So as some of you know I've been writing a regular article for the Tasmanian Anglican (the bi-monthly magazine for the church here in Tassie). It has always been youth focused and i have had the freedom to write whatever i wanted. As i'm moving to Melbourne in about 6 weeks, this was to be my final article... But my article was rejected. Too hot for the Tasmanian Anglican to handle!
Cross Training
Youth Ministry is the most effective place to do mission and see people come to love and serve Jesus. Why? Because approximately 80% report making their decision to follow Jesus before the age of 18! All of us in this diocese must focus much of our time, money and prayer to seeing a revival and rejuvenation of the Anglican Church in Tasmania’s youth ministry activities. My hope and prayer is to see youth ministries producing fruit in all the major cities, Hobart, Burnie, Launceston and Devenport, plus also some strong and exciting rural or regional youth ministries in other places around Tasmania. I believe that God wants his church to be more effective in this area. It is simply a matter of seeking him and being ready to give up the things we hold dear, making sacrifices to see people come into the a loving fulfilling relationship with Jesus. It is unacceptable to refuse to work together because of any differences of opinion or method. We are all one in Christ! I have faced opposition from within our Anglican Church; I have been stopped from partnering with others to disciple more young people. Let me remind you of the urgency, the majority of young people you see when you walk down the street or visit your local school are dying! We have the message that saves, the Gospel that brings life. It is an unacceptable travesty to remain irrelevant to young people or the community at large because of our own personal tastes and habits. I’m sure Jesus didn’t particularly want to become a human like us, but out of love he did. We must also be willing to make such sacrifices.
We also must not let youth ministry slip off the radar for other projects. The Youth Taskforce’s proposal that was adopted by Synod is still inadequately funded. With the Imagine Project taking centre stage at a Diocesan level, in terms of man power and money, it is up to those of us, people who are passionate about young people to keep youth ministry front and centre. We cannot rest on the promise of money, but must act to secure actual finance. If we allow our focus to move from youth ministry to creating more hierarchy and bureaucracy in our church then we will not change and we will not see young people bring vitality and new life to our churches.
This is my last article for the Tasmanian Anglican as I am moving to Melbourne in the new year to take up a new opportunity there and further training at Ridley College. However, I am still passionate about seeing our church here in Tasmania reach out to young people and see lives changed.
I have been a member of the Anglican Church since birth and of our church here in Tasmania since I was 10. It has played an important part in my life and in my decision to follow Jesus. I have also been loved and nurtured by the Anglican Church here in Tasmania and given many opportunities. I am grateful for all of this, and will always hold this church here in Tasmania dear to my heart.
Finally, we face an impossible task which we cannot achieve. The best programs, the greatest strategy, the biggest budget... none of this will bring about the revival in youth ministry in the Anglican Church in Tasmania. Only God can do this. It is only because we can rely and ask the God of the universe to bless us and change us that I believe any change will happen. If we are honestly and earnestly seeking his will for our role in transforming the lives of young Tasmanians, then I believe our Anglican church will be used mightily.
Hey Chris
ReplyDeleteYour piece is certainly more hard hitting than some of your previous articles. So it doesn't surprise me that the Tas Anglican (a fairly soft) magazine rejects your thoughts.
As for what you say. I agree with most of it. My caution would be that the unity within the Anglican Church should not be at the expense of the gospel.
I believe the Anglican Church in Tas needs to be clear on the gospel ie. What it actually is... and which issues are flexible and which ones aren't. The 39 articles might be a good place to start.
I think that it's a pity that the article will not be published. Your comments at the top aren't really necessary.
ReplyDeleteBTW, where is Devenport? :p
"I’m sure Jesus didn’t particularly want to become a human like us"
Interesting idea...
Hi Chris - so which bit of it exactly do you think was "too hot"?
ReplyDeleteW.
Will, my suspicion is that it is paragraph number 2 which is too hot. Which i said they could remove and still publish if they wanted.
ReplyDeleteHowever my other suspicion is that it is the bit where i point out the fact that most people are dying.
Para two. Mmmmm, I wonder if "hot" is the right adjective to use.
ReplyDeleteW.
In reply to Jonathan's pick up:
ReplyDelete"I’m sure Jesus didn’t particularly want to become a human like us"
Interesting idea...
Indeed. Did God actually WANT to save us? :-)
W.
Jonathan and Will, my statement relating to Jesus not really wanting to become a human being is not a reflection on his desire to save us (that is clearly evident right through most of the whole bible) but rather that it is a big step and sacrifice for God to become a man.
ReplyDeleteI think that's a fair point.
Will, what adjective would you chose?
"If we allow our focus to move from youth ministry to creating more hierarchy and bureaucracy in our church then we will not change and we will not see young people bring vitality and new life to our churches."
ReplyDeleteMy bet is that this sentence is "too hot" considering the recent decisions of the diocese.
Joey, Chris. IMO - "loaded" would be a more appropriate adjective :-)
ReplyDeleteW.
Looks like I'm too late. Everything I wanted to say has been said: positive and correctional ;-)
ReplyDeleteThe reason why they won't publish this article is the very reason why the Anglican Church will die out if they don't do something. The truth is very clear act and invest or reap the consequences. The people who run the Tas Anglican are a bunch of morons. I think that it is a waste of money that magazine.
ReplyDeleteHere I go, trying to raise the level of of an online debate. I must be mad :-)
ReplyDeleteNot saying I disagree with you Heath (although I do somewhat). But...
You say: "The reason why they won't publish this article is the very reason why the Anglican Church will die out if they don't do something." Come on, don't beat about the bush - tell us in plainspeak what the "reason" is. Otherwise you're arguing symptoms rather than causes. And that's the domain of falacious arguments - "I assert the reason that grass is green is because the sky is pink. I assert the reason that birds can fly is because the sky is pink. You must agree with me that the grass is green and that birds can fly. Therefore you must agree with my "reason" that the sky is pink." Come on, be a man and make your argument, don't hide behind misconceived rhetoric.
Is this your point: "The truth is very clear act and invest or reap the consequences." Then draw the line between it and your justifications.
"The people who run the Tas Anglican are a bunch of morons. I think that it is a waste of money that magazine." Nice statement. Fantastic. What do I do with it now? If you want to be anything other than ignored you're going to have to do better than that. What is moronic about the Tas Ang? Do you actually know who runs the magazine? What justifies applying the adjective to the people who run it as well as to the product itself? In what way is it a waste of money - how much does it cost - what benefits does it purport to achieve and how does it fail to meet them?
You see, assertions and opinions without both justifications and purpose/application inherently get ignored. Indeed sometimes those things don't get published...
:-)
W.
lmao Will, for a comment which was only meant to be a bit of a laugh you have certainly taken a lot of time writing a rebuttal. Sorry to waste your time. I don't really care one way or another I just wanted to spark a bit of a debate.. looks like mission accomplished!
ReplyDeleteLike I said - I must be mad ;-)
ReplyDelete