Steve Addison has posted a list of the top 10 books for church planting.
It is a good list and Steve is one of the best in the business
worldwide (and lives here in Melbourne) so if that is your cuppa tea..
drink it in and then read it too!
http://www.steveaddison.net/
Friday, September 30, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
5 Years Old?
I was at the Australian Missiology Conference last night. Dr David
Tacey was speaking. It was an immence session. It was amazing to just
take in what he has to offer. He is a Professor at LaTrobe Uni and
teaches English, English Lit and Spirituality. He is the author of more
then a few books and publications including 'The Spirituality Revolution'... which I made students read in my Church in Australian Culture subject at Burleigh College.
Two things stand out from last night (well actually several but two for now!). First, Tacey draws much of his conclusions from his students. He really listens to them. He truely understands what teaching is about. No wonder that his spirituality courses are packed out at LaTrobe. People of all perspectives come and engage and he guides them from his more then substantial perspective of literature, philosophy, psychology and theology.
Second. He made a comment that really spoke to me... He commented that the faith that many churches taught was one that was suitable for a '5 year old's faith' but not for an adult. He commented about the use of the Bible, the simplistic aswers given that don't stand up to the 'test of real life', and the lack of spiritual direction/adult faith development. And I thought... 'Yep, he's got a point there... a big one'.
Paul spoke of this. He said that as believers we are meant to move on from 'milk' to 'meat'.
Two things stand out from last night (well actually several but two for now!). First, Tacey draws much of his conclusions from his students. He really listens to them. He truely understands what teaching is about. No wonder that his spirituality courses are packed out at LaTrobe. People of all perspectives come and engage and he guides them from his more then substantial perspective of literature, philosophy, psychology and theology.
Second. He made a comment that really spoke to me... He commented that the faith that many churches taught was one that was suitable for a '5 year old's faith' but not for an adult. He commented about the use of the Bible, the simplistic aswers given that don't stand up to the 'test of real life', and the lack of spiritual direction/adult faith development. And I thought... 'Yep, he's got a point there... a big one'.
Paul spoke of this. He said that as believers we are meant to move on from 'milk' to 'meat'.
A Radical Thought!
I've been popping in and out at the Australian Missiology Conference at
Whitley College this week. That's the disadvantage of being at a
conference in your own city! You aren't away anywhere so the things
that are close to home stil have to be done. But it is a great
conference filled with some really interesting people. Great people.
And it gives me heart that it filled up within a few months and has been
booked out since June.
So here I am in a room filled with 140 wonderful, smart people all dedicated to mission in Australia and New Zealand. Many of them also doing it. And as I am listening to all of the great speakers a radical thought pops into my head. What if at a conference like this, rather then the usual suspects presenting their well thought through theologies and arguements instead we invited people who don't go to church and see no reason to go to church. But people who are maybe in faith comunities of other religions and philosophies or else in nothing. And we just listened to them and in that to God's heart for what they represent and the best ways to missionally 'incarnate' in order to share the love of Christ.
So here I am in a room filled with 140 wonderful, smart people all dedicated to mission in Australia and New Zealand. Many of them also doing it. And as I am listening to all of the great speakers a radical thought pops into my head. What if at a conference like this, rather then the usual suspects presenting their well thought through theologies and arguements instead we invited people who don't go to church and see no reason to go to church. But people who are maybe in faith comunities of other religions and philosophies or else in nothing. And we just listened to them and in that to God's heart for what they represent and the best ways to missionally 'incarnate' in order to share the love of Christ.
Friday, September 23, 2005
Food Mission
I went out last night with 'K' to spend the evening with some old
friends. 'K' used to work with the wife of this couple and like old
friends who hadn't seen each other for years (the price of living
interstate) we caught up as though we'd been apart for just a week. But
that's not the story that I want to tell in this post.
We went to this small but groovey cafe in the outer north eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I could never of found the place if these friends hadn't guided us there. In fact, even with their clear directions we still had to call them on the cell phone twice to find it and in the end 'H' had to stand out on the road and wave us down!
So this cafe is in a small lane that is too small to even get named in the Melways but we go in and the owner shakes us by the hand and welcomes us in. We sat down out the back in an area that could take 15 people at a squeeze. The deck next to that could comfirtably take 8 (no more). Oh and there is the area round the bar that could take another 10 (maybe). So it is imtimate enough for the owner to greet everyone and call them by name for the rest of the night. I suspect that if I went back in a week he'd still remember me.
And the food and drinks menu was enticing. No 'main means' just groovey ante-pastas, cheeses, dips, samosas, etc. And a simple but alternative wine list. We got there at 6.45 (finally) and it was quite empty. I wondered if it was going to close. But the 4 of us settled into a great time of catching up and freaking out because while 'K' and I are facing the joys of parenthood these friends (who are not much older then us) are becoming grandparents!!!
We must have been deeply engaged in conversation for an hour or so because when I looked up I noticed that there were now about 20 people in the cafe and another 10 outside where they could smoke. There were 3 x 35 years olds catching up. There was a 50 year old bloke drinking a red wine and reading the paper, clearly enjoying being in a 'community space'. Other groups chatting away... and this happens every night there.
So here we were in a hard to find place that was found by plenty of people whop just like to 'hang out' together in a community space and relate. It was wonderful and reminded me about the time a couple of years ago that I was outside of Christchurch in NZ. Fraser the Scottish Youth Pastor took me to a pub where I experienced the same thing on a freezing Winter's afternoon. A whole bunch of locals watching the rugby together.
And then we went to a cafe down the road that provided coffee and dancing. Saturday afternoon and people were practicing the tango! I found out later on, that this place was a church and on Sunday afternoons they worship together. Exciting possibilities for a missional church.
We went to this small but groovey cafe in the outer north eastern suburbs of Melbourne. I could never of found the place if these friends hadn't guided us there. In fact, even with their clear directions we still had to call them on the cell phone twice to find it and in the end 'H' had to stand out on the road and wave us down!
So this cafe is in a small lane that is too small to even get named in the Melways but we go in and the owner shakes us by the hand and welcomes us in. We sat down out the back in an area that could take 15 people at a squeeze. The deck next to that could comfirtably take 8 (no more). Oh and there is the area round the bar that could take another 10 (maybe). So it is imtimate enough for the owner to greet everyone and call them by name for the rest of the night. I suspect that if I went back in a week he'd still remember me.
And the food and drinks menu was enticing. No 'main means' just groovey ante-pastas, cheeses, dips, samosas, etc. And a simple but alternative wine list. We got there at 6.45 (finally) and it was quite empty. I wondered if it was going to close. But the 4 of us settled into a great time of catching up and freaking out because while 'K' and I are facing the joys of parenthood these friends (who are not much older then us) are becoming grandparents!!!
We must have been deeply engaged in conversation for an hour or so because when I looked up I noticed that there were now about 20 people in the cafe and another 10 outside where they could smoke. There were 3 x 35 years olds catching up. There was a 50 year old bloke drinking a red wine and reading the paper, clearly enjoying being in a 'community space'. Other groups chatting away... and this happens every night there.
So here we were in a hard to find place that was found by plenty of people whop just like to 'hang out' together in a community space and relate. It was wonderful and reminded me about the time a couple of years ago that I was outside of Christchurch in NZ. Fraser the Scottish Youth Pastor took me to a pub where I experienced the same thing on a freezing Winter's afternoon. A whole bunch of locals watching the rugby together.
And then we went to a cafe down the road that provided coffee and dancing. Saturday afternoon and people were practicing the tango! I found out later on, that this place was a church and on Sunday afternoons they worship together. Exciting possibilities for a missional church.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
A Bit of Fun!
Thanks to Steve Taylor at Emergent Kiwi for posting this one... Make sure you don't do this if the boss is paying you to work!
http://www.eoiweb.com/EFL/snakes_and_ladders/snakes_and_ladders.htm
http://www.eoiweb.com/EFL/snakes_and_ladders/snakes_and_ladders.htm
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Something to Think About
Read and decide whether to laugh or cry... This raises profound
ecclesiological (theology of church) and missional issues for me.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16654819%5E28737,00.html
Andrew
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,16654819%5E28737,00.html
Andrew
Monday, September 19, 2005
One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
Yesterday was a special day for me as a pastor of our church. We are
currently going through a series on being The People of God. It is
basically a series on what a missional church is. The series is
downloadable at the resources section of the church website...
camberwellbaptist.org
Anyway we are looking at the nature of the church as a body. This is one of Paul's dominant metaphors for the church and is often used today when we say 'The Body of Christ'. That, as I explained, is drawing on ancient understandings and values for the body (think ancient Greece think Olympics, think Plato); on the incarnate and eventually crucified body of our Lord; and highlited in the eating of the bread in communion.
This is the context for the passage that we looked at (1 Cor 12: 12-14) which refers back to 1 Cor 10:17 where the word loaf is used. A part of the message about a body is unity in diversity... you know... hands need feet, feet need eyes, etc. And they all make up a whole, unified body. And then in 12:13 there is this literary parallell that uses an interplay on the words drink and baptism. It is referring to our imersion into Christ by our baptism which is marked by the Spirit (who is the only one who really knows our inclusion or otherwise in Christ). So that is all standard, orthodox Christian biblical stuff.
But what do you say when you are a Baptist church that draws it's very name from this subject? Therefore baptism is an important subject to us that refers to what is sometimes called a sacrament. It is also referring to our identity. Our forebears' sometimes died for this conviction... an adult believer's baptism by full imersion in water. But what if there are many members of your congregation who were christened as children or infants or sprinkled as believing adults? Should/can they be members of the local Baptist church?
Well this was opened up for us yesterday by me! I didn't want to go there but this passage clearly calls us to be united in our baptism so we have to look at it. There are people in our church from Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and Catholic traditions. Can they become members of our church? Do they have to be baptised 'our way'? Sounds a bit arrogant to deny many of their previous baptisms, especially if their conscience is asking them not to be what would be for the a 're-baptism'. Second baptisms are not kosher in Christian doctrine. Is it right for them to be involved, giving and loved parts of our church but not allowed to vote at member's meetings just because of the tradition from which they came?
Anyway the day was special because some of the older members of our church who have been life members of the Baptist tradition came up to me one by one and independantly encouraged me for sticking to the scriptures above even Baptist tradition! Good on em! Their passion for God's Word and for the mission of the Gospel in today's changing world was a great encouragement to me. I hope I'm like that if I get to their age and stage.
But what do you think about this passage and baptismal traditions? My message fleshes this out a lot more if you wanted some background on this.
shalom,
Andrew
Anyway we are looking at the nature of the church as a body. This is one of Paul's dominant metaphors for the church and is often used today when we say 'The Body of Christ'. That, as I explained, is drawing on ancient understandings and values for the body (think ancient Greece think Olympics, think Plato); on the incarnate and eventually crucified body of our Lord; and highlited in the eating of the bread in communion.
This is the context for the passage that we looked at (1 Cor 12: 12-14) which refers back to 1 Cor 10:17 where the word loaf is used. A part of the message about a body is unity in diversity... you know... hands need feet, feet need eyes, etc. And they all make up a whole, unified body. And then in 12:13 there is this literary parallell that uses an interplay on the words drink and baptism. It is referring to our imersion into Christ by our baptism which is marked by the Spirit (who is the only one who really knows our inclusion or otherwise in Christ). So that is all standard, orthodox Christian biblical stuff.
But what do you say when you are a Baptist church that draws it's very name from this subject? Therefore baptism is an important subject to us that refers to what is sometimes called a sacrament. It is also referring to our identity. Our forebears' sometimes died for this conviction... an adult believer's baptism by full imersion in water. But what if there are many members of your congregation who were christened as children or infants or sprinkled as believing adults? Should/can they be members of the local Baptist church?
Well this was opened up for us yesterday by me! I didn't want to go there but this passage clearly calls us to be united in our baptism so we have to look at it. There are people in our church from Presbyterian, Methodist, Anglican and Catholic traditions. Can they become members of our church? Do they have to be baptised 'our way'? Sounds a bit arrogant to deny many of their previous baptisms, especially if their conscience is asking them not to be what would be for the a 're-baptism'. Second baptisms are not kosher in Christian doctrine. Is it right for them to be involved, giving and loved parts of our church but not allowed to vote at member's meetings just because of the tradition from which they came?
Anyway the day was special because some of the older members of our church who have been life members of the Baptist tradition came up to me one by one and independantly encouraged me for sticking to the scriptures above even Baptist tradition! Good on em! Their passion for God's Word and for the mission of the Gospel in today's changing world was a great encouragement to me. I hope I'm like that if I get to their age and stage.
But what do you think about this passage and baptismal traditions? My message fleshes this out a lot more if you wanted some background on this.
shalom,
Andrew
Back Down the Mountain
Had a great time up the mountain. For those of you who live in
Melbourne and have never spent time at Pallotti College in Millgrove in
the Warburton Valley I thoroughly recommend it as a great place for
silence and refreshment. It is run by a Catholic order called the
Pallentine Order (named after their founder, Italian, Vincent Pallotti).
It is just a beautiful, peaceful place with sweeping views over the
valley. Why do the Catholic's always choose the high ground with the
best views?
I didn't know the others on this retreat but we soon became collegues and friends. Geoff Pound the principal at Whitley College led us through some reflective questions and exercises about our previous theological training, mentors, formation, hopes, dreams and relationships. There was good opportunity for sharing and personal reflection. A great time and one I appreciated greatly...
Which brings me to a question that I have been comtemplating for quite a while. How can this be created for people who live busy lives in the city and can't necessarily take 24 hours out of their schedule like I did? Mum's, dads, students, workers, housebound, citybound?
Here are some ideas I have that we can all do...
1. Take the lunch break to sit in a park and pray, journal or meditate on similar themes.
2. Get a few friends together for a night of reflection and sharing on similar themes.
3. Practice praying through a daily office like David Adam's Celtic Daily Prayer.
4. Walk early in the morning (get a dog if necessary!).
5. Use meditative CD's.
6 Journal.
7. Go to an old church that is open through the day for private contemplation.
8. Purposely sit in a busy shopping mall and read the Bible. Feel the juxtaposition between the modern, consumer forces upon you and the ancient truth of God's Word.
Any others out there?
Andrew
I didn't know the others on this retreat but we soon became collegues and friends. Geoff Pound the principal at Whitley College led us through some reflective questions and exercises about our previous theological training, mentors, formation, hopes, dreams and relationships. There was good opportunity for sharing and personal reflection. A great time and one I appreciated greatly...
Which brings me to a question that I have been comtemplating for quite a while. How can this be created for people who live busy lives in the city and can't necessarily take 24 hours out of their schedule like I did? Mum's, dads, students, workers, housebound, citybound?
Here are some ideas I have that we can all do...
1. Take the lunch break to sit in a park and pray, journal or meditate on similar themes.
2. Get a few friends together for a night of reflection and sharing on similar themes.
3. Practice praying through a daily office like David Adam's Celtic Daily Prayer.
4. Walk early in the morning (get a dog if necessary!).
5. Use meditative CD's.
6 Journal.
7. Go to an old church that is open through the day for private contemplation.
8. Purposely sit in a busy shopping mall and read the Bible. Feel the juxtaposition between the modern, consumer forces upon you and the ancient truth of God's Word.
Any others out there?
Andrew
Thursday, September 15, 2005
Up the Mountain
Well I am off on a retreat for 24 hours with the other 6 people who are
getting ordained in November and the Whitley College Princpal, who is
running the time. I'm looking forward to getting to know them and the
chance to have 24 hours of reflection and P & Q!.
It make me think again about what ordination is for a Baptist? I mean, we do believe in the idea of the Priesthood of All Believers. This means that we don't need a priest to get through to God but we each have access through the work of Christ. That's why we don't have confessionals in our churches... you can go direct to God or by confessing to another believer and it doesn't have to be me. So why do we have ordination?
I guess it is a recognition that God calls some people to servant leadership in a full-time vocational sense and that there should be some quality controls about who and why as well as some levels of Biblical, theological, pastoral, leadership knowledge in the candidate. Afterall, we expect plumbers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, hairdressers, accountants, carpenters, etc. to be trained and accredited by their professional organisations. How much more important is it for those given a pastoral leadership amongst people's lives? I am committed to the notion that there should be a formal process for accreditation of pastors by denominations and wider systems or the whole thing is just up for abuse. I've seen too many example of these personalities who dodge the system and are loose cannons.
My path to ordination has not been a 'typical one' but I expect as I listen to the stories of the others there that none of the will be 'typical' either. My path has taken me through 2.5 theological degrees (a BMin, a MMin and now a DMin) and I was mentored by several key people who each have made a major effect on my life and ministry, each in quite different ways. And of course my ministry at Crossway, Marshmead and in Adelaide (at Burleigh and with the SABU) were major experiences. I am grateful for each of them.
What elements do you think should be in an ordination process?
It make me think again about what ordination is for a Baptist? I mean, we do believe in the idea of the Priesthood of All Believers. This means that we don't need a priest to get through to God but we each have access through the work of Christ. That's why we don't have confessionals in our churches... you can go direct to God or by confessing to another believer and it doesn't have to be me. So why do we have ordination?
I guess it is a recognition that God calls some people to servant leadership in a full-time vocational sense and that there should be some quality controls about who and why as well as some levels of Biblical, theological, pastoral, leadership knowledge in the candidate. Afterall, we expect plumbers, doctors, nurses, lawyers, hairdressers, accountants, carpenters, etc. to be trained and accredited by their professional organisations. How much more important is it for those given a pastoral leadership amongst people's lives? I am committed to the notion that there should be a formal process for accreditation of pastors by denominations and wider systems or the whole thing is just up for abuse. I've seen too many example of these personalities who dodge the system and are loose cannons.
My path to ordination has not been a 'typical one' but I expect as I listen to the stories of the others there that none of the will be 'typical' either. My path has taken me through 2.5 theological degrees (a BMin, a MMin and now a DMin) and I was mentored by several key people who each have made a major effect on my life and ministry, each in quite different ways. And of course my ministry at Crossway, Marshmead and in Adelaide (at Burleigh and with the SABU) were major experiences. I am grateful for each of them.
What elements do you think should be in an ordination process?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Trinitarian Worship
Continuing on the discussion about the Trinity here is a great post that
will help you think a little deeper about what worship is about:
http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2004/07/ten_minutes_on_.html
cheers and happy reading
Andrew
http://maggidawn.typepad.com/maggidawn/2004/07/ten_minutes_on_.html
cheers and happy reading
Andrew
114 Reasons
Three motivations for living missionally! A vision of God. A vision of
Christ and a vision for the world. But 114 resons on our 114th church
anniversary! I was personally challenged to the bottom of my socks with
the message that we heard on Sunday from my own pulpit! But it wasn't
me preaching. It was someone with 55 years more experience (and a
couple of doctorates to boot!).
Sunday's message had it all! (For those who didn't hear it you can do so on www.camberwellbaptist.org - Just go to the messages section and you can stream it or download it).
I guess the power of the message is in the messenger and when it is in a person who has been a pastor for 70 years of continuous ministry, you ignore it at your peril! Rev Dr Geoff Blackburn is just such a person. He took his first church in 1935! and has been faithfully serving God in local, state, national and international forums ever since. He is a statesman but also a faithful servant and member of our own church.
So how do we respond? Where do we start? I've got my ideas but what do some other think?
Sunday's message had it all! (For those who didn't hear it you can do so on www.camberwellbaptist.org - Just go to the messages section and you can stream it or download it).
I guess the power of the message is in the messenger and when it is in a person who has been a pastor for 70 years of continuous ministry, you ignore it at your peril! Rev Dr Geoff Blackburn is just such a person. He took his first church in 1935! and has been faithfully serving God in local, state, national and international forums ever since. He is a statesman but also a faithful servant and member of our own church.
So how do we respond? Where do we start? I've got my ideas but what do some other think?
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