Conversations
Webinar- Renewing the Covenant: Churches and the Building of Local Relationships
We have become aware that we are a society shaped by individualism, relating in ways that are often transactional rather than relational. We quickly default to a language of outcomes in our dealings with one another. These ways of relating could be characterized as contract. Webinar panellists wonder, in this context, with this limitation and loss, how may we recover a sense of the sanctity of human life and relationships.
Renewing the Covenant: Churches and the Building of Local Relationships
We are convinced that there is another story. There is within the memory of the church a story of being a people who do not need to be shaped by social contract, consumerism and individualism. Our vocation is rooted in the reality of Christ living in us and, therefore, by God's relationship with us. We know that apart from him we can do nothing. Covenant, not contract...
The Plague and the Parish: An Invitation to the Churches.
Pope Francis said last year that we are not living through an era of change but a change of era. We are entering a new chapter in the history of the world, and of the church, so we offer you this letter which is a call for the church to renew its vocation as a sign and foretaste of the kingdom of God. Read, listen and consider this call. Share with us...
Webinar- Preparing for a New Chapter: Revitalizing the Christian Imagination for the Sake of the Common Good
We are social beings and the paradox of the moment is that our isolation is driving a natural desire for connection with others. We need to strengthen our civic immune system and the church can offer a diagnosis. And the Church can offer a practice: Catholic Social Thought, with its concept of the common good...
Read more and watch the video of the webinar (30th April 2020)
Webinar- From Exile to Earthquake: Metaphors for Mission in a Post-Pandemic World
The context of this conversation, as Alan Roxburgh explains, is the Covid-19 crisis and the question from church leaders and others: ‘What’s next?’ In the light of this Alan and Martin Robinson reflect on the metaphors leaders have used to understand mission and the place of the church...
‘Eat What is Set before You’: A Conversation with the Author Scott Hagley.
In this video Scott Hagley is in conversation with Alan Roxburgh and Martin Robinson to discuss his recent book ‘Eat What is Set Before You’. Throughout his experience as pastor and researcher Scott has asked the question ’what kind of relationships do churches need to connect with what God is up to in their neighborhoods?’ The book title ‘Eat What is Set Before You’ references Jesus’ instruction to the seventy...
Leading and Discerning in a Fragmented Context
In this video Alan Roxburgh and Mark Lau Branson introduce two pastors, both leading Nazarene churches and both deeply embedded in neighbourhoods in the Los Angeles area. Immigration is an issue for both churches. Marcos Canales and Josh Smith reflect on the challenge of building community in a context of fragmentation and distrust.
Kingdom Communities in Queensland
At the beginning of this story Queensland Church of Christ was barely viable. The book Kingdom Communities tells the story of its transformation. Authors Dean Phelan and Andrew Menzies discuss the turnaround in this video with Alan Roxburgh. The seventy or so churches, many small and many insular, had become disconnected from a large Church of Christ care sector. And around one hundred and twenty well developed institutions in various aspects of social care had lost any sense of theological purpose.
Leadership, Community and the Work of God.
Two wise and experienced ministers reflect with Alan Roxburgh on how they discern the call of God in this video conversation. Sally Mann and Tim Dickau have already shared their stories within this journal. Both are ministers of churches which have developed extensive social programmes in areas of deprivation, in East London and Vancouver.
Two Pastors Talking: ‘So How Do You Hear God?’
Although Joseph Omoragbon and Fred Liggin are church pastors, both see their primary role to be that of missionary to their community. In most other ways they are different. Fred is a white American working in Southern United States. Joseph is a Nigerian immigrant, a pastor and church planter with the Redeemed Christian Church of God, serving in North East England... This video conversation explores how they both hear the call of God.
Read more and watch the video