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ANGLICAN MEN’S SOCIETY The National Council in Australia NEWSLETTER No. 98 Thirty Forth Year of publication October, 2012 ISSN 1836-7364 “Fragile Masculinity” At the recent AMS National Conference in Tasmania I shared the decision of the CEBS/BMA National Executive to commission a review and restructure of that organisation. Bishop Michael Challen, known to many of you, who is up-to-date with his interest in Sociology and Social Trends Analysis of Australian culture; has teamed with Dr Ian Lillico the Executive Director of Boys Forward Institute to undertake the review and restructuring of CEBS – Boys Ministry Australia. Because I currently hold positions in the National Executives of CEBS and AMS I have taken a keen interest in the mission of the Anglican Church to Men and Boys. The National Church Life Survey results across this nation tell us that the ratio of females to males in our congregations is 2:1. This objective take on the Mission and Outreach of our church tells us we are twice as effective at outreach to females as males. This was confirmed anecdotally when a rural representative in the Diocese of Perth told me that “religion” and going to church was seen as “sissy” or a “sign of weakness” by a whole generation of men; and yet “deep down they are still hungry for God”! “Yes Bishop, farmers in particular have a lot of time to “think” when they are sitting in a harvester header or rounding up stock on a motorbike! After all they are in the wide open spaces “the wilderness”, with no distractions . they think about life alright . and a lot of them pray too!” My rural friend is not only a famer but has sat on the Executive of Wesfarmers and is a corporate high flyer too so I put a lot of credence in his observations. I think we have got two or three generations of Men and Boys who are hard-wired for God but don’t know where to look and if they do are afraid of how it will look to their mates if they are seen “getting all religious”. My friend isn’t just talking about farmers; he is actually identifying a problem in our culture for all males past puberty. As Steve Biddulph told us in his ground breaking book “Manhood” becoming and being a man in our culture is a really difficult thing. [“Most men don’t have a life . we have just learned to pretend.”] 1 The preliminary findings of Bishop Michael Challen and Dr Ian Lillico have found that, if anything, becoming a man and masculinity is even more difficult now than when Steve Biddulph presented us with his findings in 1994. [When boys leave the maternal influence of their mother around the ages of 10-13 years they need men and peers to guide them through adolescence – the most influential time to develop their personalities, beliefs and views on life . if a father isn’t present to continue the boys development, delinquency, disengagement, being drawn towards gangs (family substitutes!) and risk taking behaviours (rites of passage substitutes!) are likely] 2 1 Manhood Steve Biddulph: A book about setting men free. Finch Publishing Sydney 1994. Quote from page 1 Chapter I The Problem. 2 CEBS – A Preliminary Statement Dr Ian Lillico 2012 November, 2012 AMS National Newsletter Page I think much of the social dysfunction we see in Australian culture today is a result of far too many under fathered boys. Furthermore, I think that the church has a huge potential mission field in its ministry and outreach to all males in the Australian cultural context. You will be pleased to learn that AMS like CEBS has commissioned a review and if necessary a restructuring of the way we carry out our core vision and mission of making Christ known to a whole new generation of Men and Boys which isn’t seen as “sissy” or “wussy” or a weakness but a legitimate masculine adventure: to follow Christ because it is simply the best way to live! What do you think? With my prayers and best wishes. +Tom Wilmot _________________________________________________________________________ AMS NATIONAL COUNCIL MEETING 2012 The National Council of the Anglican Men’s Society met at Holy Trinity in Launceston between September 14 and 17 Bishop Tom Wilmot, an Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Perth and National Vice Chairman of AMS led the Council through weekend discussions, prayers and worship and preached at the Eucharist on Sunday morning. Key-note speaker at the Council on Saturday was the Reverend Dr.Steven Ogden, formerly Dean of St.Peter’s Cathedral, Adelaide and currently Principal of St. Francis’ Theological College in Brisbane. AMS members were deeply challenged by Dr.Ogden’s talks and this was reflected during a later debate on a Motion to support the current wording of the Marriage Act. (This motion subsequently passed though by a narrow margin) The Anglican Men’s Society agreed to offer support to young academic theologians who may be looking to publish their work in Australia. Interested persons should contact the National Secretary of AMS. Steven Ogden is to explore the idea of an essay completion for these theologians. The Anglican Men’s Society also agreed to negotiate with the Newcastle School of Theology and Ministry towards using AMS as a platform for a national extension of the existing Bishop’s Certificate and Diploma Course (on a correspondence basis) for lay persons who may be wanting more knowledge in order to give greater service to the Church in Australia. The Anglican Men’s Society has also agreed to seek a link into a current inquiry into the future for CEBS in Australia. Should AMS be accepted into this inquiry National Council will make a financial contribution. The Conference Dinner on the Saturday evening was held at the Launceston ‘Lion’s Den’, the headquarters of the Launceston Lion’s club. An excellent meal was complemented with a talk from the Mayor of Launceston, Mr A. Van Zetten, about his faith and the challenges he has faced in his five year term as Mayor of Launceston. Ivan and Val Peters followed with an audio-visual on their involvement in Tanzania and a collection resulted in $560 being donated for the Mission Project. The National Council had earlier agreed to continue “Hearts for Africa” as the National Mission Project for 2013. Note: More information can be found on the Web Site – www.amsnational.org.au On the Sunday following the Communion Service at Holy Trinity the delegates and wives travelled by bus down the Tamar estuary and visit Cataract Gorge, St, Matthia’s Church, Windermere (built 1842) where a picnic lunch was provided and then to George Town. On the return journey we crossed the Batman bridge and stopped at the Rosevears pub for refreshments. The delight and astonishment on the publican’s face as fifty people enter his quiet rural pub late on a Sunday stands out. Our collective thanks go to Trevor Cowell, Colin Hingston, Graeme Foster and all members of the Launceston branch for an inspiring weekend backed with excellent catering. 2 November, 2012 AMS National Newsletter Page In 2013 the National Council will meet in Perth, Western Australia and the National Conference in 2014 will be in the Diocese of Newcastle. STEVEN OGDEN As a group we were extremely fortunate to have Steven Ogden talk to us about his new book “Love Upside Down : Life, Love and the Subversive Jesus”. A very capable presenter with a lively manner he held everybody’s attention for the morning sessions of the Council meeting. All members present received a copy of his book for further reading. Our thanks go to Neil McMullen for arranging for Steven to attend the weekend in Launceston. Details about his book can be found under Book Reviews. One section which sums up love and the Anglican Church is found in the following passage – p108 While the Anglican Church does not own love, there is wonderful feisty and creative tradition of love within Anglicanism that has its roots in Celtic Christianity and the medieval mystics. Indeed, the best of Anglicanism is a quirky comprehensiveness that holds together in tension, in love, a rainbow-like array of opinions, people and cultures. From the outside, we have probable looked a very muddled institution at times, but historically that messiness has expressed a passionate commitment to the subversive Jesus, who holds all things together in love. I am not for a moment thinking there is an easy answer, but I am convinced love is our only hope. Love, the love of people, the upside down love of the disruptive kingdom, changes us, our conversations and their outcomes. It is never too late for love. Even if we must go our separate ways (i.e. a breakup of the worldwide Anglican Communion), and that would be regrettable, let’s do it in love. Our thanks go to Steven for taking the time to come to Launceston and fitting AMS into his busy schedule. _________________________________________________________________________________ 37th Year Anglican Men’s Society Weekend for Men Diocese of Newcastle A Weekend for Men-sponsored by the Anglican Men’s Society in Newcastle Diocese was held in early September at the Camp Elim, south of Forster. What a great weekend it was: a rewarding social gathering but with a wonderful spiritual foundation. Whilst the numbers were modest the enthusiasm from all who came along to the camp-site was boundless and there’s already strong interest in a repeat at the same site in 2013. Leading the weekend’s study into the Epistle to the Ephesians was the Rev’d David Mansfield: “inspirational” “challenging” “enthusiastic” were just some of the responses from the men as they listened to David’s exposition and they also greatly appreciated the opportunities David provided for ‘conversations’ with him.