anglican focus 19 May 2021 Features • Tuesday 11 May 2021 • By Archbishop Phillip Aspinall

Flourishing faith communities: proclaiming and serving, worshipping and learning

A message from Archbishop Phillip Aspinall to the Anglican Church Southern Queensland

Dear Anglican Church Southern Queensland community members,

During 2020, the Diocesan Council, Bishops and senior leadership team spent time considering and answering the following questions:

• What is our vision for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland over the next five to 10 years to advance God’s mission? • What values do we want to engender within the Anglican Church Southern Queensland to establish the type of culture that will help achieve that vision?

Diocesan Council adopted a vision statement and identified values and focus areas to help us achieve it.

Our vision statement is:

‘Flourishing faith communities: proclaiming and serving, worshipping and learning.’

We have created several professionally designed summary documents and a YouTube video communicating more information about the vision statement and its accompanying values and key

© 2021 Anglican Church Southern Queensland Page 1 of 47 focus areas and actions. These resources, which are available on the Anglican Church Southern Queensland website, include:

• A Vision and Values video message from me • Our Vision flyer • Our Mission flyer • Exploring the Vision – a Document for Faith Communities

Wherever you are and whatever part you play in the Anglican Church Southern Queensland, I invite you take up this vision statement, and its accompanying values and focus areas, and contribute what you can to make it a reality. Please use the materials on our Diocesan website as you shape your own visions and plans. Please join with our wider Diocesan community to realise the vision and live the values.

You are crucial part of discerning the movement of the Holy Spirit that over time will generate a shared sense of God’s intention for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland.

I encourage you to peruse the written and video resources and explore the suggested questions for discussion with your community as you discern how you might grow as a flourishing faith community.

God’s peace and blessings to your faith community.

The Most Rev’d Dr Phillip Aspinall

Features • Monday 17 May 2021 • By The Rev'd Adam Lowe, Amy Norman, Bettrys Lowe, Caitlin Judge, Peter Dutton, The Rev'd Michael Calder, Suzie Ross

Making and maturing disciples of Jesus

Some of the innovative and industrious St Bart's, Toowoomba team in April 2021 (L-R) Suzie Ross, The Rev'd Michael Calder, The Rev'd Adam Lowe, Bettrys Lowe, Jo Chan Smith, Peter Dutton and Amy Norman Page 2 of 47

Introduction – The Rev’d Adam Lowe, Senior Minister

At St Bart’s we’re passionate about making and maturing disciples of Jesus for God’s glory. We long for people to become followers of Jesus and then continue to grow as life-long and whole-of-life disciples (across all of their frontlines). Our mission of a church is not just for ourselves, but also (over the past 18 months) as a Resource Church. We consider it a great joy to participate in the broader life of our Church in this way, and I have been delighted with the generous way in which the St Bart’s team have sacrificially given of their time, resources, and expertise. I count it as a great privilege to serve at St Bart’s alongside an extraordinary team in a wonderful Christian community.

Discipleship – Amy Norman, Lay Minister (Discipleship) and Resource Church specialist

The mission of Discipleship at St Bart’s is the mission of the whole church: ‘Making and maturing disciples of Jesus’. From when people first enquire, we are intentional about thinking where people are at in their discipleship journey and what might be a next step. We think about discipleship in three stages:

• Enquiring • Beginning • Growing.

Each of these stages has a key step to help people connect, with each step shaping how we choose, plan and stage events.

For example, for those Enquiring about Jesus, we have developed a four-session course, ‘Introducing Jesus’, that can be done at any time and is ideally carried out one to one. The idea is that anyone in our church can be resourced to have this conversation, which can take place in aged care facilities or in a café. The resource, ‘Introducing Jesus’, is provided to assist those who are keen to facilitate these conversations.

We also hold Alpha courses once a term, which provide a safe, non-judgemental space for enquirers to find out more about Jesus and explore the Christian faith.

For those who are just Beginning in their faith, we provide a resource, ‘Following Jesus’, for parishioners to use in one-to-one conversations over coffee or lunch in four one-hour sessions. During these sessions, questions like ‘What is the Bible?’, ‘What is prayer?’ ‘Why should I belong to a church?’ and ‘Why should we share our faith?’ are explored. Following these sessions, the newcomer is invited to join a small group.

One of our key learnings is that groups meet weekly, ideally in the same location (either at someone’s house, at church or in a cafe). This enables really simple connection with newcomers, as inviting people to a group that meets every week is much easier. The consistency of meeting weekly enables continuity in study, and helps to develop deeper and stronger relationships. Practically, meeting weekly also makes it more evident when someone is in need of additional care, so the group can respond quickly.

A highlight of seeing people enquire, begin and grow as disciples is a friend who first came along begrudgingly to church, largely due to her then-boyfriend’s invitation (now husband). In Alpha, she

Page 3 of 47 asked as many difficult questions that she could think of. Hesitantly, she with another Alpha guest, joined a small group together. Now, she frequently shares about her love for Jesus, and is emboldened by all the ‘Jesus conversations’ she gets to have at her workplace. Seeing how God grows people as his disciples is an amazing privilege!

You can download the following resources to use or adapt:

• Introducing Jesus: Leaders Guide • Introducing Jesus: Part 1 • Introducing Jesus: Part 2 • Introducing Jesus: Part 3 • Introducing Jesus: Part 4 • Following Jesus: Leaders Guide • Following Jesus: Participant Resource

St Bart’s Kids – Bettrys Lowe, Children and Families Minister and Resource Church specialist; Amy Norman, Lay Minister (Discipleship) and Resource Church specialist; and, Caitlin Judge, Intern

The mission of St Bart’s Kids is also ‘Making and maturing disciples of Jesus’. St Bart’s Kids comprises:

• St Bart’s Kids on Sunday • Kids Club • mainly music • Mums and Bubs small group • Expecting Families Ministry.

Last year we wrote a resourcing feature on ‘How to run an effective and engaging Sunday children’s ministry’. We did this at the request of anglican focus as we are a Resource Church.

It’s important to have a diversity of people serving and discipling kids, with respect to age, gender, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, experience and education/employment. Our Sunday School team members are not just teachers and mums, but a diverse group of people who are passionate about both Jesus and discipling children.

We put effort and time into training St Bart’s Kids team members, and the same three leaders take a group of kids for a whole year and are rostered on rotation to prevent burn out. We also have a St Bart’s Kids team wall which demonstrates the large number of St Bart’s members who are dedicated to the kids, as well as a reminder to the kids whom is a safe go-to for them.

The dedication of the leaders and the quality of their ministry results in kids putting up their hands of their own volition to serve and wear a blue t-shirt and be on team. When we ask kids why they want to be on team, their answers are really mature, such as “I want to help teach them about Christ and to make them disciples for Christ” and “To make disciples of all nations and teach the Gospel to others.”

The kids love coming to St Bart’s Kids on Sunday so much that many parents report their kids waking them up on a Sunday morning by jumping on the bed and saying, “We have to leave for church now!”

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We also see the fruit of the St Bart’s Kids ministry when we hear about a four-year-old St Bart’s parishioner telling their Kindy teacher about Jesus. Recently, a five-year-old St Bart’s kid gave a Bible to a friend because, as we were told, “It would be a gift that would last forever.” It’s so encouraging to hear these kinds of anecdotes.

The kids also constantly surprise us with their boldness. Recently, when we were giving out a Bible Society book on the real meaning of Christmas to the kids, a child asked for 30 copies. When Bettrys asked in a somewhat uncertain way why she wanted so many, her response was: “My friends need to know the story of Jesus and instead of giving candy canes, I want to give them a copy of this book.” So, naturally, Bettrys gave her the 30 copies she asked for, while also feeling appropriately challenged about making assumptions.

St Bart’s Kids Club runs on Fridays between 3.30 pm and 5.15 pm. When kids miss three Kids Club sessions, we mail each sibling in the family a ‘We’ve really missed you’ postcard. While we charge $25 per child per term to help resource our Kids Club, we waive the fees for this after-school ministry for those families who can’t afford to pay them.

We have an arrangement with Koorong bookshop whereby kids accumulate points which they redeem for Bibles. Recently, we gave a child from a foster home a Bible. Knowing she was a number of points short, she kept objecting to the Bible until we gently convinced her that it was okay to accept it. The following term, she used some of her points to purchase a gift for another Kids Club child. Seeing the flow-on effects of generosity is another common key learning experience for us.

Our mainly music group meets each Thursday at St Bart’s for two sessions (9.15 am and 10.30 am). mainly music is a ministry where parents or carers and their child/children engage in a fun morning of music, dance, rhyme and movement before sharing in morning tea, stories and play together. The sessions are structured, focusing on the interaction between parent and child. We support our mainly music families both spiritually and practically. Our mainly music group has a prayer teapot in which families place their prayer requests, with our mainly music team praying for the ministry’s families every Thursday morning. When a mainly music family misses a session, usually because a child is sick, our registration coordinator, Caroline, checks in to see if the parents need help with a meal or transport.

Mums and Bubs is a small group that is part of St Bart’s Kids. Our Mums and Bubs group meets each Wednesday in our parents’ room from 9.30 – 11 am and is run by volunteers Courtney and Jess, two of our young mums. As well as studying the Bible and praying together each week, these Mums and Bubs members share life with each other, staying connected during the week via a Facebook Messenger group, sharing motivating or amusing memes and praying intentionally for each other.

We also have an Expecting Families ministry and host baby showers and do cook-ups. We recently gave two heavily pregnant mothers each two massive esky bags full of healthy meals (that specifically catered for the dietary requirements of the families) – enough for three weeks’ worth of dinners. As well as many of the Mums and Bubs members doing this latest batch of cooking, Adam helped out and contributed meals as well.

Personal touches and intentional follow up are really important at St Bart’s. We are a community and go through the valleys and peaks of life together. Instead of making assumptions that people are too busy to come to church or small groups or other ministry activities, we follow up to make sure that people are okay and if someone is sick or a loved one has passed away, we help care for them.

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You can download the following resources to adapt:

• ‘We’ve really missed you’ postcard • St Bart’s Kids team wall template

Toowoomba Anglican School partnership – Bettrys Lowe, Children and Families Minister and Resource Church specialist; Peter Dutton, Youth and Young Adults Minister; and, The Rev’d Michael Calder, Assistant Minister

We have been partnering with the Toowoomba Anglican School (TAS) since the start of the year in the interim, as the school begins the process of advertising for a new chaplain.

We serve at the school for an equivalent of two days per week, leading chapel services; facilitating lunchtime student small groups; playing sport with and spending time getting to know the students during breaks; providing pastoral care; and, running staff and wider school community prayer groups.

In school Chapel services, we are currently going through the Gospel of Mark and asking the question ‘Who do you say Jesus is?’ The chapel services are only half an hour long, so they are simple, creative, and get right to the point. We are mindful that most students are not churched or have a mix of denominational family backgrounds.

The services cover four age groups – Prep to Year 2, Years 3-6, Years 7, 9 and 11, and Years 8, 10 and 12 – due to space constraints. Classes take turns being rostered on for readings, bell ringing and prayers/intercessions. Bettrys takes the rostered-on Prep to Year 2 students into the Chapel the week before their service so they are comfortable with the set-up, including the microphone, steps and songs.

As part of our school ministry, we have also been resourcing families with ‘Faith at Home’ Primary and Secondary content that corresponds to what we have been doing in chapel that week.

The content typically includes an A5-sized summary sheet about the topic, links to videos and other resources, and questions and application discussion. Currently, we have been printing these and uploading them to our website for families to access electronically.

Our community prayer times run for 30 minutes and are for students, parents/caregivers and staff, with an additional 15-minute prayer time offered for staff before this. Both prayer times are informal so people can drop in at any time; however, the staff prayers are run in the Chapel while the community prayers are held in a new space called ‘The Glasshouse’. This is a very visible space near the school café, which helps draw people to prayer and grows a hub where parents can get their caffeine fix and pray. The community prayers were initiated last term by a group of parents who now help drive the sessions – the parents are very passionate about their school community and wanted prayer to have more of a presence in the life of the school.

At TAS, we wear St Bart’s badges to identify us as ‘safe’ people, while also differentiating us from school staff. While Bettrys’ and Peter’s teacher training helps us pedagogically, we see our main role at the school as being present. In order to get to know the community better, we help assist with school pick-ups, play sport with the students and help in classrooms.

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We also seek to connect the school and the church by being invitational; for example, by inviting staff and parents to Alpha courses, with a couple of staff already signing up. We also advertised St Bart’s Easter Services within the school, and a number of students encouraged their parents to come along to church for the first time. We have recently begun the Youth Alpha series with Secondary students during Thursday lunchtimes, and have had a very encouraging start. This engagement further shows us how many questions the young people of today have about faith.

Highlights of this new partnering ministry include ministering to new school families and when students let us know that their fellow students need some TLC and pastoral care.

Another highlight was the Easter Chapel service. At the beginning of the Holy Week COVID-19 lockdown, we made the decision to livestream the Easter Chapel service into the classrooms and homes of parents and staff. This was extremely effective in communicating the hope that we have in Jesus through songs, a kids’ talk, pre-filmed prayers and readings, an Easter message, and the ‘Toowoomba Anglican School Easter Drama’ that we filmed for the school community.

While we are still finding our way, the biggest lesson we have learned in our TAS partnership is that we need to be flexible, largely because in a school environment so much comes up. While being adaptable, we maintain our mission of communicating the hope of Jesus by being present, largely through conversations (whether impromptu or planned) and through Chapel and prayer.

You can download the following resources to adapt:

• ‘Faith at Home’ Primary content sample • ‘Faith at Home’ Secondary content sample • All ‘Faith at Home’ content

St Bart’s Care – Suzie Ross, Pastoral Care Coordinator; The Rev’d Michael Calder, Assistant Minister; and, The Rev’d Adam Lowe, Senior Minister

As a church, we’re intentional about trying to ensure that people are loved and cared for. Along with specialist care ministries (e.g. aged care services and visiting, hospital visiting, care for the sick, pastoral meals, expecting mums ministry, friendship morning teas), at St Bart’s we have three overlapping ‘circles of care’: small groups, teams and intentional visiting. By being able to identify which of these ‘circles of care’ that our people have contact through, we’re able to proactively care for people who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Suzie, who has been a parishioner at St Bart’s for 15 years and the Pastoral Care Co-ordinator for over three years, oversees a care team of approximately 35 volunteers on the St Bart’s Care Team. This group visits the more vulnerable of our congregation in aged care and the wider community. Some of these volunteers are Liturgical Assistants who give home Communion where and when required.

We have 18 volunteers on our Pastoral and Emergency Meals Team, with a team leader co-ordinating this group. We offer meals to those who are just out of hospital or are unwell and need love and encouragement. There are also beautiful hand-painted cards sent out to those who are grieving a loss or are unwell and also to celebrate significant birthdays.

We have 10 volunteers on a separate team who visit Symes Thorpe Aged Care community, which is adjacent to St Bart’s, and whom we share a very special connection. This group also has a team leader

Page 7 of 47 who co-ordinates the visits. Theirs is a small group who are trained in transferring people in wheelchairs, who ‘walk over’ some residents to church services that are unable to come by themselves. We also have the bus which picks people, who are unable to drive, up from their homes.

We have five aged care facilities in Toowoomba, where we offer Communion services and prayer and praise services, giving eight services per month. We have distinct teams, two of which Adam and Michael lead communion services through. Lay teams also hold prayer and praise services in three facilities, including providing music.

Our recruiting process for new volunteers begins with an informal chat where we gather information in regard to their history, experience and their love for the Lord and focus on their special gifts. We have an onboarding process to ensure we have the right people in the right place. Each person must be a member of St Bart’s and have a current Blue Card.

The St Bart’s Care Team members meet monthly for one hour to debrief, share and support one another. We have speakers, such as chaplains, from different facilities who come and speak to the group and give a different perspective on the care people need.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, whilst unable to visit or hold services onsite at St Bart’s, we livestreamed our services and delivered many care packages, as well as increased the volume of phone calls, care cards and emails. For those who are unable to stream our weekly services in their homes our tech volunteers burn DVDs of the Sunday service, which are delivered by one of our team early in the following week.

Our walking team is a small group. Ten to 12 people meet for the weekly one-hour walk, which is followed by coffee and fellowship time. The walks are led by Suzie (with a back-up filling in when needed) on the same day and at the same time each week. This format provides a great source of intentional connection.

To ensure that nobody falls through the cracks, we try to be as flexible as possible to meet people’s needs. We record and track all our care given via a simple document, with the data later being entered online into the profile of each person receiving any care. This is affectionately called ‘the yellow sheet’.

A highlight for Suzie happened recently when a woman she pastorally cares for told her that after 45 years of praying for her mother, she led her mother to the Lord over the phone. Suzie was overjoyed.

You can download the following resources to adapt:

• ‘Visiting and home communion record’ sheet (‘the yellow sheet’)

At St Bart’s, all of our ministries are grounded in our shared mission: ‘Making and maturing disciples of Jesus’. This helps us to be intentional, effective and focused in all that we do, including in the caring for parishioners and the wider community.

Editor’s note: Thank you so much to the St Bart’s, Toowoomba team for warmly welcoming me to their church on 28 April to help put together the content for this wonderful resourcing feature, especially to Jo for the delightful fair trade chocolate and the gluten-free treats.

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Spotlight Q&A • Tuesday 18 May 2021 • By Marcia Scholes

Q&A with centenarian Mission to Seafarers volunteer, Mothers Union stalwart and character, Marcia Scholes OAM

"Marcia being interviewed by Channel 9’s Today Show at the Port of Brisbane, prior to going onboard AAL Shanghai in 2017, which was a real honour due to the fact that very few people are allowed on the wharf where the QE2 berths. Special permission had to be obtained"

Marcia Scholes was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) this year for 70 years of volunteering at Mission to Seafarers (MTS) and her unwavering commitment to the Anglican Church and her local community.

Where do you currently live and where do you worship?

Due to an unfortunate accident, I am now living in aged care at Stafford Lakes. I get to St Matthias, Zillmere when I can and because I can get a ride to Stafford Mothers Union.

How long have you been involved in the Anglican Church and in what roles?

I’ve been to Sunday School and church services all my life! I played the organ at Bardon at 18 years of age. I was married at St Paul’s, Ashgrove and played the organ at Wilston. I started playing the organ when I attended Mothers Union meetings as there were no organists. Over the years I’ve been the President and the Secretary of Mothers Union.

Can you tell us a little about your Mission to Seafarers volunteer work?

I answered an appeal in The Courier Mail from MTS Chaplain Padre Reilly for girls to come down, with a letter from their priest, to be ‘Hostesses at Mission’ on Macrossan Street. I became a ‘Friday Night Girl’ Page 9 of 47 with a great Matron to look after us – Miss Mavor, who looked after the lightkeepers’ needs, including the packing of books for the many children living in lighthouses. My first night was ‘St Patrick’s Night’ in 1947. Our duties? To do what we still do today – only we’re ‘old girls’ now. We were a friendly face in a foreign port – and we danced!

How did this work proclaim the Gospel and contribute to the Church’s mission?

On Sundays, Padre arranged cricket and football teams, who played at Churchie and at The Grange, where we served afternoon tea and then dashed back in the tram to Petrie Bight on the Brisbane River to serve the men a beaut cold tea, which was followed by a short service in the Chapel and then dancing or games until 10 pm. Padre Reilly was a real ‘blokey’ man who could talk to all of the men.

What has been one of the single key highlights of your time as a Mission to Seafarers volunteer?

When the Channel 9 team came to put the Mission on morning TV, and they asked, “Who is this 90- year-old Marcia?” The ship was tied up at Seafarers Road, right outside the Mission. The young reporter and her camera team came up from Sydney and we got ‘dressed’ and set up to get on the ship – seemingly just an old ship at the wharf, but what a surprise as it could have been the QE2 given our reception. MTS President Captain Ross Nicholls was there, as well as the boss of pilots and the boss of the wharf who didn’t want to miss out on the excitement. The ship’s Captain was a real ‘Mission’ man, but sadly not all Captains are as kind to his men as this Captain was.

Can you tell us about your recent OAM recognition for 70 years’ voluntary service to Mission to Seafarers Brisbane?

My daughters Jenny and Marion, along with Pam Clemments, and Jennifer Munday OAM (who are both parishioners of St Matthias, Zillmere, a parish which strongly supports the Mission’s work with monetary and clothing donations), nominated me and later gave me the letter from Government House to read. As I read through it, tears were just on the edge – I just couldn’t believe it! My two daughters were just over the moon.

What have been the key challenges of your roles so far and how have you worked through these?

My volunteering was all joy, fun and fellowship. I met so many wonderful young seafarer men whom we still wrote to after we all married.

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“Marcia Scholes with one of the seafarers who attended the Mission to Seafarers in March 2017. This picture was taken at the Mission, prior to the seafarer being fitted with a new hand-made beanie”

Can you tell us a little about your personal faith journey?

My life was really ordinary. I always believed in God since school Religious Instruction and when I became employed, I still taught Sunday School. I liked going to teachers’ get-togethers and learning more – to pass on to the children (St Stephen’s, Coorparoo – always had good times when we went there) and I just enjoyed teaching the little ones.

What is your favourite scripture and why?

Ah, this is good. My favourite one is from Romans 8.28: “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” This has had the most wonderful modern hymn ‘For to those who love God’, with words by Damian Lundy and music composed by Enrico Garzilli, composed of the words, and I played it all the time. The first time I spoke the words at the lectern one Sunday, I almost sung the hymn, and I think that if I had a good voice, I would have.

What person of faith inspires you the most and why?

My mother and my father. They were ordinary and loving hardworking people who just by their example taught us to follow their footsteps. The MTS Padres were good, too. They all brought something different to the table.

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What are the primary strengths of the Church and what is the best way to make the most of these for the benefit of our communities?

The people. The more we know what our Churches do for us in 2021, the more we find ways to help further. If you don’t know much about a place, you don’t go there.

What is the best piece of advice you have ever received and who gave you this advice?

My mother always told me to “Aim for the stars.”

What do you do in your free time to recharge and relax?

I like to plant a bonsai for the future. I also enjoying reading and spending time with my family.

If you found yourself on a deserted island, what three things would you choose to have with you?

I’d choose a hat, a spade and a plastic bag.

If you could have a billboard with any text on it, what would it say and why?

“Do YOU know where the Mission to Seafarers is located?” because most people have not heard of us.

Where do you do your best thinking?

Definitely in my happy place – in the garden.

What’s your best childhood memory?

My parents entertained many returned soldiers from lots of different places and one thing we loved to do was sing around the piano. I remember going to Sunday School at St Paul’s, Ashgrove in 1930, and singing in my loud squeaky voice when finishing the hymn with “Alleluia” – cheekily singing “Alleluia, I’m a bum” which was all the go in the Depression in the US. This, of course, was very embarrassing for my mother!

What makes you nostalgic and why?

The night some of us made our Debut at the Maritime Ball in the City Hall in September 1947, because Mission to Seafarers gave me such a rich life. As he danced with me, Padre Reilly said, “Tonight you’re being presented to a great soldier.”

Editor’s note 18/05/21: Thank you to Marcia Scholes’ daughter Jenny for lovingly compiling the content for this very special Spotlight Q&A.

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News • Tuesday 18 May 2021 • By Michelle McDonald

Chapel of The Holy Spirit gets a facelift

Principal of St Francis College Bishop Jonathan Holland and ACSQ Development Manager Shane Djordjewitsch outside the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, St Francis College on 27 April 2021: works on this side of the Chapel included cleaning and painting of the gutters, inside and out; a new galvanised downpipe; and, a new stormwater pit

The spiritual heart of St Francis College is currently undergoing exciting heritage conservation works, following generous funding support granted by the Queensland Government.

Principal of St Francis College Bishop Jonathan Holland said that the beautiful chapel has much historic and contemporary significance.

“The chapel is used for Morning and Evening Prayer on weekdays and the Eucharist on Sundays for the Parish of Milton. It is further used by the whole community for weddings, funerals, baptisms, commissionings, prayer gatherings and art exhibitions,” Bishop Holland said.

“It used to be the chapel of the Anglican Archbishops of Brisbane when they resided onsite in Old Bishopsbourne.

“Prayers have been said and services held in the Chapel of The Holy Spirit since it was consecrated in 1912, with the exception of a single interruption in 2020 due to COVID-19.”

The works on the chapel were made possible with funding provided under Rounds 3 and 4 of the Community Sustainability Action (CSA) grants program, which is administered by the Department of Environment and Science (DES).

Eight of the 53 heritage conservation projects approved under Round 3 and Round 4 of CSA funding are projects within our Diocese, and also include works on the Cathedral; St Mary’s, Kangaroo Point;

Page 13 of 47 the rectory of Christ Church, Milton; St Mark’s, Warwick; Old Bishopsbourne at St Francis College; and, the Hall of St Luke’s, Toowoomba.

ACSQ Development Manager Shane Djordjewitsch said that CSA heritage conservation grant announcements are made on an ad hoc bases, with specific eligibility criteria and a detailed process applying.

“To meet the eligibility criteria for CSA grants you must be the owner of a property listed on the State Heritage Register, in accordance with the Queensland Heritage Act 1992,” Mr Djordjewitsch said.

“Funding announcements are made intermittently, with the most recent being Round 5, which closed on 19 April 2021.

“The online application process is often involved and time consuming, so it’s important to have all necessary information available regarding project scope, heritage approval, costings, insurances, and the like. In some situations, it might help to engage the services of a heritage architect to assist in writing the online application.”

Projects that demonstrate best practice heritage conservation and are supported by a work schedule documented in a conservation management plan are given priority. So, having a conservation management plan is a good idea for heritage listed places. Grants were also available for the preparation of a conservation management plan in Round 5.

The primary focus of the works should be around heritage conservation, rather than improvements to the building or site.

The type of works, which can apply to such heritage buildings under these grants, are categorised under two distinct certificate areas.

Firstly, the General Exemption Certificate: Queensland Heritage Places, where no application is required. This option provides upfront approval for most minor works and maintenance to keep eligible heritage places in active use and operational condition. This certificate outlines strict limitations and conditions to the type and scope of works and how these are to be carried out.

The second category is a Heritage Exemption Certificate, which can be applied for via the Department of Environment and Science. This option provides approval for low-impact development, conservation works and simple projects that only affect the heritage value of a place in a minor way. According to the DES website, the kinds of work this certificate covers include, “painting in a compatible or historic colour scheme, replacing non-significant fittings or fixtures or refurbishing less important parts of a building or place.”

There is no application fee for a Heritage Exemption Certificate; however, the approval does require a formal submission to the Department, with a decision regarding approval made within 20 business from receipt of application.

To keep abreast of funding announcements, it’s best to monitor the Department of Environment and Science (DES) website.

Mr Djordjewitsch said that works carried out on the Chapel of The Holy Spirit under the Round 3 funding met the criteria of a Heritage Exemption Certificate, which he successfully applied for. Page 14 of 47

“The grant funding approved by the Department of Environment and Science was $23,600 (excluding GST), with St Francis College contributing an additional $18,000 of bequest money to undertake the works,” he said.

Mr Djordjewitsch said that works continue with Round 4 funding, with hopes for further funding to be granted following a recent Round 5 application.

“Our Diocese received $35,000 under Round 4 of the CSA grants program, which is being used to replace the ridge capping to the main roof structure and above the porch entry. New gravel margins are also being installed to the northern and southern elevations of the Chapel.

“An application was made for $40,000 under Round 5 funding in April. If successful, this money will be used to replace the existing footpath network around the periphery of the Chapel.”

CSA grants have provided $18 million over six years to eligible community groups. To date, a total of over $13.7 million have been allocated to 361 different projects under the CSA program.

Mr Djordjewitsch said that the Round 3 building works were completed by Nev Paterson and Sons Pty Ltd (NPS) builders, who specialise in working on heritage listed buildings.

“They did a great job and worked well with our staff on site. NPS also completed the insurance repair work to St John’s Cathedral after sustaining severe storm damage a number of years back,” he said.

Bishop Holland said that the grant funding is significant for our Diocese, the wider Brisbane community and future generations.

“The Queensland Government funding is important because it is only through the State’s generous support that we can maintain historic buildings like the Chapel of The Holy Spirit to the standard they deserve for the benefit of our communities and future generations.”

Prior to the lodgement of paperwork, draft ACSQ parish, ministry and school Community Sustainability Action grant documentation needs to be sent to the General Managers Office, along with supporting documentation.

For more information, please email [email protected] or call the grant program office on 07 3330 6360.

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Features • Wednesday 12 May 2021 • By Noel Doyle

Making Reconciliation a reality for First Nations children in care

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is held between 27 May and 3 June annually, marking two significant milestones in the national Reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo decision, respectively.

Our First Nations Peoples continue to be impacted by past and current government policies, which have contributed significantly to the proportionately high rates of First Nations children in out-of- home care.

Anglicare Southern Queensland has been supporting foster and kinship carers for over 25 years across Queensland, including in the care of First Nations children. The journey to becoming a foster or kinship carer involves a lot of learning, speaking with family and friends and decision making.

The following are three things non-Indigenous foster carers can do to appropriately and effectively support First Nations children in their care and help to make Reconciliation a reality for them.

1. Non-Indigenous foster carers need to have an understanding of Black Australia history, including an understanding:

• Of the difference between ‘settlement’ and ‘invasion’. • Of Terra Nullius (‘nobody’s land’) which was a legal principle used to justify occupation. • That this land now known as ‘Australia’ was inhabited by hundreds of culturally distinct Nations prior to European invasion, and was therefore not ‘discovered’ by Europeans.

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2. Non-Indigenous foster carers and the First Nations young people in their care need to engage with the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities, including:

• Attending First Nations Peoples’ community events (such as National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week events). • Participating in First Nations community activities. • Learning the original names of the local First Nations places.

3. Non-Indigenous foster carers need to build trust and rapport when engaging with First Nations Peoples, including by:

• Developing an appreciation of First Nations cultures. • Engaging with First Nations medical services. • Promoting Reconciliation through genuine engagement, participation and understanding.

Non-Indigenous people also need to acknowledge that First Nations Peoples do not need to reconcile with ‘White Australia’; however, all Australians need to participate in the journey of Reconciliation to unite Australia as a whole.

We need to actively include First Nations Peoples in our community activities, events and initiatives so that we can learn from one another, and develop a real awareness, understanding, appreciation and respect for the cultures and histories of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – the inclusion of First Nations Peoples of Australia is central to the Reconciliation journey, not their exclusion.

And, that is healing for all of us.

Editor’s note: The theme for this year’s National Reconciliation Week is ‘More than a word. Reconciliation takes action’. ACSQ Reconciliation Action Plan Coordinator Sandra King OAM is coordinating some exciting NRW events – find out more by visiting the anglican focus Events page. You can download a suite of NRW resources on the National Reconciliation Week resources webpage. Reconciliation Australia asks that local NRW events be registered via the NRW website.

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Features • Monday 17 May 2021 • By Aimee Webb

Time to listen and learn because change only starts with us

St Hilda's School students with a Beulah Community guide exploring Aboriginal cultures in May 2021

Recently, my fellow St Hilda’s School Year 12 Study of Religion peers – all 28 of them – and I, took a visit to Beulah Community and St Mark’s Anglican Church on the Sunshine Coast. This excursion was organised as part of our studies about Australian Aboriginal Spiritualities and the impact of the ‘Stolen Generations’.

The Beulah Community is a public charity located in Buderim and strives to engage the community in learning about the history of Australia’s First Nations Peoples and the need for reconciliation. And, educate us they certainly did.

Being in my final year of school and only now starting to really understand Australian Aboriginal cultures and spiritualities is genuinely eye-opening. Just like many students my age, this was the first time I have had the opportunity of hearing directly from Australia’s First Nations peoples in an environment where learning and sharing were the priority.

On arrival Kabi Kabi Elder Uncle Tais gave our group a tour around the 10-hectare property whilst laughing, telling us stories and sharing in cultural activities.

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This was the first time I felt that I have really learnt about Australia’s First Nations peoples. This excursion also helped me reflect on our nation’s history, especially of the first Europeans who ostracised, executed and neglected the peoples who first belonged to this land.

On our recent excursion, I gained a greater understanding of the importance of ‘sorry’, Reconciliation and the power of education. I believe encouraging school students to visit places like the Beulah Community, in order to hear directly from First Nations peoples, is essential for creating change.

After leaving the Beulah Community, we visited the local Anglican Church of St Mark’s and were given a presentation by Aunty Sandra King OAM, a Quandamooka and Bundjalung woman and the Reconciliation Action Plan Coordinator for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland. There is no doubt that she is an incredibly strong and valiant woman in sharing with us the story of her family, who were directly affected by the Stolen Generations.

If there was one thing I took away from her presentation, it would be this: knowledge grants power and power grants change. Now, more than ever, do I feel compelled and driven to do everything within my power to expose Australia’s past and accumulated present, whilst simultaneously encouraging essential change.

It’s time to listen and learn because change only starts with us.

Features • Friday 14 May 2021 • By Michelle McDonald

From accidental double agent to more effective advocate

(L-R) Michelle McDonald, Dave Andrews from St Andrew's, South Brisbane and The Rev'd Sue Grimmett at the 10-hour 'Nauru Files' live reading vigil outside the Department of Immigration and Border Protection in August 2016

I was raised by a psychologist mother who, looking back now, was years ahead of her time when it came to language use. I remember being in the car with her when I was roughly 13 years old in the

Page 19 of 47 late 1980s and her gently, but clearly, correcting me when I referred to someone being “disabled”. She turned toward me from the driver seat and said, “person with a disability” (now, she would likely respond with, “person living with a disability”). She then asked me why her alternative framing was different and after thinking for a bit, I answered with, “The way you put it isn’t a label. It’s more respectful.” I gathered by her smile and nod that my response was on the right track.

I am grateful to Mum for this lesson and have often reflected on this conversation, especially when needing to rethink my language use in advocacy contexts in my adult years.

Since 2015, I have been volunteering in the refugee rights space, variously writing media releases and speeches, painting banners and signage, running workshops and community forums, organising vigils and lobbying elected representatives. Each of these activities relies on well-considered messages to be effective.

Alongside many other local parents, I felt compelled to start volunteering in this way. I would tuck my son into bed at night and pray for the parents and children detained on Nauru, wondering how I would possibly cope if I were in their shoes. At times, my emotions would get the better of me in conversations with people, sometimes even with Christians, who held a different position on families being held in offshore detention, and I would call them out for their “racist” or “bigoted” views. This approach, unsurprisingly in hindsight, was completely ineffective – instead of creating space for dialogue, I would shut it down. It got to a point where I realised that I either had to rethink my choice of words or quit, as I was spending an average of 15 hours a week volunteering, but was largely wasting my time.

While I held the moral high-ground, supported by the Gospel message and Church teaching, I realised that it wasn’t enough to be right – I needed to find a way to be both right and effective.

Providentially, in 2016 I came across the ASRC’s Words That Work research, which was commissioned to resource advocacy communications in the national refugee rights space. The principles in this ground-breaking resource, which are centred around solutions, positive framing and shared values, completely shifted my approach. For example, when I heard people describe “asylum seekers” as “illegals”, instead of giving my typical reply “They are not illegals”, I began responding with the positively framed, “Seeking asylum is legal”. In doing so, I helped create a new ‘frame’ (a way of thinking that shapes the way people see the world), instead of operating within the frame created by those elected representatives, shock jocks and news organisations who sought to use people seeking asylum as political footballs to score points.

As I became more familiar with best practice advocacy principles in 2016, I suddenly realised that I had been operating as an accidental double agent – simultaneously campaigning to get the kids who were being detained off Nauru, while inadvertently reinforcing the cunningly framed messages of political leaders who sought to keep them there.

The best practice principles I learned and adopted are used in advocacy communications across different sectors, both locally and internationally. And, since August last year as part of my Resource Church Communications and Community Engagement Specialist role, I have been working alongside Resource Church leader The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt and Peter Branjerdporn from the Justice Unit to develop an alternative way to engage local Christians in climate and creation care communications.

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We will be running a three-hour ‘Reframing climate and creation care communications for Christians’ online workshop on Friday 18 June. The workshop has been designed for parish clergy and advocates, and will introduce a key-principles-and-tips resource that we have developed to assist church leaders and advocates in the framing of their written and verbal communications.

As Christians, scripture is the bedrock of our faith, and so we know the power of words. You are invited to join us as we explore how we can better reframe our words in the climate and creation care space for the common good.

Top 10 tips for effective advocacy communications:

1. Appeal to shared values, such as peace, freedom, hope and safety. 2. Emphasise human agency. 3. Be solutions focused. 4. Use positive framing, communicating what we want to see rather than what we don’t want to see. 5. Use tangible terms and jargon-free language. 6. Emphasise Christian mission and identity, including the interconnectedness of all life in our theology. 7. Be discerning about scripture choices. 8. Tailor messaging for a local context and for the given audience. 9. Be respectful at all times, listen to the other’s point of view, ask open questions and seek to foster genuine dialogue. 10. Use narrative and personal anecdotes to illustrate your key points rather than lean on facts and figures.

The free online ‘Reframing climate and creation care communications for Christians’ workshop will be held on Friday 18 June between 9.00 am and 12 noon. Register online by 5 pm Tuesday 15 June. The workshop is co-hosted by Resource Church St John’s Cathedral, the Justice Unit and anglican focus. While the workshop will focus on climate and creation messaging, the principles explored have application across broad advocacy areas. To find out more, please email [email protected] or [email protected].

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Features • Thursday 13 May 2021 • By Fiona Hammond

Hey, can you please explain ‘TikTokers’ to me?

"Unfortunately, many adults feel they are not qualified to talk to children or teenagers at church. They have lived through the era of age-segregated activities, where we were led to believe that specialist knowledge was needed to engage with others of different generations" (Fiona Hammond)

“If a child is named and intentionally included in the life of a church community…by five adults…there is a greater chance that they will feel at home.” (John Roberto, 2014, Generations Together)

“At home” is such a throwaway line.

How amazing would it be for a child to feel at home in a church community?

For a child to feel at home in a service of worship?

For a child to feel at home at a church coffee morning?

For a child to feel at home in a Bible study?

Research shows that when a child is named, intentionally included and encouraged by five adults in a church congregation, they will start to feel at home in their parish community.

Obviously there are all those other common sense things that help foster a feeling of genuine belonging…for instance, the child needs to feel physically and emotionally safe, they need to find some friends, and they need to hear a few key things in words they can understand. Still, it goes a LONG way to have five adults know about you and look out for you, and intentionally share some time and conversation with you.

Unfortunately, many adults feel they are not qualified to talk to children or teenagers at church. They have lived through the era of age-segregated activities, where we were led to believe that specialist Page 22 of 47 knowledge was needed to engage with others of different generations. Or they may get the impression that talking to children will be frowned upon.

Here is a list of possible questions adults can ask children at church gatherings:

• What’s your favourite book? • Which super hero do you like best? Why? • What have you noticed that needs prayer in your world at the moment? I’d like to pray for you and your world this week. • DC or Marvel? (Trust me, you don’t even have to know that these are the two main ‘staples’ of superhero characters…just ask the question…and you’ll soon be filled in with the rest!) • Tell me about the last movie you saw. • Hey, can you please explain ‘TikTokers’ (or ‘YouTubers’) to me? • If you were a character in a film or a series, which would you be and why? • What do you like to do in your spare time? • Played any sport recently? What positions do you like best? • Tell me about your sporting/dancing/acting/life heroes. • Where do you want to visit most in the world? • What are your dreams for next year? • What did you like about the service this morning? • Are you an iPhone or android person? (for teens!! ) What do you recommend about that choice? • When I was your age, my hobbies were…do young people still do these? What hobbies do you enjoy the most? • What was the most difficult physical challenge you’ve ever done? Would you want to try it again? • Tell me about your team. (You don’t need to know what team it is…a child could be involved in a sport team, or a school team, or a school ‘house’, or follow a professional team. Just ask and they’ll fill you in!) • Tell me about your best friend. What’s great about them? • What songs do you like at the moment? (Even kindy kids have favourite songs!)

You can even open a discussion about what little things have changed…like lollies. We used to buy lollies one at a time, and you could get 10 different sorts in one bag if you liked and for just a few cents. That seems like magic to kids. You and another adult could remember your favourites, and draw kids into the conversation by opening up the floor to gather ideas for ‘best lolly award’!

Here is a list of possible questions children can ask adults at church gatherings:

• What was your favourite sweet/lolly as a kid? • How did you get to school when you were my age? • What was your favourite hobby? Do you still do it? • What do you do when you have to give a talk in public and you’re nervous? • How did you first choose to become a…? • Have you always been a Christian? • Tell me about how you found out about Church. • What do you like about coming to church on a Sunday? • If you could have any actor play you in a film of your life, who would it be? • What was your first ever job?

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• Tell me about your most exciting day ever. • What dreams do you have for your family? • What makes you smile? • What was the first thing you smiled at today? • How many countries have you travelled to? • How many countries would you like to travel to? • Why do you come to church?

The Anglican Church Southern Queensland has a Code of Conduct for Ministry to Children. Ask your parish priest for a copy. As long as this code is adhered to, we are encouraged to generate an authentic community within our parishes, and letting children know that they are welcome and belong is indeed central to the mission of Jesus.

Please let me know how you go with your conversations and what answers you received to your questions by emailing me via: [email protected].

Check out the site at FormEdFaith and subscribe to receive regular updates with links to great ministry resources.

Editor’s note 19/05/2021: Take part in St Francis College’s in-person Open Day on Thursday 20 May 2021 to find out about the wide range of study options for exploring the Christian faith, ask questions about courses, talk to staff and learn about what St Francis College has to offer.

Reflections • Monday 17 May 2021 • By The Rev'd Don Parker

Sunflower sojourn: Southport to Warwick and back for $6.50

"To test the range of our EV, Jill and I recently went on a journey to Warwick in the Southern Downs to see the sunflowers. This is one of our favorite adventures, although it was the first time we’ve actually found them blooming in abundance" (The Rev'd Don Parker)

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In February, my wife Jill and I bought a new electric vehicle (EV). Folk have been very interested, so I thought I’d let anglican focus readers know about some of the questions that have popped up and how we have answered them.

Firstly, just to clarify, it is a fully electric vehicle, so if the battery goes flat, we come to a halt (no hybrid technology here).

How far does it go between charges? MG (yes, it’s an MG) claims that the car can travel 260 km on a full charge and our experience is that this is accurate, although using your aircon does reduce your range by about 10 per cent.

“MG (yes, it’s an MG) claims that the car can travel 260 km on a full charge and our experience is that this is accurate, although using your aircon does reduce your range by about 10 per cent” (The Rev’d Don Parker with wife Jill picking up their new MG EV in February 2021)

Do you worry the battery is going to run out? Around the Gold Coast, where we live – not at all. To all intents and purposes, it behaves very much like any other car – except that it is very quiet and surprisingly zippy to drive. There would be very few occasions when the battery range is tested ‘around town’. On the other hand, long distance travel does present some challenges.

To test the range of our EV, Jill and I recently went on a journey to Warwick in the Southern Downs to see the sunflowers. This is one of our favorite adventures, although it was the first time we’ve actually found them blooming in abundance, just outside of Allora and then further south near Murrays Bridge. It took some planning and ‘the kindness of strangers’ to make the journey, but make it we did.

So, testing our ‘range anxiety’ (who needs another anxiety in the 21st century?), we ventured forth in the following stages.

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On day one we travelled from Southport to Toowoomba:

• Stage 1: Southport to Toowoomba, totalling 180 km. No problems getting there, we arrive with 50 km worth of battery life left and that was with the aircon blasting away. • Stage 2: Recharging in Toowoomba was difficult as the unfamiliar App telling us where to recharge seemed to be leading us up the garden path. What’s more, the few recharge stations that exist favour Tesla and mostly couldn’t be used on our car model. Eventually, after a bit of guess work, we arrive at Charlton and discover the one charging unit that does work for us – phew! We plug in and after 40 minutes of rapid charge (about the length of time it takes for a coffee and a chat) we have 80 per cent battery life, which is about a 200 km range. We go on our way rejoicing and since we’re enjoying ourselves so much, we stay the night in Toowoomba.

I mentioned ‘the kindness of strangers’ earlier. While recharging at Charlton a gentleman got out of his car and struck up a conversation. This happens often since people are generally very interested in the novelty of the EV phenomenon. This gent was different. He knew much more about electric cars than I did (which isn’t saying too much.) More importantly, he knew how to modify the App we were using to ensure that we only found recharge points that actually worked for us – no more wild goose chases.

Secondly, he knew, for a fact, that there was a charging station in Warwick (84 km away) and that immediately gave us the encouragement we needed to travel south the next day to see the glorious sunflowers. I’m embarrassed to say that I didn’t even get this gentleman’s name, but thank you Sir if you read this, as your generously shared knowledge made all the difference to us.

On day two, we travelled from Warwick to Southport:

• Stage 3: A comfortable 84 km range-anxiety-free journey to Warwick, made delightful by the discovery of sunflower fields in full bloom close to Allora. We also ventured to Murrays Bridge and discovered even more of the glorious yellow fields. Then back to Warwick to recharge for the journey home. The charging station in the centre of town is exactly where our kindly stranger said it would be. We plug in and head off for our obligatory cup of coffee. We return after an hour to a fully charged car. • Stage 4: A leisurely 186 km trip back to Southport via Boonah.

In total, our journey was approximately 500 km, with two recharges along the way.

Just a few points to finish off with.

While I have always considered myself a die-hard ‘petrol head’, I am now shifting. EV-dom doesn’t feel like a fad or a phase. EVs are fun to drive and have real ‘character’.

The total cost for the driving part of the journey was $6.50 at Charlton, with the recharge at Warwick free! This may be part of a campaign by provincial towns to attract EV tourists, and if so, well done Warwick!

About 40c per litre of the petrol price goes to pay a road tax every time you fill up. I doubt that EVs will ever have to pay a road tax, at least not in the near future as taxing a clean energy vehicle would disincentivise EV purchasing.

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In the meantime, Jill and I have successfully tested the limits of our EV by venturing to our Western Region from the Gold Coast. Sure, it did take some planning and there were a few frustrating moments as EV newbies, but once we’d received some kindly advice from the knowledgeable stranger, we were good to go. ‘Range anxiety’ – ha, never heard of it!

First published in Key Notes, the magazine of St Peter’s, Southport in May 2021 (amended with author permission for anglican focus).

Editor’s note: if you have an interesting story to tell about your personal, parish or ministry climate and creation care initiatives, please email Michelle McDonald via [email protected]. She would love to hear from you.

Books & Guides • Thursday 13 May 2021 • By Dr Gwenneth Roberts

Gender-Balanced Belief: A New Ethic for Christianity

"Mavis Rose follows a process of construction and deconstruction in relation to the position of women in the Church. She looks effectively to the teachings of Jesus, and how He treated women of His time with equality, respect and dignity, which was counter-cultural in patriarchal Roman imperial society" (Dr Gwenneth Roberts)

Mavis Rose’s posthumously published book Gender-Balanced Belief: A New Ethic for Christianity is a sequel to her first book, Freedom from Sanctified Sexism: Women Transforming the Church, which was a history of women in the Anglican Church of Australia.

In her first book, which was published in 1996, she revisited her doctoral thesis – that the subordination of women that has existed for two millennia still exists in patriarchal mainstream churches. In Gender-Balanced Belief, the author widens the scope to critique other mainstream Christian denominations, notably the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches. At the core of her belief is that Jesus Christ is a relevant and vibrant role model for the new millennium. She emphasises

Page 27 of 47 that Church women who are questioning the subordinate role of women in the Church are not mounting resistance against the true God nor denying the leadership of Jesus Christ (p.187).

The author’s posthumous book covers Church history to 2010, so the reader needs to consider changes in the last 11 years. In the 1980s and 90s feminist theology was considered the foremost contemporary progressive theology. A survey of seminaries and theological colleges would ascertain how many of those institutions still teach feminist theology courses, whether what is being taught has changed or whether interest has waned. However, fresh signs of life have emerged with the formation of the Australian Collaborators in Feminist Theologies network, supported by the University of Divinity in Melbourne.

In her ‘Introduction’, The Rev’d Dr Josephine Inkpin considers that, “conflicts over sexuality and its control have…taken over from female-specific issues at the centre of much debate and wrestling for power and liberation” (p.vi). Inkpin considers that Mavis Rose’s words do not incorporate all aspects of contemporary intersectional feminist struggle, but do powerfully affirm the need for shared understanding and common action.

Mavis Rose substantiates her critique of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches through her dialogue with women from these Churches whom she knew as prominent supporters of the Movement for the Ordination of Women (MOW) in the Anglican Church. She calls this “ecumenical solidarity”, and quotes notable Australian Christian women scholars, including Sister of Mercy Professor Elaine Wainwright RSM (p.183); the late Dr Marie-Louise Uhr, a biochemist and Roman Catholic lay woman and former Vice President of MOW (p.140); and, Dr Leonie Liveris, a historian and Greek Orthodox woman and MOW member (p.96).

Mavis Rose follows a process of construction and deconstruction in relation to the position of women in the Church. She looks effectively to the teachings of Jesus, and how He treated women of His time with equality, respect and dignity, which was counter-cultural in patriarchal Roman imperial society. She considers that He subverted conventional wisdom where He saw it to be no longer relevant and was often in a state of contention with the religious hierarchy of the day. For example, Jesus challenged bodily taboos of his era – for example, by holding the hand of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law who was unwell with a fever (Mark 1.29-31) and by healing a woman with menstrual problems (Mark 5.24-34) (p.127).

Jesus’ teachings and example serve as a model for the faithful to be vigilant and unafraid of dissent (p.137). The author understands well the cost of dissent, as she told me in conversation that she was labelled “the black sheep” by some in the Diocese of Brisbane in the 1980s for her forthright public position on the priesting of women.

Scripture records the leadership of prominent women in the early Church. Paul spoke of his women co-workers and acknowledged Junia as “foremost among the apostles” (Romans 16.7, p.142). Recent reconstruction of Mary Magdalene sees her as “the apostle to the apostles” rather than merely as a repentant prostitute (Bourgeault 2010, p.73).

Most of the deconstruction of Christianity in relation to women’s place in the Church follows the formation of State religion in the 4th century. The author traces dualism in Graeco-Roman thought which State religion adopted – male/female bodies and soul/body, among many others. By the 6th century, women typically only found leadership in convents. Dualism which pervaded early

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Christianity still finds it place today in sexism in the ecclesiastical structures of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches (p.69).

History typically concentrates on the male Christian ‘greats’, such as Augustine and Aquinas, who believed that women were by virtue of their nature in a state of subjection. Even the Reformers Luther and Calvin did little to enhance women’s status, relegating women to marriage and domesticity. The author describes aspects of their writings about women that perhaps we have not known (p.32). She quotes what some consider incorrect exegesis of scripture from Luther, using the second chapter of Genesis as a basis for the earthly subordination of women (p.32) (Miles, 1991).

Women were largely written out of history for a time. German abbess and polymath Hildegard of Bingen (12th century) and English anchorite and theologian Julian of Norwich (13-14th century) were women of outstanding intelligence who have only recently been rediscovered (p.106).

We note in our current Brisbane Diocese Anglican women’s history exhibition, From Biscuits to Bishops, that there is little record, text or photos of 19th century Anglican women who were fundraisers for new churches and were often unacknowledged.

The author devotes a large part of her book to the devaluation of women in the Church, including the embodiment of the Virgin Mary as the ideal Christian woman, which had no increased status for women (p.103); the demonisation of so-called ‘witches’ in the 15th century (p.116); and, the biological supposition that only men were progenitors, which was debunked by the discovery of women’s ovaries in the 17th century (p.81).

The author also acknowledges the clash of colonial culture and Christian beliefs with First Nation spiritualities (p.152). She acknowledges the work of Bidjara / Kari Kari woman, Dr Anne Pattel-Gray, but omits Anne’s criticism of Christian feminists whom First Nations women believe they were excluded by (Pattel-Gray, 1995).

Reading this book has brought back memories of how we in the Movement for the Ordination of Women in the Anglican Church of Australia were joined by Catholic, Orthodox and Lutheran women and men, and others, to support our struggle for women’s ordination in the 1980s and 90s.

As an Anglican woman, I believe that we cannot rest on our laurels for the equality we have achieved, but enquire of our Catholic and Orthodox sisters what we can do to assist them, and indeed for the laity of other denominations who have a minimal voice in the structures of their respective Churches. I observe, for example, that many Catholic women are hurting and angry at their ongoing treatment by their very centralised Church, such that many women just leave.

I consider this book, written by an Anglican woman, with its scholarly and Biblical approach will be acceptable, encouraging and affirming for Roman Catholic and Orthodox women to read. It is also useful for Christians of all denominations to expand our ecumenical dimensions regarding the position of women in the wider Churches.

Bourgeault, C. 2010. The Meaning of Mary Magdalene: Discovering the Woman at the Heart of Christianity. Shambhala Publications, Boston, Massachusetts.

Miles, MM. 1991. ‘Lectures in Genesis’, in Carnal knowing. Vintage Books, New York, pp.107-109

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Pattel-Gray, A. 1995. ‘Not yet Tiddas: An Aboriginal Womanist Critique of Australian Church Feminism’, in M Confoy, D Lee, and J Nowotny, Freedom and Entrapment: Women thinking theology. Dove, North Blackburn, pp.165-192.

Rose, M. 1996. Freedom from sanctified sexism: Women transforming the Church. Allira publication, MacGregor, Queensland.

Mavis Rose, 2021. Gender-Balanced Belief: A New Ethic for Christianity. Coventry Press, Melbourne.

Mavis Rose’s book Gender-Balanced Belief: A New Ethic for Christianity will be launched following Evensong on Sunday 23 May at 6 pm at St John’s Cathedral. The Rev’d Dr Josephine Inkpin will preach at Evensong, and launch the book at 7 pm. The book will be on sale at the Cathedral Book Shop. Visit Facebook for more information (including Zoom information to join in the post-service discussion) and the Cathedral’s YouTube channel for live steaming of the event.

Reflections • Thursday 13 May 2021 • By Angie Mooney

Responding to the Holy Spirit in complex situations

Cathedral verger and server Angie Mooney with complexity facilitators Julie Cunningham and Vivienne Read (from Complexability) and The Very Rev'd Dr Peter Catt at an Adapting Ministry in Complex Times workshop on 8 May 2021

‘Adapting Ministry in Complex Times’ is an organic co-learning community within the Anglican Church Southern Queensland, hosted by St John’s Cathedral as part of the Resource Churches initiative. This exciting opportunity follows 11 years of proactive direction and collaboration initiated by Cathedral Dean, The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt.

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Twelve parish-based communities throughout our Diocese have been invited to participate in a series of gatherings facilitated by The Rev’d Daniel Hobbs, as a Resource Church specialist, and Viv Read and Julie Cunningham, from consultancy organisation Complexability.

Two workshop gatherings have taken place since last month, with clergy and lay representatives from nominated parishes attending. The Cathedral team is represented by Dean Peter, Churchwarden Helen Wootton, Community Development Coordinator Judy Fay, server Harry McGuire and me.

The program seeks to form leaders so they can better discern and engage with what is emerging in their respective communities. Emerging opportunities may typically look like a ‘problem’ or ‘issue’ or ‘roadblock’. Re-framing these as emerging opportunities is the beginning of a new attitude in approaching such complexity, ultimately impacting decision making techniques and effectiveness.

In our first workshop, our fledgling group learnt though a group facilitation technique – a method that captures ideas that emerge from the group and provides a framework for decision making. The experiential learning was coupled with introductory theory about complex adaptive systems, based on the work of Welsh management consultant David Snowden who is the international pioneer in the application of complexity science.

Using a conceptual framework produced by David Snowden, the group came to understand the levels of complexity that our lives and communities are embedded in. The framework helps make sense of what we often see as ‘problems’ and assists in decision making by categorising our reality into ordered and unordered systems. It was illuminating to realise that even the simplest task in our community is embedded in a complex and unordered system. A lightbulb moment for me was the realisation that using simple decision making methods to approach complex situations is often unhelpful, if not useless or even harmful. Early detection, which captures what is emerging, is the key to early detection of potentially chaotic situations.

Understanding the human response to unordered systems was interesting and was demonstrated to be valuable to the Cathedral’s leadership team. When faced with a ‘problem’ often the first reaction is to take control and manage the situation. This reaction presses us to bring a given situation into order too quickly, which over simplifies the complexity and often proves ineffective.

The second half of the first workshop was also an extremely valuable experience. It embedded complex systems theory into a theological context. Interestingly, we discovered that David Snowden has a degree in theology and is active in the Catholic Church with a particular theological leaning towards liberation theology. He has managed to effectively capture in secular language a concept for the complexity of God working in our lives and communities.

Through group reflection we also came to witness the working of the Holy Spirit in our midst, throughout our church community and in our daily lives. Being attentive to what is emerging is key to being a witness to and honouring God. The group reflected on what arose for us during the day, what image of God we hold and how we see God relating to us in the world, with a take-home reflection of what implications this program and learning opportunity has for spirituality and prayer.

Throughout the series of workshops, and associated activities, the group of us from the Cathedral are provided with an exciting opportunity to build shared capabilities between clergy and laity when working with complexity. The program and learning community enable us to identify, discuss, reframe

Page 31 of 47 and approach the emerging opportunities within our Cathedral community and to apply the skills we are learning in practical ways to areas that the Holy Spirit is moving us.

In these ever-changing times, this valuable program grounds a conceptual decision making model into a theological and practical model of discernment in a faith forming environment.

News • Monday 17 May 2021 • By Philippe Coquerand

Queensland's unsung heroes recognised during International Year of Health and Care Workers

The St Martin’s Specialist Dementia Care Program staff were awarded the Team Achievement Award at the Anglicare Southern Queensland's Excellence Awards at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre recently

Anglicare Southern Queensland has marked International Year of Health and Care Workers by recognising the achievements of staff and volunteers who provide vital support for vulnerable Queenslanders.

More than 200 staff members, volunteers and clients gathered at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre recently for the not-for-profit charity’s inaugural Excellence Awards.

Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Executive Director Karen Crouch said it was important for people working in the health and community services sector to recognise the contributions they make in our local communities.

“As a provider of essential care and support services for vulnerable people, our work never stops. We are all so focused on the needs of our clients, residents, children and families, that reflecting on our own achievements is often not top of mind,” Ms Crouch said.

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“In my position, I have the privilege of seeing examples of the great work Anglicare employees and volunteers do every day.

“I see the hard work, resilience, perseverance and commitment that goes into supporting people in need.

“Having the honour of presenting the awards to our winners at the ceremony was a wonderful and heartwarming experience for me.

“Congratulations to all of our finalists and to this year’s winners. You are all incredible ambassadors for Anglicare Southern Queensland.

“Be proud of your achievements and always remember, even in the tough times, that you are making a difference every day.”

The winners came from across the organisation’s service streams and included Child Safety Practitioners, Home Care Workers, Dementia Care Specialists, Cultural Support Workers and Client Liaisons.

St Martin’s Specialist Dementia Care Program Unit in Brisbane won the Team Achievement Award for its work in rolling out the ground-breaking program. One of only three specialist dementia units in Queensland, the team delivers best-practice care for people exhibiting very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms, helping them to transition successfully into a general aged care setting.

Stacey Gwillim, a leading Child Safety Practitioner in the Moreton Bay area for the past 14 years, won the Excellence in Leadership Award. Ms Gwillim has been instrumental in building Anglicare’s capabilities, profile and stakeholder relationships, helping to deliver best-practice services for children in foster or kinship care.

Gold Coast-based Cultural Support Worker Lalania Tusa won the innovation and creativity award for her work in supporting foster carers and children in care to understand and connect to their First Nations culture.

Multicultural Program Coordinator Claire Uwimana won the Inclusion award for her work in supporting people to understand the true meaning of harmony. Ms Uwimana developed resources, and information for individuals and carers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds to improve their knowledge and access to services.

Nineteen staff were also recognised for their more than 20 years of service with Anglicare, including Kerri Godden, Office Coordinator at St Martin’s Residential Aged Care in Brisbane, who was honoured for her 35 years of service.

2021 Excellence Awards Winners

Team Achievement

Specialist Dementia Care Program Unit team, St Martin’s Residential Aged Care Brisbane

The Specialist Dementia Care Program unit is only one of 10 in Australia. The team has worked hard to introduce a new model of care to the organisation, providing best-practice care for people exhibiting Page 33 of 47 very severe behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. The team is achieving very positive outcomes for residents.

Excellence in Leadership

Stacey Gwillim, Service Manager, Children and Families Caboolture

Stacey has worked for Anglicare for 14 years. In that time, she has been instrumental in increasing Anglicare’s profile in the Moreton Bay Community, ensuring Anglicare is represented on committees and networks which support service users. Stacey’s work with the whole sector has promoted Anglicare as a trustworthy service. In addition, her leadership style breaks down perceptions of hierarchy and empowers her team.

Individual Achievement

Cameron Webster, Home Care Worker, Community Aged and Disability Sunshine Coast

Cameron has worked with Anglicare for over nine years. Cameron’s passion for the work he does and the positive contributions he makes to client lives are evident in every interaction. Cameron has also made significant contributions to the Community Aged Care Client Outcomes Framework.

Reconciliation

Children and Families – Gold Coast

The Gold Coast Children and Families team has demonstrated a significant commitment to their understanding and appreciation of First Nations people, culture, and communities. The team has meaningful relationships with local First Nations community, engage enthusiastically in a range of development activities, and as a result have enhanced their practice. The team is now better able to support First Nations children to connect with their culture.

Innovation and Creativity – Individual

Lalania Tusa, Cultural Support Worker, Children and Families Nerang

Lalania consistently goes above and beyond to create a safe place to educate and inform foster families who are caring for First Nations children about culture. Most notably, Lalania created the Jarjum Connect Program – engaging with First Nations groups to provide information and conduct activities with children and families. Lalania suggested the organisation create an Acknowledgement of Country spoken by children, which has been a fantastic resource used across the organisation.

Inclusion

Claire Uwimana, Multicultural Program Coordinator, Governance, Risk and Assurance

Claire has actively sought ways to support people to understand the true meaning of harmony. Claire developed resources, and information for individuals and carers from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds, to improve their knowledge and access to services. Claire has sought government grants, planned, and hosted three annual public Harmony Day events that engage Anglicare staff, clients, the local community, and media. Page 34 of 47

Client Services – Individual

Perry Cooper, Maintenance, Symes Thorpe Residential Aged Care Toowoomba

Perry has worked with Anglicare for five years and 11 months. Perry has been described as willing to help with anything. All residents at Symes Thorpe know Perry and ask for him when they need something. The Selection Panel thought Perry demonstrated pride, commitment, and dedication in his service to the community through his work as a Maintenance Officer.

Client Services – Team

Sunshine Coast/Gympie Intensive Foster Care Service

The Sunshine Coast/Gympie Intensive Foster Care Service work collaboratively to provide individualised support to children and carers to maintain safe and stable foster placements with good quality outcomes for children. The Selection Panel thought the team has worked hard to build a strong service reputation, where the community know and trust the team will support them. This is evidenced by the increase in foster carers attracted to the service.

Volunteer of the Year – joint winners

Elizabeth Nolan, Volunteer Children and Families Roma

Elizabeth is described as ‘one in a million’ and a fantastic volunteer, who is willing to support the team with any job required, including administrative tasks, washing and vacuuming cars, painting offices, and helping with children’s activities. The team says that nothing is too much for Elizabeth and that they are very lucky to have her

Paul Garside, Volunteer, EM Tooth Residential Aged Care Brisbane

Paul is described as a dedicated and committed volunteer. He visits the home at least twice a week to support male residents. Paul facilitates a Men’s Group and Music Appreciation Group and his professionalism and respect clearly demonstrate the values of Anglicare Southern Queensland.

Rachel Thurbon, Volunteer, Symes Thorpe Residential Aged Care Toowoomba

Rachel and her dog Charlie visit the home every Friday – rain, hail or shine. Rachel’s visits make a huge difference to residents and everyone looks forward to them coming. She has lent almost 10,000 books to residents and brings in flowers from her garden.

Innovation and Creativity – Team

Marketing and Communications team

The team understood that COVID-19 was having devastating impacts on residents, with many not being able to see their family and loved ones. The team devised the ‘By Request’ campaign, filming the story of eight residents, and organising Australian singers to perform a special song for them. The campaign was showcased on radio, Spotify, TV, YouTube and Facebook

Rel8 (Demonstrating Organisational Values) Page 35 of 47

Individual

Katie Hall, Client Liaison/Team Leader, Community Aged and Disability Roma

Katie has worked with Anglicare for seven years. Through persistence and hard work, Katie has demonstrated the Rel8 principles while effectively developed her team’s culture. Katie encourages her staff to contribute their own views to team culture and incorporates these views in the actions she takes. Katie shares her learning other team leaders across her service area.

Team

Organisational Development team

In 2020, the Organisational Development team designed and implemented the Leadership Excellence Program. The program followed the Rel8 principles and has involved many employees from across the organisation coming together and committing to the development of emerging leaders. The program has made a positive difference to 60 leaders, and their teams, across the organisation.

News • Monday 17 May 2021

St Margaret’s boarders broaden horizons

"Year 8 day student Millicent Watson visited her friend Georgia’s acreage in Orange Hill in the Maranoa Region, where she rode horses, motorbikes and a buggy, fed pigs, enjoyed fire-toasted marshmallows and went on a milk run" (L-R: Georgia Webb and Millicent Watson, Labour Day long weekend in May 2021)

Each year, coinciding with the Labour Day long weekend, St Margaret’s boarding students revel in the opportunity to host day students at their homes, sharing insights into their home and family lives.

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This annual four-day long weekend, now in its sixth year, is an important part of the St Margaret’s experience, embracing the city-country blend of the school community and broadening the horizons of students.

The school’s 185 boarders come from many geographical locations, both within Australia and overseas. With this diversity comes an enriching experience for both boarders and day students as they gain a greater understanding of different cultures and backgrounds. The Day Boarder long weekend helps to further expand students’ horizons, giving those who participate first-hand experience and a wider understanding about others and the world in which we live.

For some of the city-oriented day students, a visit to the bush presents many opportunities to witness and experience life on a property and the chance to make lifelong memories.

Year 11 students Grace and Alby could not come from more different backgrounds. Grace hails from a crop property in Texas, located on the Queensland and New South Wales border, where her family harvests sorghum, cotton and corn. Alby, on the other hand, lives in the very urban inner-city suburb of Bardon and says the very different and new experiences she’s had at Grace’s home have helped broaden her horizons.

The friends have embraced the Day Boarder Weekend tradition since Year 8.

“I love going out there every year. It is always so fun and we always do something new like riding motorbikes or camping. The first time I visited, they had just harvested cotton and Grace and I ran across the cotton bales,” Alby said.

Grace said she enjoyed sharing these experiences with Alby: “It is great to be able to share my life with those who have a completely different one and giving them an insight into what life is like in the country.”

Year 8 day student Millicent Watson visited her friend Georgia’s acreage in Orange Hill in the Maranoa Region, where she rode horses, motorbikes and a buggy, fed pigs, enjoyed fire-toasted marshmallows and went on a milk run.

“It was an eye-opening experience because it was so different to my house. There was so much more land and so many animals, and the dams and sunsets on their property were beautiful,” Millicent said.

Year 11 day students Grace Reilly, Emma Pickering and Claire Crossley and boarder Annabel Danvers journeyed five hours by bus to Lauren Brennan’s family cattle property in Chinchilla for the weekend where they shared in many new experiences, including mustering cattle and weaning a mob of cows from their calves.

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St Margaret’s students Annabel Danvers, Lauren Brennan, Grace Reilly, Emma Pickering and Claire Crossley in front of the ‘Big Melon’ in Chinchilla on the Labour Day long weekend in May 2021

Grace, who lives in inner-city Brisbane, said the experience gave her great insight into farm life.

“I loved going to Lauren’s cattle farm near Chinchilla. It was an eye-opening experience as I have never been to a cattle farm before. I was so surprised how big the property was and the vast open space. The driveway from the road to Lauren’s house on her property is 2km (we can see our front door from the street!). I found it so different that Lauren’s mother drives Lauren’s brother and sister to the bus that they take to go to school and she doesn’t even leave the property. She drives them down the 2km driveway!

“We spent a day working on the farm, mustering cattle, and separating the calves from the other cattle so that they could be sent to another property. I loved seeing the animals, including the four week old kittens!” Grace said.

Emma, another urban dweller, also loved the experience of farm life.

“It was very different to living in Brisbane and my everyday home life. At night you could see all the stars and constellations which was really awesome because where I live you only really can see a few stars at night and only on a really clear night.

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“I enjoyed mustering the cattle and weening them which, if I do say so myself, I think I got pretty good at by the end. While we were there we also did a lot of driving around and singing music at the top of our lungs, which was definitely my favourite part of the whole trip,” she said.

News • Monday 17 May 2021 • By Philippe Coquerand

Anglicare SQ named Most Trusted Brand in Aged Care for third year running

Anglicare Southern Queensland’s Group Manager for Residential Aged Care Nick Hansen at the 2021 Reader's Digest Trusted Brands Awards

For the third year running, Anglicare Southern Queensland has been named as Australia’s Most Trusted Brand in Aged Care and Retirement Villages in the annual Reader’s Digest survey.

With over 150 years’ experience, Anglicare Southern Queensland is one of the state’s most experienced and trusted in-home, retirement and aged care providers and has over 3000 dedicated and experienced staff, supported by more than 600 generous volunteers.

Anglicare Southern Queensland Executive Director Karen Crouch said the recognition was well- deserved and thanked everyone who has played a part in supporting our residents and clients over the past 12 months.

“For a provider of essential health care services to older Queenslanders, the power of trust cannot be understated,” Ms Crouch said.

“We are with people in some of their most difficult and vulnerable moments. Our residents, clients and their families rely on us every day to provide them with the best possible care and support.

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“I am really proud that we have again received this recognition from Australian consumers.

“Our residential and community aged care staff do an amazing job, and they are backed up by a dedicated team of support services from across the organisation.

“Thank you for your commitment and dedication to your work and congratulations to everyone on this significant achievement.”

UnitingCare and Australian Unity received highly commended in the Aged Care and Retirement Villages category.

You can see the full list of results on the Trusted Brands website.

News • Monday 17 May 2021 • By World Council of Churches

Pentecost Message from the WCC Presidents, 2021

“When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2.1-4)

The biblical account in Acts describes Jesus’ disciples as the rush of a mighty wind and tongues of fire excited every fiber of their being. They were emboldened to step forth and proclaim a vision of salvation. It was a vision undimmed by hesitation, fear or apathy. It augured a new heaven and a new earth.

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In the intervening centuries, has that Pentecostal vision narrowed? Has it become just an individual spiritual experience? Does the vision seem to occupy a smaller and smaller piece of our mind’s geography and our theological landscape? Has it become the possession only of those privileged by knowledge, place, time?

“Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth” (Ps 104.1).

This Pentecost, let us look again. In this age of colliding catastrophes, the urgency of the moral and spiritual connection of humanity, creation, and Creator has been starkly unveiled. Yet the vision of Pentecost still shines. It is energizing the Gospel for all creation: We witness it in the healing hands of those who care for all those afflicted and affected by the pandemic. We see it in the fire for social, economic, and climate justice in church communities around the world. We feel it in the urgency of women, young people, and elders for a new earth, as foretold by Joel the prophet.

Indeed, if need is the criterion, now is the best of times for the rush of a mighty wind of renewal. The pain of a fearful future threatens every particle of creation. We need the hope of the Pentecost vision of life and love. Yet how are we to become ecclesial communities fired by love of the Lord and united by passion for his people and his creation? Where shall we look for the Pentecostal hope that gives birth to a new heaven and a new earth?

In our time, as in all times, Jesus invites us to follow him to the quivering heart of Pentecost among the poor, the prisoners, the sick, the hungry, and the ill-clothed. We will find there, in our love for each, that “God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5), fulfilling the promise of Pentecost. So, closely following our Saviour, let us receive, afresh, the promise of the Holy Spirit, renewing us, our times, and the face of the earth. We pray:

Spirit of Light, illumine our minds, Spirit of Love, inflame our hearts Spirit of Life, empower our limbs. Divine Spirit, now and ever, heal and free us to live with passion and purpose the promise of Pentecost.

Let the churches say, “Amen”!

The presidents of the World Council of Churches:

The Rev’d Prof. Dr Sang Chang, Presbyterian Church in the Republic of Korea

Archbishop Dr Anders Wejryd, Church of Sweden

The Rev’d Gloria Nohemy Ulloa Alvarado, Presbyterian Church in Colombia

Archbishop Mark MacDonald, Anglican Church of Canada

The Rev’d Dr Mele’ana Puloka, Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga

H.B. John X, Patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church of Antioch and All the East

H.H. Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians

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First published on the World Council of Churches website on 5 May 2021.

News • Friday 14 May 2021

Anglicare Australia welcomes national leadership on housing

Anglicare Australia has welcomed social housing commitments made in last night’s Budget reply, saying they show national leadership to tackle the housing crisis.

”For years we have been saying that the Federal Government should be leading efforts to build social housing. Housing is a national problem and it needs national leadership,” Anglicare Australia Executive Director Kasy Chambers said.

“Years of neglect have led to a huge shortfall in social housing across the country. We need more than 430,000 homes across the country. That number is only going to grow.

“Last night’s speech recognised that the Australian Government should be a leader instead of a spectator. The pledge to build 20,000 new homes, and to keep building, is a solid start.

“This commitment would make a real difference for people across the country who have been waiting for years for a home – especially women, children and older people.

“Anglicare Australia’s Rental Affordability Snapshot, released before the Budget, showed that single parents on JobSeeker or the Parenting Payment can afford less than 0.3% of private rentals.

“Most of these parents are women. 40 per cent of them rely on these payments as their main source of income. Social housing is the best way to keep them out of housing stress and make sure they have a secure home.”

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Ms Chambers said social housing was a win-win for homes, jobs and communities.

“Social housing is the best way to tackle the housing crisis, and building these homes will help revitalise communities across the country.

“We hope to work with the Government and Opposition to roll out more social housing for people who need it – and to make sure everyone has a place to call home,” Ms Chambers said.

News • Monday 17 May 2021 • By Anglican Communion News Service

Anglicans in Aotearoa New Zealand urged to host Iftar meals for Muslim neighbours during Ramadan

Members of the al-Huda Mosque join with Dunedin North Anglican Parish members for an Iftar meal in 2018

The Tikanga Pākeha Ecumenical Group is inviting Anglican churches in Aotearoa New Zealand to host Iftar meals for their Muslim neighbours during Ramadan. They say that doing so will promote friendship between Anglicans and Muslims.

The chair of the ecumenical group, Canon Michael Wallace, wrote to New Zealand dioceses to promote Ramadan hospitality in their church facilities.

He said: “the simple gesture of sharing a meal together builds solidarity and understanding between people of different faiths.”

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Ramadan runs from 13 April to 12 May this year, and observers will be fasting during daylight hours for the whole month. During Ramadan, Muslims break their daily fast at sunset each night with a large meal called an Iftar. Tradition encourages them to share Iftar meals with their faith community and with others.

Canon Wallace said: “for a local parish or church group, stepping out of our comfort zone to invite our Muslim neighbours to an Iftar meal is a good first step in building the kind of natural links between Christian and Muslim faith communities that we need for peace.”

Following the deadly mosque attacks in Christchurch in 2019, government officials called meetings of different faith community leaders around the country in an attempt to build interfaith peace. However, they found that many local religious leaders already knew one another. They had already been collaborating, often on issues of peace and justice, as well as serving the wider community.

Canon Wallace said that “those kinds of connections did not happen by accident, but are the result of many bridge-building efforts over many years by the leaders of faith communities around Aotearoa New Zealand.

“Eating together gives us the chance to build understanding and friendships across the whole church and mosque families, not just between the Imams and priests.”

Published on the Anglican Communion News Service website on 10 May 2021 (based on an article by Anglican Taonga).

International • Tuesday 18 May 2021 • By Archbishop Phillip Aspinall

Archbishop Phillip Aspinall calls us to pray for peace in Palestine and Israel

(Photo by Albin Hillert, WCC)

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Last week I received communications from the National Council of Churches in Australia circulating several statements from the World Council of Churches and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The statements call for prayers for peace in Palestine, Israel and the Holy City of Jerusalem, and I thus encourage our Diocesan community to join in these prayers. And so, together, we:

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity. (Psalm 122.6-9)

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has been updating member churches on the unfolding crises in Palestine and Israel via media releases and statements on their news page.

The statements indicate that the World Council of Churches is following developments in Israel and Palestine with increasing distress and sorrow at the rising death toll and the significant number of people injured in the escalating violence.

The WCC acting general secretary The Rev’d Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca “called on Israel to respect the status quo of holy sites in Jerusalem’s Old City in the interest of peace and stability” and “for all to refrain from further violence, and from provocative and destabilizing actions.”

Concerned about the safety of Muslim worshippers and Palestinians community members, The Patriarchs and Heads of Jerusalem Churches also released a statement, saying:

“These concerning developments, whether at the Al Aqsa Mosque or in Sheikh Jarrah, violate the sanctity of the people of Jerusalem and of Jerusalem as the City of Peace.

“The actions undermining the safety of worshipers and the dignity of the Palestinians who are subject to eviction are unacceptable.”

“We call upon the International Community and all people of good will to intervene in order to put an end to these provocative actions, as well as to continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”

The Latin Patriarchate (the Roman Catholic episcopal see of Jerusalem) has also responded to recent violence in the region stating, in part, that:

“The historic position of the Churches in Jerusalem is clear with regards to our denouncement of any attempt which makes Jerusalem an exclusive city for anyone. This is a city sacred to the three monotheistic religions and, based on international law and relevant UN resolutions, also a city where the Palestinian people, Christians and Muslims, have the same right to build a future based on freedom, equality and peace.

“The authority that controls the city should protect the special character of Jerusalem, called to be the heart of the Abrahamic faiths, a place of prayer and meeting, open to all and where all believers and citizens, of every faith and belonging, can feel at home, protected and guaranteed.

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Please join with me in praying for peace in the Holy City of Jerusalem and for an end to the violent clashes currently taking place in Israel and Palestine.

Yours in Christ,

The Most Reverend Dr Phillip Aspinall

Sunday Devotions • Monday 17 May 2021 • By Erica Skerman

Sunday Devotion: Sunday 23 May 2021, Day of Pentecost

Holy Spirit and Creation

Main Readings: Acts 2.1-21 or Ezekiel 37.1-14; Psalm 104.26-36; Romans 8.2-27 or Acts 2.1-21; John 15.26-27; 16.4b-15

Supplementary Readings: ‘Song of God’s Children’ (APBA p.394); John 14.15-26; Ezekiel 36.22-28; Psalm 103.13-22; 1 Corinthians 12.1-13

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.” (Romans 8.22-23)

Childbirth. I have never experience this, but I have heard stories. Some wonderful, some horrific, although all of them carrying an essence of the pain it takes to bring new life into this world.

As I celebrate Pentecost, I am so deeply aware of the pain and suffering that our world is experiencing. Just as Paul wrote in his time, the truth remains – the whole of Creation groans in labour pains until now. Yet I will rejoice also, because it is on this day that I am reminded that I am not alone and that there is great reason to hope. Page 46 of 47

Just as Christ died for our sins, to bring hope of new life; the Holy Spirit dwells within us, to bear fruit of this new life. The Holy Spirit could be much like a midwife for us, I imagine. She coaches us, encourages us, and even advocates for us when we lose all words. How wonderful to think that we are not alone in the midst of this difficult time of birth, and that the Holy Spirit is our constant companion – both for us individually and as a Church.

May you go out today with hope and Holy Spirit fire into this groaning Creation – gifting our world with the fruits of new life.

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