The latest online edition of FED News is out. Click on the link to check it out.
FED Annual Report 2014
At the end of our first year of operation the Assembly Formation, Education and Discipleship unit (FED) has produced a sort of Annual Report about our activities during the year and our plans for the future. It is also an introduction to our work for those who have not yet come across what we’re doing. We hope you enjoy reading it. We would value you making it a basis for praying for our team and our work.
Download FED 2014 WWW (A4 low resolution 550kb PDF)
Download FED 2014 A3 (A3 print resolution 4.1mb PDF)
FED Working Group meeting – December 2014
The Formation, Education and Discipleship Working Group met in Adelaide in early December. As a new area of work in the life of the Assembly, our conversations are energising and challenging.
Over two days we talked about a whole range of issues, including
- Offering a vision of intentional lifelong discipleship for the sake of the mission of God
- Collaboration between the Assembly, Synods and Presbyteries in formation, education and discipleship
- How we reflect being a multicultural church and work inter-culturally
- Plans for imminent and future national youth events – NYALC, About FACE, NCYC and more
- Possible national religious education curriculum framework for Uniting Church schools
- Possibilities for digital learning and community engagement
- New Assembly resources for baptism and confirmation
- Proposals for a national framework for lay education and a national discipleship learning network
- The church regeneration strategy of Port Phillip West Presbytery in Victoria
- The challenges of diminishing church finances for our work
We welcomed Swee-ann Koh and Fie Marino to the working group, which also includes Duncan MacLeod, Elaine Rae, Robin Yang, Rohan Pryor, Ian Price (Convenor), Glenda Blakefield (staff), Adam McIntosh, Neil Thorpe, Drew Hanna, Lindsay Cullen, Sue Ellis, Susan Burt, Rick Morrell, Deidre Palmer. Tom Kerr (staff)and myself (staff).
It was a time of fruitful, insightful and provocative discussions. A wonderful group of people.
FED news across the UCA
In 2014 I’ve been visiting UCA synods and presbyteries to gain an up-to-date picture of what is happening in the areas of formation and education, discipleship, leadership development and equipping for mission. Here are some of the items of interest:
New online learning portal in Queensland
Trinity College Qld is the new combined education provider for ordained and lay ministries in Queensland. A significant initiative for lay education it the development of Trinity OLE’ – an online learning portal that will benefit lay leaders among others. The College has been using the system (based on Moodle) for Lay Preacher training, and will shortly launch an online Introduction to the UCA as an induction program designed for people in church schools and agencies as well as church members. Mr Neil Thorpe and Rev Mel Perkins provide leadership in lay education within the College.
Uniting Learning Network in NSW-ACT
Following the creation of Uniting Mission and Education, the synod appointed Rev Duncan MacLeod as Director of the Uniting Learning Network, an initiative designed to build cohesion and co-operation among synod and presbytery education providers and UnitingCare. The Network held its first gathering in June with over 60 people attending. UME produced a White Paper on the future of formation and education which was presented to the recent NSW-ACT synod meeting.
“A Big Year” – Digital Discipleship
In Queensland, Mark Cornford has been working on initiatives to help people use digital technologies to grow as disciples. This led to the Uniting Church collaborating with the Churches of Christ and other in “A Big Year” – a 12 month discipleship process for various ages combining face-to-face gatherings. online resources, practical activities and a mobile app.
Children’s Spirituality Symposium
VicTas Synod recently hosted its annual symposium, co-ordinated by Chris Barnett. The speakers were Rev Dr John Capper “Life in the raw: children in joy and despair”), Brendan Hyde (“Predisposed to spirituality: five ways to observe in children”) and Beth Barnett (“Objecting to objectification of children: some help from the writings of Paul”). Check here for details.
Faith in Action – Community Development for Congregations
Uniting Communities in Adelaide has initiated a learning process and network for congregations to explore mission as community development. The brainchild of Rev Peter McDonald, “Faith in Action” is based on Asset-Based Community Development, or ABCD. The project has hosted a number of training sessions, as well as regular conversations among leaders of congregations seeking to make a difference in their local communities. ABCD is a method which involves discovering and developing the strengths and assets of everyone in the community.” This mirrors in interest in ABCD in NSW-ACT over several years.
Regenerating Church – A Presbytery Strategy
Port Phillip West Presbytery in Victoria has embarked on a significant strategy to reorient churches and leaders for mission. Called “Regenerating the Church“, the strategy includes training in Mission-shaped Ministry, a focus on ‘fresh expressions’, appointing ministry workers to foster fresh expressions (“regeneration ministry“), and missional coaching for ministry workers. Learning is a key dimension of the overall strategy. The website is adding videos of models of ministry and mission being explored in the presbytery.
John Roberto in Australia
John Roberto, author of “Faith Formation 2020” was recently in Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth leading seminars on 21st Century Faith Formation. UCA Synod staff in VicTas, SA, and WA were involved in helping to organise and promote these events in co-operation with the Lutheran national staff. Find our more about John Roberto here.
FED Videos – Ian Hickingbotham
Here’s the first excerpt of an interview with Rev Dr Ian Hickingbotham, North Ringwood Uniting Church, Melbourne, Victoria.
FED Stories – Ian Hickingbotham Part 1 from Craig Mitchell on Vimeo.