Total Church: the old ways are new

Congratulations on the April edition, which recaptures some of the old vigour.
I read with care all those articles to do with reaching out to the community. There seems to be breathless anticipation about Total Church as we approach Connect09. I wonder, however, whether it is really necessary to bring out from England Steve Timmis - excellent though he may be - to tell us what to do.
What exactly is new about these ideas? Surely the hardworking rector over the decades has been doing what seems to be regarded now as startlingly different: walking endlessly about the streets of his parish, bringing cheer to the shopkeepers (preferably wearing his clerical collar so as to identify himself), dropping into the pub when the footy is on, attending monthly meetings of the P&C, following up the widower (whose wife, now dead, came to church but he didn't), ringing up the parents of baptised children on the anniversary of their baptism, keeping in touch with those he has married, taking Communion to the sick, seizing every opportunity to commend Jesus to all and sundry. In short the local minister has been the parish pump, ready to be called upon and prepared to be ignored.
Finally the penny drops. Perhaps in recent years we have relied too much on "team ministry". Some are called to preach, others to teach, and so on.
After our Lord's resurrection, the apostles decided that they should do the preaching. "Waiting on tables" should be left to lowlier Christians. And so Stephen was appointed.
But as the apostles kept on going up to the Temple, it was this inconspicuous deacon who understood precisely what Christ's death on the cross portended - no more Temple worship. The apostles hadn't thought it through, but Stephen had, and paid dearly for it.
Why not give up these artificial boundaries and take on anything that comes our way? If the Lord is there, what can go wrong?

Roderick West AM
Newport Beach, NSW

The articles on Total Church were an encouraging consideration of biblical "body life" with its emphasis on the expression of love in relationships grounding the community of believers.
The essential element, which was implicit but not stressed, is the necessity for the discovery and use of spiritual gifts of all members within the body of Christ (Romans 12).
It does seem we have not been diligent in seeking to function in our churches with this wonderful provision God has so clearly set out in his word. There are no "blank files'. For as The Message puts it, "Each person is given something to do that shows who God is: everyone gets in on it, everyone benefits" (1 Cor 12:7).
It is important for Connect 09 that this truth be grasped and acted upon by us all. Each local manifestation of the "body" must discover and use its pastors, evangelists, teachers, helpers, healers, prayers and so on, for the extension of God's kingdom.

James Mills
Cheltenham, NSW

Ted Brush (SC, March) suggests we should adopt McDonald's strategy of uniform branding. If Connect 09 is to succeed then a planned marketing approach similar to the corporate world is needed. Church ministers are trained to deliver God's word. They are generally conservative academics with limited marketing skills.
An independent management team may question why marketing material isn't developed centrally. Hillsong have demonstrated you can attract thousands with an effective advertising strategy. Survival of the diocese depends on its ability to adopt a similar approach.

Malcolm Whitney  
Lindfield,  NSW

The missing piece

Thank you for your article highlighting the problems faced by families at present, and the assistance available in the diocese (SC, April). The pressures on relationships have been highlighted again this month by a men's magazine running a competition to "win a divorce".
Preventative measures such as the Anglicare relationship education are a great help. However, your article failed to mention the assistance provided by trained Christian relationship counsellors.
St Faith's, Narrabeen, supports a counselling centre that provides over 3500 hours of counselling each year by a group of 10 Christian counsellors.
Nicky Lock

The Cottage Counselling Centre
Narrabeen, NSW

Lay ministry continues "closed' Pyrmont

In reply to the article "Our "worthwhile' ministry risk" (SC, March), we are concerned the article provides a jaundiced view that may discourage others from church planting.
As members of the Peninsula Community Church (PCC) ministry from its inception over 10 years ago, we would like to reassure those who so graciously supported us that the ministry continues. The church services ended in December 2007 but the school ministry to Ultimo Primary, home groups, men's breakfast and an interdenominational prayer breakfast continue. An afternoon "Kid's Club' involving parents and children 8 and younger has started. This has built on the Kid's Church and Mainly Music activities of the past few years.
PCC did go through hard times in 2007 but God continues to work in the lives of people in Pyrmont. The members of PCC are attending other local parishes for church services. This has been a difficult time for the lay people who had a vision for this ministry. Team ministry potentially provided an opportunity for members of the church to work together and outreach to their community.
Please continue to pray for this work and be encouraged to continue the work you are doing wherever that is.

Ross and Elizabeth Hindmarsh
Pyrmont, NSW

Please help!

Please come and help! I teach at Munguishi Bible College, in the Diocese of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Our staff needs are acute. In September I am returning to Australia with my husband Russell - we will be retired CMS missionaries. That will leave four teachers training 52 students for parish ministry and evangelism.
Sydney Diocese is amongst those "to whom much has been given'. Is there anyone out there who would take some long service leave and share with us by teaching even for one semester?

The Rev Kay Clark
Moshi, Tanzania