As a community, we have always sought to be inclusive in the way we conduct our affairs, encouraging all voices to be heard, and perspectives to be honoured, as we work together to build, sustain, adapt, and evolve our faith movement. This beautiful process can feel labourious and slow at times, and yet, as I reflect on the last two years, we have achieved a great deal as a community.
Two years ago we met for Conference at Collaroy, and were challenged to begin the process of Transformation here in Australia. With dramatic shifts in the Australian culture over the last 30 years, and increasing complexity at the governance level of the Mission Centre, we embarked on a two-stranded adventure to explore Ministry & Mission and Governance reform here in Australia.
Some highlights from the last two years include the 100 year Anniversary of Tiona Reunion Camp, Pilgrimmage '24, the continuing strength of Kids Camp in Victoria, the ongoing contribution of the Food Pantry in Perth, and Tuesday Connect in Brisbane, WoW retreats in Grafton and Drummoyne, the completion and dedication of the Tiona Chapel, new congregational partnerships with SaintsCare in Taree and West Pennant Hills, road trip ministry by Matt Frizzell, continuing digital ministries through AWOL and Prayer Circle, and the many family camps, women's retreats, Easter camps, choirs, pop up op shops, craft groups, and worship services that continue to bless local congregations.
We said farewell to Kallara campgrounds, Guildford, Central Coast, and Ferntree Gully congregational buildings. We opened Tiona Chapel, opened Anugrah congregation, and saw strong growth in the Tuesday Church group.
We farewelled many dear elders of our community. We celebrated new babies, new families, new baptisms, new members. Our community keeps evolving, changing, moving into new places, and away from others. We adapt.
I continue to be inspired by the testimonies of those who experience the richness of the spirit in their lives, a sense of joy in their communion with the divine, a spark of curiosity towards learning more about Jesus, scripture, theology, and the Community of Christ. I've also heard the yearnings of those who feel as though the community, and its traditions, are slipping away. Both of these things are happening at the same time.
At last year's Winter Retreat with the Tuesday Church, we studied the Parable of the Sower, in a creative bible journalling workshop. (Matthew 13:3-23) As I dwelt in that scripture, and in the process of drawing each frame of that story, I was struck by a new insight. In the past, my mind has identified with the Sower, and the seed, and the symbolism there. But this time, I was struck by the words good soil. What is the rocky ground, the thorny patches, and the good soil look like today? What type of environment can we create that is fertile ground? I was left with this lingering sense that the Sower is always spreading seeds... What type of soil are we cultivating?
How do we respond to the challenge in this story... Are we to think like the Sower, and just keep throwing the seed out and hope for the best?
Or do with think like soil scientists, and try to cultivate environments that are favourable for the raising of seeds, sensitive to the various seasons, with regular rainfall?
Thank you to each of you who will join our Conference this weekend. May our discussion be rich, our vision clear, and our hearts full of hope as we continue down the (sometimes rocky, sometimes thorny, old old) path together.
Warmly,
Annie Falcke
Interim Australia