Christian education is about small groups. And I like Zebras!
Ever wondered what drives great ideas for ministry across the ages? Knowing how Christian education works, what underpins it and how to do it better is a start! Jonathan Sargeant is coordinating Christian Education (THL366) next semester at St Francis Theological College. Find out more here...
Read MoreWatch the video for the Distributed Church program and then meet me back here. It only goes for 90 seconds or so...
You watched it? What did you think?
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The final two books in the Pilgrim: a course for the Christian journey series have been released.
Following the order of issues in the Catechism, the final two books are The Bible and Church and Kingdom. These use ...
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Question and answer sessions are an essential part of any state school Religious Education teachers methodology. They tend to allow us get to the point. The itch gets scratched!
With Episcopalian Questions, Episcopalian Answers, Ian Markham (Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary) has written a slim volume that does just that. He provides brief answers that manage to
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Everyone loves a movie with a message, especially when that message is something uplifting or inspiring. Sometimes, though, the message can overpower the film, or more to the point, the message is something we could all agree with, but the film itself does not do that message justice. I'm not pointing any fingers (cough* Invictus), but does a movie like Selma live up to the message it carries?
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Since the Eucharist is so central to what we do as Christians, it stands to reason that people in our pews should have a good understanding of what is going on as they participate, right?
This 24 page booklet aims to enable that good understanding.
Read MoreThe Gospel according to Mark has always puzzled careful readers. It seems to focus on keeping Jesus’ works and miracles secret, on Jesus’ failure to convince his opponents, and on the weaknesses of his disciples.
The Revised Common Lectionary uses the Gospel According to Mark as the basis for the Sunday Gospel readings in year B. As an opportunity for preachers and laity alike this seminar will provide excellent preparation for the year ahead.
From 2015, St Francis Theological College will begin offering subjects especially targeting those ministry areas. You can work towards a diploma or audit subjects (reduced fees and optional assessment).
And what’s on next year? “Youth Culture and Mission” will use an adjusted timetable that won’t require weekly lectures. Jonathan Sargeant will be coordinating the subject.
Want to know more? You can read all about it here.
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Have a look at the new website for Education for Ministry here in Australia. It's in its beginning stages but already is a great repository of information and sharing. If you've heard of EfM but never really looked into it, the website is a great place to check out some of the details.
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Research suggests that if you want the faith of children to grow it needs to happen primarily in the home. It's great to have supporting programs happening in the parish but the home is the locus.
Taking this seriously, Stephen Harrison has created the Faithful Families blog, weekly resources to help families grow faith at home. Every idea is simple and easily used.
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Anglican perspective on ABC local radio
Local ABC Radio has recently started a series of radio conversations to help the general public have (a greater) awareness of different faith perspectives. This is in coordination with the Toowoomba ‘Model City of Peace and Harmony’ initiative. Jonathan Inkpin has become the Christian participant (specifically as an Anglican)...
From 2015, St Francis Theological College will begin offering subjects especially targeting ministry with young people, families and children. You can work towards a diploma or to audit (reduced fees and optional assessment).
And what’s on next year?
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The well-known US Christian video resource site Sermon Spice (http://www.sermonspice.com/) serves at least two major purposes for Anglicans here in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. In the first place the site is an absolute treasure trove of video material for everything from adding a welcome, to stories that enhance homilies, to blessings with heart. But what is the second??
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www. Anglicannews.org is a service that aggregates news from around the Anglican communion into one easy site, making it simple to keep up to date with the Anglican Church around the world.
As well as listing the news, you can sign up for a daily email that means you get a reminder of what's going on and where.
One of the by-products of a site like this is that you can glance over its contents and get an interesting picture of what the Anglican Church is all about. What does it think is important? Where do its values lie? One answer to that question is found here.
Since our churches have a life long goal of working at nurturing their own communities and the one around them, this article by noted theologian Parker Palmer is helpful. It opens up some of the old ways of thinking about community and outlines newer, more helpful ways to move us forward in creating places of safety, challenge and love...
Parker J. Palmer, founder and Senior Partner of the Center for Courage & Renewal, is a world-renowned writer, speaker and activist who focuses on issues in education, community, leadership, spirituality and social change. He has reached millions worldwide through his nine books, including Let Your Life Speak, The Courage to Teach, A Hidden Wholeness, and Healing the Heart of Democracy.
Parker holds a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California at Berkeley, as well as eleven honorary doctorates, two Distinguished Achievement Awards from the National Educational Press Association, and an Award of Excellence from the Associated Church Press. In 2010, Palmer was given the William Rainey Harper Award whose previous recipients include Margaret Mead, Elie Wiesel, and Paolo Freire. In 2011, he was named an Utne Reader Visionary, one of “25 people who are changing your world.”
The Church Growth Research Programme in the UK is doing cutting edge into...well you can guess from the name of the project. It's quite good.
From Anecdote to Evidence: Findings from the Church Growth Research Programme 2011-2013 is the name of the report on everyone's lips and it'll be the subject of much discussion at our Diocesan Synod starting on Friday the 11th of July.
If you want an online copy, you can find it here...