family Friday

… was significantly abbreviated by a funeral which I preached at in the morning, but after school we headed up to the new payground that has just been opened at Sydney Park.

its hard evidence of the baby boom in these parts. the spikes in our population are 36 years old and 2 years old.

the kids love it and it was crawling with them

parents love it because play areas and greenspace are precious here

we were amazed how many new mums live in our area and the challenge we have to make connctions with them  for the sake of Christ and their salvation.

 I imagine we’ll be hanging out here a lot  in the future.

free money for new lives

• Termination of pregnancy is also known as abortion.
• There are enough abortions in my home state to fill every seat in our city’s largest stadium each year.
• The Victorian governemt has just passed some horrendous laws which are heart breaking.
• The Rudd federal government recently announced a generous handout out to low income families as a fiscal sweetener for the ailing economy.
• And Rowan came up with this brilliant idea. Take a look.

an unhelpful motion about separation amongst clergy

Having asked this question about the prevalence of marriage separation and/or marital infidelity amongst clergy in the Diocese of Sydney to the governing body of the Anglican Diocese of Sydney (Synod), I was then faced with a dilemma. Does the question just die amongst the business of synod or do I respond with a motion that might act to do something about the alarming answers that were given by Archbishop Jensen?

here’s the motion I came up with:

‘ In light of the importance of healthy marriage; the modelling of healthy marriage amongst those who lead us; and the distressing prevalence of marriage breakdown amongst clergy licensed in the diocese, the synod respectfully asks the Archbishop to request the Doctrine Commission to present a report that explores the theology of marriage and separation in marriage, with particular reference to pastoral ministry and  the promoting of healthy marriages within the diocese.  

In effect I was suggesting we ask Peter Jensen to get the Doctrine Commission to think theologically about marriage and separation and come up with some implications for who should be leading our churches and what we should do when our pastor’s marriages fall apart. Even more importantly , how do we encourage healthy ministry marriages within the culture of the Diocese for the good of marriages and for the minimisation of  the kind of mess presently felt.

enter the proverbial elephant in the room. the very body who might be able to help us think through these sensitive yet vitally important issues, is in the thick of dealing with marriage separation and pastoral oversight issues in places very close to home. To put this motion at this time given the present context was felt to be potentially unhelpful by some . They agreed to the importance of the subject, and even the need for doctrinal exploration and nutting out the implications, but to put it on the Synod agenda would make the very process they were keen for burdensome.

I don’t want to be a burden to them so I decided not to move a procedural motion that would’ve seen the Synod’s business finish with this motion. In the end its was just a little too pointy, too uncomfortable, too awkward- and given the present context maybe even unhelpful.  

so here’s what I thought I might do:.

1. try and put together a theology of marriage and separation with particular relation to the pastorate and kick it around here for a good while.
2. put together some biblical material and resources that I think would help to strength ministry marriages.
3. petition my leaders with the concerns that I have expressed urging for as much as possible to be done over the next year in grappling with these issues.
4. praying for and seeking other practical ways of encouraging the marriages amongst my ministry peers.
5. praying for and seeking other practical ways of encouraging my leaders to make wise,  bold,  biblical and pastoral sensitive ways of dealing with this heartbreaking issue within the culture of the diocese  before it escalates into pandemic proportions.  

But where do I start if I were to start on this ‘crusade’ (as one cranky Synod member implied) – though I don’t think of it as a crusade but more a communal concern.  Then it dawned. My marriage. I realised with sharper clarity then I could ever express in words, I must face whatever is pointy,  uncomfortable and awkward in my own marriage so that it might be what God intends for it to be – Christ centred, word exalting, God glorifying covenant love. My doctrine must be seen in my discipleship.

And I must never approach these kind of matters without at least attempting to feel the pain and brokenness that my brothers and sisters in ministry have gone through or are in the midst of, in order that I might speak the truth in love -for my colleagues-and  in deep deep love for God’s glory and the joy of his people.

I love…

My girls! We had a great family afternoon catching a tram from Glebe into the city. Sadly the boy couldn’t join us because he was swanning it at grandma’s. We headed into Chinatown and had yum cha at Zilva, probably the best Chinese restaurant in Sydney in my opinion. More than anything I am most content when I’m just hanging with them.

Hangin’ & fishin’

This whole week I’ve been away from the desk with my family on a working break ( in case you’re wondering I’ve been blogging via iPhone). It’s been a refreshing week in the scriptures and planning for the rest of the year’s preaching, and it’s been refreshing having the flexibility to take a walk, see old friends, play at the beach with the kids or go fishing with Liam. He loved it and I loved it. I figure the more time I spend learning & growing with him, the less likely I am to exasperate him (Eph 6:1-3). Considering that a lot of pastor’s kids get burnt, more than anything I hope I can show my son & daughters that Jesus is alive, that his rule is good and that there is real joy in his service.

Falling Man

Who will it be next week?

I think I’ve finally understood the difference between Sydney and Seattle’s two great reformed pedagogues – and just maybe it highlights our growing leadership crisis?!

The dominant metanarrative of Sydney for the past years has fundamentally been “become a minister” or in other words – love Jesus, leave what you are doing and give yourself to pastoring and evangelising.

On the other hand, the dominant metanarrative of Seattle has not been “become a minster” but more significantly -” become a man!” or – love Jesus, leave sin, get a job and a wife, give yourself to Godliness.

Whilst I recognise this might be a stretch for the ladies the reality is that in relationship to leadership we want elders who are biblically qualified man who are able to teach – not able teachers who are biblically disqualified because they are porn addicts, drunkards, inhospitable or neglectful of their wife and kids because they love their ministry more than anything else (including Jesus it seems)

I am beginning to wonder whether we have a Corinthinan problem in Sydney that has placed so much emphasis on ability and gift – looking for the gun guys, that we have we have taken our eyes of fundamental issues of godliness and biblical manhood that loves Jesus, leaves sin, loves wife and family and then serves the gospel in whatever way God enables.

Alison

Here is the woman who amazingly puts up with me!
‘your love is more delightful than wine ‘! (SoS 1:2)

My Kids

Here’s Molly(4.5) and Liam (2.5). They are really shy when it comes to cameras!