Ecominister project MNC presbytery

Our occasion: growing tendency to seek the Spirit in creation, outside the church. growing tendency to seek the Spirit in creation, outside the church. the ever growing impact of humans on God’s creation the ever growing impact of humans on God’s creation fresh words: for those outside the church seeking a community of faith to belong to, who are open to “church” but not in its current form for those outside the church seeking a community of faith to belong to, who are open to “church” but not in its current form for existing church communities seeking to express their love of the Creator through their love of creation. for existing church communities seeking to express their love of the Creator through their love of creation. Fresh deeds: partnerships with community organisations (people of good will) partnerships with community organisations (people of good will) Ecominister project MNC presbytery

New eco-faith communities: - belonging for those outside the church - leading the wider church into “fresh words and deeds” - growing new leaders and new offshoot communities The MNC-UCA is known in the community, and other churches, for its journey in bringing faith and life in the “ecos” together. through an informed faith, created in contact with contemporary thought, in cooperation with people of good will. If not funded: Much more time will need to be spent on maintaining the existing institution than spawning new faith communities Eco focus diluted with general resourcing (U-turn) The hope Ecominister project MNC presbytery

(Rev Dr) Jason John will lead the project as ecominister Inroads made in first month: Bellingen Institute: on sustainability & spirituality task group Eco Bello climate action group: joint World Environment Day film, workshop and worship service Local food group member: exploring establishing a community garden Renewable Energy Fair: stall promoting eco-faith. Already firm commitment from two families for a new faith community (without yet even pursuing the possibility) Inroads… Ecominister project MNC presbytery

God’s mission is the reconciliation and renewal of all creation Our call is to serve that end. (Basis paragraph 3) God’s mission NSW Synod has increasingly recognised the importance of this call, summarised in the greenchurch website MNC presbytery has identified a specific opportunity to be part of this call, given the demographic of its surrounding communities, especially in the northern region. Ecominister project MNC presbytery

Personnel: 0.6 of a category 3 stipend plus the usual extras Project costs: Why through SMRF? Synod Directions and SMRF Policy Goals: “To encourage the development of new faith communities, including parallel congregations, new worship opportunities and new ways of being church.” “Greening” existing churches, theologically and practically, has also been identified as a mission priority by the Synod. Many of the possible collaborative ventures with the wider community will be expressions of the project U-turn initiative. Asking for Ecominister project MNC presbytery

The best thing about this project is… Its potential to create new communities of faith which, with the existing congregations, better serve God’s mission of the reconciliation and renewal of all creation, and become known for doing so. Why prioritise this project: 1. New faith communities are a key need in the Synod and MNC presbytery. 2. Humans need a new way of understanding our place in the world if we are to ease the growing ecological crisis. 3. Since some theology has contributed to this crisis we should be part of the solution. Summary Ecominister project MNC presbytery