DECEMBER 2012
THE MAGAZINE OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF ADELAIDE
Anglicare Angels spread
CHRISTMAS CHEER INSIDE: Reflections on the Christmas - summer package
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THE ANGLICAN GUARDIAN
Published by the Diocese of Adelaide Edited by Katrina McLachlan Phone: (08) 8305 9348 Fax: (08) 8305 9399 Email: communications@adelaide.anglican.com.au www.adelaide.anglican.com.au Words by Amy Noonan email: anoonan@anglicare-sa.org.au
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aFTER By Ann Somerville-Charles
Still the world is here Full of promise, but deeper The swirling colours As ancient shades blend and merge With the shine of tomorrow. Still the world is here Full of promise, but clearer The hushed elegance Of thoughts as they embrace the Stillness of infinity. Still the world is here Full of promise, but greater The distance between Hidden and seen and greater Still the space between what was And the world still here.
Ann Nadge is The Guardian’s poetry editor. Submissions of 20 lines or less are welcome. Send to the general editorial email address.
contents
THE TIME OF the child Archbishop Jeffrey Driver Once more the vulnerability of children is capturing the headlines, with the Federal Government calling a Royal Commission into child abuse within Australian institutions, churches and community groups. While most child abuse actually happens in and around families, every initiative that reduces its prevalence within the community is to be welcomed. The innocence and vulnerability of children is a sacred thing. While the need for a Royal Commission reflects this vulnerability in a particular and saddening way, Advent speaks of it with a theological depth that takes us to the heart of the Gospel. In Advent we prepare for the coming of God in the form of a child. In Advent we look to the coming of God in the most vulnerable and defenceless human form; that of a child. The most sacred is in the most vulnerable; the most vulnerable is the most sacred.
Advent calls us to look for God in the surprising and vulnerable. It’s a counterintuitive message for a world wedded to the idea of power as strength and dominance; of conflict being resolved so often by conquest. God comes as a vulnerable child. And if we dare to expect the presence of God in a child, then every child is in some sense sacred. And if we dare to expect God to come in the vulnerability that is represented by a child, then we must be prepared to see the face of God in the most vulnerable around us. And if we dare to expect God to come in such vulnerability, then perhaps we can expect to find God within our own vulnerabilities as well.
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4. Aussie Dreaming 6. Beyond the Parish Walls 8. The One whom my soul loves
10 mISSION 10. Canvassing ideas about service 12. Significant Sundays
13 fOCUS 13. 14. 16. 19. 20. 21. 22.
Cathedral on air Coming in to bowl from the Cathedral end Reaching for the stars Angels working hard behind the scenes To market for fun, family and faith A Canterbury tale of peace Farewell Keith
God comes as a vulnerable child. This is the expectation of Advent and it is a message of hope for our time.
This is God’s response to human power, as Jurgen Moltmann once wrote: A child is innocent. A child is the beginning of a new life. His defencelessness makes our armaments superfluous. We can put away our rifles and our closed fists. His innocence redeems us from the curse of the evil act which is bound to breed ever more evil. We no longer have to go on like this. And his birth opens up for us the future of a life in peace that is different from all life hitherto, since that life was bound up with death. 1
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Moltmann, J., “The Power of the Powerless”, London, SCM 1983. p 35
24 SCHOOLS 24. Mission Day at St Peter’s College 25. Trinity 2 Cambodia
26 cOMMUNITY 26. God words 27. Books 28. National and International news 30. People and Places 31. Advertisements
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Aussie Dreaming By Tim Harris
Christmas and summer come as a package – in our part of the world at least. Half the anticipation of Christmas is in reality more the prospect of all that lies ahead following ‘the silly season’. The celebration of Christmas is an appetiser for the longer and more relaxed days to come.
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The experience of watching wintry days and snowstorm dramas in the inevitable northern hemisphere Christmas entertainment offerings doesn’t really resonate for those of us in the south. It is all together a different scenario for us – but no less the ‘real’ thing. We can lay to rest some mythology from the outset. The original birthdate for Jesus is not December 25, nor was it in mid-winter. You don’t get shepherds out in the fields in mid-winter! The observance of December 25 came centuries later, for reasons long lost in antiquity (and not necessarily related to pagan festivals, as is often claimed). Many of the ‘givens’ of the Christmas story owe more to greeting cards or nativity dramas than the Bible. The birth of Jesus did not come on the night of the arrival in Bethlehem (possibly weeks or months later); the shepherds did not gather in the manger with magi from the east (not ‘kings’, and not necessarily three). The point is that a summery Christmas is just as likely as any other. My interest is in exploring what the whole extended season represents to us more broadly, as we experience it in our part of the world. Attendance at Christmas services continues to hold strong and if anything, is growing – especially the popular Christmas Eve offerings, whether short, sharp and LOUD family-friendly events, or the reflective and evocative traditional events accompanied by lessons and anthems. Christmas Day services are under more pressure, and often for good reasons. This is the day to gather around the table or the BBQ. The day for the exchange of gifts and for family (a joy for some, an endurance test for others). To be honest, the truest reflection of ‘being church’ on Christmas Day is to be found outside church buildings. It is seen in the invitation and welcome to those more socially isolated to join with families and extended households. Gracious hospitality is one of the greatest gifts of all, and thoroughly reflects the Christmas spirit. ‘Being church’ on Christmas Day is also to be seen in the community lunches and the giving of hampers, toys and treats to those who would otherwise go without. Where is the Christian gospel in the midst of all this? It is in recognising that we are at our best as humans when we are givers, and in this we reflect the ‘image and likeness’ of God (Gen. 1:26).
We are created to be gatherers and givers, for this is in the very nature of God as the ultimate Giver, with Christ as the most enduring gift. Giving to others brings out something good in us – and that is a God-given quality! So hopefully, after a good start over the celebration of Christmas, where do we go from there? It is at this point that more personalised ‘traditions’ kick in, and the experiential smorgasbord of choice grows by the year. For those with an interest in viewing sport, a comfy chair and fully recharged remote control is a must. Whether in company around someone’s wide screen TV, or as a spectator at the actual event, the commentary and analysis runs thick and fast. For the die-hard devotee, the experience of keeping up with all the action is gruelling (and I’m not talking about the participants!). Yet it isn’t all about the cricket, tennis, golf, yachting, cycling, surfing and triathlons. Life can be just as exhausting for those making the most of our arts festivals, music extravaganzas, concert performances and all those other events we hope to find time for. And the most physically, emotionally and spiritually challenging of them all – the postChristmas sales. Be warned: only enter the fray with serious pre-sale mental training and preparation!
Australia is sometimes described as the ‘Land of the Long Weekend’. We work so that we can play. Images of a ‘quality’ life are characterised by stepping out of the demands of work and the juggling act of day-to-day life. We can see in creation and in the Bible that God has wired us for ‘seasons’ and patterns. As we experience night and day, and ‘six-days plus one’ (Sabbath) weeks, we can see that we are not constituted to function 24/7. Machines can do that, but not whole communities, day in - day out. We need our ‘summer’ breaks throughout the year! Reflection on what the Christmas and summer package means to us opens up deeper questions about the way God has made us, and calls us to be. We are called to be givers—and receivers—of God’s own gifts: creation (in which we are called to be fruitful and responsible stewards), and redemption (all that Christ is as Lord and Saviour, understood against the backdrop of the great biblical narrative of God’s purposes).
“The best experience of Christmas and summer is not all about us.”
Many others head in the opposite direction – literally. They take to the road and head out of town. Some explore new territory for an experience of the great outdoors, while the truly committed will return to the same location and renew long established friendships. Some may introduce themselves to newcomers in the desire to find not only a home away from home, but also perhaps a neighbourhood becoming all too rare in the city.
We are called to strike that balance between work and recreation, between our own needs and interests, and those of our family, neighbours and wider community. And we are invited in God’s grace to be drawn into something much bigger than ourselves, the mission of God and all that it means to be known as the one Church of God, and both individually and communally to be channels of God’s grace.
Now if you have read this far, the chances are you are in another category all together. It may be you find the summer break an occasion to put your feet up, find an interesting magazine or book, and lose yourself in the world contained behind the cover.
The best experience of Christmas and summer is not all about us. Yet it does begin with us (in the sense of how we respond to God’s call).
Digging deeper - but only a little – this is the light summer season after all! It seems to me that underlying our dreams and hopes for the Christmas-summer package lie some deeper yearnings. We long to find some respite from our otherwise all-too-busy lives, from our 24/7 pace of keeping up with work, friends and other commitments.
Postscript: I talked at the start about the more relaxed promise of the Christmas summer package. It is not so for emergency workers. Or carers. Or those providing vital services. Or for those in hospitality. Or those employed in retail. Or for those who grieve. Or those who are on the streets, or away from family and friends… Spare a thought, a smile and a prayer for those who miss out on the Christmas-summer package, one way or another.
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f AITH “With the younger generation, particularly high school students they pretty much just live on their phones and on Facebook.”
BEYOND THE PARISH WALLS People of faith are connecting with each other in person and online, writes Amy Noonan.
The old parish bulletin board is still there but it’s joined by something a little more virtual. Many parishes are connecting with the faithful using things like online bulletin board Facebook, sharing their thoughts on micro-blogging site Twitter and the odd bit of God-blogging. Bloggers and missionaries Tamie and Arthur Davis
Welcome to the world of the e-ministry. Diocese of Adelaide Bishop for Mission and Evangelism Tim Harris says Facebook and Twitter allow for new ways of communicating and connecting with parishioners – and potential newcomers to the church.
He started blogging in a communications course he was taking while studying his degree. When the course finished, Chris decided to keep the blog going for the congregation at Brighton and beyond. “I wanted to track what our congregation was doing and share it with others,” Chris says. While there aren’t many online comments, Chris says the online conversation has sparked many real-life interactions.
“It’s about connecting beyond the church – in fact, I know some missionaries whose church is entirely on-line, it’s the only way for them to meet” Tim says.
“A lot of people feel too shy to comment on the blog but a lot of them comment to me and they strike up conversations – it promotes conversations,” he says.
Tim says one local parish encourages text message questions throughout the services with some read out at the end for discussion. A new church starting in Croydon next year will make the most of Facebook and Twitter – could we see the hashtag #NovaChurchCroydon?
At Kensington, St Matthew’s youth minister and diocese and youth administrator Greg Lock says Facebook now plays a big role in connecting with the high school-aged students who attend.
“It’s a whole new method of how we interact with the church and each other.”
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St Jude’s Rector Chris McLeod has been blogging since 2009 – Google “McLeod’s Musings” to read his words.
“With the younger generation, particularly high school students, they pretty much just live on their phones and on Facebook,” Greg says.
“It’s a whole new method of how we interact with the church and each other.” But it’s more than a way to get organised – Greg says information about Bible Study and YouTube clips are posted to the St Matthew’s group for participants to follow up. Facebook is also a topic of conversation for the youth group. “We’ve done discussion and studies on Facebook at youth group, talking about the dangers that are there, about using it in moderation and the importance of face-toface connections rather than just all online,” he says. “We also talk about the importance of integrity, making sure you’re not a different person on Facebook than you are in real life and the things that you ‘like’ and say on Facebook – would they be happy if Jesus saw that?” Facebook groups also allow a wider reach than just the personal contact of youth group. Young people who would like
more information are welcome to join the “Adelaide Anglican Youth” page. Tamie and Arthur Davis have been blogging since 2006, keeping a more personal online journal. They combined their blogs to create www.meetjesusatuni.com. Now the pair have married, have a five-month-old son Elliot and are moving to Tanzania as missionaries, the blog will not only be a way of communicating, but a way of “profiling how we think about missions and answering some common objections” as part of an “ongoing conversation,” Tamie says.
parishioners online if they wish. “Certainly a Facebook group is a very simple and easy way for a small church community to stay in touch and share prayer requests – that’s really, in some ways, replacing an email list or even going back further in time to the bulletin board or something like that,” he says. “So many of these mediums are free and increasingly easy to use. They are certainly things any church can do, you don’t need to employ a social media expert and there’s plenty of room for trial and error.”
The pair also use Twitter, send out emails to a group on MailChimp and have created a Facebook group as a way of staying in touch with different people while they are away. “Because there are so many ways of communicating electronically it doesn’t all come down to one particular thing,” Arthur says. “The blog is not more important, Twitter is not more important – they are all different avenues of communication and they work together, they are all spokes in the same wheel.” Arthur says he believes churches can always find ways to communicate with their
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f AITH Song of Songs 3.4 I found him whom my soul loves 2 Corinthians 5.17 If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation John 20.13 “Woman, why are you weeping?”
THE ONE WHOM MY SOUL LOVES
Celebrating Mary Magdalene By David Thornton-Wakeford
Whether we believe that Mary Magdalene was the same woman as the Mary with the alabaster jar of precious ointment in Luke 7 or not (and most scholars these days don’t), I am certain that the woman who met the stranger in the Easter garden of John 20 had such an experience of love in her encounter with Jesus that her life was totally transformed. She wanted to cling to him forever – the one whom her soul loved, who sought him and found him. May we too be overcome with her joy. Try to capture that moment of her wondrous recognition in your heart. Mary, in her Christ encounter, became a new creation, the old had passed away (the old included 7 demons we are informed by Luke 8.2…whatever they were); behold the new had come. And we, with our demons, are equally loved with Mary and equally gifted with this transforming love if we would receive it.
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This awakening to divine love has done amazing things to people over the Christian centuries. Thomas Merton, a Trappist monk who died in 1968, lived in the strictest of monastic conditions in his Kentucky hermitage. Yet he would speak of such inner growth and a festive sense of God’s presence in words that remind me of the way I felt after my first date with my wife. “Love sails me around the house… I walk two steps on the ground and four steps in the air. It is love. It is consolation…to say that I am made in the image of God is to say that love is the reason for my existence, for God is love.”
Elsewhere, Merton says, “Love is the key to the meaning of life. It is at the same time transformation in Christ and the discovery of Christ. As we grow in love and unity with those who are loved by Christ…we become more and more capable of apprehending and obscurely grasping something of the tremendous reality of Christ in the world, Christ in ourselves and Christ in others…” Our greatest dignity, the essence and most intimate secret of our humanity, is our capacity to love. Gabrielle Bossis in her dialogue with God as recorded in her book, He and I, reveals a most innocent and profound communion with divine love: The Father says: ‘You are astonished by my love. There is only one explanation: God’s extravagance. So just believe in all simplicity in this love…And give yourself up to his infinitely delicate and tender power. Be taken captive by love and ask for grace. Love me with my love and be full of trust…Practise the presence of my love. I am everywhere. Put your head on my heart. Of course, since this pleases me. If only you understood the gift of God and who it is speaking to you…Come to me, then, and bring others in your heart…fan flames of your love…don’t stand still. Never cease to go forward. Enter even deeper and deeper into my heart. Reading about my passion is not enough. Make it a part of your very self. Wherever you are, take my sufferings. Sufferings desired, willed, expected…they are my love for my children - for you’.
I love you,
We do need to remember that in real life true love is often born of pain, suffering or misunderstanding. In any worthwhile relationship, this will be discovered as we are refined in love. I am sure that this is what happened with Mary Magdalene and Jesus. Hopefully, it happens to us too. In the expereince of marriage, I am saddened when I meet men and women who say that they are “no longer in love” with their partner. Often this simply means that they have been hurt or misunderstood or no longer feel the physical buzz they once felt. Too many people who think they’ve fallen out of love have never learned deeply to love. Our early ‘in-love’ feelings are just the icing; what sustains us for the long haul is the cake: the solid, deep, fruitful ingredients of abiding love, one for the other. I also believe that most of our present sexuality debate in the Church misses this crucial issue. Ironically, when we talk about union or marriage, we are talking much more about abiding companionship,
fulfilling relationship, the blissful certainty of being wanted and loved in faithfulness by another human being. I know a couple who haven’t had sex for over 10 years; they joke about it. Sure, it was once important and it still is for most people long into a relationship. But what really matters to that couple, what brings them to overwhelming tears of joy, is the deep and abiding love, strength and companionship they have in each other’s gifted presence and security. And this is what we need to bless and celebrate as a church! - instead of being so hung-up just about sex. Meanwhile, celibacy, a beautiful vocation in itself, should be strictly a matter of choice; enforced celibacy, enforced loneliness on the other hand, is simply immoral. In celebration of Mary Magdalene and of single, celibate, partnered and married love, the following is a reflection by an unknown author entitled ‘I love you’.
Not only for wha t you are, But for what I am when I am with you. I love you Not only for wha t you have mad e of yourself, But what you ar e making of me. I love you, For passing over all my foolish an d Weak traits that you can’t help bu t see. I love you, For drawing ou t into the light m y Beauty that no -one else had lo oked Quite far enou gh to find. I love you
David Thornton-Wakeford is parish priest at the St Oswald’s Anglican Church, Parkside and Co-Founder/Leader of the St Oswald Centre for Spirituality.
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mISSION
Sonya Paterson and Andrew Mintern with students from Pulteney Grammar School.
Canvassing Ideas About Service By Andrew Mintern
“We don’t want them to go away empty-handed!” This was the thought of the organising committee for ‘Anglican Schools Do Justice’ – a joint worship service for the twelve Anglican Schools in South Australia. The service was held in St Peter’s Cathedral on May 3 and no school went away empty-handed. During the service, each school was presented with a blank canvas and a challenge by the Archbishop to fill the canvas with a representation of their evolving vision of mission and service for the future. The time-frame for this task was to bring something back for the Diocesan Synod in October. As the Synod deadline approached the canvases began to return. Some, like the prodigal son, had been lost and found in the process of the intervening six months. Some inexplicably returned in a different size to that which was handed out. But in whatever form they found their way
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back, all were vibrant, thought-provoking visuals about our common sense of Christ’s mission and service in the world. With Synod following hot on the heels of this year’s Cathedral Art Show, we were fortunate that the art lighting was still in place and so each canvas could be individually lit as they hung along the transepts of the Cathedral. Archbishop Jeffrey Driver drew attention to these colourful artworks in his Pastoral Address. He did so in the context of speaking of a “swell of spirit emerging in our diocesan community.” Following his invitation for members of Synod to have a closer look,
“What these canvases represent are the hearts and hands of actual service in our school communities growing always into a deeper understanding of God’s mission in our world.”
it was wonderful to see groups of people moving from canvas to canvas and contemplating the images they saw there. For some schools, their vision of service reached around the world with their school communities engaging in mission trips to various countries: Woodcroft College (Laos), Investigator College (The Philippines), Trinity College (Cambodia) and Pulteney Grammar School (Nepal, India, Kenya and Vanuatu). Other schools vividly represented needs on our own doorstep with both St Andrew’s School and St. Columba College representing the theme of soup kitchens and their volunteer service with them. Schools like Pedare Christian College, St Peter’s Woodlands and Walford Anglican School for Girls used a montage of various activities and images relating to their schools’ service activities. The canvas from St Peter’s College visually captured the mood of a student contemplating a call to service. And St John’s Grammar school represented their school service song “Who cares? We do!” with a theological challenge to all who took the time to examine it: “we think that when we serve others we should use both our hearts and our hands, which we have represented here by collage shapes. If we only use one and not the other, is it service? It is undeniable that a sense of mission and service is alive and well in our Anglican Schools. The St John’s artwork rightly invites us to consider that Christian service involves our hearts as well as our hands. Whilst we might often assume that services springs from an attitude of faith, it may more often be the case that a growing sense of faith arises from the life-changing experience of serving others with hearts and hands. When one is engaged in hands-on service there are inevitable questions that rise to the surface: Why am I doing this? Why do some people have more than others? Whose responsibility is it to help? The Christian faith always calls us to put our faith into action and brings
Some of the canvasses produced by students.
ready answers to all these questions. At its foundation our faith is about loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength; and loving our neighbours as ourselves. Therefore we cannot love God simply with our inner being but need to use our physical strength too. And we cannot love God to the exclusion of loving our neighbours. And who is our neighbour? The parable of the good Samaritan gives a suitably challenging answer to that eternal question.
and service.” If that were to remain words on a page it would not be service, and if the artworks were to remain paint on a canvas it would not be service. But what these canvases represent are the hearts and hands of actual service in our school communities growing always into a deeper understanding of God’s mission in our world.
One of the points on the Anglican Schools joint ethos statement endorses this: “we participate with the Dioceses, Parishes and Church Agencies in presenting the mission of the Anglican Church to the South Australian community by: developing a strong commitment to serving others and providing opportunities for the school community to engage in Christian ministry
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Every Sunday is special but four a year will now be Significant as well! In recent years there has been an increased number of requests to Church in Society Ministry Unit (CISMU) from different organisations or interest groups to set aside specific Sundays as a day of specific focus in the Adelaide Diocese. While these specific Sundays integrate the life and activities of wider church organisations and community interest groups into a worshipping life, they has also caused disruption to the flow and rhythm of the liturgical year. At the request of Archbishop Jeffrey Driver CISMU has developed a three-year rolling “Significant Sunday Calendar” of quarterly specific celebrations incorporating on a yearly basis Anglican Board of Mission (ABM) and Anglicare Sundays. Convenyor of CISMU David Covington- Groth says “it is important that when Sundays are given a particular focus it is important that they are respectful of the liturgical calendar, are distributed throughout the year and represent a range of interests in keeping with Christ centred values”. “Most importantly though our hope is that as a Diocese we will speak and celebrate with one voice rather than celebrating as dispersed parishes.”
“Farmers in Calapan, the Philippines. Photo: Melany Markham/ABM 2010”.
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The three-year rolling calendar will begin from next year with the first Significant Sunday being ABM Sunday on February 24th – the second Sunday of Lent. Traditionally in the Anglican Church Lent has been a time when the focus was on missionary work and the ABM. Many parishes make a particular endeavour to raise money during the season of Lent and ABM still produces envelopes and benefits from that fund raising.
Bishop David McCall, says “ABM Sunday will provide a focus for prayer and an opportunity to better understand the work of ABM.” “ABM supports a series of projects with our partner churches in many areas around the world,” he says “On ABM Sunday and throughout Lent we will provide speakers who will be happy to explain these projects. “Liturgical resources and prayer points will also be available on the ABM website.”
Chair of the ABM Provincial Committee,
Year
First Quarter ABM
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter Anglicare
C (2013)
February
19 May Chaplaincy Sunday
25 August Refugee and Migrant Sunday
13 October
A (2014)
February
1 or 8 June World Environment Day (5 June)
September Vocation & Ordination Sunday
12 October
February
24 May National Sorry Day / Day of Reconciliation
Last Sunday in September Spcial Justice Sunday
11 October
B (2015)
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CATHEDRAL ON AIR Be sure to tune into ABC TV on Christmas Eve to watch the magnificent Service of Nine Lessons and Carols that was recorded at St Peter’s Cathedral on Thursday November 22. The Very Rev’d Frank Nelson, Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral, says “broadcasting to the nation is always a great opportunity for a cathedral community”. “It’s one way of encouraging people to see that Christmas is more than overeating, drinking and spending; and a way of including people who are alone, or perhaps in hospital and won’t be able to get to a church.”
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Coming in to bowl FROM THE Cathedral end Words and pictures by Brenton Edwards
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“Coming in to bowl from the Cathedral end”. These immortal words have travelled the airwaves around the globe for decades through both radio and television and now online. The spires of St Peter’s Cathedral peek over the top of the iconic scoreboard of Adelaide Oval, creating a sense of direction for the cricketing commentator. Our famous ground, where Bradman tried belting the cherry red ball over the Morton Bay Fig trees with a sculpted lump of willow, and Lillee fired cannon balls at nervous batsmen from that very same northerly direction, is undergoing a modern transformation. The project, costing $535 million, will see a much larger eastern grandstand seating 19,000 patrons. It is due for completion in March, 2014, when a new audience will
be added of AFL fans, who will likely hear catchcries like “he’s kicking to the Cathedral end”. But any thought of the spires of one of Adelaide’s best-known landmarks disappearing behind the latest additions have been dispelled by the South Australian Cricket Association. SACA are insistent about keeping the Cathedral as a focus at the Oval redevelopment. SACA President Ian McLachlan says Adelaide Oval’s existing and unique attributes, including the Moreton Bay Fig trees, heritage scoreboard and views of St Peter’s Cathedral and northern mound, will be complemented and enhanced.
“These include BBQ decks, outdoor hospitality facilities on the Village Green and standing room on the famous grassed northern mound. “There will also be unique views from the dining rooms into the stadium and out to the parklands, over St Peter’s Cathedral and across the city.” When the Adelaide Oval redevelopment is complete, the spires are likely to become even more conspicuous as they will be framed by the new facilities. And no matter where you are at the ground, if you want to watch runs or goals on the scoreboard tick over, the spires of St Peter’s Cathedral will be looking back at you.
“Adelaide Oval will have a number of features that are unique in stadium design,” he says.
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REACHING FOR THE STARS A camp for bereaved children and teenagers gives support, allows for expression of grief and helps them to heal. By Amy Noonan A cuddly bear and a weekend away are helping children who have lost a parent, sibling or significant loved one understand death and grief. The free Star Bear and Star Bound camps, which have been running since 1999 and supported by Anglicare since 2002, help up to 75 children each year through their grieving process. Anglicare Children’s Services Coordinator Louanne Johns says Star Bear camps are for bereaved children aged five to 12, while Star Bound helps teenagers aged 13 to 17. “We give children permission to grieve and as they are with other children we aim to increase their understanding of death and the grieving process,” Ms Johns says. “We’ve had kids who have lost parents through suicide, murder, vehicle accidents, illness – the list goes on. “Most of the time they go to school and there’s no one else they know who has lost a parent or a sibling. “We had one little boy and an older girl who both lost their dads to a motorcycle accident and they straight away felt a bit of kinship.”
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The camps run over a weekend from Friday night to Sunday afternoon and each child is assigned a trained volunteer mentor to help them through the process, along with a Star Bear or Star Bound pack which includes a journal, a torch and a hat. There are also visits from the camp mascot, Star Bear.
Ms Johns says memories of the child’s loved one is a big focus. “It’s designed to get them thinking and remembering. They paint a memory box and they can fill it with things which remind them of the person they’ve lost,” she says. “There’s jewellery-making, where the campers often make something for their parent or a design with the name of the person they’ve lost and they also write a note to their loved one which we tie to a helium balloon and send off – we get the parents to write a note and tie it to a balloon as well.” But there’s also plenty of fun kid-style stuff to do as well, Ms Johns adds. “There’s Sing-Star (karaoke), a movie night, there’s a night walk, they do an obstacle course and also the Piccadilly Country Fire Service comes up so the kids can have a ride on the fire truck and they let them squirt the hose,” she says. The camp is sometimes the first chance children have had to grieve in their own way, Ms Johns says. “The children will often grieve in the way parents grieve – if a parent is trying to be stoic they will try and do the same and not cry. “Not everyone sheds tears. If it is a sudden death or a death at someone else’s hands there can be a lot of emotion and anger. “It’s very important to acknowledge that everyone has their own way of grieving. Some kids feel they can’t cry and that’s OK, they don’t have to cry and it’s not an expected thing, but it’s also OK to remember a person with tears.” Children generally attend one camp and before and after camp they have access to “Star Burst”, a specially-designed program with a grief counsellor. Ms Johns says parents can access the counsellor as well. The counsellor is funded until the end of June 2013 but donations as part of the Anglicare Christmas Appeal will ensure it will continue. Ms Johns says the free camps and counselling services are vital. “A lot of times the children have only just started talking about death and there’s very little grief and loss counselling available. For parents, they are grieving too – if a child has lost a father then a mother has lost a husband.” Welcoming new Australians to the Star Bear and Star Bound camps is a new challenge, one Ms Johns says they are pleased to do.
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The camper “We have already had a number of campers who have lost a parent in a war-torn country.” There are two Star Bear camps and one Star Bound camp. Ms Johns says it costs $300 to $350 to send each child to camp – about $9000 per camp – and $30,000 for ongoing counselling. “We are proud to offer a unique service in Australia and we often get enquiries from parents and support workers interstate to see if there is a similar service in their home state. “Even a donation of just $25 will help us provide support to children who are grieving – now and into the future.”
How to get involved There is no formal referral process for Star Bear and Star Bound campers – teachers, social workers, counsellors, police officers, charity workers, family and friends can suggest the camps to children grieving a parent, sibling or carer. Email starbear@anglicare-sa.org.au or phone 8301 4208 for more information.
Jack, 8, participated in a Star Bear camp in October. Jack’s dad Howie died in September 2011 after being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2007.
“We’ve purchased the ‘Remember’ books which Jack absolutely loves and he’s related a lot to them and there are a couple of poems that he likes to read.
Painting a memory box was one of Jack’s favourite Star Bear camp activities – along with completing the Challenge Hill obstacle course. “We went on this track which led to a gigantic slide… I thought I was going to fly out of it and hit a tree,” Jack says.
Jack is now fundraising for the Star Bear and Star Bound camps to help other children and teenagers like him.
Another good thing about camp was getting to spend time with other children who had lost someone close to them, he says. “I knew I wasn’t the only one that lost a parent, but I hadn’t met anyone else who had, not before camp,” he says. Jack’s mum Kim says the Star Bear camp allowed them both to meet other people in a similar situation.
“Jack’s other passion is fundraising for cancer research and now Jack wants to do a fundraiser for Star Bear, too,” Kim says. In fact, Jack has a special message. “To people thinking about donating, if they don’t donate then all kids would struggle at school because they are too sad. I used to not get anything done but now I always do,” Jack says. “To other kids, I would say you should give Star Bear a chance. It’s pretty good and it helps a lot.”
“Unless you’ve been through it nobody knows what the feeling’s like,” Kim says.
The Mentor Paul Savage has been volunteering as a mentor at Star Bear and Star Bound camps for nearly four years. An experienced Scout leader, he joined the Star Bear and Star Bound camps after moving from the United Kingdom. “I love working with kids – that’s the main thing. It’s just giving a bit back to the community and seeing kids’ faces light up when things go right,” Paul says. One of his favourite activities is boxing with the older boys, he says. “There’s often a lot of anger there and I think one of the best things we’ve done is get the boxing gloves and pads so they can take their anger out on the pads and punch away to something positive.”
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By the end of the camp Paul says the campers realise they’re not going it alone. “It varies from child to child, but on the Friday they don’t believe anyone else could understand what they are going through, but by the end of the weekend they know they’re not alone, they’re not the only ones who’ve gone through this disaster and it gives them a better outlook on life.”
AngelS WORKING HARD behind the scenes
Whether it’s fundraising, packing hampers or sharing the love, these primary-school angels have hope covered this Christmas. A well-fitting halo is important for an Anglicare Angel. These school students – who also double as beacons of hope during the festive season – are doing all they can in helping Anglicare support people to better their own lives. Whether it’s through funding financial literacy programs, stocking a food bank or this year’s targeted Christmas appeal of funding the Star Bear and Star Bound camps for bereaved children, the Angels at Anglican primary schools are going all out. Students at St Andrew’s School in Walkerville have been the 2012 angels and last month they passed the halos on to the students at Pedare Christian College in Golden Grove. St Andrew’s principal Deb Dalwood says the students have been proud to be lending a helping hand. “As Angels of Hope students at St Andrew’s believe they can be ambassadors for Anglicare
which will lead to positive outcomes for others,” Ms Dalwood says. “Our students see the outcomes making a difference – taking action by supporting others less fortunate, being connected with their community and encouraging everyone to feel that they belong. “These are core values which we hold to be important no matter what time of year it is, however, Christmas is a time to celebrate coming together and helping others to do the same.” Student Arabella Winter says being an angel means “to be good, to treat people nicely and respect others, help charities and give donations to other kids who suffer”. Pedare Christian College head of junior school Chan Welfare says involvement as Anglicare Angels will foster a lifelong love of serving others. “Where there is need there is opportunity,” Ms Welfare says.
“We hope this involvement plants a seed for our students, a seed that grows into a desire to serve and give where a need is identified. The message for our students is certainly that each person’s actions, no matter the size, can foster happiness and improve the quality of life for other people.” Students Niki Papageorgiou, 6 , and Joshua Polkinghorne, 7, (pictured) tried their halos on for size last month in readiness for a year of concerted fundraising ahead as well as taking a positive message. “An angel helps other children, especially if they hurt themselves and do not have a friend to play a game. We try to be friends and include others,” Niki says. Joshua: “We help people we don’t even know who need help with getting food for their families and we also buy gifts for families to give to their children.”
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To Market for Fun, Family and Faith A community market project is bringing new life to a western suburbs parish, The Rev’d David Covington-Groth writes. A place for quiet reflection doubles as a bustling community hub at Lockleys when the St Richard of Chichester Church turns into the Lockleys Community Twilight Markets – the newest outreach project for Parish of Lockleys. As daylight savings commences, the evenings get longer and the community begins to emerge from the winter hibernation, people seek a place to gather, interact, enjoy good food and relax. The Lockleys Community Twilight Markets project has been made possible through a Parish Community Engagement Fund grant. The aim of the markets is to provide a place in the local community for people to gather, to develop connections between the people of the area, businesses and those that are passing through. Our hope is that St Richard’s is no longer seen as “that place over the road that is locked or inaccessible” but becomes the local place the community feels comfortable to gather in and start to take an ownership of activities that draw them together. Upon entering the markets, the warmth of a good community event was obvious – from the friendly banter exchanged between the food stalls as to who had the best dinner menu, to the people wandering among the fine craft stalls and discovering those
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precious items that are only available at community markets. Others went away with seedlings ready for the spring plant up, or maybe with some jewellery or a new airbrushed tattoo. In every area people talked with each other, old friends sat and caught up, children played and had their faces painted. Others simply enjoyed being out and about again able to listen to the live music as they relaxed on the lawn. This is community, with the church being the primary facilitator calling people together. The Lockleys Community Twilight Markets are coordinated by Carmel Barnes – who also coordinates the Semaphore St Bede’s markets – and it has enabled the sharing of resources, allowed experience to be handed on and encouraged development of a partnership between parishes. To enable the Lockleys Community Twilight Markets to occur we have worked closely with the Semaphore parish, as well as our local council that has helped with lighting, our local business district and the two local public primary schools. All of this has given opportunities for community engagement and expanding our network to make people aware of the presence of a lively and active faith community.
The Lockleys Community Twilight Markets build upon the Parish of Lockleys, the other programs of outreach and community connection, such as the writing completion for seniors, holy football tipping, the book post, trading post, fish and chip Friday in Lent. The more connections and contact we have with people the greater the opportunities we have to hear their journey, enter into conversation and answer their questions. The Lockleys Community Twilight Market seeks to become a place the community identifies as their own, a point of connection with all people to come and explore. In doing so they capture a glimpse of what it means to be welcomed, accepted and loved by the Body of Christ, the Church, the people that gather. As many come exploring the market they may just walk away with so much more than they could have ever expected. The Lockleys Community Twilight Markets are held during daylight saving on the second Friday of the month from 4.30pm to 8.30pm. Call Carmel Barnes on 0478 320 123 for inquiries and stall bookings.
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A Canterbury tale of peace The new Archbishop of Canterbury has wide experience and a passion for reconciliation. Experience in industry, a passion for peace and reconciliation in the UK and beyond and overcoming personal tragedy – it’s all part of the history of the 105th Archbishop of Canterbury, the Right Reverend Justin Welby. An Eton College and Trinity College Cambridge graduate, Bishop Welby studied history and law and worked in the oil industry for 11 years. There he became group treasurer of a large British exploration and production company and focused mainly on West African and North Sea projects. However, personal tragedy has had a large impact on the lives of Bishop Welby and his wife, Caroline. In 1983 their seven-month-old daughter died in a car crash in France. Six years later, he stood down from industry after ‘sensing a call from God’ and trained for ordination.
For the past 20 years, he has blended work with local parish communities in the United Kingdom with Church work around the world, especially in areas of conflict. His biography reveals he has a “particular interest in Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, where he was and remains involved in work with groups involved in conflicts in the north”. He has also met with religious and political leaders in Israel and Palestine and, after the Allied Invasion, reopened the Anglican Church in Baghdad, Iraq with Canon Andrew White. Bishop Welby has lectured on reconciliation at the US State Department and he joined the Parliamentary Commission on Banking Standards in mid-2012.
Anglican Archbishop of Adelaide, Jeffrey Driver, says Bishop Welby brings ‘unique skills’ to the role. “Bishop Welby has been a bishop for only a year, however, his experience in industry and also in the resolution of religious conflicts around the world has provided him with some unique skills for this complex and demanding leadership role,” Archbishop Driver says. “His involvement in current social issues, including the UK Banking Inquiry, suggests that he will continue the role of Archbishop of Canterbury in engaging the important social and moral issues of our time.” Bishop Welby succeeds Dr Rowan Williams at the end of December.
Image © Lambeth Palace / Picture Partnership Bishop Justin Welby. Image © Lambeth Palace / Picture Partnership
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f OCUS Keith’s leadership legacy lives on through many people, not just his family of whom he is the most proud. Keith started work as a trainee food chemist with Rosella in the late 1960s. He then moved through the ranks of different food and beverage companies before arriving in SA as the managing director of the Barossa Cooperative Wine Company – Kaiser Stuhl Wines. His career highlights included being made a Baron of the Barossain 1986, becoming South Australa’s first Director of State Development – an appointment from the Premier. He played a key role in major SA developments, includeding the submarine contract, the Grand Prix and establishing key trading relationships with China and Japan. Keith has been a cricket enthusiast and, I’d say a ‘tragic’ after he attended his first Test match, aged eight. He was joyously competitive and delighted in cricket, golf, hockey and football. Keith loved music, especially opera, classical and chamber music. He had a special interest in the human voice and he was a natural appointment to the Chair of South Australian Opera, a position he loved and held for more than seven years. As Anglicare chairman, Keith ensured that we fought for social justice, had good business practice and quality care but that we were grounded spiritually. He led the creation of the brand “Anglicare” and it was no small achievement to bring together all the autonomous Anglican welfare bodies around Australia under one banner so we really could promote the work of God’s people.
FAREWELL KEITH
Former Anglicare Chairman Keith Smith was a complex and complete individual. He was a leader, an encourager, an inspiration and he set the bar high for himself. He achieved much and contributed greatly to the community.
By Gerard Menses
Keith was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2006 “for service to the community of SA particularly through leadership in the provision of social welfare service”. Keith, we know in the parable of the talents, that as you used your talents so wisely you will be hearing God saying, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.” Keith is survived by his wife Di, his four children and five grandchildren.
Celebrating the life of Keith Smith February 25, 1939 to November 4, 2012 22
Foster Carers can be from all kinds of family types: singles, couples, people at home, working full-time, part-time or studying. Free training and ongoing professional support (including 24 hour assistance) is provided. You are invited to attend one of our information sessions: >
Tuesday 22 January 2013 Anglicare SA 4–8 Angas Street Kent Town (stair access only) 6:30-8:30pm
>
Tuesday 19 February 2013 Gawler Bowling Club Victoria Terrace, Gawler 6:30-8:30pm
To register, or for more information, call Linda on 8131 3456 www.anglicare-sa.org.au/fostercare
The joy of learning
INVESTIGATOR COLLEGE 2 Glendale Grove, Goolwa. Ph: 8555 5755
ST. PETER’S COLLEGE Hackney Road, St. Peter’s. Ph: 8362 3451
PEDARE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE 2-30 Surrey Farm Drive, Golden Grove. Ph: 8280 1700
ST. PETER’S COLLEGIATE GIRLS’ SCHOOL Stonyfell Road, Stonyfell. Ph: 8334 2200
PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL 190 South Terrace, Adelaide. Ph: 8216 5555 ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL 22 Smith Street, Walkerville. Ph: 8168 5555 ST. COLUMBA COLLEGE President Avenue, Andrew’s Farm. Ph: 8254 0600
ANGLICAN SCHOOLS... the right choice Enquiries: Mr. Jim Raw, Anglican Schools Liaison Officer 18 King WIlliam Rd, North Adelaide 5006 Phone: 8305 9349
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ST. JOHN’S GRAMMAR SCHOOL 29 Gloucester Avenue, Belair. Ph: 8278 2233
ST. PETER’S WOODLANDS GRAMMAR SCHOOL 39 Partridge Street, Glenelg. Ph: 8295 4317 TRINITY COLLEGE Alexander Avenue, Evanston South. Ph: 8522 0666 WALFORD ANGLICAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS 316 Unley Road, Hyde Park. Ph: 8272 6555 WOODCROFT COLLEGE Bains Road, Morphett Vale. Ph: 8322 2333
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All boys participate and had fun during the Mission Day activities
MISSION DAY
at St. Peter’s College By Mr Adam Clutton
Mission Day has become a long standing tradition of Year 7 and is held late in Term 2 to spread the School’s fundraising activities more evenly and to coincide with the Year 7 Leadership Course.
The Year 7 boys placed themselves in groups of four early in the term and discussed possible ways they could raise money for the Mission Day charities. Once they had arrived at a consensus, they had to plan their activity and keep in mind a target of around $150 profit. They had to show their ‘business plan’ and produce an organisation chart they all agreed upon. In the following weeks they honed their plan, worked on advertising their stall and then articulated this to all the boys from Reception to Year 6. In doing so, the boys were immersed in the leadership skills of responsibility, presentation, organisation and teamwork. There were many times where boys worked out of their comfort zone as they faced a variety of challenges. As part of the Mission Day activities, the boys provided a BBQ lunch (with the aid of the Year 12 Prefects), drinks and a further twenty variety stalls to entertain students and teachers from Palm House to Year 6. They warmly encouraged the boys to get involved and brought a great deal of credit upon themselves as a group and individually.
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When the counting had concluded, the profit reached a very pleasing $6,800 meaning the average amount raised per group/stall was approximately $250. How impressive! Even better of course is the fact that the Saints Mission Guild has kindly agreed to make a further donation of $2,000 towards the final amount. With such a significant profit from the Mission Day we have been able to make a sizeable donation of $2,000 to each of four important Anglican charities in Adelaide, namely, St John’s Youth Centre, Family Centre North, Family Centre South and the Mary Magdalene Centre. We would like to thank the parents and boys of the Year 7 group, the Mission Guild, Junior School Friends of Saints and the whole St Peter’s College Community for their wonderful support.
SCHOOLS
TRINITY 2 CAMBODIA By Craig Loveday, Trinity College Chaplin
“This is what the LORD Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.” Zechariah 7:9 After the Christmas cheer and full bellies, Trinity College students will prepare to undertake a mission trip to Cambodia. This is the first trip of its kind for all students and staff, as they travel for two weeks during their January school holidays to experience Cambodian culture and history. For a number of students this is their first plane ride, so excitement levels are building, of course so are their nerves as they take on an active role within the Cambodian community building toilets and teaching English. The trip starts in Phnom Penh. The team will travel to the 2h Farm project in Pailin, then north to the Plas Prai education project in Preah Vihear and finish up exploring the ancient temples in Siem Reap.
The mission team will be engaged in hands on development including a sanitation project (assisting with a toilet block and well), teaching English to a group of Year 10-12 students and spending time with local people. The team is blessed to have Lois Whittall as our host for the trip. Lois lectures in business management at Adelaide University and has been regularly travelling to Cambodia for the past 7 years. She is the coordinator of the Plas Prai education project which supports young women from rural areas through Years 10-12 and through to university. The hard work is really done before we go. The Cambodia 2013 team are aiming to raise $12,000 to take with us to donate to the
projects we’re involved with on the ground in this country. We’ve been busy holding food and BBQ stalls, washing cars, quiz nights and putting together a Cakeless Cake Stall to raise these funds. Our Trinity community have been generous with donations and we are close to our target. We are also taking 15 old laptops to donate to the students at the local school where we will teach English. For more information, and to follow our journey on line visit: https://sites.google. com/site/trinity2cambodia/
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GOD WORDS
But who is the outsider? By The Very Rev’d Frank Nelson, Dean of St Peter’s Cathedral “They named him Obed; he became the father of Jesse, the father of David.” (Ruth 4: 17b) In recent weeks our Sunday lectionary for both morning and evening readings has included Ruth. It’s one of those little books I suspect many of us have trouble finding. Only four chapters in length it follows, in our modern bibles, Judges. Whether you see it as the bridge between the era of Judges and the kingship of Israel, a delightful story of love, loyalty and marriage set in Bethlehem, or a hard-hitting political statement against the harsh policies promulgated by Ezra following the Exile, it takes the reader by surprise to learn that Ruth, a non-Hebrew foreigner, is the great-grandmother of King David and one of Jesus’s ancestors. As a new immigrant to this country I suppose preaching on Ruth in my first weeks in Adelaide was always going to be somewhat poignant. Foreigners to these shores, both Christine and I have been touched by the welcome of so many people. Yes we expected that from the Cathedral congregation, hoped for it from the Diocese, and have been surprised and delighted at the pride with which perfect strangers (in banks, shopping malls and even the vet’s consulting room) have wished us well in Adelaide. But, and it can be a big but, is that everyone’s experience on arrival in a new place? As we move through Advent and on to Christmas and Epiphany we are reminded several times that a warm welcome was not always offered to people. I remember feeling distinctly uncomfortable playing the role of the inn-keeper in a Sunday School
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Christmas pageant. Even at that age I knew it wasn’t quite right to turn someone away. Both Matthew and Luke, in their own ways, invite us to think about the hospitality and welcome offered to the stranger, the outsider, the one who is different from the norm. One of the greatest challenges those of us who are part of the church face is to keep the church ‘open’. Who was it who said the church exists for its non-members? (Lewis, Bonhoeffer, Temple – all seem to get credit for this saying.) Jesus frequently comes across in the Gospels as one who particularly sought out the ‘outsider’, and one would expect nothing less from a teacher schooled (as Jesus must have been) in the teaching of the Law and Prophets, with such an emphasis on welcoming the alien, caring for the widow and orphan. Who but Jesus could have pulled off the parable of the Good Samaritan? With the passing of the Lambeth baton from Archbishop Rowan Williams to Justin Welby a decade of division in the Anglican Communion comes to an end. Well, not really, for the issues that have characterised Archbishop Rowan’s tenure were not new, nor will they fade away when he returns to academia. To me the miracle, and the grace, is that the Anglican Communion still exists. In recent years I have been privileged to be part of a small group of clergy from across the world. We have met each year – in London, New York, Wellington, Cape Town, Hong Kong, Sydney – and discovered that we have far more in common than not. Perhaps we could do more of that: discover the common ground and what brings us together. I often find myself thinking about the congregations I have served over the
years. Without exception they have been a mixed bag of people from all walks of life. The single thing that brings them together is Jesus Christ. And that experience is multiplied over and over again throughout the Christian church: there is nothing else to bring us together but the grace of God in Christ. That’s the story of Christmas (the shepherds coming to the manger), of Epiphany (the magi coming from foreign lands) and of Pentecost (that mysterious spreading of the Gospel through the power of the Spirit and the consequent undoing of Babel). For the first time in many years, Christine and I will spend Christmas without any of our children present. But we will not be alone; we will be surrounded by the many hundreds who will worship God at the Cathedral. We will be doing our bit to welcome the stranger, the alien, the outsider (however we choose to define these terms) who happens to drift in to one of the many services on offer. Even though she was an outsider, Ruth was welcomed into the community of faith in Bethlehem. In years to come, who might look back on this Christmas and say, “I was made welcome”? For the first time as Dean of your Cathedral, I wish you a very happy and blessed and welcoming Christmas.
BOOKS Pioneering Anglican women celebrated in new book Many words have been flung at women answering a calling to priesthood in the Anglican Church in Australia. Three of those labels – Preachers, Prophets & Heretics – also make up the title of a new book with a collection of essays to celebrate the 20th anniversary of women’s ordination and the depth and breadth of the Anglican Women’s Ministry. Janet Scarfe, a co-editor with Elaine Lindsay, spoke at the Adelaide launch of the book at Synod in October. She says St Peter’s Cathedral has played an important part in women’s journey to priesthood. “St Peter’s Cathedral Adelaide was the scene of the first ordination service held after General Synod passed the legislation that permitted women to be priests in November, 1992,” Ms Scarfe says. “The mood at that service was . . . was both celebratory and awkward.” But the Church – and women’s roles within in – have come a long way in two decades, Ms Scarfe adds. “Twenty years on, the Anglican Church of Australia looks quite different. There are women in liturgical processions as deacons, priests and bishops, far more women members of synods and church commissions, women deans of theological colleges,” she says. “The Church also sounds different. Women’s voices are heard in debate and decision-making, as they lead prominent parishes. Stories of women in scripture are read in church, women’s life experiences are reflected in prayers and sermons and in theological training.” Ms Scarfe says the book is dedicated the late Dr Patricia Brennan, founder of the Movement for the Ordination of Women. “More than any other single individual she kept the issue in the public eye, never allowing the Church to sweep it under the carpet or minimise its importance,” she says. However, Ms Scarfe says Preachers, Prophets & Heretics: Anglican Women’s Ministry is not the final word on women in the Church. “Having women visible in leadership does not prove sexism has been eradicated, as Australia’s political life clearly demonstrates. There is no room for complacency or passivity about the true equality of women in the Anglican Church or in other faith communities.”
Harmony for chaplain, counsellor in Anglican school A new book on ministry in Anglican schools features local points of view from The Rev’d Natasha Darke, Chaplain at St Peter’s Collegiate Girls’ School and The Rev’d Ruth Mathieson, Chaplain at Trinity College. The book, Ministry in Anglican Schools: Principles and Practicalities, is a collection of essays with a focus on the context and conduct of ministry in schools. The Rev’d Darke says the book sheds light on the traditional school chaplaincy when compared with secular counselling – and she notes both can complement each other. She writes: “When I started my chaplaincy at St Peter’s Girls’ School in 2009, the school had only recently made the transition to appointing an onsite school counsellor in addition to the traditional school chaplain. As the community adjusted to this change, I noticed that, despite the obvious benefits, there were mixed reactions and some confusion about our roles. For some, the appointment of a counsellor was seen as a move toward a secular form of care and a sign that the school was moving away from its Anglican identity. Most school chaplains, however, would agree that to have a professional from this discipline on campus with whom they can consult and collaborate is a wonderful gift. This has certainly been my experience in working with Lyn Moseley, counsellor at St Peter’s Girls’ School. Nevertheless, the presence of a counsellor does have an impact on the pastoral role of the chaplain and the way in which care is provided and perceived within the school. “Writing this chapter provided me with an opportunity to explore the counsellor’s and chaplain’s relationship, their distinctive roles and identities, and the wide range of pastoral activities within the school. Most Anglican schools quite rightly approach pastoral care as a whole school activity, in which every member of the community plays a part. My chapter seeks to recognise the distinctive and complimentary roles that chaplain and school counsellor play in this. In doing so, it has provided me with the opportunity to explore and reclaim the distinctive pastoral role of the chaplain.”
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NATIONAL AND Anglicans welcome Royal Commission announcement The Anglican community, led by Primate Phillip Aspinall, has welcomed Prime Minister Julia Gillard’s announcement on the formation of a Royal Commission to investigate child abuse. Dr Aspinall said he believed all crimes should be reported to police and anyone who confesses to child sexual abuse during confession but did not report the crime to police would not be forgiven. Senior priests are available to hear confession, he said. “These priests are specially trained to require the penitent to report the matter to police and even go with them to support them while they do that,” Dr Aspinall said. “If they don’t do that, forgiveness will not be granted to them.” Dr Aspinall said this Royal Commission comes a decade after he called on then-Prime Minister John Howard to call an inquiry. “Of the nearly 3.6 million Australians who call themselves Anglican, statistically one in four women and one in eight men are victims of abuse, so it is something that affects our church on many levels.” He told the Weekend Australian that the community should be able to trust in the Church and its workers and volunteers. “I think people are more shocked when it’s a clergy person or a church worker who engaged in this type of behaviour because they have very high expectations of people in the church. And I think that is right and proper.” In her announcement recommending the establishment of a Royal Commission, Ms Gillard said the mistakes of the past should not be in vain. “I commend the victims involved for having the courage to speak out,” Ms Gillard said. “I believe we must do everything we can to make sure that what has happened in the past is never allowed to happen again.”
Ordination of women bishops fails to get votes The Church of England has voted against the ordination of women bishops. The vote last month required a two-thirds majority among each of the three houses in the General Synod, which is the church’s governing body. The bishops voted nearly 90 per cent in favour and the clergy were nearly 77 per cent in favour but the ordinary members voted only 64 per cent in favour. The end result was six votes shy of the threshold required among the ordinary members. The outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, had urged members of the Synod who were “genuinely uncertain” about women bishops to abstain or vote yes, allowing everyone to play their part “in what could be a potentially liberating moment for us all”. “We have to weigh the significant point about whether we can, in the long run, defend a system in which certain priests are forever blocked from having an episcopal vocation tested,” Archbishop Williams said, in a speech to the General Synod ahead of the vote. The Archbishop-Designate Justin Welby had also urged for a yes vote and he took to Twitter to voice his sorrow after the vote. “Very grim day, most of all for women priests and supporters, need to surround all with prayer & love and co-operate with our healing God,” Bishop Welby tweeted. Locally, Anglican leaders have reacted with disappointment in the “no” vote. Kidman Park and Mile End’s The Reverend Elizabeth Dyke says she was “saddened” by the vote. “I am saddened and disappointed that the Church of England would vote down the legislation that would have opened the door to women as bishops,” The Rev’d Dyke says, responding the day after the vote. “With the overwhelming support of bishops and dioceses, even the house of clergy, the measure was lost in the house by just six votes. “I feel very heavy today and (I) mourn for our sisters in England. Please join me in praying for them today.
Women bishops praised by Anglican Primate The Primate of the Anglican Church has offered his praise for women bishops in Australia. In the twentieth year since the first ordination of female priests in Australia, The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall said he is proud of what has been achieved since 1992.
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS “It hasn’t been an easy journey to get to this point and while there are still some who take a contrary view, I am pleased to see the journeys of women priests now reaching into some of the highest levels of clerical office in Australia,” Dr Aspinall said. “These include Bishops Barbara Darling from Melbourne, Genieve Blackwell from Wagga Wagga and Kay Goldsworthy from Perth, all of whom exercise greatly valued ministries and are excellent role models.” This statement of support from the Australian Primate comes as the General Synod of the Church of England in the UK has voted not to allow women to become bishops. While the Anglican Church of Australia and the Church of England are closely related, they are governed separately and function independently of each other. “It has now been over four years since the Australian church paved the way for women bishops and I hope that one day soon the Church of England will also benefit from the ministry of bishops who are women.” Dr Aspinall said. Archbishop Aspinall called on Anglicans in Australia to pray for the Church of England as it moves through this difficult period. By ACNS
Archbishop of Canterbury’s Presidential Statement to General Synod Following an emergency meeting of the House of Bishops this morning, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams delivered the Presidential Statement to General Synod, in which he called on members to ‘attend to one another...to give to one another the care that we need’.
profoundly vulnerable, unwanted and unsure, and that means that the priority for today for all of us is to attend to one another in the light of that recognition, that is to give to one another the care that we need, and whatever else we do today, and think today and say today, I hope that that is what we will be able to offer one another.” By ACNS
Cursillo celebrates 20 years in South Australia On Saturday 3rd November 2012, a joyful and memorable service was held at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Plympton, to celebrate 20 years of Cursillo in this state. Approximately 80 people attended the service, led by Archbishop Jeffrey Driver, and then a light lunch and lots of fellowship in the church hall. Cursillo was brought to the Diocese of Adelaide in 1992 by a team from the Diocese of Canberra-Goulburn, at the invitation of then Archbishop Ian George. Since that time 22 Men’s and 23 Women’s weekends have been organised in both Adelaide and Willochra. The first weekends in Willochra were held in 1998 at the invitation of Archbishop David McCall. Some of those who attended the first Men’s and Women’s weekends in Adelaide were present at the celebration. A congratulatory message was read out from one of the original Canberra-Goulburn team members. During the afternoon many stories were shared, and then finally a large rainbow birthday cake was cut. The celebrations were simple but very meaningful, and a wonderful testimony to God’s work in touching the lives of hundreds of people in SA over the last 20 years. For information about Cursillo in South Australia, you can contact the Cursillo Secretariat, telephone 8445 1886.
“At the end of yesterday afternoon’s proceedings the Archbishop of York said that the Presidents would be consulting overnight in the light of Synod’s decision not to give final approval to the proposed legislation about women in the episcopate. We met last night and we also this morning had the opportunity of an informal discussion with members of the House of Bishops. And what I say is in light of those meetings. I’ve already said something in public about my personal reaction to yesterday’s vote and I don’t want to repeat what said then or offer a commentary on other people’s comments. But there are a few things it would be helpful to say from the chair today before we move on, as we must, to the rest of today’s business. Whatever decision was made yesterday, today was always going to be a difficult day. There would have been, whatever decision was made, people feeling that their presence and their significance in the Church was in some sense put into question. There will be people feeling
Two of the first SA Cursillistas, Janet and Geoff Marshall, cutting the birthday cake.
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PEOPLE AND PLACES Skating, riding and scooting their way to a healthy community The Elizabeth Riders Committee made up of young people from the northern suburbs has been celebrated for their contribution to the region.
Communities of Hope Workshop A one-day workshop on Parish Community Engagement sponsored by the Joint Anglican Dioceses of Adelaide Parish Partnership (JADAPP) Committee and the Church in Society Ministry unit (CiSMU). • A time to pray and reflect with each other and connect our work with our faith
Known as the ERC, the group has been supported by Anglicare and the City of Playford since the ERC’s formation in 2008. Anglicare youth worker Amy Gascoigne says it supports Anglicare’s vision of positivty for young people in the northern suburbs.
• Morning tea and lunch provided
“Basically it’s about empowering young people to be the creators of change in their community,” Amy says.
• PLUS hear stories from parishes about their community engagement projects
By Dawn Gill
WHEN: Saturday February 9 2013 9.30 am – 3.30 pm
This little booklet traces the history and origins of one of Adelaide’s oldest Anglican Parishes dating back to 1841. It provides some of the history of benefactors, parishioners and clergy right up to today.
“It’s peers teaching peers, meaning more positive messages are able to be protrayed. And it’s really cool.” Already winners at the OPAL Awards in October to encourage children and their families to live a healthy life the ERC and member Dean Miller were awarded Playford Local Hero status at the awards in November. Dean says the award win is a reflection of the strong and proud community in the northern suburbs.
Guest speakers addressing: • Community aged care and disability • Emergency assistance’ responding to a crisis situation at a parish level
WHERE: Christ Church 62-72 Jeffcott Street, North Adelaide Bookings are essential Please RSVP to Jill Rivers by Friday Feb 1 Phone 8305 9294 Email jrivers@anglicare-sa.org.au Please indicate any dietary requirements.
‘Footprints’ – a History of St Mary’s Anglican Church
Copies are available from the parish at a cost of $12.10 each. P: 8276 2693 E: stmarys@adelaide.anglican.com.au
“It was a pretty great feeling. It’s not about the award, it’s about the people around me that think that much about me to nominate me,” Dean said.
Prisoners, Prisons and Respectful Relationships
Headed by a volunteer committee of 12 to 16 young people, aged from 12 to 22, the group organises skate, BMX and scooter competitions, especially for Youth Week in April and also encourages healthy eating and an active lifestyle.
This ecumenical Resource has been developed by SA Council of Churches Working Party, to assist us all to:
The ERC also provides advice to the council and local community on skate parks and runs workshops on their sports across the state as well as encouraging young people to become more involved in their communities.
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• Become more aware of and better respond to the needs of people who are in prison. • Advocate for reducing conditions of inequality and disadvantage. • Contribute to the restoration of right relationships for all. It includes Prisoner Stories, Statistics and ‘Maps’ of Disadvantage, Process for Group Discussion and Theological Reflection, and Prayers for Justice. Its effectiveness in encouraging action and advocacy and in shaping direction on prisons and justice depends largely on the will of us all to engage more deeply to the Gospel call for justice and peace across all people. See www.sacc.asn.au
GGG TO ADVERTISE HERE PLEASE CONTACT Loan Leane Phone: (08) 7007 9020
ACCOMMODATION TWENTIETH CENTURY COTTAGE - ENCOUNTER BAY Comfy seaside cottage with a 50s and 60s theme. Ideal for weekend escapes or more. Sleeps 5. Reasonable rates. Close to local shop and restaurants. For further details and bookings contact Lucy at the Professionals, Victor Harbor
Mobile: 0404 089 762
8552 2733 or victorbookings@
loan@joiecreative.com.au
saprofessionals.com.au
Christmas at St Peter’s
KING WILLIAM ROAD NORTH ADELAIDE Cathedral Office 8267 4551
www.stpeters-cathedral.org.au
CHRISTMAS EVE
4:00 pm Children’s Crib Service 7:00 pm Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols 11:30 pm Choral Eucharist
CHRISTMAS DAY 8:00 am Eucharist BCP 10:00 am Choral Eucharist
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Trinity College Enquiries Alexander Avenue Evanston South SA 5116 tel: (08) 8522 0666 email: enquiry@trinity.sa.edu.au www.trinity.sa.edu.au