1. Darren Cronshaw (ACOM), Carole Gan (NCLS), Geoff Maddock (BUV)
Churches that Develop Communities: A Survey of Victorian Baptist Churches
Darren Cronshaw (ACOM),
Carole Gan (NCLS),
Geoff Maddock (BUV)
and other BUV & NCLS input (Collier Charitable Grant project)

2. How are churches assets/ development agents where they are placed?.
How are churches assets/ development agents where they are placed?
Post-Christendom
Church in society contested
vs reductionist/ consumeristic ecclesiology serves members
“Missional”/ “missionary by its very nature” (Vatican II)
Emerging ecumenical consensus missio Dei

3. 2016 NCLS Operations & attenders survey .
Methodology
2016 NCLS Operations & attenders survey
Sample 51 churches, 8708 attenders (¼)
Cf. other Baptists & all Aus churches
Interviews of 9 pastors
Volunteering
Welfare provision
Social services
Prophet advocacy
Environmental care
Reflective practice for developing
Baptist community engagement

4. Theological inspiration Vision for shalom (Jer 29:7) .
Theological inspiration
Vision for shalom (Jer 29:7)
“Advancing the Kingdom of God”
Placemaking
Community development
Empowering leadership
Incarnational mission
Integral/holistic mission (Mic 6:8)

5. .

6. .
“There are signs that the wider Australian community will listen seriously to the churches once certain conditions are met. In the land of the ‘fair go’, where deeds speak louder than words, high-flown ideals are viewed with suspicion and authoritarianism is despised, the churches and leaders have to demonstrate, first and foremost, that they care. Once they do, they gain real respect.” (Muriel Porter 1990:100)

7. Mustard Tree (Lilydale).
Mustard Tree (Lilydale)
Op shop for building program --> Mustard Tree food bank/ community meal/ community garden/ homeless accommodation
“gathered to go”
“stay in own paddock … showers but not homes, help with chemist bills not cash, emergency food not daily food, listening not professional counselling.”
challenge of separation
(Ps Stewart Barnard)

8. .
What does this tell us?

9. Internal preoccupation of members.
Internal preoccupation of members
+ Survey of existing member (what about those outside)
Need “blue ocean” innovation not just “red ocean” competition
(Rev Daniel Bullock, BUV Director of Ministries)

10. Placemaking (Norlane) (Simon & Keylene Reeves, Lead Placemakers).
Placemaking (Norlane)
(Simon & Keylene Reeves, Lead Placemakers)
5th most disadvantaged area
Neighbourhood church/ intentional community/ CD organization
Not Sunday focused: Community meal (& service), People’s Pantry, community garden, men’s breakfast and Longroom meeting
E.g. sharing eggs  suicide comfort

11. .
How

12. .
How

13. Good news at Eaglehawk, Bendigo .
Good news at Eaglehawk, Bendigo
“celebrate members in local agencies – like Lions Club – that are all about community and doing good in our community.”
Neigbouring school brekky club & mentoring
Advocacy “We generally emphasise what we are for and not what we are against in the community” (e.g. welcoming local mosque)
“We are clear with our church that we are in the community as tour guides not travel agents … we journey alongside people and show them our life, not just tell them about the good news of the gospel.”
(Brock Gravener, Campus pastor)

14. .
How

15. Contextualised Food Relief at New Hope .
Contextualised Food Relief at New Hope
Food pantry, weeekly + emergency
Persian preference for vouchers
Brazilian group distribution
“Invite a refugee for lunch” transformed by mutuality (Lk 10:7-8)
(Monique ten Hoopen,
Director of Community Care)

16. .

17. .

18. Support for Burmese refugees (Rev Mang Hre .
Support for Burmese refugees
(Rev Mang Hre
& Chin Christian Church Melbourne)

19. .

20. .
How

21. Mad Cow advocacy @ Bendigo Poker machines .
Mad Cow Bendigo
Poker machines
Advocacy for Karen refugees against racism
Mad Cow Cleaning (2 hour contract  20 employees)

22. .

23. “fostering hope on a cosmic scale” 100s of “communities of hope” .
Unshackled (New Hope)
3 legged stool
“fostering hope on a cosmic scale”
100s of “communities of hope”
“everyone on mission in community all the time”
Advocacy focus:
Unshackled
First peoples
Refugees
Domestic violence

24. .
How

25. .
How

26. Final reflections