Mission Resource Team

Since 1984 the four-yearly ecumenical Trans-Tasman Rural Ministry Conference has enabled clergy and lay people to experience enriching and inspiring events to help them with their work of ministry in the changing rural scene. There’s another conference coming up in 2008, April 7 - 11, to be held in the Nelson and Marlborough regions of New Zealand, hosted by the Anglican Diocese of Nelson.

The Nelson Marlborough conference will be held as a bus journey, taking in the sights and aspects of each region and its ministries and allowing ample time for networking and individual discussion and exploration. Beginning in Marlborough on the East Coast the conference will look at the unique agri-business ventures and ministry challenges, complemented with a cultural adventure on the Omaka Marae. Then moving through to the Nelson Lakes National Park the conference will look at conservation issues, high country farming and living and working in an isolated community. The last days will be spent at the Teapot Valley Christian Camp on the Waimea Plains where there will be workshops/conversation groups and plenary sessions.

Details can be found online at rural.nelsonanglican.org.nz

1984 Darfield, Canterbury, NZ - theme Rural Church Perplexed
1988 Kyogle NSW, Australia – theme Bearers of hope
1992 Waipawa, NZ – theme Rural realities Creation or chaos
1996 Myrtleford, VIC, Australia
2000 Northland, NZ – Theme Country Conversations
2004 Clarie, SA, Australia – Recapturing Passion for the local church
2008 Marlborough / Nelson, New Zealand – Changing seasons, Changing times

Bill Easum, Tom Bandy and their associates have launched a blog, EBA Blog, designed to help church leaders grow.

Recent posts have included:

Working with Blackberry Addiction (Bill Tenny-Brittian)
Hiring Staff to Multiply
Water shortage and global warming (Bill Easum)
Audits by Mail (Bill Easum)
The Mega Church of the future - Virtual Church
Time to get over Liberal and Conservative Labels
The Times They Are A Changing (Bill Easum)
Benchmarking the Synergy of Growth (Tom Bandy)

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Leadership Network in the United States is making available free downloads of special reports, concept papers and podcasts on church planting, ‘encore generation’ ministry (work with seniors), next generation ministry (younger senior pastors), externally focused churches, generous churches, health care initiative churches, multi-site churches, recovery ministry, university ministry. There are papers on the Half Time model which aims to help successful people in their midlife years move to significance in the second half of their lives.

Here’s a few that may be helpful…

Church Planting

Creating Strategic Alliances and Partnerships for Planting New Churches; Issues Involved in Sharing Information and Resources Toward Greater Evangelism, by Sherri Brown

Becoming a Church Planting Church: Issues Pastors Address When Leading a Church to Birth a Network of New Churches, By Sherri Brown

Models For Raising Up Church Planters : How Churches Become More Effective Through Intentional Leadership Development, By Glenn Smith

Finding Church Planters: Discovering and Discerning Those God Has Called to Start the Next Generation of Churches, by Josh Hunt

Externally Focused Churches

Going Glocal: Externally Focused Churches Engage in both Global and Local Missions, by Krista Petty

Externally Focused Small Groups:How Churches are Re-engineering Their Small Groups for Community Service, by Krista Petty

How externally-focused churches minister to children: the power of serving kids in your community, by Krista Petty

Church to Church Collaborations on the Rise; Survey of Externally Focused Churches Finds That Food Programs and Emergency, by Krista Petty

Churches Moving Into the Community: Creating Capacity and Increasing Velocity through Leadership Communities, by Eric Swanson

Podcasts

Communicating with the Postmodern Culture: Authenticity and Truth

Ten Paradigm Shifts: How churches are impacting their communities with the good deeds and good news of the Gospel

Secrets of Generous Churches: creating a culture in which serious stewardship is normal

Conspire to Care: Principles for Recruiting, Retaining and Training Volunteers for Church-Based Healthcare Initiatives, by Valerie Calderon

Creating New Opportunities for Older Adults to Serve; 50+ Age Adults Reaching Outside the Walls of the Church, by Amy Hanson

Alan Roxburgh, author of the 2006 book The Missional Leader, was in Brisbane recently to talk with leaders from the Church of Christ, Baptist and Uniting denominations. He’s been doing some work with the Church of Christ in Victoria. We invited Alan up for the day to share with us about his observations on church, mission and leadership.

Alan Roxburgh and Jenny Tymms (Uniting Church General Secretary)

Roxburgh began the day with an invitation for people in pairs to engage with Scripture. We revisited the sending out of the 72, pausing long enough to rethink our understanding of what it means to be in mission.

Roxburgh proceeded to provide a critique of the tools used by consultants. “We don’t need to hear any more bad news about declining numbers. We know we’re in trouble. We just need to work out how we can live in the world we’re in. The maps of the 20th century, still used in our denominational training of ministers, are no longer as helpful in helping us grow.”

We can’t continue to rely on the models of church growth used in the 20th century. Sex - producing babies to replace ourselves, is no longer cutting it. We either have the technology to prevent conception or we’re shooting blanks! The 40/40 rule, in which graduates could count on 40 years of secure work at 40 hours a week, is the foundation of our expectation of volunteer commitment. But the rule is no longer in use in the workplace. We’ve also relied on loyalty in the past, hoping that people will sign up based on their existing sense of commitment to the denominational or local brand. For many denominations, the way to deal with the new scene is to transfer all our hope into church planting. But we’re discovering that the dynamics have changed even in new environments. We’re in a time of transition from a previous environment of stability and control into a new future that is unpredictable and beyond our control.

Roxburgh pointed to the inadequacies of the ‘Gap Theory Model’ in which consultants help congregations work out their gaps and fill them. Natural Church Development, for example, had the potential to give the illusion that we are in control of determining outcomes. After years of analysis and attempts to change culture, hope begins to dwindle.

Next in the firing line was the ’saviour mentality’ found in many of our models in which congregations buy in a CEO/dynamic visionary senior minister who can identify, articulate and roll out vision, goals and outcomes. “I’m Theo and this is a theocracy”. The model, Roxburgh pointed out, was imposing many of the categories of modernity which has led the church to where it is now.

Despite diet books dominating the NY Times bestsellers list, the United States continues to face a crisis of obesity. The same thing’s happening in the church. Despite many books giving advice on how we configure the church, whether they be Lyle Shaller or Emerging Church, we still have the challenge of working through culture change, changing the cultural imagination of a group of people in a particular setting.

We’re used to the model of defining the problem, defining the solution and rolling out a strategic plan. Roxburgh suggests that we need to avoid presenting with a ‘plan’ which has the potential to drive or disillusion people in a way that is ’straight out of hell’.

Leaders need the skills to cultivate an environment, create spaces for the ‘in between’ where the Spirit is given the opportunity to work. Much of our work is ‘fast track’, moving quickly from strange to familiar, the other to the close. Many of our plans take the ‘other’ and make them objects for our own ends. Much of our efforts at project management are about the baggage of ministers.

We need to begin where people are, not where we want them to be. For example, much of the ‘emerging church’ conversation assumes that Pentecost was just for young people. The reality was that the visitors to Jerusalem were likely to be in retirement age, making Pentecost a ‘geriatric event’.

Roxburgh proposed an approach to conversation that helps people make sense of their lives, gives them language of the world in which they live. We need the means to listen to the narratives beneath the narratives. Roxburgh observed that congregations are generally not a place where people are invited into free speech. People are told what they should believe and say.

We can start by cultivating awareness of the world around us. We can help people find words for the reality around them. We can invite people into ongoing dialogue about their growing awareness, recognising that we’re usually aware of 10 percent at most of our world (like an iceberg). Free speech includes sticking with the dialogue long enough to hear what is really going on in the community. It means resisting the tendency we have to look for the ‘real agenda’.

When we have developed the skills of patient listening and dialogue then we can ask “What does this mean for us as a congregation?”

This is about dialogue. It is not about organisational change. Organisational change is a waste of time if you are trying to change culture. It’s only useful after the fact of change. Not changing anything provides space for listening and dialogue.

Roxburgh drew on David Bosch’s interpretation of Luke and Acts, showing that our situation makes sense even though the ‘plan’ is not being fulfilled.

Roxburgh introduced the model of ‘Congregation Missional Transformation Guiding Team’ which is able to encourage the process of listening and dialogue. This is not to be used to predicate ansswers or compare churches with churches.

Becoming aware of adaptive needs
Reading congregational readiness
Feedback
Listening Group throughout congregation
Congregation Challenges Identification Board
Experimenting Mat - Hospitality
Committing
Listening Appreciation of Narratives

A few Roxburgh one liners to finish with:

Stop focusing on the church. Look at what is happening in the world.

Stop reading those books from America about what the church needs to look like.

Go out into the villages, enter into the homes of the other. Enter their narratives.

As you seek an understanding of the nature and needs of your community, one excellent resource is the national Census data.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics have recently released the first wave of data from the 2006 Census. To find the data, go to this web site. Once online with the Census data, there are three particular options that are of interest: [Read more →]

Graham Beattie ran a three-day course at Trinity College in July, an annual short course provided for people preparing for ministry.

The aim of the course was to provide ministry students with an understanding of the nature and key dynamics of congregational/faith community based leadership in times of change and uncertainty. The course was designed to offer participants the opportunity to develop their own theology, style and approach to Christian leadership.

Over three days students reflected on Scripture, examined their own approach to leadership, interacted with guests and journalled their personal responses to each day’s process. Topics included the connection between ministry and leadership, Biblical stories, images, symbols and contemporary contextual developments that shape a theology of leadership, emotional intelligence, the contexts of church sizes and styles, leadership styles, leading change in the congregation, leading missional projects, and levels of complexity. Guests included Ann Hewson (Deacon), Yvonne Sutherland and Lu Senituli (Ministers of the Word), and Duncan Macleod (Vision for Mission Advocate).

On the Thursday and Friday Ann Warren led the group through a workshop on conflict resolution.

G’day!

I’m delighted to introduce myself as one of the newer members of the Mission Resource Network Team.

I have joined the Department for Finance and Property Services to work specifically in the area of developing and implementing property and resource strategies for congregations, presbyteries and the broader Synod. In plain language that means looking carefully at where we are currently, and where we are heading as a Church, and then equally carefully at what resource and property decisions and strategies might help us reach those goals.

From my perspective (and I know its a perspective shared by other members of the Mission Resource Network), it is crucial that our sense of mission and calling directs our property and resource priorities - and not the other way around.

I’ve also been actively involved in working toward bringing the Vision for Mission to fruition. Since March 2006 I have been convening (fancy word for coordinating) the Facilitation Team and working closely with Duncan in this exciting area.  From August 2007 my convenor role ceases, but I’ll continue as an ex-officio member of the facilitation team.
Prior to my “Synod Life” I’ve been working as part of a youth-focussed outdoor ministry, and gradually working my way through a B.Th within the hallowed halls of Trinity Theological College along with completing an internship with Forge Missional Training Network. Away from the office I live in glorious Boonah and share in the life of a small faith community. I’m delighted to be husband to Sheri, and exhausted dad to Riley, Mitchell and Mackenzie.

I would love to support you in your dreaming and planning for the future of your Church. Please let me know what I can do to assist you getting where God is calling.

I share an office with Gary Adsett in the Synod building at Auchenflower - but hope to spend more and more time out on the road somewhere in the real world. You can e-mail me, or call 07 3377 9720 to get in touch.

Hi, my name is Graham Beattie.

I’m a Minister of the Word of the Uniting Church in Australia and have served for 17 years in pastoral ministry in 3 parishes in New South Wales – Blacktown, Griffith and Coffs Harbour.

From 1993-1999 I held the position of Mission Officer with the Victorian Synod focusing on the western and north-western suburbs of Melbourne where I worked with congregations in mission planning and leadership development.

At the end of 1999 I came to Queensland as one of the 3 Synod Mission Consultants.

My personal mission is to influence the strategic transformation of the church as a hospitable, disciple-making movement that participates with the Spirit in the creative transformation of the world. In particular, I commit myself to the development of regional style churches and new faith communities through personally mentoring present and future leaders.

A major part of my work is coaching ministers through the Focusing Leaders course.

My hobbies include table tennis, reading, travel and meeting people.

My office is on the first floor of the Queensland Uniting Church Centre in Bayliss St, Auchenflower, Brisbane. You can contact me by email or by phone at 07 3377 9818

Duncan Macleod joined the mission consultant team at the beginning of 2002. He took on the role of Vision for Mission Advocate at the beginning of 2006.

Duncan is focused primarily on resourcing new missional communities. He has responsibilities for the use of electronic media for networking (this web site, email discussion lists…), and development of ministry and mission in postmodern contexts.

Duncan is available as a supervisor and coach (particularly in the areas of emerging church, missional leadership, alternative worship and youth ministry).

Duncan was previously Youth and Families Minister at Robina Surfers Paradise Uniting Church, National Youth Ministry Coordinator for Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, Minister at St Mark’s Presbyterian Church, Post Office mail clerk & orchard worker in Katikati, Youth Worker at North Invercargill Presbyterian Church.

Duncan is in the middle of studies for a doctorate of ministry through San Francisco Theological Seminary. Two of his papers are on this site, Healthy Congregations and Servant Mission Leadership. Have a look at Duncan’s collation of resources for leadership at Leadership Links. Read the article ‘Who you gonna call’ from April 2002 issue of Journey.

Duncan and his family are members of Pacific Parks Uniting, a house church on the Gold Coast, and Ashmore Uniting Church.

Duncan works mostly from his office in the YACMU building at 48 Bayliss Street, Auchenflower, Brisbane, a part of the Queensland Synod Uniting Church Centre. You can contact him by email or by phone: 07 3377 9809, 0439 828 718.

Take a look at Duncan’s blogs (online journals) at:

Pacific Highlander, Generations in Conversation, Godpost - resources for theological reflection, Gospel Notes - weekly reflection on the lectionary gospel reading, Driving with purpose - reflection on Purpose Driven Life, and Duncan’s TV Adland.

Churches respond to South East Queensland Regional Plan

At a workshop convened by the Ecumenical Projects Team of Queensland Churches Together last Friday,(7th April), representatives of several churches underlined the need to work together to respond to the changes that are expected in South-East Queensland in the next 20 years.

Outlining the main policies contained in the Queensland Government’s South East Queensland Regional Plan 2005-2026, senior planner Raelene Corner said that the region’s population is expected to increase at the rate of 50,000 per year, an increase of over one million by 2026. The Regional Plan attempts to set down strategies for coping with this anticipated increase in a sustainable way. It is complemented by a Blueprint for the Bush, which deals with anticipated changes in rural Queensland.

Participants responded with a call for churches to engage in the planning process, recognizing that there would be clear advantages in doing so together. Many participants favoured the idea of setting up multi-function centres in which churches have combined spaces along with other community groups and services. However, while it is clear that the Government wishes to involve community groups in planning, the processes for doing so are not spelled out sufficiently. “In the past if the church wanted land for a new building it would simply buy it from the local farmer,” one participant noted. “Now it is extremely difficult to intervene early in the planning and it is left for us simply to negotiate with the developers.”

Several participants stressed that local and state governments need to recognize the contribution that churches already make to the community by providing services and employment opportunities. “We are providers, not developers.” The presence of church-run facilities such schools may well add value to the community as a whole, not just in monetary terms. Churches are also sensitive to issues of social cohesiveness and can bring to the attention of decision-makers the voices of those at the margins of power, such as Indigenous people, youth and the elderly.

QCT will follow up the workshop by facilitating links between relevant Government offices and churches.

Inquiries can be directed to:

Glenine Hamlyn - General Secretary, Queensland Churches Together
PO Box 2045, Milton BC, Qld 4064 – Email: qctgsec at tpg.com.au

Ph. 07-3369 6792        Fax 07 3369 8573

Online Resources

The South-East Queensland Plan

Blueprint for the Bush