Bishop John

What a privilege and pleasure to have Chinese Brothers and Sisters in Christ in the Anglican family in Hobart and Tasmania.

Now for a quarter of a century, from the beginnings in the Parish of Holy Trinity, North Hobart, to the current ministry at the Trinity Centre at Wellspring Anglican, Sandy Bay, Hobart, the Chinese congregation has been faithful in reaching out with the life-changing Gospel of Christ.

They have followed the way of Christ, reaching out and offering hospitality to students and other Chinese-speaking members of our community.  Within the growing global community of Chinese Christians, this congregation in Hobart has made its contribution of evangelism and discipleship.

Our life as an Anglican Diocese has been enriched through their sharing in the ministry and mission of God’s Church.

I, personally, have had the joy of worshipping with the Brothers and Sisters of this congregation, hearing testimonies of faith, and sharing the joy of baptisms and confirmations.  The opportunity to share with the three Chinese pastors – Jacob, Pang, and Michael – and their families has been valuable to me and a great encouragement.

Like all mature congregations, the Chinese ministry has faced its difficulties.  Many members face the tyranny of distance from loved ones.  The development of understanding by Hobart locals sometimes happens slowly, but it has happened.  The need to support those who have been part of the community, but have now left Hobart, remains a burden for prayer.

In the midst of this, it is clear that the mission of the Chinese congregation flows from the heart of God.  Their participation in this mission of love and salvation is done with great dedication and joy.

As Bishop I thank them for their passion and commitment, and for being faithful to being “in Tasmania” for Jesus.  I can testify to the fruit of their ministry, and what a wonderful encouragement that is to us all!

With this 25th anniversary history we can look back and rejoice at the faithfulness of our Saviour, and look forward with prayer and joy to the One who is the Hope of all nations.

Praise Jesus’ Name!

See Wellspring Chinese Minister, The Revd Michael Chau, here. Chinese language information here.

Note: The words above comes from my ‘Welcome’ in the 25th Anniversary Book distributed at the Anniversary Service on 16 November 2014 at the Wellspring Anglican Church, Sandy Bay in Hobart.

This blog is from an article written by James Oakley (Leaders and followers – equipping our children).

I want to raise my children to live well in community. I’m not willing to buy into the prevailing cultural notion of the rugged individualist. The Jack Bauer/John McClane/John Rebus type of character, who beats the system as well as the bad guys, is fine in fiction, but it’s not real life.

No, I want to raise my children so that they can live well and lead well in community with others. I was struck the other day, while listening to a recording of a talk given by Tim Hawkins, by the link that he draws between becoming a good leader and being a good follower. He even titled his talk ‘followership’, describing this as the missing key to great leadership. To become a great leader, it is necessary to be a good follower. To lead others well, you need to be able to model how to follow well. Living well in community with others involves the ability to submit to the leadership of others in that community.

Now there are a whole host of objections that sprang to mind when I was listening to this. I was thinking about poor leadership, or evil leadership. (And in this context I was hardly thinking at all about any current federal governments that happened to be governing the country.) I was wondering what he would say about when human leadership conflicts with God’s rule. Working through scriptures such as Romans 13 and Acts 4, Tim answered these objections.

Firstly, it is prayerful. Imagine that your church leadership is considering a change in the arrangements for Sunday morning children’s ministry – a change that you’re unhappy with. A good follower will respond humbly and prayerfully to a leadership decision that he or she does not like. After all, we’re human and we make mistakes. We don’t always have the whole picture. I was challenged to approach God humbly, asking that he address my heart and attitudes. I must make room for the possibility that the decision is in accordance with God’s will, and that I need to change! Contrast this with a rebellious response, which will either ignore prayer entirely, or will pray asking God to change the decision or the leader!

Secondly, good followers listen. Having prayed, I might think that I’m still right and the leader is wrong. If I am properly submitting to authority I will respectfully ask the leader to explain, and will listen to the reasons for the decision, genuinely trying to understand. Again, look at the contrast with a rebellious response: the rebel is trying to gather ammunition for the coming fight, and trying to think up counter arguments.

Thirdly, a good follower will present his or her opinion. What if I am still convinced that the decision is poor? Then I will speak with those in leadership with as much persuasiveness, passion, reason, evidence and conviction that I can muster. I will advocate for the course of action that I am convinced is right. But I will do so with respect, and will avoid personal attacks. The rebel, by contrast, will speak about those in leadership. Their attack is directed at the leader, rather than the decision.

Finally, a good follower will either submit to the decision, working for the goals established by the leader, or will respectfully and peacefully withdraw. Even if I am convinced that I was right, my choices are to either support the decision, or to pull out of the involvement I had, acknowledging that right of the leaders to lead! A rebel continues the white ant campaign, and may even actively work against the decision.

This is a brief sketch, which would need adapting for different circumstances, but I hope that you can see the principles underlying it.

To read more of this article, please go to: Leaders and followers – Equipping our children

WORLD VISION AUSTRALIA BOARD MEMBER’S FIELD VISIT

AUSTRALIA PROGRAM TEAM MEETING AND WARLPIRI COMMUNITY AT WILLOWRA,  NT

Bishop John and Mrs Gayelene Harrower, 21-27 August 2014

Our initial contact with the members of the Australia Program occurred on the Thursday evening of their week long gathering in Alice Springs. It was an easy introduction with valuable time spent in conversation.

During Friday, plenary and small group work canvassed work issues and the challenge of building comprehensive knowledge and communications across the length and breadth of Australia: a not insignificant issue. I participated in a governance panel discussion along with staff who specialise in governance in indigenous communities: a learning opportunity for me. Clearly, the regular gathering of the Australia Program team is strategic.

The Bruderhof Community from Elsmore NSW are keen supporters of the Australia Program and four of their members attended the gathering on Thursday and Friday. Their enthusiasm for the Australia Program is palpable and grounded in prayer, presence and financial generosity. The Bruderhof Community’s partnership with World Vision is also significant for our Christian foundations and engagement with the Church.

I spoke at the Alice Springs’ Anglican Church at the Sunday Morning Worship Services and the Parish hosted an afternoon World Vision information time where Liz Mackinlay, Liz Mullen and I spoke of the work. I am proud to say that the Anglican afternoon tea demonstrated generosity in abundance! 🙂

Monday and Tuesday we spent with the Warlpiri Community at Willowra, a 4½ hour drive from Alice Springs. A key to the Early Childhood Care and Development project in which World Vision has been invited to partner, is the Reference Group of Yappa (Indigenous Women) to guide this work. The skills and advocacy capacity will then be applied to other areas of their community life. At the Early Learning Centre we observed a meeting of the Reference Group.  Our experience was enlightening, to say the least, and I must say that Project Facilitator Robyn Wagner’s gifting in capacity building was exemplary.

The evening campfire gathered the community and we shared food and chatted as the children played, camp dogs wandered and the wild donkeys brayed. A special time.

Travel for hours along dirt roads is hazardous and one of our tyres had given up the struggle on the journey to Willowra. Annette Fuller, ably assisted by Liz Mackinlay, changed the damaged tyre on our vehicle .
On Tuesday morning at the Early Learning Centre we joined about 12 children, some mothers and staff in the Playgroup.  The respect and acceptance of the three WVA staff: Annette, Robyn and Liz, was evidenced by their being greeted by the Yappa with their ‘skin names’. Of course, being related has its consequences. As Liz is a ‘daughter’ to one of the women, her ‘mother’ ordered her into the kitchen to make damper! We all benefited from this ‘skin name’ relationship at morning tea! 🙂

Time travelling around Willowra allowed further glimpses of community life. I mentioned one item on Facebook and Twitter: “Just heard Qantas are upgrading Q Club Lounges. I expect the Willowra Q Club is on their list. :-)” It drew some interest!

My comment sought to point to the challenges of remoteness and the necessity for capacity building in order that indigenous communities, in the pursuit of their hopes and dreams, determine the participation of stakeholders..

Upon reflection, the Warlpiri culture is so utterly different to anything we had encountered. One of the attributes that struck us was their gentleness and delightful sense of humour.

However, they have been, and continue to be, disorientated and dispirited by constant changes in Government policy and practice. We were told that each new Government throws out its predecessor’s policies and pours more millions of dollars into their own “great” new ideas and solutions. Tragically, little if any time is spent taking time to sit, wait and ask the community what are their hopes, dreams and needs. It takes a long time for trust to grow and dare I suggest that Governments like to make media headlines with their new policies and then stop 3 or 5 years later and the policies change. It is clearly a very slow process which is so foreign to the majority culture’s way.

Mistrust has tragic results: frustration, apathy, anger, withdrawal, which all makes subsequent engagements less likely to succeed.

We were very impressed with the World Vision staff who are clearly committed to patiently being with and walking beside indigenous Australians for the welfare of the children and their communities.

May this good work bring life in all its fullness to the original custodians of this vast and precious land.

Shalom,

See also my World Vision Australia Director’s Field Visit to the Solomon Islands in 2010 to participate in the delivery of a Channels of Hope for Gender Program to reduce domestic violence. Solomon Islands: Media brief.  http://imaginarydiocese.org/bishopjohn/2012/10/23/solomon-islands-media-brief/

During a briefing visit with the Chaplaincy Service at the Royal Hobart Hospital and Repatriation Campus, I learnt the following information about the work of the chaplains and the various reasons for which people request their ministry. I have their permission to share this helpful information with you. Please hold their ministry in prayer.

Chaplains work both denominationally and are also allocated to inpatient  and are part of the multidisciplinary team working together for the wellbeing of the patient.

Admission to hospital for treatment can cause a major crisis for patients and their families and carers. It can be a period of uncertainty and insecurity and often a time of separation from the people and community of which they are part.

It has the potential to start people questioning significant life issues and to question personal and spiritual relationships.

Pastoral care in its broadest sense is any form of sincere concern extended by one person toward another who is in need, and is performed with some degree of consciousness of God’s presence and love.

10 Reasons Why you Might Ask a Chaplain to Visit You

1. You would like someone to pray with you for extra strength.
2. You would like your community clergy person to come and visit, but you don’t know how to contact him/her.
3. You would like to have Holy Communion.
4. You have spiritual questions you would like to talk to someone about.
5. You or a loved one is going to have surgery or an important procedure and you would like to have someone say a prayer with you / your family beforehand.
6. You would like to talk to someone who is not a doctor, nurse, or somehow involved in caring for your medical needs.
7. There is an ethical question that is bothering you and you would like a safe person to talk to.
8. You are wondering about where God is because you feel like God is not listening to your prayers.
9. You are scared and just want someone to talk to.
10. You are thinking about having your baby baptized, blessed or dedicated.

Chaplaincy services operate at many hospitals in Tasmania. Please contact your local hospital for chaplaincy services. At the Royal Hobart Hospital the Chapel and Chaplaincy Department operates Monday – Friday 9.00 am to 5:00 pm and is located on:1st Floor C Block, Ext  8487. A Duty Chaplain is on call after hours.

I would like to encourage you to read the interesting articles about the life and ministry of the Anglican family in Tasmania and beyond, in the online edition of our magazine. Enjoy!

Included in this issue:

• From the Bishop
• Woolly Hat Day
• How to pray when the world is in crisis 
• CMS – Why Spain? 
• Parents as Pastors
• Certificate in Theology & Ministry
• CT&M – More graduates!
• LICC – Patience
• Sea Sunday in George Town
• Tabor Tasmania
• Anglicare News – Partners serve Glenorchy
• Anglicare News – Parish grants
• Beaconsfield
• Sandford
• GFS
• KLT
• Women’s Retreat
• in-da-net