mountain masala

a new day

Today I started my new short-term job as Research Fellow in Christian Education for our national UCA Assembly. I have been seconded to undertake a national research project, and will return to the College at the start of 2013. It sounds like a long way off, but its only 22 months. I've cleaned out my office, lost my mailbox, hidden the name slider thingy from my door, and have dozens of boxes from said office all over our house.

The history is that we (former denominations) had a national CE agency, The Joint Board of Christian Education, since early last century. It became a partnership among 7 denominations in Aus and NZ, and was extremely significant in many ways, which I'd love to outline in detail (and possibly will).

I worked  there 1991-1998 as an Associate Director and also National Director for Ministry with Young People. David Merritt was then Director and remains one of the remarkable, influential people in my life. For a number of reasons, JBCE became Uniting Education (blame the name on me...), my friend and colleague John Emmett became Director. This was another significant, world-leading agency in many ways (but not really recognised locally). And I had the chance to work with many amazing people - you know who you are...

Then the Assembly folded the agency (finance, priorities...) and replaced it with a National Director role, undertaken with great imagination and integrity by Mark Hills. Yet after 5 years, the Assembly is not sure what to do next. Hence a national research project about the future of Christian Education, to be undertaken by me.

episode 2 tomorrow...

 

conspire

conspire is a quarterly magazine from the simple way, the initiative of shane claibourne and co. we've given it to the twins as a Christmas gift, and the first copy arrived today. they were inspired and challenged by shane at NCYC 2009, and we've regularly invested in their Christian education in appropriate ways like this.

this issue's theme is "walls and borders: setting the captives free". it has articloes about Palestine today, US-Mexican 'border' challenges, immigration, Matthew 25, Iraq, Matthew 18, several articles about the prison system, book reviews (including a book co-authored by Ched Myers on restorative justice, news from 'conspiring communities' across the US, art and some poetry. US$50 for two subscriptions (ie. keep one, give one, or give two!)

wonderful stuff.

next generations

"Next Generations" is a national project of the Uniting Church to foster faith development for those under 30, but also encouraging intergenerational faith-sharing. The website is at http://nextgenerations.org.au/  A range of projects are underway and this website will be a portal and resource for leaders, ministers, young people, parents and teachers. "NextGens" is an actvity of the Assembly Christian Education Reference Committee.

Since the website is now becoming more active I thought I'd give it another plug! And since I'm about to be doing more for the Assembly in Christian Education.

videos for worship

for those who don't know, Vimeo is sort of like Youtube, but for people who create their own videos and want people to see them or share them. there's a video channel called "videos for worship" started by mark waddington in the UK. thanks to jonny for this.

http://vimeo.com/groups/vfw

the group currently has 123 members and 158 videos

joining Vimeo is free, and if you're a member, then you can download videos if the author allows you to. people use it to publicise their commercial work too, so its not all free stuff.

you can also become a Pro member for $ if you want to upload lots of stuff and set up your own channels, etc.

I've been using it a little and setting up some of our College videos there at the moment.

clay fire

mark pierson might actually be blogging at last...

http://www.clayfirecurator.org/

thanks rob

mark's new book, 'the art of curating worship' just arrived. havent read it yet but I'm sure it will be great.

 

writing, writing, writing

up to my eyeballs writing new Certificate Units that have to be delivered soon... i told my colleagues it wouldn't take us long. i lied. i'm also filming, recording and editing for it. 

also working on our new leadership & learning portal which i'll be very excited to announce shortly. one part will offer structure courses (accredited and non-accredited) and the other will host informal learning communities. its national in scope. very excited about it.

and i start my new role 3 weeks monday and have my messy office to vacate. and a week in Brisbane in the middle of it all.

and a tax return to finish. a garden to plant. a caravan to renovate.

madness.

normal transmission will resume on 28 Feb (aka daily blog...)