Developing better teams is on the top of the job list at this year’s Spring Convention, with organisers inviting a master team builder to offer tips to local ministries.
"The particular aim this year is to help those lay people who are valued members of church ministry teams think about how they work together for spiritual renewal," says the Rev Ken Noakes from Ministry, Training and Development.
Englishman Hugh Palmer is special guest and will speak on building "teams for spiritual renewal'.
He has extensive experience in team ministry at two of England's largest and most famous evangelical churches.
Following in the footsteps of famed Christian author John Stott, he is marking his second year as rector of All Souls, Langham Place.
In the late 80s and early 90s, Hugh was responsible for leading the staff team at St Helen’s Bishopsgate in London under noted evangelical speaker Dick Lucas.
Conference challenges ministers, builds lay
The Spring convention is run in two parts.
First up is an intensive workshop for full time ministry workers on Friday August 24.
"The idea here is that on the Friday the full-time workers can come and hear a renowned international speaker address a key topic in contemporary ministry - and that it will create discussion and ideas for how full-time ministry teams might apply the aspect into their ministries," Mr Noakes says.
"Then on the Saturday they can come again with their keen lay members and hear the same speakers on the same topic - although different talks - which will hopefully allow further discussion and energy in the ways that whole parish ministry team might address the issues raised."
Better teams support best message
Mr Noakes says it is important church leaders focus on team building because "ministry is important'.
"Team building is not as important as the commission to go out to all the nations, but if our team building helps us to be more effective, under God, to reach others then let’s do it," he says.
This is the second time the Spring Convention has been run.
"Last year we had about 200 people come to hear Richard Coekin and Phillip Jensen on ‘Proclamation and Protest’ - it was a great success and the feedback was extremely positive," says Mr Noakes.
"Often those friends from outside the Diocese can speak insightfully into our context by saying challenging things that those who are in Sydney cannot always say without sharp criticism."
The 2008 platform certainly looks set to deliver sparks with controversial emerging church advocate Mark Driscoll joining US Bible scholar Don Carson on the first weekend in September.
