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The Church in the City – National Conference 2010
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We have had a very encouraging response to our earlier emails for a National Gathering for leaders of UCA city churches! Thank you to all those who have indicated their support. This is an invitation for you to register. There is also still time for you to make suggestions, offer to conduct a workshop or to lead opening and closing prayers. A registration form is attached.
The program begins on Tuesday 28th September at 10.00am and concludes on Thursday 30th at 5.00pm. The main venue for the conference will be Scots Church 237 North Tce Adelaide. The cost of the conference is $125 which includes three lunches and morning and afternoon teas. Accommodation is available in nearby city hotels some of which are currently advertising rooms for about $100 per night. A limited number of UC families are offering billet accommodation and if you wish to be listed for this please indicate on your registration. The two evening meals are not part of the program and we are planning to make up small groups of those who wish to dine out in nearby cafes or restaurants.
We have built the program around three modules: major presentations, interactive workshops and time for reflection and networking.
Each day will begin with a major presentation. On Tuesday our guest will be Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision Australia. When he was appointed to this position Tim was minister of Collins Street Baptist Church and Executive Director of Urban Seed, a Christian not-for-profit outreach service for the urban poor. His reputation as a leading urban minister was established during his ministry at St Kilda Baptist Church. During the Kennett years he was mayor of that city and became a public figure by his opposition to the expansion of the gaming industry and his advocacy of local democracy. His publications include Streets of Hope: Finding God in St Kilda (1998). Between 1999 and 2002 he was National President of the Baptist Union of Australia.
The Wednesday program will begin with a panel presentation on the theme, The City as Contested Space. This session will explore some of the political, commercial and cultural pressures that are present in many Australian cities. The topic will be led by a panel of three UCA lay leaders who have been actively involved in policies, protests, planning and decision making over many years. They will discuss the way the various powers and competing interests compete for space and influence in the city setting.
On Thursday our speaker will be Dr Steve Taylor, Director of Missiology and Postgraduate Coordinator, Uniting College for Leadership and Theology, and Senior Lecturer, Flinders University. Steve will reflect on new forms Christian groups are taking in city environments and their interactions with their urban communities. Check out his website for some stimulating discussion starters: http://www.emergentkiwi.org.nz.
We are working on a number of topics for the three workshop sessions. Workshops will be an opportunity for all to share their experience and insights about city ministry. The form of the workshop session will vary from formal or creative presentation or could be a brief introduction to an issue for conversation. Some workshops will address practical issues others may involve participants in wider theoretical issues or open up discussion about the different models and practices of ministry in the city. We will report on the topics and leaders of workshops in our next mailing. Perhaps you have a project or idea that would make a good topic for a workshop. Please let us know if you are willing to lead a workshop. This is the area where the gathering most needs participant input.
The program will also include a city walk and opportunities to consider issues that are generated out of our conversations.
The responses we have received confirm for us that this gathering is much needed. Please share this email with colleagues who may be interested in the gathering. We are looking forward to welcoming you to Adelaide in September.
Grace and Peace
Peter Trudinger
Dean Eland
On behalf of the Organising Committee
Further information from Rev Dr Peter Trudinger p.trudinger@scotschurch.org |
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