Colin Oakley Creative Spirit Not perfect Faith at work: From the Bishop inducted Festival but dearly loved Terry Stroud page 2 page 3 page 5 page 9 page 12 The Gippsland Volume 113, NumberAnglican 5, June 2016 Published in Gippsland Diocese since 1904 123 – launch! Jan Down During the evening Mick’s young daughter Aimee proudly presented Rich was the place to be in with the electrical safety certificate for 123 Sale on Thursday 5 May. the building and also spoke briefly A colourful three dimensional 123 about how volunteering at 123 became sign lit up the window of the converted something she wanted to do herself. electrical repair shop in Cunninghame Two talented young musicians, Street as guests approached the building guitarist Eric Campbell and singer for the launch of 123, the new youth space Lateesha Matthews, entertained and café – what the Rev’d Rich Lanham is guests, contributing high quality calling a “fresh expression” of church and music to the evening. a “missional social enterprise”. Rich then gave a speech of welcome Young people in bright avocado and thanks to the many people who have Photo: Christine Morris green aprons orbited the room offering supported and worked on the project. refreshments, while two young baristas, He spoke about his hopes for 123, that Before blessing the new venture, Bp of Rich and what he does with young Kyle Nauta and Jack Lanham, were it might become a “third space” for Kay described a “fresh expression of people... He has amazing credibility in kept busy at the coffee machine in the young people – a place which is not church” as something “with long roots what he does, and it’s a blessing to have front entrance. school/work or home, but “the place and deep meaning for a new generation”, him here”. Rich and Julie Lanham work as a you go to chill, to relax”. He envisions adding her understanding that Cr Emilie Davine remembered ministry team on the project, so it was a space where young people can feel “churches that work for me might be Rich’s original presentation to Council very disappointing for both of them that welcome and be part of something places of alienation for others”. She of his proposal for 123. She said it Julie was unable to be at the launch due meaningful. “We live in a post-Christian said “Life for many young people isn’t was “a total breath of fresh air”. Jan to illness. She was to have managed the culture, but people are looking for as simple as 123... so this offers a place Cropley, from the Anglican church at catering for the evening, but the gap was something”, Rich said, adding that he for people to connect, explore tough Stratford expressed what many others filled by Duart Catering from Maffra. wants 123 to be “a place for people to questions and find out who they’ve been might equally have said: “Where Rich The long hard work of a team of find peace. I want everyone to know created to be”. is, there’s laughter, joy, teenagers, and volunteers, including Lauchy Marshall God already loves you as much as he The model for 123 is to work above all else, Jesus. He never speaks the builder, was in evidence inside the possibly can”. in partnership with schools, social without acknowledging Jesus”. building, with new timber lining around Some of the plans Rich mentioned clubs, sporting clubs, churches, health Rich has recently taken up an the lower section of the walls, plaster for 123 are a breakfast program, a professionals, businesses and other appointment as Chaplain at Gippsland boards above, and a fresh coat of paint. pop up café and a weekly church community groups and many of these Grammar School, and although this But other work is less obvious – such as service. The facility will offer young were represented on the evening. means he will be very busy, Rich says the electrical wiring completed at no cost people experience and training in Wellington Shire mayor, Cr Darren that the 123 project will be integrated by electrician Mick Mara. hospitality skills. McCubbin said he was there “because into his work at the school. First session 38th Synod 13 – 15 May Synod’s handling of a of marriage as uniting a 2004 defines marriage as controversial motion on the man and woman to the the union of a man and a definition of marriage will allow exclusion of all others, woman to the exclusion of all Synod side-steps time for further debate. The voluntarily entered into for life, others, voluntarily entered into decision shows the Gippsland as described in the Marriage for life. Anglican diocese as one earnestly Amendment Act, 2004. The motion requires no action on marriage wrestling with the question of The Rev’d Greg Magee (Bass/ by Bishop in Council. There same-sex marriage, in light of Phillip Island) proposed were strongly held views on both the proposed plebiscite on the an amendment, significantly sides of the respectfully conducted issue next year. replacing the word “affirms” debate, reflecting the theological The original motion on with “acknowledges”. The new division on same-sex marriage marriage, brought to Synod by wording, as follows, was passed across the world-wide Anglican the Rev’d Graham Toohill of after vigorous debate: Communion, but without the Leongatha, was worded: That this Synodvitriol that has sometimes been That this Synod affirms acknowledges that the seen in other places. the current legal definition Marriage Amendment Act (continued on page 7) Synod 2016: The President’s Address pages 10 - 11 TGA From the Bishop Index uesli or porridge with The congregations I was with From the Bishop 2 yoghurt or milk, tea last weekend included men or coffee with milk, a and women whose hands were M baby’s bottle or child’s glass of weathered by years of farming, Colin Oakley inducted 3 fresh milk - breakfast staples in stretched out to receive the many Gippsland homes. Since bread of life. When I asked Marsh Expo 3 moving here 16 months ago the how long they had been dairy simple weekly act of buying farmers some said 50 years, Around the Parishes 4-5 butter or yoghurt or milk brings others just 20 or so. When I to mind not just those who will asked how the recent drop in Anzac Day poem 4 eat at our table, but the dairy milk prices would affect their farmers whose work ensures communities some said there Creative Spirit Festival 5 these necessities are on the would people who would go supermarket shelf every week. under, others that neighbours GFS Kidsplus+ 5 But it’s not just about food would rally around each other 130th Celebration in shops. There are also those as they could. It was another who sell produce at their farm pastoral cameo, but this time Synod report 2016 6 gates, where conversations including human pain. about farming and family and Almost every parish and Open retirement age 7 life, about hopes and dreams school community in this part proposed for clergy both small and big, can take of Victoria is impacted by place. There is the family who what happens to farmers here, Synod side-steps 7 moved from the city, and now but the truth is that we are have a thriving free-range egg impacted as a nation as well. on marriage Bishop Kay Goldsworthy business, the young woman After all, it is not beyond our From the schools 8 with whom I chat about her ingenuity to embrace a vision dreams as I choose between of the common good where some no longer grow fat while Rich Lanham: Not perfect 9 parsnips and eggplant, the but dearly loved parishioner whose marmalade The true price others shrivel and starve; to comes from fruit grown in embrace ways of living well their kitchen garden, and who together where there is enough Synod 2016: 10 for everyone, farmers and The President’s Address has been sharing preserves for many years. of milk supermarkets alike. Farming life often seems drops all contribute to a complex the signs for a good vegetable Practical help, contributing Faith and Work: 12 in our local community, getting Terry Stroud to be on a fairly precarious industry and the people who season were present. The edge. Issues affecting primary bear the tensions and strains that next report included funding alongside neighbours, listening producers all around the country go with it. to their stories, reading the Diocesan Calendar 12 packages for counselling and are regularly in the news, As I drove across the other support measures for dairy brand information before we whether it is cattle farming in Strezlecki Ranges last week farmers. choose which milk to buy, Queensland, wheat farming listening to local radio, the The scene before me was a and keeping farmers in our The Gippsland in Western Australia, or dairy impact on people we know and beautiful pastoral cameo – rolling prayers may seem like small Anglican farming here. Climate change, love was right before me. The green hills, dew glistening on things. Do them anyway. It threatened CSG exploration, ABC interviewer was speaking trees and grass in the morning is never beyond the power of Member of Australasian Religious sourcing cheap food from with a farmer whose crop was sunlight, cows walking the fence God’s love to replace our Press Association hearts of stone with Member of Community Newspapers overseas markets, changed almost in, for whom recent rains line in an orderly single file on Association of Victoria regulations, disease, sudden had come at just the right time.