Wow! History in the Making

Congratulations to Barack Obama!!
Apparently 'Yes We Can'!

Greenbelt.UK.US # 6 NEW YORK

This trip has been a while in the making for me and as such I needed to include a US leg to catch some of the things I have tracked alongside the UK groups.

I planned to connect with:
'Transmission' faith community
Trinity Wall Street 'Our Neighbours' lifesized photo display
Origins Church Upper West Side
Journey Church Midtown
AND
A Ground Zero Walking Tour through the Tribute Centre and the 9/11 Families Assoc

I don't have time to do 'Mosaic' in LA, Minneapolis and/or Seattle!! Next time maybe!!

Had a great flight once we got away and caught the excellent Sky Train to Howard Beach Station with the train that will circle Manhattan and go right to 59th St-Columbus Circle within short walking distance to the Westside YMCA [my inexpensive accomodation right near Central Park].

I dumped my stuff and walked staright down to Times Square in humid and opressive heat... passed the stage for the NFL Season Kick OFF which will happen the next night with Natasha Bettingfield, Keith Urban and Usher!!

I still had a headfull of thoughts leaving London and watched two suitably sad movies inflight causing a few strange tears.... typical of me!!

First impressions of New York [since 1998, 2000 visits]
1. Every person flying in is net cam photographed and fingerprinted at the airport!!!
2. Kids are even more fashion conscious and only here does the baseball cap sidways and jeans exposing boxers or undies look like fashion and not a pale imitation!!
3. It's noisier than ever and hotter than even my last summer vist which was June not September!!
4. The new airtrain rather than shuttle bus leaves our transport systems behind!!

Walking around I see many familiar and many new shops BUT feel at home, safe and excited to be here.... rushing back to head to 'Transmission' I run into Robin Williams about to leave the Trump Hotel for a bike ride through Central Park. He appears on David Letterman's LATE SHOW the next night!!

It does feel like there's a 'hole in the sky' looking downtown!!

I head to TGIFs and catch the girls on the earthcam while chatting on the phone!! This was a long time in the planning and didn't pan out on my previous visit!!

Greenbelt.UK.US # 5

I made some trip notes during and after our group debrief of the UK leg and found them a helpful reminder:

1. I was inspired by the space and permission at St Laurence, READING and have and will continue to tell that story... not about the stuff they put into the space but the process of gutting the building and working at 'what' to put in... the same could be done on minimal money!!
2. 'Safespace' at Telford was inspiring because of the energy and integrity of the community members and theie clear focus on 'keeping each other accountable'
3. Issues we'll face in Oz include money for projects and the ongoing questions about the future of ordained and lay voluntary leadership
4. I continue to reflect on the simplicity of the description "mission shaped" church and a focus on contextual relevance... which includes the growing collection of C of E 'mission shaped' books
5. We need a more consistently penetrating story about the need for change... the Board of Mission and NCLS have helped but have not 'made' the case consistently and in accessible ways for lots of people...
6. We need storytelling about places and ideas
7. WE need to find ways the older generations can grab the vision of being change agents
8. I reckon the rationalisation of Presbyteries with PRG monies spread would give traction through positions focused on space and permission for birthing new things
9. While 'Pioneer' ministry is not a great name, the concept of flexible tracks to ordination and use of people with interesting backgrounds, youth and charisma are winners!! We could learn much from seeing formation as something which could happen flexibly
10. 'Mixed economy' would work for us as a concept with perhaps some work on the actual words
11. My questions: How will we BE mission shaped? Will I go home to a. connect more strongly with the Dungeon congregation OR b. Start a new faith community as well OR c. focus on fewer places as a helper for longer
12. I have decided to do a. and b. and that b. will be about working as a mentor>leader for a group of people interested and we as a family may or may not connect with what emerges
13. Check out Salt [Factory] blog to see my idea which exists at the moment only in cyber space!!

Greenbelt.UK.US # 4

Next stop on our trip was London via train!! This was a wierd part of the trip for me... having spent days here in 1998 I had little compulsion to do the 'touristy' stuff yet wanted to not waste down time but to do something memorable and/or something to know I was in London!!

I was also in a strange place from all that I'd experienced on the trip and at Greenbelt. I was also a little tired and had a sore back which had troubled me for a few days... a walk to Kensington for the Chiropractor proved fruitless as it was no longer there!! Instead I kept walking and went to the Diana Memorial and walked all the way past Royal Albert Hall to Knightsbridge and a quick look at Harrods and surrounds....

Having trumpeted about Lillywhites sports store in Picadilly I was disappointed to catch a train in and discover it had become like most chain discount sports outlets instead of a sports department store!! I later learnt that's exactly what had happened... teken over by the sports world owner of Newcsatle United... So no rugby jersey or West Ham soccer shirt to buy!!

Later that night there was a debrief at the local for those not attending a West End Theatre... Had a chance to chat with with Jen R [just one remarkable expat happy to give me the time of day and actually spend time chatting and listening... an all too rare quality I find!!]

Couldn't sleep this night and drifted off about 2.3am after a late night train trip... Still trying to decide what to do with 2/3 of a day the next day...

Tuesday 2nd September by now and have until about 2pm to do 'whatever'!! Headed back to Harrods for some specific shopping and then into Covent Garden and a walk around the whole of the central area including Oxford/Regent Sts, Spittlefields and back down to Picadilly... thoughtful day... London does that to you... even a fine day is cloudy but it warms up a bit!!

Tried to find a healthy lunch but everywhere was too busy for a lone diner so I caught the train to South Ealing and ended up at the pub waiting 20mins for lunch that almost made me late to the church...

Here we met Jonny Baker at the home of 'Grace' community.... one of those legendarily chronicled communities from the emerging church which shares lots of creativity and ethos which inspires and challenges!! We were later to meet Steve Collins at the pub and hear more but Jonny's focus was on his take on much of the scene, the work of CMS and other questions about 'fresh expressions'. It was a good processing of all the various perspectives by running them past Jonny... though I was a little annoyed at being deflected from asking a couple of questions about Grace because we'd be meeting Steve later.... I was interested in again hearing more than one perspective... anyhow!! Another day!

Jonny's interesting take on 'mission' as working on "healing creation" was an interesting holistic image... the other focus of the conversation was on the gutsy 'pioneer ministry' and how the training needs some work and there isn't a bottomless pit of money!!

We spent time in the afternoon doing a group debrief [uncomfortably in the other local pub] after the girls had spent time with Jenny Baker and talked amongst other things about her 'Sophia' network... there's a lot to be said for a female based support/empowerment network!!

Over dinner later we had a great conversation with Steve Collins whose concise and insightful history, read and perspectives were a great wrap to the UK part of the trip!! He spoke also about Grace and its team collaboration, promotion and networking, website presence and focus on ethos/values around which they gather. It's about peoples potential contributions, it mostly works, there's no offering but it offers direct debit and has no paid person. It's now a 2nd Saturday of the month gathering!!

I was still pondering tonight and found it hard to sleep... I have unfinsihed conversation!! I awake at 4am on the 3rd and so get sorted, leave messages and catch a 6:15am train to Heathrow having established I did need to get to the new Terminal 5.... got there way too early BUT I am now travelling alone so get used to that because I get stressed about catching the right planes and trains!!

Bought some stuff and headed off to NEW YORK!!

Greenbelt.UK.US.continued #3

Back on broadband and it gives me a chance to continue blogging about our UK etc trip!! Perhaps one of the most inspirational parts of the trip for me was meeting Chris Russell at St Laurence' READING... Having enjoyed a full rest day in Oxford [including Pizza, 'Man on Wire' at the Odeon etc] we travelled to Reading by train and checked out the heritage Cathedral.

They have done amazing things in terms of:

# A diocesan review initiated by the Bishop led to Chris' call and after significant time he came with a team who agreed to relocate from a London Soul Survivor based community.

#With mentoring and encouragement from Pete Ward, Chris and his team set about exploring what it woould mean to be a community of people focused on mission with young people

# Eight years on they have applied the principle of 'gutting' the space and installing furniture and fittings which serve their purspose... they will have spent millions BUT the idea could be done with Salvo's lounges, donated equipment and a small scale version of what we saw...

#250-300 participants

#Holiday Clubs, camps, schools ministry, some government funded connections [which may or may not have been diversions at times], worship, etc

Money was available, a team was significant, it exists as an all age congregation focused on helping young people shape and grow it.

Whilst tired we ventured to 'HOME' back in Oxford with Matt Rees in leadership as one 'pioneer minister' who had quit when funding was withdrawn so as to continue in leadership in the community. It was an ambient eucharistic worship with space for reflection, very loud backing track music and lots of incense... which stirs my asthma!!

Met Pete Ward briefly which was a spin out after reading some of his great youth ministry writing [in typed manuscript in one case prior to its release in a book form with other Oxford Youth Works presentations.

We were way too tired to retreat for conversation but rather took our leave and did Pub dinner as a group ourselves.

Computer and Modem Fried!!

Wow! How slow is dial up...
Apparently a phone line spike, or something having the same effect, caused my computer and ADSL modem to fry and I have been restricted to my GPRS speed Vodafone wireless net connection [because its not 3G speed in Newcastle yet.... I have it for times in other parts of the state and airports around the country!!]

It would seem I'm back... new NEC PC, new Modem and new surge protected powerboard [$200 one instead of $90 one] with replacement warranties... so we'll see!!

I now hope to finalise my Greenbelt/UK/US trip posts and catch up on heaps of other tasks!!

AC/DC new disc "BLACK ICE" out this weekend !

Put aside the new Augie March or Kings of Leon CD, crank it up to 11 and get yourself a copy of AC/DCs "Black Ice"!!

"Albert Productions and SonyBMG Australia have announced the worldwide release of "Black Ice," the long awaited new studio album from AC/DC, on October 18.
Black Ice," the first full-length studio album of all-new material from AC/DC since the release of "Stiff Upper Lip" in 2000, is the band’s debut album for Columbia Records, (New York Based label for SonyBMG) and their 18th for Australia’s Albert Productions.

Track Listing:

1. Rock ’n Roll Train

2. Skies On Fire

3. Big Jack

4. Anything Goes

5. War Machine

6. Smash N Grab

7. Spoilin’ For A Fight

8. Wheels

9. Decibel

10. Stormy May Day

11. She Likes Rock N Roll

12. Money Made

13. Rock N Roll Dream

14. Rocking All The Way

15. Black Ice

Surfing 50 States

Watching the 'Sunrise' cult breakfast show this week in Oz I came across the latest in the line of 'free hugs', jig dancing video types who are gathering wide fame from some crazy publicity worthy venture!!

The two blokes in question set themselves the challenge of surfing in all 50 USA states...

They both shared about their passion for surfing but the fact they weren't that good at it and yet have been able to enlist the help of locals in all 50 states and produced a 60min film of their exploits which premiered this week at the Haydn Orpheum!!

Their website explains the mission:

TO CONQUER to surf in all 50 states

TO TEACH to share the experience and stoke of surfing with others.

Especially those who may not have had the chance.

TO RECORD to document all our adventures on film, web and print media

TO ENJOY 'the best surfer is the one who is having the most fun'

The lads set their next challenge as 'surfing the moon' but have been unable to contact Richard Branson and have set their sights on Europe instead!!

Photos That Changed the World

ICON in the Sydney Morning Herald today was promoting and important YET CONFRONTING website today.... so BE AWARE THAT SOME IMAGES WILL DISTURB but the collection does live up to it's title!!

Check them out here

Greenbelt.UK.US Emerging Church Trip continued

Friday 29th August saw us heading to Oxford and the fun of University College and the notion of not one campus but a series of interrelated Colleges making up the town of Oxford and it's esteemed history. We enjoyed the hosting and hospitality of Anna Oldmeadow who it emerged was one of a long line of Rhodes Scholars and was able to show me the entry in the history book showing the three scholars from my own High School Maitland Boys' High!!

It was a well known story at school that one of our senior teachers had visited the historic college at a time it was closed to visitors but had talked his way in as it was very rare that one school let alone state high school had been home to three Rhodes Scholars... indeed Waddy, Portus and Hughes were three of our sporting houses and the names for the award for 'Best Allround Boy in Year 12.'

This was the tailend of public schools taking sport seriously and whole of school being suspended for the afternoon so we could be the crowd when we played in the University Shield rugby league... so such folklore was well worn and taken seriously. Of course Bill Clinton and Bob Hawke have their stories too.

Here we:

Met Steve Croft, the Director of the 'Fresh Expressions' movement

Bob Franklin the seconded Kiwi working as 'international liason

Saw films like 'Man on Wire' falling asleep in the arthouse Odeon

Visited the 'Eagle and Child' pub where the Inklings met [including CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien]

Walked the half decent Markets

Shopped

and rested

I learnt:

They have lots of money via the Lambeth Group allowing the Bishop to 'do something'

The projects, network, training etc are backed up by resources, will and money

The 'mission shaped church' is a simple concept and it'll be important to seperate this out from 'fresh expressions', emerging church etc...

The 'pioneer ministry' idea, training, DVD to promote, etc are significant aspects of 'fresh expressions'

Storytelling, NCLS and the Board of Mission have a mixed record of traction in my setting.... we need to get people together to come up with one unifying message that will promote space, permission and change in our context/s.

We would do well to form a cross Board, cross discipline WORKING GROUP including consultants, theologians, beaurocrats and practitioners to be a. a clearing house for ideas b. to work on what would/wouldn't lead us fwd c. to initiate story gathering d. to lay the ground work for Proposals for change and e. for times of visioning

In our setting Presbyteries are a real key to future change by vision, mission, resourcing, permission and space.

For what we saw and learnt on our trip to gain traction and make a difference we need 'effective' CHAMPIONS around to: run interference; be positive advocates; and keep up the agenda.

Other areas of impact would be:

The 'resource ministry' model

The Ministry of Pastor

Strategic placements concept talked about in ACOMP

The ELM, Continuing Ed, Youth Unit, Board of Mission and UTC combo for training

We would need a better name than 'pioneer'

All this and yet to have actually visited 'St Laurence, Reading'...

Worship Unplugged #52 Wax Hand

This worship station involves pressing a willing volunteers hand into a large enough quantity of playdoh or clay so as to create a mould of the hand that will have a rebuilt edge where the wrist is embedded or be OK by just pressing in the palm. You can choose to mould the palm or back of the hand depending on what you hope it will be used for or symbolise.... e.g. place written notes on the palm of the hand, put a little pillar of salt in it, have it hold a picture.... whatever!!

Melt wax, add colour as required, then pour the wax into the playdoh mould when its not at it's hottest!! Leave to set and return to find a creative full sized top or bottom half of a hand when turned out and over!!

CONVERGE NCYC09 LIVE CD and DVD

Got a copy of the CONVERGE NCYC 09 LIVE CD and DVD this week and was surprised to find that my collaboration with Phil Newton "STORIES OF HOPE" made not just the songbook as I'd been told BUT also the live recording and DVD...

Get in for your copy here

This is a chance to learn the songs before January 2009 and because it includes on screen lyrics it makes a great resource for teaching some new songs in your setting!!

'Pioneer Ministers' and Training Pathways

While saddled with the term 'pioneer' from an earlier report its not all bad as a term for those in the 'fresh expressions' offered a different pathway to ordination for offering leadership to something 'new', missional and contextual.
We will later get a copy of the DVD to promote the training modules and opportunities in pioneer ministry from Steve Croft and by then I was thinking about who might partner in offering training for this 'track.'

There needs to be:

• encouragement for capable Youth Workers and others with experience in ministry with young people as those best able to bring skills in context, relationship building and having a go... there are others with this backgrounf too
• We need to initiator early and walk alongside these people [kind of what was hoped but not necessarily delivered by the Forge training... too much 'crap' masquerading as wisdom]
• Mentoring, formation not just training and not just UTC formation, plus extra support and resourcing

There will be different flavours depending on peoples backgrounds and the roles they take up:

The following might have in common a need for formation in:

• Reading the context
• Interim Intentional Ministry training
• An extended network opportunity for a continuing education conference
• Youth Workers and/or ministry focused with younger generations needing mentors, perhaps Interim Intentional Ministry training
• Assets in Community building stuff
• Reflective Practice
• Different styles of leadership
• Assertiveness
• Team building
• Networking

Those who could 'do the new thing' would include:

• Youth Workers and others with focus and background in ministry with younger people
• Ministers of the Word and Deacons stepping into experimental roles
• New and Younger Lay Leaders starting something new
• New 'Candidates' identified as having gifts and insights for 'new stuff'

What if any unique training and formation would these different groups require.... it will involve lay educators, youth workers, those with mission and leadership training skills and will need to be outside the current 'Ministerial Education Board' stipulations...

Plenty to think about...

AND THE MONEY...

• Sell property to fund new initiatives
• Increase commercial rent opportunities
• Seek bequests
• Open a 'Foundation'
• Increase Presbytery Resource Grants to 3.5 with a focus on 'pioneer' stuff
• Decrease the number of Presbyteries to 5 or 6
• Volunteer religious Order styled contract 'traineeships' at $35,000 pa
• A percentage of SMRF grants to 'pioneer' stuff
• Minimum of 6-10 year plans for SMRF Grants
• At least [1] of four new Youth Worker positions 'doing something new...

Five Values for a Missional Church

FIVE values for a missionary church:
[from various C of E sources]

A missionary church is focused on God the Trinity
Worship lies at the heart of a missionary church, and to love and know God as Father, Son and Spirit is its chief inspiration and primary purpose…
A missionary church is incarnational
It seeks to shape itself in relation to the culture in which it is located or to which it is called…
A missionary church is transformational
It exists for the transformation of the community that it serves, through the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit…
A missionary church makes disciples
It is active in calling people to faith in Jesus Christ…it is concerned for the transformation of individuals, as well as for the transformation of communities.
A missionary church is relational
It is characterized by welcome and hospitality. Its ethos and style are open to change when new members join.

Greenbelt.UK.US Trip continued

Tiredness and thoughtfulness dominated my trip out of Cheltenham! I was a little lonely I think... in a crowd like most classic introverts. We travelled to Stratford Upon Avon [the birthplace of Shakespeare... and a lovely if touristy village. The laundromat and a stroll through town were a welcome distraction...
I continue to think about the nature of leadership, my own faith community connections and ideas and the cost of trying to reinvent an institution scarcely able to grasp its dilemas.
I still have three options in mind i. a new faith community project at home around say a Saturday monthly experience or ii. contributing to the Adamstown Dungeon congregation more regularly or iii. focusing on helping a few places more long term in my work than fleeting connections with lots....
Its about actual experience rather than consultancy... where helping others with ideas is not inherently flawed but it has to be more effective, powerful and informed to be actually engaged with your own local community in this way. I suspect I feel the disconnect a lot more since stepping back from rugby and not yet being able to give full attention to Lucy's school or other neighbourhood aspects while living and working at dustance.
We spent time at the 'local' talking about highlights and it was good to hear other peoples stories...

For me this included:
Remembering the first afternoon 'Panel' at GBelt and the affirmations
Conversations with people beyond the superficial including Meags, Collard, 'Sarah' and Jen!!
The diversity of the Greenbelt program

We explored 'Ironbridge' the location of the beginning of the industrial revolution with hints of the smoke and heat which would have been present. The 1797 built bridge was amazing and we heard about how it still had dovetailed joints like timber because when you think about it how would they have known any different being the first one.

We met with Mark Berry over a meal and began to hear about:

The story of moving to Telford to pursue a new faith community and missional connection

A sketch of the path into 'pioneer ministry' as part of the 'fresh expressions.'

This is where a flexible pathway is offered to leadership/formation/ordination. I began to reflect on the poor record in the UCA of moving to such 'flexible pathways' and it's my view that our existing system and to some extent Faculty would be incapable of moving to this change on their own. There is a huge barrier in evidence from previous history mixed in with stories of great insight, wisdom and care. But essentially students are often treated as anything but adult learners, MEC guidelines are scapegoated for being sticklers to the rules, requests for exemption due to past experience are treated as 'trying to get out of something' and youth ministry is clearly not understood and regarded as a lesser discipline.

People will be surprised by the capability of those who transition to ordination via a recent decision of our Assembly. The experience in pastoral care, planning and things like Funerals will surprise.

On Wednesday 27th we spent time exploring the centre of Telford [a town since the early 60s] and then the evening with the 'Safespace' community at Mark and Lou's home...

The 'town centre' concept reminded me of Rouse Hill in Sydney where the Courts, Police, Shopping Centre and Park are somehow envisaged as the 'heart of the community.' In this case more than one local from Safespace confirmed that they would have preferred one village being developed for this and that they don't like to shop there... While the sheer number of us made space tricky it was still a good night of conversation and it was clear once the locals found space amongst us that they were really good at relating and showed the benefits of being authentically connected with each other and their activity. I had a great time chatting to Ian who found the group online and still can't quite believe his less than satisfactory exploration of conservative Christian books has given way to being part of this amazing group... he lives 3 mins away....

I like Mark's story about connecting with the Telford football club over anything from sweeping the grandstand, being asked to join the Board and writing a history of the Club and how its handled adversity and a few damaging experiences.

This is 'servant leadership' giving away power as transparent as possible connected, available, NOT church.

MEDITATION not worship

Broadly consensus in planning

Mark would listen to feedback about his role but is 'in charge' of his own time and agenda!!

Mark shares others concerns about the term 'mixed ceconomy'. Pete Rollins talked about the risks of the church 'domesticating' activity from it's edge and Mark worries about the consumerism of 'mixed economy.' There just are unintended consequences of this otherwise inclusive term.

On Thursday 28th I had time for scones and coffee and to reflect on two aspects of Mark's sharing:

ONE: THE FIVE MARKS OF MISSION

Excerpt from documents....

"Mission goes out from God. Mission is God's way of loving and saving the world...”
(Lambeth Conference 1998, Section II p121).
As Christians we follow Jesus who said “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” (John 20.21). We are called to serve God's mission by living and proclaiming the good news.“It’s not the church of God that has a mission, but the God of mission who has a church”.
For Anglican Christians God’s mission is about transformation – transforming individual lives, transforming communities and transforming the world. As we follow Jesus Christ, we believe that God’s mission is revealed to us by the Holy Spirit in three ways: through the Bible, through the tradition and life of the Church, and through our own listening, praying, thinking and sharing as we respond to our own context.
Five marks of mission
In 1984 the Anglican Consultative Council (http://www.anglicancommunion.org/) began to develop a “mission statement” for the worldwide Anglican communion, and the bishops of the Lambeth Conference adopted these “Five Marks Of Mission” in 1988. They were then adopted by the General Synod of the Church of England in 1996.

To proclaim the good news of the Kingdom
To teach, baptise and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain the life of the earth

The Anglican Consultative Council notes,
“The first mark of mission… is really a summary of what all mission is about, because it is based on Jesus' own summary of his mission (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:18, Luke 7:22; cf. John 3:14-17). Instead of being just one of five distinct activities, this should be the key statement about everything we do in mission.”

TWO: NEW MONASTICISM

or 'all of life' balance... integrating faith, life, justice and mirroring the writing of Tom Sine and others [Mustard Seed writings] and rising to prominence with people like Shane Claiborne who seem to be able to make 'living simply' simple!!

"Life in Technicolor" Coldplay

Did a presentation at the annual synod meeting today using this great Coldplay track behind the pics... more later!!

Where is Matt Harding?

Colleague Chris reminded me this week of the Matt Harding video I first saw on TEN TV here in Oz on 'Rove Live' I think...

The premis is that Matt started with a video camera and either a travelling mate or by putting it on the ground and video-ing himself doing a slightly quirky 'dance' in various locations all across the world.

'Stride' chewing gum have since sponsored Matt and sent him out again including blogging his upcoming locations so as to gather a crowd who joined in...

It's just a great celebration and shows how kicking off 'authentic community' isn't exactly 'rocket science' it only gets tricky after that!!

Catch Matt at http://www.wherethehellismatt.com/videos.shtml?fbid=b0AMm6s_YVX and download high quality clips here

Row M Seat #30 "Freedom Writers" rated M

We watched this film last night as a discussion/study in 'leadership' and seeing strengths emerge at our two day staff Retreat in Mt Victoria. Despite so much work to do for the weekend it was a good 'time out' working on strengths, foundations and teamwork. This film was inspirational, mostly well made, full of symbolism and helpfully based on a true story!!

Hilary Swank plays Erin Gruwell, a new teacher inspired by her fathers 'freedom riders' experience in the 1960s, to sign up for a school with the cultural integration program. She ends up teaching in a neighbourhood at war with a class on 'freshman students' who are hard to crack.

She hangs in, hits on a plan and uses music, the holocaust, related books and the Museum to open up the students and empower them. But at what cost?

A real key to building relationship with the students was an exercise in inviting them to journal and leave their books in a lockable cupboard if they wanted Erin to read them.

The film's website includes access to some discussion resources and extends the story to the true life experiences of Erin and the students [who were in a genuine life and death struggle]. Find the info here.

Erin was: vulnerable, used gifts and wisdom, empowered the kids in their struggle, threatened the status quo and was in stark contrast to the Subject Head and other staff. The District Officer played a key role, going beyond his authority to empower the classes excursion and brokering the discussion about what happened to the class from 3rd year onwards.

"8 Track Church in a CD World"

I've been doing some crash course re-reading of some material which formed my early thinking about the challenges currently facing the church and our need to engage in the culture and context we find ourselves in. It's all in preparation for my upcoming report to our Uniting Church Annual Synod [State] Meeting. We are putting forward some results of work done this last year towards a 'blueprint' for the future of ministry with young people in our sphere.

In doing this I have dug out my copy of "8 Track...." a reference to the shortlived recorded music system popular in some 1970s/1980s vehicles that went the way of beta max video players. It's a reference to the church's outdated way of 'being' and the challenges of engaging in a post modern world. It's not a deep philosophical or academic examination but the first half sketches the challenges and the second half offers some hints and hunches of ways forward that in the late 90s and early 2000s were pretty landmark and insightful!! It's always good to go back to these books and remember where the first 'namings' of your own inklings came from...

This one is very much in that primer category and will be valuable in the next week as I frame an important introduction to some shared stories and some Proposals for real change. I will write more about this once the talk is fomed. I will also be designing a scripted piece around the tag of "Imagine..." in relation to the future of ministry with young people and an audio-visual with Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" as backing track.... that's the plan anyhow!!

Greenbelt.UK.US Trip GREENBELT #2

'Greenbelt Festival' is an amazing part of the UK Festival culture with 20,000 people of genuinely all ages bunkering down for the August Bank Holiday Weekend at Cheltenham Racecourse. The theme for 2008 was 'Rising Sun' and the feature Speakers included: Brian McLaren, Frank Shaeffer, Sarah Miles, Pete Rollins and Phillip Yancey!!

The weekend includes: bands, art, worship, workshops, food and 16 shower units for 20,000 people at was it 3 or 4 pounds a 15min timelsot. It was cheaper to share...

What did I learn [there are more than one or two aspects of my Greenbelt experience I'm still thinking about and won't have time to reflect on further until after our annual Synod meeting in a week and a half]:
A. I was reminded by Fuzz Kitto and several others of the great gift to the church that are Youth Workers [good ones anyhow]... bringing:
i. Contextual skills
ii. Relational skills
iii. Ability to adapt and change
iv. POMO perspectives on culture, arts and media
They will make excellent leaders in missional contextual faith communities. I'll pick this up later about places we visit and the 'fresh expressions' concept of 'pioneer ministers.'

B. "Mission shaped church" is as simple as it can be boiled down and I prefer to think about this cf 'the emerging church.' Faith communities engaged in their world and location, aiming for authentic relationships and striving to tackle life, questions, to call people and systems on the rubbish that goes on and intent on recognising and fostering God where they find God will shape a future.
The EDS advert about building the plane while its flying is a helpful metaphor for thinking about changing the existing church. I need to be on about helping the existing church make space for new things with permission, resources and encouragement.

C. The Friday night forum was almost enough input to keep me going for the weekend. This is where my thinking about my own 'faith community' connections began, leading me to have one of three choices to follow in terms of what I want to build on rather than always be helping others 'in theory land'. In terms of what I have been 'banging on about for years' it was empowering and affirming to hear the conversation from the various leaders about the communities they represented/are part of...

D. The mix of music at Greenbelt with plenty of so called 'secular' performers was an affirmation for things I've hassled about with NCYC and other 'events.' Michael Franti and Shlomo were my musical highlights but I was too tired to listen to Seth Lakeman properly and have done so since and enjoyed it.

E. I had more than one significant conversation about stuff I hold as important with friends old and new...
I am indebted to them for giving me their time and look forward to more chances to chat in future!!

F. The emerging church in the UK as we've encountered it is very much built around worship gatherings where some at home would be built around a specific mission...

G. We simply have to do 'new things' not just keep banging away at changing what exists

H. Enjoyed McLaren on the scripture being written by the conquerors and the danger of reading it in the modern context. "You will always have the poor" was a great example often taken out of context with Jesus quoting Deuternomy that goes on to say you must do something about it... not vice versa.

I. Didn't get to much alt.worship but did pick up some ideas from a variety of sources. I have written up some NCYC relevant ideas about portraits, couches, participation, signage etc

J. I will be ordering a few talks mp3s to go further on ideas that struck me...

More on 'fresh expressions' we visited later...

Greenbelt.UK.US Trip BACK TO THE START #1

Despite some posts from England it's time to go back over details, add pictures and videos and use this medium as a way to process the many and varied valuable experiences from our trip.

23 hours in transit is still just as tough 10 years on from my last London sojourn but an 'Exit Row' seat and entertainment on demand mean I have no reason to complain. Six films and two TV shows later we arrive and gather at Heathrow 'Starbucks' to process the sad news that Niall's mother in law has passed away. We organise ourselves and sort Niall for a return flight home at lunchtime. It's disappointing for all the obvious reasons but we feel a little sad at the missed experiences that await.

Cheltenham is a haze of stretching the legs, shopping, rest, sleep, briefing for the Tour and fine Italian dining and a terrific group meal. What on earth did happen to that butterscotch sauce?
I'm more than a little annoyed that work at home for the Report at Synod is still to be completed and this gets emailed before we head into Greenbelt Festival so here's hoping it all goes out in the mailing and the actual Presentation will be waiting to be sorted in the week or two after getting back home!! This last minute work here and at home beforehand have me a little weary and stressed as John and Nic could attest... later this will mean I'm tired and overwrought more than I should be.... but we pull it up just before it 'crashed and burns'!!

Is it just me or have all small English [maybe add tourist] towns been overrun by the global trend of consumerism and franchises... Greggs Bakery, Starbucks, Car Phone Warehouse, HMV, etc etc in all the small historic main street buildings. The point is I think the emerging mission paradigm out of the spirit of the current age is one that will be dominated by globalisation, accelerating the post Christian nature of our culture/s and context/s. Sounds like a flamin' essay to me...

As we headed into 'Greenbelt' I was mindful of it being an event I became aware of in the early 80s and might have attended in 2000, 2007 and finally here I was. The description 'Blackstump Festival' on steroids works at first sight but the genuine 'all age' feel is qucikly a striking difference. The UK Festival culture means people will adapt to camping with ease, we'll see mainstream acts on mainstage and they'll be OK with being here...

To be fair, after catching Brian McLaren sans PA and then an 'Emerging Church Forum' I probably have enough material, affirmation, challenges and ideas to last the weekend... seriously.

The simple descriptions of contextual missional communities of faith and the challenge to me to be involved in a new venture are loud and clear... I will still be working this through by the end of the trip!!

McLaren's intro sets out the premise and encouragement of his "Everything Must Change" book and focus on 'kingdom values' and our call to be change agents in that pursuit seems self evident but there are some really strong underpinnings you need to put it into action. It does seem it'd be more reacted to in the US where many here are 'on this page' and the vibe is a bit 'yep, and....' The book came along at a great time in helping me add some depth to stuff I was already working on around the theme of HOPE and so I'm impressed to be hearing more...

Michael Franti does a great mainstage set and we're underway!!

OK my next few posts will cover more ground... I'm just getting back into my journal!!

Unreliable Idea : Ball of Whacks

The Ball of Whacks [created by Roger von Oech] is a creativity tool for innovators, artists, engineers, writers, leaders and students. The Ball consists of 30 magnetic design blocks which can take many shapes including the "beautiful 30-sided rhombic triacontahedron."
More versatile than a puzzle and lots more fun than a brain teaser.

The Ball of Whacks comes with a 96-page illustrated creativity guidebook that provides you with tips, stories, exercises, and insights into the creative process.

Each individual piece of the Ball of Whacks is a "golden ratio" rhombic pyramid. Held in place by 180 rare earth magnets, these design blocks fit together to form a perfect 30-sided rhombic triacontahedron — geometry's most beautiful shape.

Available in Red, Blue, and Multi-Color. Get all three!

I bought one in New York and plan to explore how it could be a good dynamic leadership training tool or a toy for getting people in creative mode... not cheap at $30US each!!

Greenbelt.UK.US Emerging Church Photos

I'm back from the trip to the UK and US exploring 'emerging' churches and Greenbelt Festival. It has been a week of recovering from jetlag, chest infection and interupted sleep BUT I'm getting there.

It's going to take me a while to wind through my journal and post some insights and photos so I thought I'd promote the Flickr links here so interested photofiles can check out the trip... I am yet to add my 1min videos!

Flickr photo sharing site:

Greenbelt/Fresh Expressions here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607301935817/

There will be others on the Tour with photos on flickr, blogs etc and some may be added here for a full record of the Tour

Other Official and contributed Greenbelt Flickr pics here

New York here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607308703272/
I visited some missional faith communities and initiatives

Tramsmission

Origins which has just this week changed it's name to Trinity Grace Church and expanded its network to four centres

Trinity Wall St 'Portraits of Our Neighbours' Life sized photos

WTC Tribute Center 'Ground Zero' and Walking Tour here
http://flickr.com/photos/youthunit/sets/72157607313474991/
I'd like to think, rather than gawking at this amazing site like a tourist and certainly with no idealised view of the USA and its world perspective, my storytelling interest [and previous visits to this site when the WTCs were standing] compelled me to come and experience the stories from families directly effected by 9/11 through the Tribute Centre Gallery and Walking Tour. Much more on this later...

Fresh Expressions Explored

I'm here at a net cafe in Oxford on a steamy hot afternoon, which is brilliant!! We have visietd Telford and 'Safespace' with Mark Berry and the wonderful community there as we invaded their Thursday night 'community night' including a meal and a simple liturgy which would have included a lot more in depth conversation amongst themselves in our absence!! Enjoyed great conversation about all things Telford, Safespace and life in general!!

We've had today to explore Oxford and I have visited the 'Eagle & Child' pub, a haunt of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis plus walked through Christ Church Cathederal which was used in some of the Harry Potter fun and whose 'Great Hall' inspired the same in Hogwarts!!

Have learnt stuff about:
Mission shaped church
So called 'pioneer ministry'
Ideas about money
The gift to the UCA that will be 'Youth Workers' with contextual skills
The need to train people for leadership in the 'mission shaped church' differently
i.e. faster, more praxis, a cooperative venture between lay and ordained trainers currently engaged
Pastor could be a great gift to us in the long run to free up people
Presbytery space, permission, resourcing and funding will be key to the future

Visiting 'Safespace' reminded my of my old 'cell group' at home in Newcastle and the ups and downs of our time as group... which I needed to leave when my relationship with Jane broke down [and still miss to this day] as an appropriate and valued faith space!!

There are yet plenty of places to see and groups to experience and then to compare to the US as well.

OK, running out of net time but I do have a daily journal and some videos and pics that will be added here later!!

Onwards to Reading, London and New York before getting home on the 9th September!!

Greenbelt Festival Part 01

Here I am in the GB08 internet cafe in 'The Tank' with 5 mins left on the net...

The Festival is all I hoped it would be and I have enjoyed the relaxed program with lots of options. I have seen Michael Franti and Spearhead and Jose Gonzales and look forward tonight to the beatboxer 'Shlomo'

The first evening there was a panel of people 'representing' different communities loosely described as part of the emerging church and in essence that was enough input for though I have continued into other workshops etc.

The group affirmed many of the things I hold to be central for the future of communities of faith identifying themselves as Christian and some sense of a way forward for a denomination in 'throwing off' what is unhelpful and creating permission ans space for new things:

Contextualising faith and living in the world

Consensus forms of decisionmaking

Worship that represents life and tradition plus transendence
Gathering around a set of values not a corporate plan
Being and gathering in the world
Accessing the best of the world of the creative arts
Blowing up the gap between secular and sacred
to name a few

I of course timed out at Greeneblt so here I am in Stratford Upon Avon, birthplace of the Bard,Shakespeare!
The group have set out to find the worst kitsche souvenir for 2 pounds or less... I can't bring myself to buy it but I did find a ceramic thimble with only a pic of his birth home on it or a modern lead pencil with a Yorrich Skull on the end...

Anyhow, it's Tuesday here now and although I am missing my three gorgeous girls!! It has been a brilliant experience to finally attend GB. I have a few ideas for Converge NCYC09 'surfing level' Bible Study I am leading with a great team...

Those ideas include:
An opportunity to add to an artwork/cross or mural
Self portrait drawing
An unfolding artwork on a white roller painted wall we construct in the space
A great lounge setting for any 'first person' readings or interviews
We could interview one or more of te key speakers about their ideas of the days topics
Screens in the four corners of our space rather than a previous idea I had about four in the centre in a square.... depends what we want to do

Anyhow, I have now since participated in a number of conversations with individuals at GB, have a few ideas about work and some inspiration for myself:
If you write it down I guess you have to act!!

Options: all seen as integrally part of my work
1. Increased participation in some aspect of the worship and mission of my home congegation at Adamstown's Dungeon
OR
2. A wider initiative helping another group form a 'faith comunity' e.g. either people our own age and stage in the city or around home or young adults and others in the city around say a monthly worship gathering and perhaps film club alongside
OR
3. Helping resource and support someone somewhere where this is or could happen because they have already begun or spoken up about wanting/needing to...

I had already also committed to 'Worship Unplugged Volume 2' and have an idea for a discipleship resource around 'Way to Live' as a theme.

I had a moment to speak to BRian McLaren and sounded him out about 'donating some shoes' and that I'd like to send him the song I've written inspired by his 'Everything Must Change' book.

This I will track via his website email...

OK, more later but it's been a terrific trip thus far in terms of engagement with good people doing inspired things... its challenging and there's so much more to come!!

Pictures will be uploaded when I get home and if you're at all keen to check out the 'Jesus Arms' Pub at Greenbelt you'll find the amazing 'Beer and Hymns' at www.beerandhymns.org I believe or google beerandhymns greenbelt

It was something else to watch 3500 proplr belting out among other Wesley classics "And Can It Be" Hymn number 347

Greenbelt/Fresh Expressions/New York

I have enough work to do in the next three days to fill a month.... however regardless of that I jump on a plane next Tuesday to head off on an exploration and an experience of some emerging churches and some popular culture in places and at events I have harboured a hope of seeing for decades!!

I have tracked Greenbelt Festival for some 15 years as a seemingly genuinely diverse all age event at Cheltenham Racecourse in England. I had made tentative plans to be there in 2000 but that didn't pan out. The 'fresh expressions' movement strikes me as a move allowing permission, space and real resourcing for grassroots change and new indigenous expressions of faith in community!! I am looking forward to checking all that out...

On the same score I have been lucky enough to visit the 'Big Apple' twice before and while disappointed this is not a family jaunt [because it's coincidentally at the time of year Simone and I have dreamt of returning] BUT if I'm on the work trip of the decade then I had better knock over both goals because it won't happen again for a while....

I think I've already written that I plan to track a few faith communities in NY but to also participate in a Tribute Centre Walking Tour of Ground Zero where the guides are those directly effected by the fall of the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centres on September 11 2001.

This is very much a part of my 'storytelling' explorations... I hope to have time to take a wander in Harlem [avoiding the Tour Bus syndrome] as I've done almost all the touristy things in NY I need to... apart from the Yankee Stadium Tour of course [as this is its last year of MLB]!!

So there you have it... we leave on Tuesday and I hope to have sufficient headspace, net time and motivation to blog while away.... we'll see!!

"Succumb" David Bridie

Looks like more great music out this weekend with "Succumb" from David Bridie on his third solo CD [this time through Liberation Records]!! Themes of politics, religion or belief, relationships, fear and life are familiar themes for Bridie. This CD [from the snippets I've heard and read] sounds like there's more electronics and guitar!!

"This Year is Better Than Last Year"looks like a pointed reflection about our Oz change of government last November... and check out "So Many Lies" on David's MySpace

"Be Yourself" Melinda Schneider

Melinda Schneider was a guest here in Oz on 'Enough Rope' last Monday with her mum [the famous yodelling Mary Schneider] after a kind of Ok interview with Jose Ramos Horte...

At the end Melinda spoke about a song she'd written which was inspired by another episode of the show and a particular transvestite guest... who's message was "be yourself, everybody else is taken"...

Her music is not my normal style BUT this song has a great message and would provide a great discussion with young and old alike!!