NewTimes - June 2011 Special Edition

Special Edition Issue 30, No. 5 JUNE 2011

June 2011

d n a h t u o Y , h t y i e Fa n r u o J t l u d A e th

Resthaven Mount Gambier Residential Aged Care Services 24 Elizabeth Street, Mount Gambier SA 5290 Telephone 8723 0911

Opening July 2011 Our brand new, state of the art, Commonwealth approved facility is right in the heart of Mount Gambier.

High or low level care and respite accommodation features single rooms with ensuite bathrooms.

Applications for admission and more information: • Email: inquiries@resthaven.asn.au; • phone 8373 9123 (high care or respite) • or 8373 9122 (low level care).

Established in 1935, Resthaven aims to enhance the quality of life for older people of all faiths and beliefs and with diverse cultural and economic backgrounds, according to individual need and availability.

Making a difference...

Supporting older people and their carers

www.resthaven.asn.au iStock ref: cover. Juanmonino; p.8 duncan1890; Missing a Mark: p.9: cross heart jameslee1; hydrant, praise man Xrisca30; church man airportrait; church row CEFutcher;heart tattoo YT; ‘live is Christ’ tattoo myrrha. p.10 praise man, prayer man, maze, bikes, UFO Xrisca30; sunglasses man Casarsa ; question mark karlowac; religious icons pop_jop. p. 11 man in hoodie 2011 06 New Times.indd 1 6/05/2011 6:14:14 PM jordanchez; preacher majordesigns; city and autumn tree Xrisca30; balaklava pews pastorscott; alone in pews dlewis33; small group asiseeit. P.12 shopping itsskin; Jesus [all] powerofforever; headless St Anthony statue DOConnell; ‘hip’ minister SlowRunning; smoking minister track5. p.13 bible on bed epicurean; missing poster RapidEye; summer party maodesign; nightclub mediaphotos. p. 14 meredith & sophie eyecrave; chloe anouchka; toast dubassy; pro man laflor.

Editor

Production

ISSN 0726-2612

Caryn Rogers

Joie Creative

New Times is the voice of Uniting Church SA. Published monthly, February through December, New Times represents the breadth, diversity and vision of Uniting Church members in SA. News policies, guides and deadlines appear online at sa.uca.org.au/new-times-home. Articles and advertising do not necessarily reflect the views of the Editor.

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Phone: (08) 8236 4200 1300 766 956 (toll free from regional areas) Fax: (08) 8236 4201 Email: presbyterysynod@sa.uca.org.au Street address: Level 2, 212 Pirie St, Adelaide

sa.uca.org.au/new-times-home Next issue: Healthy

Postal address: GPO Box 2145, Adelaide SA 5001

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?

Risk and reward 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...

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?”

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.

Churches are bleeding young people from their bodies like carcrash 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 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.

But 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.

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.

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.

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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.

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Now though, in my travels to congregations around our state, schoolaged 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 budget UnitingCare 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.

“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.

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.

“The losers in this year’s Budget are those who have been shifted from one payment to another at a lower rate.

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 parttime, 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.

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Breaking cycles of disadvantage leads to real jobs 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.

“In addition to these holistic responses to long term unemployment, we are also

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Pre-sessional workshops

Placements news:

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:

Denise Champion Ministry of Pastor, to Covenanting Officer (0.5) and State Development and Outreach Officer from 1 May 2011

• 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

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• 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 4204 e. gmorel@sa.uca.org.au

Rev Adam Tretheway to International Mission Officer (0.5) from 1 May 2011

Inductions Rev Coral Smith, Deacon Blackwood Uniting Church 22 May 2011, 2pm Rev Tony Eldridge Westbourne Park Uniting Church 14 June 2011, 7.30 pm Rev Jane McDonald Kimba 7 July 2011, 7.30 pm Rev Wes Howland West Lakes United 12 July 2011, 7.00 pm

Commissioning Pastor Brian Scott County Jervois 10 July 2011, 2pm at Cleve

June Presbytery and Synod Meeting 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

Visual Presentation Systems Public Address Church - School - Board Room - Retail Display - Hospitality Data Projection - Plasma - LCD - Projection Screens - Accessories Sale - Installation - Service “TEC - Everything Electronic installed with Excellence” Greg Hallam 0411 550417 - Keith Ellison 0411 556075 Campbelltown: 8365 0377 - Fax: 8365 0677 Web: www.tecsa.com.au

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 4206 e. mwilson@sa.uca.org.au

Uniting Church shocked at people swapping plans

UC Invest Ad ARPIL 11 OUTLINES (18x12).indd 1

“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?

• Will children, families and unaccompanied minors be sent to Malaysia or will single men continue to bear the brunt of Australia’s damaging policies?

• How will they be supported in Malaysia?

• How will their safety be guaranteed?

• Has Malaysia agreed to improve its treatment of all asylum seekers and refugees or just the 800 sent from Australia?

• There are 92,000 refugees 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.

12/4/11 11:54:58 AM

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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.

Shaping tomorrow’s Church Much ink has been spilt in speculation about the future of

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our world. What will it look like in 2050? 2100? 2500?

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.

“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 697 102 e. missionshapedministry@adam.com.au 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.

Missing Generation

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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 selfdeclared 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

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.”

The skinny on social media – tips from Andrew Choosing 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.

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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

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Missing Generation

Vox populi, vo x

dei. “The voic e

of the people [is] the voice In an era whe of God.” Old re young adu Proverb, Ano ‘too hard bask lts are largely n. et’ of ministr missing from y or are mis-a the church, th ssumed to b But what do e disinterest is generation often ends young adults ed in faith an u th connection w d spirituality p in the ith the churc ink about the church? Ne . h, similarly and w what their ho why they do or do not att Times asked young adu lts end church, w pes are for th e future of th hy their peers who have some e church. might be cho osing Carly, 29

sus in a I encountered Je of friends and p ou gr a ol ho During High Sc ea e it too. I becam ch to experienc significant way, ur ch e y us m ca at be le ung peop the church I wanted the yo I am involved in e. er th m fro it’s gone e church. youth leader – outside the have hope for th I d an ch ur they have friends ch e us ca be I love the ch ur nscendence en’t going to ch fun. They find tra d an l Young adults ar ta en em ys) in faithful, non-judg in unhealthy wa church that are omentary and m eat causes es gr im in et d m so lve is e already invo ar (even though it ey Th x. se d of purpose, partying an h with a sense uc to entertainment, in em th t gs which pu d creation. doing good thin n with others an io un m m nal talk and yet co d with a motivatio belonging an ur ho od through next go el fe ng a to help me get t’ iri Sp e Instead of getti th of t ui me a time of series on the ‘fr that it will beco is p hi rs another sermon wo ay Saturday, so for regular Sund from Monday to us h week, my hope ug eans ro th d ed by what it m God did in an m, be confront hi p celebrating what hi rs wo we rist. ember why the body of Ch that we can rem who we are as dy bo oralistic selfem m d a an to g Jesus in in to follow him dy bo em of e d the lif nt the church We have reduce ncepts. I just wa co ct ra en st ab th heme wi people in a brok improvement sc bunch of broken a ng e di ar e en W et . pr is urch if we stop to be who the ch oken. I believe br es s iti un wa o m m wh co ng r a Ki out, ou world following r faith all sorted ou d an er th ge to ort. to have our crap ance and supp chose intimacy, accept by . I believe God d ch ke ur ar ch m e be th ve will lo I e us hi ca church be diment of s I am still in the to be the embo ch ur ch e th d empowere the church and belong to that.

- I am thrilled to m do arriving King

eD, 29

Jason, 21 I believe the greatest do wnfall in the church is that it is stuck in tradition and routine, afr aid to be different and try new thi ngs. 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 outsid e it; the church needs to continually find new ways to connect and be significant to the wo rld. I hope it can stop looking inwards, stop wo rrying about what other churches and de nominations are doing and start focusing outwa rds.

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-p aced, exciting and most of all independe nt lives, something like church, where we go once a week, early Sunday morning and sit for a couple of hours, have someone tell us wh at we should and shouldn’t be doing and then have superficial conversations with peop le over a coffee, is not nearly as exciting, fun and relationship fulfilli ng as a Saturday night ou t. Also, in the bible we see stories of miracles , inspiring people who had incredible relation ships with God and a God that seems to be way more interactive an d relational with people than he is now. When that’s not happening any where, what is there to be excited about in be ing a Christian?

I would like church to be a place where real community happens, wh ere real relationships are built, where people support and discuss real issues in each oth ers lives, build each other up and encourag e each other in their relationship with God. I would like it to be a place of practical learni ng about God and how to live lives based on Jes us.

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was going I didn’t fit in; partly because I I’d left church partly because ’t know and the community I was in didn through a really difficult time in that s nes n’t really a place for broken how to support me. There was community. rch community helps me have Being part of a [different] chu ea tionship with God. While I hav a routine and rhythm to my rela support each we and s, rche chu ng to various community of friends who belo me – it helps me g a church gathering is good for other’s faith, actually attendin spiritual growth. make time in my busy life for lities than the will open up to broader possibi I hope that the idea of ‘church’ do church just to y eas so busy with life that it’s current model. I think we’re all Creating ars. guit tric elec arents did, except with ndp gra and ents par our way the s time, effort new ways to gather together take new cultures of community and stick to repeating really time-poor and tired so we and creativity. Most of us are rchgoers. ile for a minority of young chu old formulas, which are only fert young adult— e where you’re allowed to be a I’d like to see church being a plac ng ergi adult faith, eptable to wrestle with your em having a culture where it’s acc d as an awkward isse is actually valued, not dism where being in this stage of life identity. lt adu n teenage enthusiasm and phase of not ‘fitting in’, betwee rself and you ging llen asking questions, cha Young adulthood is a time of age doubt; our disc n ofte s k traditional churche finding your adult identity. I thin as quickly as n as a ‘problem’ to be cured of periods of uncertainty are see in a place of ate phase to dwell in. If you’re possible, rather than a legitim you leave. uncertainty, you don’t fit in – so

Charlotte, 22

wanted to serve in with youth ministry because I I honestly think I got involved ly did it more bab was easy and was there. I pro some format, and the option (and respected) d epte doing it, and it was an acc because it felt like I should be with teens. I’ve since tion nec out of feeling a real con n tha so re mo y istr min of form it. but I learned a lot from doing stopped serving in that way... leaving the church is are lts adu ng r on why you From what I’ve seen and can infe aningful, and because vered weren’t challenging or me that: the messages being deli ately walk alongside able to lovingly or compassion the church community wasn’t ’t fit within a certain range. those with life choices that didn ges relevant to how because I don’t find the messa When I’ve wanted to leave it’s e it was because leav did I ging or interesting. When I’m travelling, or at all challen previous problem the if g ndin to make me bother atte ugh eno n’t was ip wsh fello the ded to be involved k it was because I felt like I nee was still there. When I came bac s late for the services , I realised I could arrive 20 min in ministry more directly. Also hered. Or, at least, without anyone really being bot and miss most of the worship . without mentioning it to my face asteful questions n for the tricky, unpleasant, dist mo com re mo es om bec I hope it wers for them. ans ’t aren haps especially, when there to be asked out loud. Even, per stop meeting I e hop I And . ring/being mentored nto me t star ple peo re mo e hop I up in cked when the “s” word comes other young adults who get sho ”.)

Building. (And by “s” I mean “sex conversation inside a Church rch is not being bold.

The greatest downfall of the chu

Dan, 27 As I see Christia n numbers de creasing all ov globe, part of er the me feels insecu re. But I feel ex - when Christia cited too nity is pushed to the margins thrives and its it always expression is m uch more pure When interactin . g with young ad ults who have the church, I te left nd to find peop le broadly fit in different catego to two ries: (1) people who have beco bored with chur me ch and lose co nn ection to their and (2) they w faith, ant an expressi on of church th and more rela at is deep tional with a bu nch of people ‘change the wor they can ld’ with.

The greatest do wnfall of the ch urch is that m young adults ou any tside of the ch urch are pursui somewhat open ng a -minded approa ch to faith and in general. A m life inistry run by pe op le with an agen to only protect da and defend th eir position as institutional, pe an rsonal belief sy stem won’t ge too far with yo t ung adults.

I believe minis try with 18-35 year olds needs to start with listening an d asking questions. Ther e needs to be more emphas on the journey is than results an d numbers.

There needs to be a call to high er commitmen commitment to t; radical-Jesus-fl avoured-discip not to an institu le ship tion – a call th at can actually society. change I left the church because I felt God call me to something orga start nic which valu ed mutual cont had experienc ribution. I ed so much m ore of God than being presente I felt was d from the pulp it - I simply go and frustrated. t bored I’m now dabblin g in getting invo leadership in th lved in e Uniting Chur ch again. Thou believe in the in gh I don’t stitutional chur ch, this is the where many a place Christian hang s out and I feel help the church called to transition from a modern to po modern paradi stgm, hence, I’m hanging around again.

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Sam, 25

Mike, 29 How ministry could be rethought with this demographic is the mi llion-dollar question. Lik e most ministries... look at the life of Jesus. Dis cip le and empower youth, pa rticularly 15-17 year old s, to go deep in prayer and bible reading and be act ive in social justice causes an d ministry areas. But he re’s the kicker...make it TH EIR ministry areas, TH EIR causes. Let’s not have 50 year olds telling 20 year olds where their passion s are or what they ‘need ’ in terms of what church should look like. Older Christians need to guide , sure, offer advice, cer tainly.

Poor discipleship and broken relationships are largely why young peop le leave the church. Oft en they head to uni/work for the first time and com e up against opposition to their beliefs...to which they have no answer. I believ e this can be helped by better mentoring/bible study/ peer accountability. Or, they start a relationship wh ich leads them away fro m God, or one within the church breaks up which leads them to question where He wa s in the process and pa in of it all. The two link togeth er - good discipleship leads to good relationships an d you can’t have someon e discipling you without a good relationship!

The greatest downfall of the church though is its inability to change.

Shouldn’t we be the mo st flexible group of peop le in the world? Founded on firm core beliefs, bu t able to question and analyse them, safe in ou r belief in their ideals and faith in the God wh o 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. Ch allenging, confronting and questioning of local/glo bal social injustice and congregational sinful be haviour (yes, the s word! ).

Devoted, faithful and sel fless to Jesus and servin g him in the wider commu nity.

mean the down cast, but that would I want church to be a haven for down. fall rch chu the of ls wal hope the I’d have to change. So be it. I more like real life.

And I hope it looks and sounds ple. But that’s also its greatest Its greatest downfall is the peo and e. The church as I see it is sick attribute. And its only attribut an like re aning. Or maybe mo confused, lacking depth of me y from Instead of people running awa e. stat t ren adolescent in its cur the church. home, they’re running away from rch it’s possibly because the chu to g goin ’t aren lts If young adu to vidi t pro ng a worthy alternative church as they experience it isn’ to e parent that’s struggling to com the ‘world’. It’s an out of touch w kno sn’t to stay in touch but it doe terms with change. It’s trying true. maintaining what it knew to be lst how to embrace change whi Something about wineskins. r ething to hang the coat of thei I think young people want som -life real a in faith ut abo want to talk faith on. We want to believe, we al tion tiva mo ue’ esq insRob t a ‘Tony context, but we don’t just wan the in us’ ‘Jes with d guy speech about how to be a goo . subtext

Madeleine, 21

nity. A church t is the centre of a commu I’d love to see a church tha a Sunday, on end att ut how many people that isn’t necessarily abo of all ple peo ere wh n all week, a place prayer. but a church which is ope and t for com p, hel ugh to come for ages feel comfortable eno to back the community church to give something I became involved in the ch more - skills, faith and nd that I have gained mu there, but in doing so I fou friends. lcoming, and based rch does about being we chu the t tha rk wo the For all stereotype amongst , I think there is still the rist Ch of ys wa ing lov on the trictions. This needs to be is all about rules and res rch chu t tha ple peo ng you ing church. ple to even consider attend challenged for young peo s, are studying full-time. ticularly in their early 20 A lot of young people, par ng people want to have fun , leaving little free time. You Most also work part-time anding or intense.

- church can seem too dem and relax in their time off st of which aren’t really mo variety of reasons, a for rch chu ve lea s in lts Young adu like sport/work, or it get ic; other commitments, aph ogr dem d ate this str to fru d confine bably become . Some young people pro nds frie h wit en e giv tim ng of y bei the wa ’t feel they’re and leave because they don with the church structure unities. enough support or opport cify or assume belief but e programs that didn’t spe hav to at ch It would be gre For young people, it’s mu -like in their application. the of ons diti tra were practical and Christ and iefs of Christ than the bel s ion act the h wit y end ntif easier to ide my generation didn’t att e most young people in church, especially becaus rch growing up. little contact with the chu Sunday School and had

young ’t so much why The question isn why s it’ , ch ing to chur adults aren’t go , it’s ch ur ch e ing at th would they? Look Christian e th es ish gu distin hard to see what ung adults are r way. I think yo life from any othe , look after to lead good lives doing their best ilies - seeing as m fa ake happy m d an ds en fri r thei better at these seem to be any t n’ do ns tia ris Ch would anybody ody else is, why things than anyb ing to church? even consider go urch but strated by the ch I’m constantly fru ing than do better thing to be n the I can’t think of a ea m st others. I don’t ju sts, but sharing life with re te in ur e or share yo lik u yo o wh le peop vicinity, and who are in your rs he ot y an d an all is the very me. This, to me, sa e th do to nt wa church, so I means to be the heart of what it ng better comes here ‘til somethi guess I’m stuck along! enever is at its worst wh I think the church g tin ke ar some sort of m e we it views itself as or m e th God. Ironically, ant, cool department for lev re w ho e to the world ov pr to r ou m cla em to notice is, the less we se or smart our faith us. work all around God’s grace-full problem a s ha ch chur I don’t think the r se. I think it ‘young people’ pe connecting with people - it’s l nnecting with al has a problem co cline is most de g are where its un yo e th at th just obvious. ung people ind, is to invite yo The key, to my m ity that is t into a commun not into belief, bu ry attractive at is actually a ve a way of life. Th l we have to do, young person. Al proposition to a art living out , is to actually st en pp ha is th e to mak of Christ. ther, as the body ge to e’ lif of ay this ‘w

Missing Generation

Tim, 29

Nicole, 18 I think a lot of young ad ults aged 18- 23 stop going to church becau se, at that age, people are at such different sta ges of life: uni, trades, working, not doing any thing, volunteering even with relationships everyone’s different.

Some people are marrie d; others are single and haven’t ever been in a relationship. There are so many different thi ngs telling us what to be and how best to be it but we’re all at different stages, lookin g for different things.

There also doesn’t see m to be much at churches for 18-20 yea r olds. Leaving the school system and you th groups, both with their structure and pro grammed 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 adjus tment. Relational connections which were developed through regular interactions as a ‘youth’ get lost by the infrequency of young ad ults events.

I think also that people who have grown up in a church feel that old er church people don’t ever see them as adult s. They remember the m as 15 or younger – at lea st until young people obviously change to ad ult-status through getting married or leade rship roles. Often they need to go somew here else where they didn’t grow up be cause even as leaders, or married, the y feel like people still think of them as a child.

Matt, 28 In Australia in 2011 it’s difficult not to become apathetic or live like we carry God around in ou r back pocket (right nex t to our iPhone).

My hope for all Christia ns is that we would rec ognise the central place Christ deserves in our lives, the power of God available to us, and the needs that only God can deep meet amongst our loc al and global neighbours The place of the church . in all of this, in its sim plest form, is a gatherin of believers to spur eac g h other on to grow as pa ssionate followers of Jesus. My hope for the future of the church is that we’re willing to exp more effective ways of lore facilitating this type of community, even if thi means dropping some s things that currently de fine us.

While much of what you ng people are searching for can be found in God, He most often com es wrapped in packagin g that looks like the church. For the most pa rt, this packaging in the eyes of a young perso of a bygone era, giving n is off aromas of irrelevan ce 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 con with them. The church nect that most young adult s might be attracted to looks very different to the mainstream church as we see it today. Havin said this, it is worth no g ting that there are still young adults going to church in South Australia , and the Uniting Churc h has some vibrant fait communities working h with this demographic.

I believe there is still a for a more ‘traditional’ place model of church target ed at young people, bu new models and fresh t expressions are essentia l if the church in South Australia is to faithfully serve our God for genera tions to come.

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Mardi, 31

a place for intelligent, open My hope is that the church is s to a catalyst for change in regard discussion on faith and life and t). pas the in n bee has it ment (as human rights and the environ d munity. Not just with like-minde com a be to rch chu the I want l loca our buildings and working with people but getting out of our we t wha ate action. Our ability to isol communities to show faith in our lives and our unwillingness of rest do on Sundays from the questions that young people to openly discuss the difficult test downfall. experience is the church’s grea , e time, not because I lost faith som for rch chu I did leave the of one As rch. chu new a ldn’t find but because I moved and cou e congregation I was exhausted hom my at ple peo ng you very few ak. worship leading. I wanted a bre from running youth groups and ng you [as appreciates us, but we I love that the Uniting Church t Sometimes that learning is bes n. lear people] still have a lot to front of the church. done slowly and not from the g to church because there is no goin stop lts I think young adu s often move out of home, perhap one else their age. At 18, people they who ring ove disc t star y es. The even away from family influenc t to be and perhaps experiment wan they son per of kind t are, wha the church it’s hard to get them with a few things. Once out of r own kids. Also – young people back until they start having thei nt ts – it takes serious commitme like going out on Saturday nigh rning for church. to get up early on a Sunday mo box, connecting with people the side out k We need to thin dia or activities that where they’re ‘at’ (via social me through local church them t interest them) and suppor communities.

responses. version of full d ne te or sh e ar sa.uca.org.au These articles to newtimes@ e lin on go n, io For the full vers

Amy, 26 I hated the ch urch but was brought up in escape its mor it and couldn’t ality. Young ad ults aren’t goin because it’s bo g to church ring, smug, fu ll of old peop inconvenient tim le , at an e, rarely releva nt, often awkw embarrassing ar d, always and full of judg emental peop They leave be le. cause they go to find meani realise that th ng and then e values and th oughts of som and inflexible. e are shallow They aren’t al lowed to ask qu are expected estions. They to marry with in the ‘youth grou peers aren’t at p’. Their true church. They find more auth honesty in thei enticity and r non-Christia n friends. They confused and ’re curious, sincere - thos e things aren’t older people w welcomed by ho’ve never re ally questione faith. d their own I’d like the ch urch to be an agent for justic kindness, a pl e and ace where peop le can talk and th what it means ink about to lead a good life, a body th society with a at presents third way – a strong way th aggression an at sidesteps d passivity. A self sacrificing and love. agent of peac e I’d like church on my iPod. I’d like to join an cooking collect organic ive that talks about faith ov like a small gr er dinner. I’d oup that met at a bar. I’d lik asked my opin e it if a church ion sometimes . I’d like more to connect with opportunity church leader s and have idea up on. I’d like s followed a bit more clar ity on what th believed. I’d lik e ch urch truly e to be embrac ed in all of m sins and be ab y flaws and le to relax with church people professed faith . I’d like to link with ac tion.

I hope the chur ch can be brav e enough to ch what it really thinks or even ange, to say to go down in what it costs flames if that to speak the tr ’s uth and evolve .

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MRN

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 DYSON Executive 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 prize Will 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.

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To the editor

No easy answer

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.

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.

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.

J Iles, Golden Grove

Editor, if you were out to catch a fish, you’ve caught one.

C Ridings, Ryde, NSW

letters to ed

Send your letters to: newtimes@sa.uca.org.au or PO Box 2145, Adelaide 5001.

22

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.

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, bnwashing@adam.com.au.

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 jennifer@ cmla.org.au 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 resourcecentre@ hopevalleyuc.org.au, (08) 8331 9901.

To have your upcoming event or message published here, email diary@sa.uca.org.au with ‘Diary’ in the subject line.

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diary notes

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 rjflavel@adam.com.au, 0451 050 892.

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.

Uniting Mission and Education

RELATIONSHIPS & RESOURCING TEAM LEADER The 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.

positions vacant

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 suew@nsw.uca. org.au, 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 megh@nsw.uca.org.au 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.

HANDYMAN Finicky Things fixed...”Your Spare Pair of Hands” Phone 0404 106 603

For all advertising enquiries, please contact: Loan Leane p. 8285 2768 m. 0404 089 762 e. advertising.newtimes@sa.uca.org.au

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Expressions of interest are invited for the position of

Executive Director, Uniting Mission & Education

The 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/executivedirector-ume or by contacting Rowena Tagaloa at RowenaT@nsw. uca.org.au.

Closing date for applications is August 12, 2011.

positionsvacant.sa.uca.org.au

Friends and fresh Eyre Rev Matthew Carratt

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.

magazine

“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

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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

25

Did Love Really Win? - Rob Bell & The Book No-One Read.

reviews

Callum Iles 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 nonChristian 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

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.

Conversation starters on life and faith Book: Backyard Theology

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.

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

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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

Lips and Hands: A Powerful Combination Book: Becoming the Answer to Our Prayers: Prayer for Ordinary Radicals

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.’

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

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.

Many ways to pray

The Bible in seven steps

Book: 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.

Book: The Story We Find Ourselves In

RRP: $25.95 Available from: Amazon.com

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

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.

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 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.

The Story We Find Ourselves In is the story of a loving God who opposes evil by the cross and justicedirected people who are looking to make a change in a broken world.

- Damien Tann

I liked the conversational style of this book even more than the first book in this trilogy as there were less email style chapters.

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reviews

- Callum Iles

Casting a vision for mission and ministry 2007-2012

Edition 11: June 2011

A strategic journey continues Sarah Urmston, Communications Officer, Uniting Church SA This 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.

Key Direction 1: Conversion Growth

At 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 Leaders

Uniting 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 Disciples

In 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 Models

This 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 Profile

The 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 Justice

Community 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.