Non-Christians already have enough ammunition against followers of Christ without us bickering over social media and confirming their suspicions.
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Shane Claiborne, a passionate prophet to the institutional Church, and co-author Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, like-minded but more theologically qualified, have created a practical and inspiring guide to making prayer count. They call for the Church today to combine the prayerful words of their lips and with the works of their hands to see the kingdom of God come on this earth. They sum it up beautifully with their exhortation to ‘pray like everything depends on God and live like God has no other plan but the church.’
Claiborne’s manifesto for the modern Christian movement The Irresistible Revolution has changed many lives (including my own) in recent years. Many of the stories in Becoming the Answer were repeated from Irresistible, so it is probably more for newcomers to his school of thought, but the focus on prayer brings a new level of clarity to some questions after reading earlier works.
The conviction of this book is that no-one can rely on another person to do the work of the kingdom.
Giving to a charity is great, but if you don’t live intentionally like Jesus then there is little power in the life you are leading. Going to theological college is fantastic, but if you don’t seek the heart of God there will be no power in your life or ministry. Conversely, when the church is populated by motivated, community-minded, spiritually attentive and prayerful people, the kingdom of God will come.
- Callum Iles
Are you too busy to pray? Or are you just not sure how to pray? In The Folly of Prayer American author and pastor, Matt Woodley, names and celebrates some familiar – and unfamiliar - ways of praying.
In 11 chapters Woodley explores prayer in many ways including as guttural groaning, blood, bread, wine, desperation, mystery, absence, argument, a slow journey, a dangerous activity, paying attention, God’s heartbeat and love. He does not suggest prayer will be a quick fix for life’s troubles or gloss over the fact that not all prayers are answered.
Woodley includes many biblical references and draws especially deeply from the psalms, noting that in the bible someone is always crying out to God. Woodley also quotes extensively from a range of great spiritual writers such as St Augustine, Simone Weil, Thomas Merton, Ronald Rolheiser and Soren Kierkegaard.
This book is accessible, yet full of profound spiritual wisdom, and recommended for anyone who wants to do the one thing that will bring them closer to God.
- Michelle Coram
Lips and Hands: A Powerful Combination Book: Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers: Prayer for Ordinary Radicals
Many ways to prayBook: The Folly of Prayer: Practicing the Presence and Absence of God
Author: Matt Woodley
Recommended for: Anyone wanting to explore new ways of discerning God’s presence in their lives
In short: This book provides a good overview of diverse approaches to prayer and acknowledges the difficult reality of unanswered prayers.
RRP: $25.95
Available from: Amazon.com
Authors: Shane Claiborne and Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove
Recommended for: the growing numbers dissatisfied with institutional Christianity
In short: The ‘New Monastic’ movement encourages us to see how prayer without action is impotent and frankly unbiblical.
RRP: $13.00
Available from: Amazon.com
This book is the sequel to A New Kind of Christian. A woman dying of cancer on the Galapagos Islands is led through the Bible in a new way of thinking. In seven stages - Creation, Crisis, Calling, Conversation, Christ, Church and Consummation - the story of God and the story of faith are unpacked with diversions into evolution, evangelism, and eternity.
The Story We Find Ourselves In is the story of a loving God who opposes evil by the cross and justice-directed people who are looking to make a change in a broken world.
I liked the conversational style of this book even more than the first book in this trilogy as there were less email style chapters.
The Australian character is the daughter of a Uniting Church minister from Alice Springs (who doesn’t seem aware that Union took place in 1977), but she speaks like an American with an English accent, which I found annoying. New Times readers will notice this and other inaccuracies which have more to do with the narrative than the theology.
- Damien Tann
The Bible in seven stepsBook: The Story We Find Ourselves In
Author: Brian McLaren
Recommended for: Anyone looking for a new take on the old tale
In short: A conversation of the Bible’s story in seven steps.
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Key Direction 1: Conversion GrowthAt the June Presbytery & Synod meeting, the Conversion Growth team will launch a resource pack encouraging Uniting Church members in sharing their faith story. Titled Key, the largely unvoiced resource explores the journey of faith, using deliberate symbolism of light and keys. Designed to help congregation members find their own voice and ways to share their faith story, the DVD is supported by a resource booklet featuring bible studies, sermon outlines, liturgy and song suggestions to help Uniting Churches grow together over four weeks.
Key Direction 2: Raising LeadersUniting College for Leadership & Theology plays an integral role in Key Direction 2: Raising Leaders. With the launch of two new courses this year (Certificate IV in Christian Life & Ministry and the new Bachelor of Ministry), higher numbers of ministers participating in postgraduate study and 40 people involved in the Period of Discernment, the future of leadership in the Uniting Church SA is looking promising.
Key Direction 3: Growing DisciplesIn the last couple of years, the Growing Disciples team have produced an array of resources to assist congregations with one of their core tasks; growing disciples. Discipleship resources are available online at growing-disciples.org and from Uniting College. Keep an eye out for congregational resources focussing on ‘Practices of Christian Discipleship’ to be released this year.
Key Direction 4: Developing New ModelsThis year has seen Rev Ruthmary Bond begin in the role of Fresh Expressions and Evangelism Officer. The team have made some seed funding available for groups who wish to have a go at setting up a fresh expression of church. Rev Steve Taylor will be running a new course at Adelaide College of Divinity called Mission Shaped Ministry to train people in establishing fresh expressions.
Key Direction 5: Expanding our ProfileThe Uniting People campaign continues, with more media activity planned for the second half of 2011. At Christmas, the team released a booklet called 100 ways to celebrate Christmas. It was available as a free download from the Uniting People website – unitingpeople.org.au and featured on a radio interview on 5AA. Print advertisements were published in The Advertiser at Christmas and Easter time, pointing people to church services listed on the unitingpeople.org.au website.
Key Direction 6: Championing JusticeCommunity based justice initiatives have been the focus of the Key Direction 6 team. Recently, the team held a grant application process, resulting in a number of interesting proposed community justice projects. They include a Reconciliation Morning Tea program for a Ngarrindjeri language class, assistance for the Welcome to Australia initiative and a Community Health Promotion program.
Casting a vision for mission and ministry 2007-2012 Edition 11: June 2011
A strategic journey continuesThis year marks the fifth year in the journey of the Uniting Church SA’s Strategic Plan. Each of the teams involved in their respective Key Directions have put in countless hours, working towards the goals set before them. This page provides a glimpse of where each team is up to – find out more at strategicplan.sa.uca.org.au.
Sarah Urmston, Communications Officer, Uniting Church SA