I haven't read Bandy. I am only responding to one of Rob's responses. One of the positive ones!
One of (NSW) Synod's goals have always seemed to me to be short of purpose - the one affirming the establishment of "new and emerging forms of church". Actually, I'm quite positive about this - the church must always recognise its milieu. But at Synod it's never been couched in language that gives any hint of why we might encourage it, and especially on guidelines for resourcing it responsibly. There's fright, I think, that anything "new" or "emerging" will be lost in restrictive over-monitoring on invalid criteria, like the "journey" of that creative idea in a declining church that Rob relates from Bandy's book. But without *some* rationale, there appears to be a social Darwinist principle operating: toss all comers into the marketplace and let the fittest survive! The following seems to address this, although it may have practical problems (assessing the spiritual maturity of the proposer ): "[*] His three criteria for supporting a ministry proposal are useful (i.e. try it as long as it [a.] does not contradict the basic vision, values and beliefs of the congregation; [b] it addresses real needs and spiritual yearnings; and [c] it emerges from the spiritual maturity of the individual making the proposal) p. 88)." The general idea seems to be that only 'first principles' apply - not the entire regulatory rulebook. Hopefully those principles are invariant, even though their expressed forms can be "new and emerging". We do need though not to lose sight of those principles - or our mission/vision, if you will. You could put the goal about endorsement of new technology under the same feasibility test. Don't try it because it's there, but because potential is seen for better engagement in mission. Cheers David -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Stephen Webb Sent: Friday, 16 April 2004 10:36 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: thoughts about bandy With Thomas Bandy's forthcoming visit to Oz, Rob Bos thought it would be good to get some discussion going on his contribution. Bandy is going to Qld, SA and Vic in June - July. He is sponsored by UCIS Qld, Uniting Church Investment Fund (SA) and UCA Funds Management, Vic, as well as MediaCom. Some reactions to Thomas Bandys Kicking Habits: Welcome Relief for Addicted Churches (Abingdon, 2001). [...] Rob Bos National Consultant, Theology & Discipleship National Assembly, Uniting Church in Australia Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] PO Box 483, Redbank, Qld 4301, Australia http://assembly.uca.org.au/TD Easter 2004. -- Stephen Webb Media Officer Communications Unit NSW Synod, Uniting Church in Australia Box A2178, Sydney South, NSW 1235, Australia email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Phone: +61 2 8267 4308; Mobile: 0423 259 945; Fax: 9267 4716; Web: nsw.uca.org.au/cu/ & insights.uca.org.au/ ------------------ The Communications Unit publishes the monthly magazine Insights, conducts public relations for the NSW Synod of the Uniting Church, and provides a variety of communications services. These include writing, editing, web consultation and development, desktop publishing and graphic design, public relations and advertising. For a consultation or free estimate on your project call the Communications Unit at (02) 8267 4307. ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------ - You are subscribed to the mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe, email [EMAIL PROTECTED] and put in the message body 'unsubscribe insights-l' (ell, not one (1)) See: http://nsw.uca.org.au/insights-l-information.htm ------------------------------------------------------
