|
|
The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
|
a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
|
|
|
|
|
December 2005 |
|||
|
|
||||
'Conversations' in the DioceseConversa-tion n. 1. The spoken
exchange of thoughts, opinions, and feelings; talk. An
instance of this: held a long conversation on the
subject. Have you ever noticed that some of us just love to 'have a chat'? I have a mate whose nickname is 'Have a Chat'. Seriously, you'd greet this person by saying, 'G'day, 'Have a Chat! How are you mate?' There are also others for whom 'small talk' is an absolute waste of time. Do you ever get the impression that in the so-called communication age we struggle to stop to have long conversation? A wise person once said, 'Let us make a special effort to stop communicating with each other, so we can have some conversation.' I think a long, open and frank chat is so much more helpful that another email or paper on the topic. Especially in difficult times in families, work places, clubs and even the church we must make room for conversation. Time spent this way is never wasted. You might have noticed that Bishop John is very keen to bring us together to simply talk. To spend some time exchanging thoughts, opinions, experiences and feelings of our life in the Body of Christ. You may have participated in 'Mission Conversations' or 'Regional Conversations'. Some have been part of conversations that the Bishop has initiated between neighouring parishes during clergy vacancies. These conversations have occurred in the Mersey Valley, Launceston, Eastern Shore parishes in Hobart and currently between the parishes around the Cathedral. The Bishop proposes a simple topic for conversation. He brings together the three or four parish wardens, parish councils and any clergy to talk about a simple possibility. He might say, 'While we have an opportunity with the clergy vacancy, let's spend some time to discussing ways that these parishes could better support each other in mission in this district.' Every group has been following a different path and we've had some wonderful times of growth and love and understanding. There have also been several tough moments - but that's what families are like. Although the Bible never uses the word conversation in the modern sense of talking together, it does use the word to mean behaviour, way of life, conduct or citizenship. The recent conversations in my opinion have certainly helped us understand our Anglican way of life and they have added to our commitment to an Anglican Christian way of life. You know the old proverb that says 'all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'? It is also true to say that all conversation and no play could be a waste of time. Plato said, 'You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation.' All of our times together should give us the opportunity to play together. Bishop John has one of these 'beanies' (a woollen hat with a pompom) that has a slogan on the front. His slogan reads, 'today's agenda PARTY'. So my prayer is that we'll achieve a heaven-inspired mix of deep Anglican spirituality, spirit-guided conversations and spirited play. How does your church go in each area?
Paul Cavanough is the Diocesan Mission Enabler |
|
|||
