Commission
The Commission on Mission engages with the churches
in their call to mission and evangelism, relating
the Gospel to contemporary society and cultures.
It does so with explicit awareness of, and regard
to, the Australian Aboriginal and Islander communities,
the multicultural churches, the multifaith and
secular environment.
Within the context of encouraging the churches
to move towards greater visible unity in worship,
common life and mission in Christ, the Commission:
Contributes to a developing missiology and works
with member churches to clarify issues involved
in the relationship between the Gospel and cultures
within Australia - Indigenous, Western and others.
Explores current mythologies of what it means
to be 'Australian' and the values supporting
current economic, political and social policies,
and develops means by which the churches together
demonstrate the creating, reconciling and transforming
love of God.
WORK OF THE COMMISSIONS
Faith and Order
This Commission is in the process of discussing
the theological basis for multifaith gatherings.
A paper has been produced, members of the Commission
will write their responses to enable further
discussion at their next meeting. It is envisaged
that this document will be posted on the Faith
and Order page of this website.
Living Faiths: Dialogue
and Community
This is the Commission primarily responsible
for the production of the 'Guidelines for Multifaith
Gatherings'. They are now in the process of seeking
distribution through the member churches. As
a result of delegates' work at the last Annual
General Meeting, the Commission has a list of
possible projects for the future. One of these
may be to investigate further (with other State
and National ecumenical councils) growing divisions
within Christian communities and between Christians
and people of other faiths. See the Living Faiths:
Dialogue and Community page on this website.
Local Ecumenism
The members of the Local Ecumenism Commission
keep in touch with local Interchurch Councils,
and organise an 'Annual Day' for sharing and
reflection. One of the members, a Melkite Catholic,
organised a 'Breaking of the Fast' meal, hosted
by Christians for Muslims during Ramadan, and
it is hoped that local Interchurch Councils will
pick this up as a community activity if it is
appropriate to their situation. It is also hoped
to encourage more churches to participate in
the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity - especially
joint worship or exchange of visitors on Pentecost
Sunday. Local covenants between churches are
also promoted.
Mission
Formerly 'Gospel and Cultures' the members of
the Commission for Mission have been working
with Philip Hughes on a project relating to how
churches work with Christians of the non-dominant
culture within their church, and with people
of other cultures in their communities. This
project has taken the form of:
1. a questionnaire - distributed hardcopy and
electronically. Responses have been coming in
over the last few months, and Philip has produced
a report. Based on the results of this questionnaire
and further gathering information, it is intended
to produce
2. a booklet of resources for use by local congregations.
Social Questions
This group, many of whom are Executive Staff
of church community agencies, work together on
a number of issues. For example, the VCC did
not produce an 'election kit' for the 2004 Federal
election but did a summary of issues, and added
website information so that people could gather
their own information. A flyer on 'Christian
Principles in an Election Year'( Social Questions.)
This is also the group that works with Heads
of Churches as they prepare to meet with the
Premier (3 times a year).
Women and Church
The Women and Church Commission is in the process
of doing quantitative research on the role of
women in the church - using data from the Church
Life Survey and personal stories of women. They
are also gathering Bible Study material that
might be useful in a publication on the website.
Each year they have a Network Day and a Prayer
Breakfast around International Women's Day.
Challenges for the
future
Need to ensure that the work of the Council is
relevant to the member churches. This means that
we need good interaction between all the levels
of activity within the Council, and between those
involved in Council work and their 'sending'
churches.
Authority and the Christian Life was produced
because of a felt need for church members to
discuss the source of authority that guides their
own personal decisions, and the decisions of
their church. Each chapter has brief statements
by people from 3 Christian traditions, followed
by questions for personal reflection or (better
still) group discussion. $3 per copy. How to
get this document out to the churches?
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