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Growing Disciples

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Presbyterian Youth Ministry

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_u0a5430-3In Auckland and then in Dunedin, I met up with Matt Chamberlin, Presbyterian Youth Ministry Co-ordinator. Matt works with Gordon Fitch in PYM and connects with 5 staff (full-time and part-time) in pakeha/palangi synods across New Zealand, plus the Pacific Island Synod and the Maori Synod. PYM has regional youth committees who relate with the regional staff.

Their website is here.

PYM is involved in training, resources and events. PYM is seeking to develop a focus on discipleship that is Christ-centred and grounded in practices that grow disciples.

Stepping Stones of Formation is offered to help leaders plan ways to grow young people over times, and covers Belief, Practices, Justice and Life. In each area, PYM offers a suggested range of resources for different age groups and a planning tool.Continue Reading

A Proposed Ethos Statement for UCA Schools

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How would you explain the Uniting Church to a newcomer or a new staff worker? I developed this statement as part of my work in relating to Uniting Church schools nationally. Rather than release it an official national statement, this is offered to synods, schools, agencies to use and adapt as they wish.

The Uniting Church: Who Are We?

1. Church Union
The Uniting Church (UCA) was formed in 1977 by the union of the Congregational Union of Australia, the Methodist Church of Australasia, and the Presbyterian Church of Australasia. The Basis of Union is the foundational faith statement of this union.

2. Creator and Creation
We believe that God created a world that is good. We take seriously our care and responsibility for God’s world.

We believe that God created people in God’s image. We seek to treat all people with dignity and respect.

We look forward to a renewed creation that God will bring into being.

3. Jesus
We see and know God in Jesus Christ who shows us God’s love and brings freedom, hope, peace and joy.

We believe that Jesus’ life, death and resurrection shows God’s transforming love for all people and society.

4. Spirit
We believe that God is Spirit who guides and gifts people. We believe that God’s Spirit is present in our world. We value and celebrate people’s gifts.

5. Bible
We take seriously the task of interpreting the Bible and relying on biblical scholarship as we seek God’s Word for us today.

6. Sacraments
We baptise people of all ages and welcome people to Holy Communion (or Eucharist).

7. Gender
We believe that God created women and men equal. We celebrate and encourage everyone’s gifts and leadership.

8. Gifts & Ministries
We welcome and encourage the gifts and abilities of all people of all ages, as we believe that all are ‘priests’. We ordain Ministers of the Word and Deacons.

9. First Peoples
We recognise the unique gift and place of Australia’s indigenous people in this land. We seek reconciliation and work for justice with them.

10. Multicultural
We are a multicultural church in a multicultural society. We celebrate, encourage and learn from the rich diversity of our cultures and languages.

11. Ecumenical
We are part of the broad family of Christian churches across the world. We are reformed and evangelical in our heritage. We are committed to working with other churches for unity and for the good of all people.

12. Multi-faith
We live in a multi-faith world and we respect people’s freedom of religious belief. We seek peace and understanding among religions.

13. Welcoming and inclusive
We seek to welcome all people regardless of age, race, abilities, gender identity and gender orientation.

14. Social justice
We believe that God is concerned particularly for those who are poor, marginalised or oppressed. We seek fairness, justice and well-being for all people.

15. Scholarship
We value literary, historical and scientific enquiry and the contribution that they make to an informed Christian faith.

16. Governance
The Uniting Church is governed by a series of inter-related councils – congregation, presbytery, synod and assembly. Each synod elects a Moderator and the national Assembly elects a President who provide spiritual and pastoral leadership for a specified term.

These statements summarise parts of the UCA Basis of Union, Constitution and other Assembly documents and resolutions.

References
Basis of Union
Revised Preamble to the UCA Constitution
“Statement to the Nation,” 1977
“An Economy of Life”, UCA Assembly, 2009
Assembly 2015 Resolutions
“Dignity in Humanity: A Uniting Church Statement on Human Rights“, UCA Assembly, 2006.
“Introducing the Uniting Church in Australia”
“Living with the Neighbour who is different: Christian faith in a multi-religious world,” Assembly 2000.
“We are a multicultural church,” Uniting Church Assembly, 1985
“ Why does the Uniting Church in Australia Ordain Women to the Ministry of the Word?”, Assembly Standing Committee 1990.

Assembly Formation, Education & Discipleship
Version 1.2
September 2016

About FACE 2017

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Last week I was in Melbourne for a meeting about the Uniting Church’s next About FACE event – a cross-cultural faith and culture exchange involving non-indigenous people spending time in indigenous communities. The next About FACE is scheduled for mid-2017. Further information will be available on the About FACE website shortly.

I interviewed four previous About FACE participants about their experiences – Hanna Dungan, Mary Dixon, Rohan Pryor and Marissa Homes. Wonderful stories which I’ll be sharing with you shortly.

New Mindsets for Learning and Teaching

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_U0A5031_DxO-3Learners are individuals. Schools were developed on a “one size fits all” approach to teaching. 21st century learning seeks to individualise learning wishing a learning community context. Greg Whitby, Executive Director of Schools for the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta gave the keynote address at the national conference on Formation and Mission in a Digital World, part of “Reimagine Faith 2016.”

Greg identified six new mindsets for teaching and learning in schools.

  • Diversity is the norm
  • Learning is student-led not teacher-controlled
  • Change starts from within
  • Collaboration beats competition
  • Schools are still relevant
  • Faith formation is everyone’s business

We were invited to consider what these mindsets might mean for formation and education in churches. In an era of online content, Greg stated that teacher-student interaction and communities of learning were still vital. However the shaping of learning within those learning communities is changing profoundly with student-led learning.

There is no way to re-enchant our lives in a disenchanted culture except by becoming renegades from that culture and planting the seeds for a new one. Thomas Moore

Greg reminded us that Christian education is a subversive, counter-cultural endeavour aimed at forming Christians as “missionary disciples” who have encountered the love of God.

@gregwhitby