
Last week I started a series of trips to consult with each Synod in the Uniting Church about the future of Christian Education. It's the part of my project that involves talking to stakeholders. I've devised a group process that involves a 'snapshot' of where we are, identifying strengths, identifying critical needs, mapping the role of each sector of the church, and looking at what needs to change and what needs to stay the same. Of course the process needs to vary for a bunch of reasons.
In Perth (see above - a 'stitched' panorama from 4 pics on my iPhone), we had a group including synod staff, college faculty, rural workers, congregational ministers, congregational and school childrens and youth workers, and lay leaders. In Brisbane I had a morning group of presbytery ministers and an afternoon group that included the synod secretary, college faculty, synod lay education director, several folk involved in presbytery and congregational children, youth & family ministry...
Wonderul, rich and challenging conversations. Great stories of things that are working well. Some common needs being named, particularly across the two biggest states in Australia.
I'm trying to envisage an approach where the Assembly isn't so much a disseminator of materials but rather, listens, learns, researches, and seeks to create synergies across sectors of the church. Could that happen?
More of these to come. A part of me is 'on hold', not having enough space for grief about my brother's death, hence I'm feeling all over the place. But I love this kind of consulting. Shaping a new future for Christian education, hopefully.
And the wisdom, faith, generosity, humour and irreverence of these leaders has been a much-needed tonic for me.
I'm about to start the write-up of the final report which needs to be completed by early Feb 2013 for a March presentation to the Uniting Church's national Standing Committee, who commissioned the research two years ago.
Watch this space....