:: By Gordon Boughton
First of a Series of Four on The Diocese Mission
Introduction
1. Thanks again for the welcome you have given us here at Malabar: Lay Lee and myself, Philip Emily and Selina. The support of Lay Lee, Philip, Emily and Selina was a critical factor in assessing that it was God’s will to accept the position of Assistant Minister at Malabar. Lay Lee has been a great support from the year dot in my studies at Moore College and ministries at Lugarno, Epping, St Andrews Hall, Christ Church in Sabah, and All Saints Waitara. The children in turn also made their contribution to Church life, particularly over the last ten years at Waitara. 2. We are still getting used to the geography, climate, meeting new people and gradually remembering new names etc. Thank you for your continuing support and prayers. 3. I feel it is a great privilege to a part of this church at a very significant time in its history. For me particularly, it is a privilege to preach God’s Word and apply it to our lives. It is a privilege to be available to help you all know Christ, grow to maturity in Christ and to make Him known to others. 4. In the excellent series on Mark’s Gospel, Andrew has introduced us afresh to Jesus, who He is, how He relates to people and issues, and His chief mission, to seek and save the lost and give His life a ransom for many. There has been ample opportunity for you to make or renew your relationship to Christ and to begin to apply this in marriage, family, church, and community. 5. Andrew plans to resume the series on Mark closer to Easter next year – to help us appreciate even more the love of Christ as we recount His suffering, His death and resurrection and, in the vast sweep of those last few verses, rapidly move from the Great Commission to Ascension, Pentecost and the rapid spread of the Gospel in its first 30 years. 6. In the next few weeks, Andrew and I thought it would be good to reflect – and reflect deeply – on what has happened at church over the last six months, what is happening now, and where God is leading us in the short-term and long-term future. So during November, my sermons will focus on church life and direction.Motivation
1. Are we all – you and me – willing to seek God’s guidance for the future and His Grace to be obedient to it? I trust so. If we are not willing, James 1:5,6 tells us that guidance is not assured. We will sink in the whirlpool of our own opinions. On the other hand, if we are willing, God is even more willing to guide and enable. Romans 12:1 urges us to sacrificially serve Christ. Romans 12:2 calls us to renew our minds – our thinking, – our opinions. Such renewal comes through The Word and The Spirit. This verse also gives us hope that we can in fact work out what is God’s will. 2. Everyone will have an opinion of what is best for Malabar. That is important. It shows you are concerned and not apathetic. As the leadership considers these various opinions, I believe guidance will emerge – particularly as each considers, not only what is best for them, but also best for others. Romans 12:3 ff clearly shows us that our giftedness is for the benefit of others. Most importantly, we should consider what best progresses the Gospel to the glory of God. 3. God will glorify Himself – now and in eternity. But note two things: firstly, He does it through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondly, He calls the Church, people like you and me, to be a part of this Gospel mission and to share in His Glory. 4. This is the big picture. Let us now look at the tiny bit of the picture which is the recent merger of two Anglican Churches: The Provisional Parish of St Marks Malabar and The Asian Australian Bible Church from the Anglican Unichurch at UNSW in Kensington. 5. Then we will consider how the so-called Sydney Diocesan Mission can be a tool to help us discover God’s will for the future. I personally think it is a great tool. It resonates with what evangelical people have been doing for decades and focuses on meeting the great needs of the present and energising the potential for the future. Pause for prayer: Lord open our hearts and minds to think speak and act for the glory of your purposes here at St Marks Malabar. In Jesus name. AmenWho are we now?
How does “Diocesan Mission” help us to be What God wants?
1. The Malabar Anglican Church Today
What has happened in the last few months? On Sunday the 31st July this year, after a few months planning, there was a merger of two quite distinct and different Evangelical Anglican Churches in the south end of the Eastern Suburbs.
One church was The Provisional Parish of St Mark’s Malabar and The other church was The Asian Australian Bible Church from the Anglican Unichurch at UNSW in Kensington.
(a) St Marks began as a Branch of Coogee in the early 1900’s. I was told there was a house church in the fishing village before 1900. The complete Parish story is quite complicated in the ebb and flow of great events like WWI, the Great Depression, WWII followed by the rapid growth of a multicultural Sydney over the last 50 years. The remnants of three churches: St Georges Matraville, All Saints Matraville, St Andrew’s Yarra Bay have joined in with St Mark’s as the one centre for Anglican worship covering six suburbs. … In the 1990’s, St Mark’s became a Provisional Parish. It was struggling to maintain its viability as a full parish. Youth work had ground to a halt some ten years previously. SS, ESL, and School Scripture continued, though, as did the one service at 9am and several Bible study and other groups.
However, the struggle to survive, even as a provisional parish, was a growing concern for the Minister, the Wardens, as well as the Archdeacon and Bishop of the South Sydney Region. There needed to be a big change to reverse negative trends in numbers and finance. The able and willing faithful had become fewer and fewer. Yet they prayed, looking and hoping for some way out – to maintain and rebuild the church they had grown to love over many years.
The departure of Rev Paul Cohen to Cooma last December catalysed the hierarchy to move even more quickly to resolve the needs of St Mark’s and AABC. From about March this year, the leaders of this remnant began to warmly respond to the Bishop’s invitation to help out the AABC and at the same time be willing to be refreshed by their energy, giftedness, numbers, and financial support.
At St Mark’s, today we have the flag wavers of the faithful remnant of a more glorious past. We want to celebrate the grace of God in the past (Can someone write a comprehensive history of St Marks from 1906 – 2005?).
The Asian Australian Bible Church at UNSW began also from small beginnings, but only about 10 years ago, from a special Bible study group for students of Vietnamese background led by Andrew Moore, under the auspices of Campus Bible Study which was set up by the then Anglican Chaplain, the Rev Philip Jensen and his staff. Phat Chiu and Andrew are the remaining trailblazers (there are also pioneers and new settlers) of this group. It was a missionary style development, unencumbered by Anglican Parish Regulations. It incorporated mainly non-churched Asians born in Australia from parents of various national backgrounds: Vietnam, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Indonesia et al. It was appropriately re-named AABF.
The students eventually graduated, got married, settled in various suburbs and had children. Nevertheless, they remained loyal to their formative fellowship, which eventually grew into two congregations with mature leaders: a 9:30am and 5pm service. They came from near and far to worship at UNSW. Some eve came from Lidcombe, Bexley and Mosman. AABC continued to grow under the pastoral leadership of Andrew Moore as he finished studies at Moore College and offered for Ordination to the Diaconate in 2003. By 2004 the AABC had outgrown their premises at UNSW. Amongst other things, it was not suitable for children’s ministry or mid week functions. Furthermore, they had to pay rent on top of other ministry costs. Change for AABC too – was inevitable.
The leadership of the South Sydney Region of the Diocese and of both churches were earnestly looking for solutions. The relatively new idea of re-potting a young church without property into an old church with property was mooted. St Marks was chosen because in the early stages the Malabar leaders were more open than other suitable churches in the Eastern suburbs for such a venture. Equally, AABC were prepared to give it a go. Andrew agreed to be the minister of the new merger, provided he had the full time assistance of an experienced parish minister.
Re-potting is a botanical analogy. Ok for a Botany Bay locality. But we could also think of a business analogy, eg, a merger of two companies.
The church amalgamation idea has always meant to be a genuine merger. Not a takeover by one or the other, and not an assimilation of one to the other – but a Partnership where the giftedness and experience of both partners contributes equally to the well being of the whole. Both partners are not to lose their unique identity, but to use that uniqueness to reach out to an increasingly multicultural Community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Glory of God. Let us hear more of “we” and less of “them” and “us”
• Bible References Briefly Explained
Matt 28:16-20
Make disciples of all nations
Rom 12:1,2
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind …
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a new heart, O God
Ephesians 3:14-21
Pray! God will do more than we ask or think!
The Provisional Parish St Marks Malabar + Asian Australian Bible Church UNSW
=
??????
A New Anglican Church
A new partnership entity- Does it need a new name? Does it need a new Constitution? A general name: “Malabar Anglican Church” or something else?
Two evangelical Anglican churches are becoming one new evangelical Anglican Church.
(b) An arranged Marriage? Let me give you a third helpful analogy – Marriage – an arranged marriage! Not the free wheeling romantic Aussie style of courtship.In an arranged marriage, the parents of the boy and girl negotiate, arrange swapping of pictures, and a chaperoned meeting or two – no dating or “going out”! The engagement (with the settlement of a dowry agreement) takes place and then with only a very short courtship, they get married.
In the Christian Culture of South India, on the original Malabar Coast where St Thomas is reputed to have brought the Gospel in the first century AD, most marriages today are still arranged. They claim a very low divorce rate. Instead of falling in love before they get married as here, over there they fall in love after they get married!
Hopefully that will happen as St Mark’s and AABC get to know each other. True sacrificial Christian love will grow as we make the most of the arrangement.
At the International House Program where I was in Alabama in 1964, we had a motto “Know one another and you will love one another”. We all thought it was a bit korny and was often used to tease any couple who may appear to be getting romantic! However, I and others, found that we were very ignorant of other countries, we had many false prejudices, we all thought our country was the best! But as we got to know each other individually and the national background of each one, we were less arrogant, more respectful, and willing to go out of our way to help each other and make strong friendships.
Let us then get to know each other well as we meet week by week and at services and at combined functions during the week. We can accelerate this process through mutual hospitality. Invite one another around for afternoon tea at your homes. Andrew and Shiang led the way with their “open house” at the Rectory soon after they arrived in Malabar. Lay Lee and I want to do something also. On Sunday 27th, we would like you to come to our “open house” at 25 Nix Ave: a morning tea after morning church and an afternoon tea before evening church. We would like our home to be a place of fellowship and service to the glory of Christ.
So let us pray that mutual appreciation of each church will grow and develop into deep sacrificial love for each other – well after this honeymoon period. Already I think the AABC are beginning to appreciate the sacrificial flexibility, the faithfulness, the stickability and loyalty of the older members of St Marks. On the other hand, St Mark’s folk are inspired by the freshness, commitment, ability and energy of the younger Christians of the AABC in their commitment to Christ and their church.
Both groups still need a lot of encouragement. Both have had to make sacrifices, and there may still be more to come, but both have received and are receiving more than they put in because now it is a shared spiritual and material richness. Let us continue to appreciate each other’s backgrounds and experiences. Let us appreciate the clear potential for being God’s instrument for the Gospel in this challenging district of six suburbs of this unique part of Sydney.
Furthermore, in a normal marriage the individuality of the partners is not supposed to be obliterated, but as both work together in harmony they reinforce each other and complement each other. Here the great principles of any relationship apply, viz speaking the truth in love, tolerating minor foibles and forgiving each other’s sinful wrongdoing as Christ has forgiven us. Somewhere in the mix genuine repentance will be implicit or explicit. But let the offer of forgiveness be a given and pervade the whole process of unravelling any issues which we will face together. Disputes and tensions in secular clubs and businesses get resolved. Problems should be resolved in churches also. In the church the resolution should always be characterised by truth and love. Jesus said, “Love one another as I have loved you, so shall all people know that you are my disciples”.
© The phenomena of Change: Both partners of this merger were headed for inevitable change. The leaders have taken the initiative (as leaders do) to manage those changes to the best of their ability to the glory of God. If the process so far has been imperfect for some, and hurtful for others, please offer tolerance and forgiveness and communicate the particular issues in truth and love. For many though, there have been many positives.
Don’t forget, too, that as churches change and have new ministers, there is a certain amount of unresolved grief floating around. Grief is the pain of any loss, especially irreversible ones. We can’t turn the clock back, but we can thank God for the highlights of relationship and ministries of times past. I encourage the younger members to spare a thought here for the elderly. Many of them, if not all have been buffeted by the tragedies of life, perhaps loosing a lifelong husband or wife, or son or daughter, or perhaps struggling with faith in Christ as many questions go unanswered.
They also have seen great changes in society over the last few decades and enjoy the good memories of yesterday. Often it is the traditional church, its ministry and liturgy which is the last thing to change – but change comes to the church also. Psychologically – this adds to all the other griefs. Can I speak gently to the elderly here (or anyone else grieving over change) – In all these changes, don’t put a false trust in the past, trust only in God who never changes, believe the eternal Gospel of Christ which never fails. Christ will not fail you. Grow in grace and love even more and more. The love of God in Christ – and the Word which reveals it – will never pass away.
However, we want to learn from you older folk more and more how to cope – in faith with life’s deepest problems and how we can eventually be conquerors through Christ in all things.
May God give us grace to be loyal to the unchanging Gospel and the wisdom to know what needs to be changed for the sake of the Gospel.
This new Evangelical Anglican Church has the potential to mutate into the church God wants it to be in 2006 and beyond. Don’t you want to be a part of that? I hope so.
(d) How do we get to become the church that God wants us to be? There are many methods offered in the of world church supermarket. Rick Warren’s Purpose driven Life/church, Mark Deaver’s Nine Marks. Carl F George gives great ideas in “The Coming Church Revolution” from which I developed 10 criteria (I’ll share that with you some time). With all these offerings, I consider The Sydney Diocesan Mission Plan is the best way to start here in Malabar. It was put to the Synod by PFJ in 2002 and adopted by most parishes as the way to go forward. I believe it will help us move quickly at our significant point in history. Well here it is:
2. The Diocesan Mission
a. The Statement
b. The Goal
* To see at least 10% of the population of the region of Sydney * Diocese in Bible based churches in 10 years The Commitment * The vast majority of synod Reps along with the Archdeacons and Regional Bishops signed a document of support to work towards the goal of proclaiming Christ to all people.c. The Fundamental Aim
To multiply Bible based Christian fellowships and churches which equip and nurture their members and expand themselves and “in all the world”d. The Strategy
Strategy One a. Prayer for an outpouring of God’s Spirit b. so that His People c. will be assured of his love d. through His Word and e. develop a sacrificial compassion for the lost Strategy Two f. Multiplyng Disciples, Fellowships, Congregations Strategy Three g. Multiplying Trained Leaders Strategy Four h. Reform Diocesan Structures & Organisations to support the progress of the mission3. Strategy One in Detail
1. Prayer Eph 3:14 2. For an outpouring of God’s Spirit Zech 4:6 3. So that his people will be assured of his love through his Word 1 John 5:13 4. And develop a sacrificial compassion for the lost. Matt 9:35, Mark 6:344. Conclusion:
1. Will you join God’s people if you are not his already? Turn from sin to God, Trust in Jesus as Lord and Saviour, Receive the Holy Spirit, confess this new life by getting baptised. 2. If you are clearly belonging to God’s people, can I invite you to commit yourself to this new and exciting merger. Be spiritually renewed and pray, pray, pray. 3. To help you pray even more, I am offering to construct a monthly prayer cycle, which together with the weekly service sheet will give us plenty of encouragement in prayer. 4. Don’t neglect prayer in your small groups. Make sure that chatting doesn’t squeeze out earnest prayer. 5. Focus during prayer times in church. It’s not a cat nap time! 6. Consider special times for corporate or personal prayer. 7. Today we focussed on prayer and renewal, next week we will look at multiplying disciples, fellowships and congregationsWhat is your vision for the Anglican Denomination in Malabar?
Here is my attempt to express mine. Maybe you can compose something better.
“God Glorifying Himself through the people, ministry, program, facilities and finances of Malabar Anglican Church – where people of all ages and backgrounds, and from all nations come to know Christ, grow in Christ and make Him known.”
Concluding prayer: Forgive us Lord, where we have sinned against you, renew us and use us here at St Mark’s Malabar. Guide us and enable us to pray and work, that more and more people come to know Christ, grow in Christ and make Him known. In His Name. Amen