The Queensland Synod of the Uniting Church in Australia is running a two day conference, “Signposts of Hope”, focusing on new ways of being church, May 19 and 20 at Alexandra Park, on the Sunshine Coast. We’ve learnt over the years that a permission-giving environment is essential to growing new communities of faith and refreshing established congregations. We’re designing a gathering that will give new found confidence in developing and supporting the church in new environments, including schools, care agencies, social and work environments.
I’m working with a team of people to run the conference, including Bruce Johnson, Rob Bos, Robyn Kidd, Karyl Davison, John Cox, Elaine Rae, Marian Zaunbrecher. Guest facilitator for the two days is Phil McCredden, team leader at Northern Community Church of Christ, Melbourne. Four suburban churches joined together in 1999 transitioning into a network of congregations held in homes, cafés, retirement villages and community centres, together with a range of missional teams serving the community. Phil will tell their story to help break open our discussions.
The goals of the conference are
- Validate people who are trying new ways of being church.
- Change the story from “we are an ageing, declining church †to “we are a hopeful, innovative church willing to try new ways of being church and move to where the Spirit is leading usâ€
- Energise and empower people to be innovative i.e. permission-giving
- Reflect on what is essential to being church and what is not
- Encourage people to reflect on their own context and what they could do there
- Begin to build a supportive network of innovators
- Model experiential, sensory, creative worship
- Encourage spiritual practices which sustain people for the journey
Register online at www.ucaqld.com.au/signpostsOfHope