Uniting Church President addresses Lay Ministries Dinner 2011

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Notes from the address of the President of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church, Rev Alistair Macrae, to Lay Preachers and lay worship leaders attending the Lay Ministries Dinner on Saturday 5 Nov 2011 at the Centre for Theology and Ministry (CTM), Parkville.

Alistair spoke about the current times of uncertainty and change as being a great opportunity to ‘re-calibrate our expressions of faith’, drawing in part from the book by Phyllis Tickle, “The Great Emergence”. Tickle writes about a “major cleaning out of the attic” of the Church every half-millennium. Alistair talked about how crises may generate renewal, and in fact seem to be the precondition for renewal in the life of the people of God. 

‘Liminal spaces’ are thresholds or transitional times, but in our controlled modern existence it seems only deep pain can generate liminal space. Leaders need to help the Church to live faithfully in these uncertain times, rather than rush to explain things. Jesus generated spiritual desire. In the gospels he only answered three of the one hundred and eighty three questions he was asked.

The opposite of control is not giving up, but participation.

Congregations of the Uniting Church are shrinking, while other institutions of the Uniting Church are expanding (community service agencies, schools, etc.).

Preaches aren’t there to give out answers, but to stimulate faithful imagination, and to help others exercise their faithful imagination.

Uniting Church schools in Western Australia have developed a common preamble to their Constitutions; local congregations are challenged to faithfully imagine what their relationship with local agencies of the Uniting Church might generate missionally.

In Westbury (Tasmania) a local volunteer makes birthday cakes for each of the youth in the local juvenile justice centre. Brunswick Uniting Church started a coffee shop for residents of the local rooming houses who have no other places to gather. St Brendan’s boat was built with sail but no rudder, so that the winds of the Spirit could direct Brendan and his band of brothers wherever they should go.

Alistair invited participants to discuss some scenarios in table groups. One lay preacher candidate responded “God has changed my life, and I can’t contain it”. Another response suggested the kingdom of heaven is like … a country whose navy is sent out to look for asylum seekers and bring them safely to their new home.

Rohan Pryor, November 2011