Showing posts with label engagement. Show all posts
Showing posts with label engagement. Show all posts

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Wake-up call in mission

Engagement 21 - A Wake-up Call to the 21st Century Church in Mission, by Bishop Richard Randerson

Engagement 21 challenges the Church to radically review its mission strategy if it seeks to gain traction in today’s world. A mission-focused theology, a deeper understanding of modern society and more effective skills in ministry are central to the task. Based on a survey of 96 clergy and laity in New Zealand and Australia, Engagement 21 reports a widespread grass-roots desire for change. But it also documents 126 creative ministry projects that are signs of a new mission paradigm. Designed for individual or group reading, the book is priced to facilitate local study and mission planning.

Topics include:
• Statistics of church participation rates 1945-2006
• Results of the mission survey with 16 graphs documenting the extent of theological and ministry training, perceptions of parish ministries, chaplaincies and lay vocation, and attitudes re the need for new models of ministry and less institutional focus
• A three-part Biblical study on mission based on the redemption of all Creation
• 126 innovative ministry projects that span the range from spirituality, worship and theological education to community outreach, social justice and environmental stewardship
• Foreword by Bishop Philip Richardson.
Bishop Tom writes:
I warmly commend Bishop Richard Randerson’s book - “Engagement 21”, which is a newly published research work looking at our mission in the community across the country. A number of projects from this diocese feature but taken as a whole it is a comprehensive review of where we are at and is a resource we will all benefit from.

Available either: resource@wn.ang.org.nz or telephone 0800 833 477, or direct from the author: randersonjr@paradise.net.nz – 064 4 976 6050, or from Epworth Books. [These are all New Zealand telephone numbers.]
Prices vary slightly depending on where you order it from.

Monday, July 27, 2009

By way of advance notice...


I've just become aware of the following conference:
World Wide Scripture Engagement Consultation
Hearts Burning: Exploring Scripture Engagement for the 21st Century
Sunday 4 - Friday 9 October, 2009
Melaka, Malaysia
Sponsor: Forum of Bible Agencies International

Just some of the topics being looked at are:
  • Unlocking the Bible in a non-book culture
  • Contextualising Scripture in cultures condemned as irredeemable
  • Building bridges between HIV and AIDS and the Bible
  • Using poetic storytelling and music in helping people encounter Scripture
  • Engaging visually with Scripture
  • Creating safe and sacred spaces for young people
  • Building interpersonal biblical conversations among lay people
  • Helping pastors overcome the “Big Man” syndrome through participatory learning
  • How NOT to impose prejudice and cultural assumptions on engagement
  • “Open source” on-line engagement resources
  • The challenge of Scripture Engagement among believers in secret
A good number of workshops are already in place, under the following four headings (click on any one of them for further information): In the last of those four, Mark Brown and Stephen Opie, from the NZ Bible Society, will both be involved.

For details about all other aspects of the conference, click here.