AASN Conference

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February 2006

AASN Conference

The Rev’d Dr Tom Wallace is Educational Adviser to the Bishop of Tasmania and here shares some notes on the annual Australian Anglican School Network Conference, held in Tasmania late last year.

In September, 2005 more than 170 delegates gathered at Launceston Grammar School for the 14th annual Australian Anglican Schools’ Network Conference, the first held in Tasmania, with the host school’s Headmaster, Stephen Norris serving as Chairperson and his wife, Kate, capably filling the arduous role of Convenor.

The extended school family of staff, students, parents and chaplain made the conference a total success and all delegates were deeply appreciative of their efforts. Thanks and Blessings to all at Grammar!

Opening Chapel Service and Reception

Bishop John spoke in the lovely chapel at a midday Eucharist which set the deeply spiritual tone of the whole conference. Liturgies and hymns, creatively adapted by chaplains Scott Sargent and John Goodwin were enriched by student choral and instrumental items. Former student Janie Dickenson, then Mayor of Launceston, warmly welcomed delegates.

Keynote Addresses

Four Anglican speakers brought insights from four continents. These are summarised below:

American-born Rev’d Prof Gary Bouma, Head of Sociology at Monash University, spoke on ‘Australian Spirituality: Nurturing a Shy Hope in the Heart’. Describing Australia’s increasingly diverse socio/cultural composition and considering the call for ‘shared values’ in education, he challenged us all with the words...‘For many the call to shared values equals “Take my culture, become like me...” Shared values are not shared because they are similar (but) because they are essential to survival/sustainability.’... ‘Implications for Anglicans... Ritual ‘yes’ – Charismatic ‘yes’ – Have been fed ‘pap’ – unrealistic ethical frame – not true to experience, unhelpful – have lost two/three generations.’

Dr Trevor Cooling from Gloucester, UK, long-time Christian Education specialist, spoke on ‘Transforming Hearts and Minds: the contribution of Christian values to the curriculum’. He warned of the danger of creating ‘clever devils’ if we pursue an education divorced from spiritual values. Dr Cooling described the successful Charis project, explaining how Christian values can add to the curriculum, and explored the teacher’s role in providing ‘values moments’ for students, emphasising the need to ‘apply the narratives of the Bible in today’s world...particularly in today’s curriculum... when this is done, the spiritual and moral dimensions emerge.’

Mrs Allison Bassano, originally from South Africa and currently Pastoral Dean at Launceston Grammar School, entitled her topic ‘Finding Pathways through the chaos (pressures) to the Open Seas’. She challenged schools and teachers, Christian and Anglican in particular, to help students to
‘...understand themselves through peaceful communication, learn what makes a good person, seek peaceful solutions to conflict, choose peaceful forms of entertainment...’ by learning ‘...to be gentle, to accept peace, to defeat anxiety, to think positively, to rejoice, to rest.’

The Rev’d Dr Tom Wallace, Educational Advisor to the Bishop of Tasmania after 40 years service in Christian Education, spoke on ‘Spirituality and Relationships of Value’ which sought to integrate the other keynote addresses.

Dr Wallace began with a definitive statement:

‘...the most important issue for...this Conference concerns the possibility of describing and embracing a spirituality which does justice to the richness of our Anglican Christian heritage...(and) is relevant in our contemporary context with the power to enliven and transform our school communities.’

Such spirituality would be:

‘Thoughtful…Reverence, Humility and Discernment’

‘Relational...with God…with self…with others…with the natural environment’

‘Practical...commitment to Justice...action for the Needy.’

...a final challenge…‘It would not be too extreme to assert it is obscene to claim we are spiritually-minded if we do nothing to relieve those in need.’

Workshops

Delegates participated in a wide variety of workshop sessions as well as the Conference Dinner and Final Service.

The Dinner was a great occasion at which we welcomed the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Most Rev’d Dr Philip Aspinall, and were entertained by a talented local musical group

Our 2005 AASN Conference concluded with a final Eucharist at which the Primate spoke movingly on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard.

We are grateful for the strongly spiritual climate of this conference and look forward to its continuation in Sydney in 2006.

Chapel window at Launceston Church Grammar School

	The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search
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	Home About Contact us News Issues Parishes Prayer Calendar Youth Resources

				February 2006

		AASN Conference The Rev’d Dr Tom Wallace is Educational Adviser to the Bishop of Tasmania and here shares some notes on the annual Australian Anglican School Network Conference, held in Tasmania late last year. In September, 2005 more than 170 delegates gathered at Launceston Grammar School for the 14th annual Australian Anglican Schools’ Network Conference, the first held in Tasmania, with the host school’s Headmaster, Stephen Norris serving as Chairperson and his wife, Kate, capably filling the arduous role of Convenor. The extended school family of staff, students, parents and chaplain made the conference a total success and all delegates were deeply appreciative of their efforts. Thanks and Blessings to all at Grammar! Opening Chapel Service and Reception Bishop John spoke in the lovely chapel at a midday Eucharist which set the deeply spiritual tone of the whole conference. Liturgies and hymns, creatively adapted by chaplains Scott Sargent and John Goodwin were enriched by student choral and instrumental items. Former student Janie Dickenson, then Mayor of Launceston, warmly welcomed delegates. Keynote Addresses Four Anglican speakers brought insights from four continents. These are summarised below: American-born Rev’d Prof Gary Bouma, Head of Sociology at Monash University, spoke on ‘Australian Spirituality: Nurturing a Shy Hope in the Heart’. Describing Australia’s increasingly diverse socio/cultural composition and considering the call for ‘shared values’ in education, he challenged us all with the words...‘For many the call to shared values equals “Take my culture, become like me...” Shared values are not shared because they are similar (but) because they are essential to survival/sustainability.’... ‘Implications for Anglicans... Ritual ‘yes’ – Charismatic ‘yes’ – Have been fed ‘pap’ – unrealistic ethical frame – not true to experience, unhelpful – have lost two/three generations.’ Dr Trevor Cooling from Gloucester, UK, long-time Christian Education specialist, spoke on ‘Transforming Hearts and Minds: the contribution of Christian values to the curriculum’. He warned of the danger of creating ‘clever devils’ if we pursue an education divorced from spiritual values. Dr Cooling described the successful Charis project, explaining how Christian values can add to the curriculum, and explored the teacher’s role in providing ‘values moments’ for students, emphasising the need to ‘apply the narratives of the Bible in today’s world...particularly in today’s curriculum... when this is done, the spiritual and moral dimensions emerge.’ Mrs Allison Bassano, originally from South Africa and currently Pastoral Dean at Launceston Grammar School, entitled her topic ‘Finding Pathways through the chaos (pressures) to the Open Seas’. She challenged schools and teachers, Christian and Anglican in particular, to help students to ‘...understand themselves through peaceful communication, learn what makes a good person, seek peaceful solutions to conflict, choose peaceful forms of entertainment...’ by learning ‘...to be gentle, to accept peace, to defeat anxiety, to think positively, to rejoice, to rest.’ The Rev’d Dr Tom Wallace, Educational Advisor to the Bishop of Tasmania after 40 years service in Christian Education, spoke on ‘Spirituality and Relationships of Value’ which sought to integrate the other keynote addresses. Dr Wallace began with a definitive statement: ‘...the most important issue for...this Conference concerns the possibility of describing and embracing a spirituality which does justice to the richness of our Anglican Christian heritage...(and) is relevant in our contemporary context with the power to enliven and transform our school communities.’ Such spirituality would be: ‘Thoughtful…Reverence, Humility and Discernment’ ‘Relational...with God…with self…with others…with the natural environment’ ‘Practical...commitment to Justice...action for the Needy.’ ...a final challenge…‘It would not be too extreme to assert it is obscene to claim we are spiritually-minded if we do nothing to relieve those in need.’ Workshops Delegates participated in a wide variety of workshop sessions as well as the Conference Dinner and Final Service. The Dinner was a great occasion at which we welcomed the Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, the Most Rev’d Dr Philip Aspinall, and were entertained by a talented local musical group Our 2005 AASN Conference concluded with a final Eucharist at which the Primate spoke movingly on the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard. We are grateful for the strongly spiritual climate of this conference and look forward to its continuation in Sydney in 2006.		Chapel window at Launceston Church Grammar School