Visit www.schooloftheology.net for more information or email ministryschool@angdon.com with enquiries.

• Bateau Bay
• Charlestown
• Clarence Town
• Harrington Coopernook
• Lakes Anglican
• Merriwa
• Mount Vincent Weston
• Murrurundi
• Nelson Bay
• Singleton
• Southlakes
• Stockton
• Taree
• The Entrance
• Toukley Budgewoi
• Wingham

Exciting and committed lay ministry is one of the defining features of life in the Diocese of Newcastle. 

In 2009 we will be continuing to support parishes which are considering making an active commitment, or have already made a commitment, to the vision of Becoming Ministering Communities in Mission in our diocese. Here are some of the ways that we will be trying to assist these parishes:

Sharing the Vision
The beginning of a new year is a great time to be celebrating all that was achieved in the last year, and planning for what is to come.  If you have not already considered the vision of developing a Parish Ministry Team and setting ministry and mission goals for the future perhaps this year is the right time for you to study and discuss the vision before making a decision about whether to proceed.

Parish Visioning
Parishes which make a commitment to the vision enter a stage of reflection and visioning for the future.  There are a number of different ways that this visioning can be resourced, and Parish Councils normally choose the process which fits best with the life of the parish.  The parishes of Toronto and Wallsend will be commencing a visioning process this month, and will join many parishes which engaged in visioning last year.

Development of Parish Ministry Teams
Over the next few months Parish Ministry Teams will be formed in the parishes of Clarence Town, Denman, Muswellbrook and Scone.  Teams are formed through a process of helping congregations to discern and use the gifts which God has given them for ministry.  It is hoped that during this year over half of the parishes in the diocese will have Parish Ministry Teams in place.

Fresh Expressions of Church
Across the diocese, parishes are exploring new ways of reaching out to their neighbours, and “being Church” in ways which are relevant to the needs and cultures of different local communities.  Many parishes are experimenting with how traditional forms of liturgy can exist alongside new ways of expressing faith.  These fresh expressions of Church offer enormous potential for the future.  During the year we will be highlighting some of these endeavours in The Encounter. To resource parishes which are already engaging in a Fresh Expression of Church, or those who may be interested in doing so, we have invited Fr Ian Mobsby to a lead a resourcing day in the diocese on March 10.  This day will be open to clergy and lay people and further details will be available soon.  Fr Ian is a Priest of the Church of England who leads an innovative fresh expression in London called the “Moot Community.”  He has taught widely in this area from his considerable experience and is a member of the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Fresh Expressions Core Team.  We look forward to welcoming him.

 

Diocesan Convention
The Diocesan Convention is an opportunity for the whole diocese to meet together for worship, encouragement and resourcing.  This year the Diocesan Convention will be held on Saturday May 9 in the Brennan Room at the University of Newcastle’s Callaghan Campus. We are excited that the main speaker will be Bishop Stephen Cottrell from the Diocese of Oxford in England.  Further details about the day will be made available in due course – please mark the date in your diary now!

Newcastle School of Theology for Ministry
The Newcastle School of Theology for Ministry was established to offer training for leaders within Ministering Communities in Mission.  The next cohorts in the Bishop’s Certificate and Bishop’s Diploma programs will commence their studies in May 2009.  The programs are open to everyone!  Visit our website www.schooloftheology.net.

 

Clergy Ministry Development Support Groups
In 2008 our Bishop gathered all of the clergy who are ministering in parishes which have made an active commitment to the Diocesan Vision together for a week-long residential workshop to focus on developing skills for leading ministry teams.  At that workshop it was agreed that in 2009 clergy from MCiM parishes would meet together on a monthly basis in support groups as a focus for their ongoing development and resourcing.  There will be five groups of clergy meeting regularly across the Diocese this year.  In addition all clergy in parishes which have made a commitment to the Diocesan Vision will be invited to a residential workshop later in 2009.

There are many opportunities this year for celebrating all that has been achieved, and looking forward to new ministry for the future.  How can your local parish take advantage of what is on offer?