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a healthy church...transformingLIFE

Tasmanian Anglican

December 2002

 

 

 

 

 


Sharon Green, Helen Phillips, Neville Newett and Dianne Milligan check out the bookshop


Guest speaker Alan Nicholls from Melbourne chats with Bishop John


Shirley van Norden and Lorna Crole chat during a break

 

A transforming Clergy Conference

by Stephen Carnaby

 

 

Clergy Conference 2002 was a challenging and inspiring time in early November in Launceston.

There were many new faces, with the arrival of local ministry teams and others into the Diocese over the past year. This led to building new relationships, as we shared, laughed, ate and learned together.

Don Barns, the Past Principal of WEC, reminded us of our foundations as the people of God, through Bible studies on Genesis 1-3.

Springboard

Alan Nichols, former Archdeacon of Melbourne, challenged us to change our churches from spiritual hideouts into vibrant communities which transform our local area &endash; through getting involved in significant areas of local life, and then using that involvement as a springboard to share the good news about Jesus.

Paul Cavanough, the new Diocesan Mission Enabler, led us through a useful process of first understanding how the Diocesan mission leadership is now structured; then we brainstormed ways in which this could be improved, especially focussing on the role of Mission Support Officers.

Toilets

John Harrower, as always, encouraged us with stories of new life in the Diocese. He also held out the continual task of becoming a Missionary Diocese, with all the excitement and struggle that involves.

Finally, as a personal highlight, many of us were amazed at the page of jokes which an unnamed Rector of Glenorchy picked up at the Campbell Town toilets on the way to Clergy Conference! I'm sure you will be hearing some of these jokes in a sermon coming soon to your parish.

Humour aside, this was a very beneficial week for our leaders in the church, and much appreciated by all.