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	Healthy Church Healthy Community Bishop John Harrower's keynote address - Synod 2003			Bishop John addressing Synod
		Jesus brings life Jesus brings life. The Good News of God in Jesus Christ is that life in all its joy and fullness is brought to us. In the words of Isaac Watts' great Christmas hymn, 'Joy to the world! The Lord is come; let earth receive its king.' Jesus himself said, 'I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.' Jesus brings life and health I am deeply convicted that the Gospel brings life and health. The Church's purpose is to live in healthy relationships: both towards God and towards each other. Jesus said we are to 'love God and our neighbours as ourselves'. At the heart of the Christian faith is Christ who calls us again and again in his life, teaching and healing that we are to love God and one another. At the heart of Christ's life and teaching is the theme of 'relationship'. Relationship is the essence of Christ's understanding of life. Christ stands in contrast to teachers, prophets and leaders who promote success, status, sex, money, power, submission or negation as the central thesis of life. What makes for a healthy church? Therefore, as Christ followers, we pursue healthy life giving relationships through, Worship Christian Community Mission: our engagement with the wider community through evangelism and service. Personal disciplines of prayer, Bible enquiry, nurturing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives, tithing our finances and self-discipline. Health enables growth Much research has been undertaken over many years concerning principles of Church growth and health. I urge you to employ these principles consistently in all areas of our church life and activities. Such principles include: Trained and empowered leadership of integrity and credibility Gift-oriented mobilisation of all the baptised Passionate spirituality Effective structures and clearly defined purposes Inspiring worship services Loving relationships and fellowship Personal and corporate prayer Outward focus Holistic small groups Reliance on the Holy Spirit and the authority of the Bible Not only are our principles of healthy ministry important, but also our processes of healthy ministry. It is my hope that each Anglican Parish leadership team would have thoughtful strategies in response the following questions. Question 1. 'If a non-Christian person who is positive to the Gospel were to enter a worship service or ministry, what would be the church's plan in supporting that person's journey over the coming 12 months?' Question 2. 'What would the church's plan be in dealing with that person after the first 12 months?' All those who are attracted to the church must be lovingly and systematically encouraged toward a clear process of discipleship that will lead to full participation in the church and its ministries. We celebrate our life and health We celebrate our life and health in the Diocese of Tasmania through our Parishes, Anglicare, Schools, Chaplaincies, and vibrant ministry centers such as St Mark's and Glenview Homes for the Aged and Clarendon Children's Home, and the loving care and witness of the people of God in their daily lives and witness. Parishes serving the community Anglicans serve their local communities in numerous ways. They include Home visitation programs, participation in meals-on-wheels, English as a second language for Sudanese refugees, children's and youth outreach and many, many more. Our Agencies serving the community You will be very encouraged by our Anglican agencies' ministries as outlined in your 'Reports' Synod booklet (yellow colour). I note the Chairman of the St Mark's Homes for the aged in Deloraine concludes his Report to this Synod with these words, Our society continues to become more senior and with it the challenge to provide more nursing beds, hostel rooms, etc. The task is a continuing one; therefore let us see the need and take the measures to alleviate it. To achieve great things the Lord must be our guide and helper; therefore, our and your prayers are needed, for without His help little can be achieved, but with it mountains can be moved. So give Him thanks and praise for our past achievements and humbly seek His guidance into the future so that Great Things will be done. It is exciting when a local parish comes together with a local agency to provide enhanced ministry opportunities. Anglican Parish of St Helens This past year has witnessed the commencement of a creative partnership between the parish of St Helens and Anglicare to provide a counselling service and centre of compassion and community. We look forward to a presentation later in our Synod from St Helens parish about this partnership. Health builds on health The cartoon depicts the new generation helping the older generation along the way and thanking them, 'Well, I couldn't have done it without you.' And the elderly generation replies, 'Likewise.' In like manner, we are greatly blessed to build our health today on the dedication and hard work of the innumerable Anglican lay people and clergy who have laboured before us. Each generation of Anglicans has held its hopes and dreams just as we today have our hopes and dreams. Thus we build on the work of those Anglicans who have built before us. 'Muchas gracias, Anglicanos!' I want to thank those many, many Anglicans who give so tirelessly of themselves and their skills, finances and time to God 's work through our Anglican church. One of the great joys that I have is to travel around this most beautiful State and enjoy the beauty of God's people. You are beautiful! I thank you for the joy and love you bring to so many, not just in Tasmania but throughout the world through your support of mission agencies and overseas workers. Thank you. I would especially thank the spouses and families of our clergy and senior lay leaders. As I have enjoyed your hospitality in so many ways, I have been reminded time and again of the vital contribution that you make. It is appropriate today that we acknowledge the extraordinary work of our Registrar, Bill Haas. Thank you, Mr Haas! And to all of you, from a former life I say, 'Muchas gracias, Anglicanos!' Steps toward health: Safe Ministry While acknowledging the life and health that Jesus has so graciously given and which we have been enabled to build upon and share, it is also important to work in areas that demand continuing attention. One such area has been the development of a culture of awareness for the safety of children and the vulnerable. There are some very strong indications that our vital signs of health are improving. I thank God that each member of our active clergy team has now been accredited in Safe Ministry to Children. Thank you all for submitting to this process. Thank you also to the many lay leaders at parish level who have also submitted to the accreditation process. We are a team that will strive to protect the children who come into our care. These are powerful steps toward becoming a loving community typified by honesty and openness. Of course much more must be done to guard and build the personhood of each member of our leadership. I confess that our resources are so limited and stretched, that we often fail to care as we should for each other. Please may I encourage you and especially the clergy to work at helping each other to grow in faith and to discover more of God's loving grace. Support and assistance to those who were abused Our health demands we address in a strong manner the areas of ill health in our past - in particular the sexual abuse of our young people by church leaders in the past. Our 1998 inquiry was rightly titled, 'Not the Way of Christ.' Today, as more of these survivors gain the courage to tell us their story, and the way the abuse has impacted their lives, we as a church have both a challenge and an opportunity - a challenge and an opportunity to find ways to respond that more reflect 'the way of Christ'. Although the procedures we have set in place will help protect our young people in the future we must continue to deal with their betrayal by clergy and church officers in the past. A great deal of time and energy has been contributed over the past year in this area, by many people. We also welcome the work being done by the National Anglican Church in this area and will continue to work towards a national approach. I formed a group to advise me and take a fresh look at the issue of financial assistance and I am grateful to the efforts and advice of the members of that group. It was, as a result of these deliberations and the experience of this advisory group, that I took the matter to the Diocesan Council. Your Diocesan Council, after careful consideration, decided that we should extend our support and assistance for victims, by providing an additional option - the option of a financial settlement to those whose case has been established. I believe that for the Diocesan Council to have made these decisions on your behalf was the most compassionate and sensible way to deal with the matter. The tragedy is that survivors of abuse can be affected emotionally, financially, sexually and spiritually. For some these crimes impact their health, their working lives and their ability to maintain relationships. Can money fix this? No. We are not claiming that the amount we offer, nor indeed any amount of money can ever make up for the past. It cannot. But, it can help. Our support and assistance program will be open and transparent. Each request will be properly examined. I am very pleased to announce that Mr Christopher Wright Q.C., a retired and highly respected Justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, has accepted our invitation to recommend the level of support to be extended to individuals. His experience and expertise in these matters and his independence will ensure fairness and impartiality in any determination. I am grateful, personally and on behalf of the Diocese, for his willingness to assist us. At the same time I am also pleased to confirm the appointment of Anne Foot as the Facilitator of this Support and Assistance Program. Anne commenced work this week and may be contacted through the diocesan office. As part of our pastoral response any complainant will be offered counselling while the complaint is being investigated. Some of you may well ask how many abused people will seek support and assistance. The simple answer to that is that we do not know. I have received since the last Synod four new complaints from men alleging clergy sexually assaulted them when they were young. All these events occurred some twenty five to thirty years ago. All the clergy concerned are either deceased or no longer hold Holy Orders. As has been my practice since becoming bishop, complainants were offered assistance to contact the police. All four complainants have been offered counselling and support. Two have taken up that offer. I understand that there may well be in the audience here present people who have been abused. To help you, or anyone who considers they may require assistance, counsellors, who were introduced to your earlier are available here at this Synod. I repeat my call of 12 months ago to the Federal Government for a Royal Commission into child sexual abuse, and I quote to you from my press statement of 26 July 2000, my first full day as Bishop of Tasmania. I am deeply sorry for what took place. I make an unreserved apology to those who were abused by clergy or other officers of the Anglican Church in Tasmania. My heart goes out to those of you who were abused. Those abuses should never have happened and I pledge myself, as Bishop, to do all I can to ensure that such abuses do not happen again. I have sought to be true to that statement. In fact, with my added experience, my resolve has strengthened. Education and Training The Diocese is committed to the professional enhancement of all clergy and lay leadership through programs that focus on specific training and general development. I believe that our efficiency and effectiveness in mission is largely dependent on the skills, abilities and well-being of all clergy and lay leaders. I would congratulate those clergy and lay leaders undertaking specific professional development at this time. I know from my current progress in a Doctor of Ministry course that the level of commitment required is enormous. I'm delighted to report that to my knowledge no member of our clergy or local ministry support team has not completed or is not currently undertaking some form of theological study. I would encourage all clergy and lay leaders not currently pursuing specific study to actively engage in appropriate professional development activities. We are committed to assist individuals to enroll in particular courses, as well as to select participants for courses that have limited vacancies. At this time Diocesan professional development programs and funds will be focused on core activities that support strategic objectives. This is especially important in an environment of diminished resources. For example, The Diocesan Ministry Conference held in September 2002 was a significant event building on our established 'Lay readers' training to provide training for a wider range of individuals in ministry. It is our hope: to provide clergy and lay leaders with the competencies necessary to carry out the functions of their current position with maximum effectiveness and minimum stress; to prepare clergy for changes in their role in the church and the community; that clergy will undertake professional training for their own personal and professional development. Professional development can occur by a variety of means, including internal and external courses, supervised on-the-job training, special projects, assisted study and arranged development placements. The Diocesan Mission Enabler would be delighted to assist any individual seeking to develop an individual professional development program. I would strongly encourage all parish Councils to place a high priority on supporting and encouraging professional development enthusiastically through financial assistance, release from regular duties and prayerful encouragement. The Diocesan Development Grant scheme which encourages shared responsibilities between the parish, the clergy and the Diocese is a powerful model of partnership. Communication One of the vital elements of us being a healthy vibrant church is the measure of our relationships and the quality of our communications. I speak here not only about the communication between the diocesan office and the parishes and clergy, about which I often hear, but about our communication with each other at all levels. We must ensure that the message we give is the message which is received - whether it be from the pulpit; in the parish newsletter; in conversation; by letter or by email. We need to improve our communication and consequently improve our relationships with each other and within our diocesan family. I ask you all, as I shall myself, to make a conscientious attempt to improve our communication with each other in the coming year. Let us make it an effort so that it becomes a habit which helps us build healthy, wholesome relationships and allow the body of the Anglican Church in this diocese to grow and develop. May I also encourage you to build healthy relationships with our partners in mission from other churches and parachurch organizations. A participating learning culture It's been my hope and prayer to move the church away from a hierarchical/controlling culture into a participative learning culture in which, as Robert Warren says, 'the one renewable resource is human creativity.' Although it has not been without its stresses the introduction of the role of Mission Support Officers in the six mission regions has made a powerful contribution to my hopes for the church. I'd like sincerely to thank each of the Mission Support Officers for their contribution. The current team represents much that is outstanding about our Anglican community. They are, The Rev. Neil Vearing, The Rev. Jed Crispin, Mrs Helen Phillips, Capt Peter Adkins, The Rev. Geoff Bransgrove and The Rev. Bob McKay. Their facilitation of local mission conversations is a major communication strategy within the Diocese. Although not as advanced in some regions as others, the conversations have been very powerful in some regions. I especially highlight the potential for the conversations as evidenced in Launceston. Risk taking in mission A healthy church will be a risk taking community. May I encourage you to take some risks. I would encourage every member of the Anglican Church to encounter God as the focus of their entire life; to express the Lord Jesus Christ in every aspect of their life; to be guided by the Holy Spirit and to recognize His voice by looking to both the witness of the Bible and the tradition of the church. I am willing to take the risk to release God's people into new beginnings. There are a host of creative options open to us. I look to our clergy and lay leaders to explore alternative models of worship; the formation of new congregations; church planting and the development of home groups. We must engage with the children and youth of our communities in new and creative ways. Can we explore new areas of school-based ministry, sports ministry or new media ministry? I commend to you the work of the Tasmanian Council of Churches in facilitating chaplaincies in Tasmanian State High Schools. This is a new mission endeavour, which should have the strongest possible support from all parishes. I also commend the ministry of the Mission Afloat team. They are 'risk takers' for the sake of the Gospel. The manager, Alister Martin and the Chairman, Ian Edwards, are an inspiration as they lead this faith mission. Speaking life into our community A healthy church will participate in the discussions of its day concerning the best ways for a community to live and be healthy. Therefore, we will continue to speak of issues such as healthy relationships, asylum seekers, the housing crisis in Tasmania and the plague of poker machines. Some motions before the Synod give voice to some of our concerns for a healthy community. Commitment to refugees by parishes such as St John's Launceston and St James Newtown and St Andrew's Lenah Valley are an example to us. A healthy church is concerned to contribute to the health of the community. 'Health Report' A health Report or 'Health Check Up' is personalized: When I visit my GP I tend to hear words like these, 'John, you will be alright if you eat entrÈe size meals and actually use your exercise bike!' Now, 'me and my exercise bike' is another story! However, the point is that we must do something about our health. Church is not terminal, nor suicidal, but we can do more! Therefore, I take pleasure in announcing... Announcing... Today I'm able to announce the formation of a Diocesan Consultancy Team. Following training with John Mark Ministries the members of our team, in partnership with the Tasmanian Church Consultancy Group, are able to provide high quality and low cost consultancy services within the Diocese. I have asked the team to prepare for each Parish to have access to a 'Church Health' Review during the next three years. Across Australia, congregations are increasingly using consultancy in their local community as a proactive healthy process. Consultancy gives useful feedback to a church and enables it to address key issues in a thoughtful way. The Church Consultancy Information booklet released to the Synod today is now available to all parishes. I have also asked the Diocesan Mission Enabler to facilitate a series of 'Healthy Church Workshops' across the Diocese during 2004. These events will provide practical skills and processes to assist all parish leaders in maintaining and building the health of their local ministries. An information leaflet is available at Synod today. It's my hope that all Clergy, Parish Council members, Wardens and Ministry Teams will seize the opportunity to participate fully in their regional workshops. My heart's desire My heart's desire is for each and every Anglican to be a prayerful activist, enlivened by Biblical faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, taking risks in mission initiatives, for the health of the church and the health of their community, for the glory of God. Our challenge: 'Get healthy!' Let us do something about our health. We do not need a talkfest. We need to take some risk in our participation in society. Our community needs the life you bring. We will take care of the past. We are going to get it right. We are going to live the life Christ brings. Jesus said, 'I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.' May it be so, and may God bless us as we go. Amen. I invite you to read The Synod Prayer for a moment in silence, and then to join together in speaking it forth to our life and health giving God. The Synod Prayer God of wisdom guide the members of this Synod in their hearing, questioning, speaking and voting. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that our decisions bring health to your church and our communities. God of love unite us in hope so that we return to our parishes inspired by love and empowered to continue your mission throughout the Diocese. We pray in Jesus' name. Amen.