This is a brief reflection about three words found in Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. The first two words appear in Paul’s ‘thanksgiving’ near the beginning. He thanks God for (1) their ‘speech’, and (2) their ‘knowledge.’ Of course the two are connected. First they ‘know’ and then they ‘speak.’

The story of the Anglican Church of Australia could be interpreted as one like Jerusalem in the days of Jeremiah and Ezra. Our best days have become distant memories, our people are living in a far off land, the walls have collapsed and no strength is left.

I think I will scream the next time I hear someone say ‘times are hard’ with respect to many of our churches’ ability to raise finances. We have never had it so good! There has never been a better time to raise finances for ministry!

Most books on church planting, church growth and ethnic ministries use the Homogeneous Unit Principle (HUP). Don’t be scared off, this is just a big term for what we all know and observe; that people want to be with people who are like them. We see it every day in who we gather around us as friends, who we spend time with at parties and where we choose to live.

Mission Impossible? From a ‘worldly’ perspective, yes, the diocesan goal of reaching 10 per cent of Sydney’s affluent, self centred and hardhearted population of nearly four million for Jesus Christ does seem like a daunting task. Well, it so happens that I am writing from Gosford where the World Anglican Chinese Clergy and Workers’ Fellowship Conference is being held. Yes, what a mouthful, but what a conference!

I am one of those happy people who are enjoying Southern Cross’s recent attention on the Diocesan Mission. It has been encouraging to read of people across the Diocese who are engaging their neighbours with the gospel in love. But, in the process, I keep feeling unsettled by the way some of my brothers and sisters are speaking about ‘church’.

It is encouraging to see in many of the churches of the Northern Region the words of the Diocesan Mission displayed prominently in the foyer or on the notice board: ‘To glorify God by proclaiming our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ in prayerful dependence on the Holy Spirit, so that everyone will hear his call to repent, trust and serve Christ in love, and be established in the fellowship of his disciples while they await his return.’

Our churches need to have a good look at themselves. It seems that we suffer from endemic internal problems.

As thousands of students flood university campuses this month, are Christians ready to be bold?

How easily migrants fit into life in Australia parallels how smoothly they become part of our church life.

Who are we are seeking to share Christ with? A recently published report from the Church of England, The Mission-Shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of Church in a Changing Context (Church House Publishing, 2004) has much to teach us. Or rather, to remind us of what we are also finding in our own Mission.

When we think about Christian ministry, church growth and training, we find ourselves with the problem of the chicken and the egg. Which comes first: do we look to grow the church and then train people from among the congregation, or do we make training our starting point and grow the church from there?

If Christians are to reach ethnic Australians, we need churches and ministries tailored to their needs.

Quite a few years ago, the Principal of Mary Andrews College, Narelle Jarrett, took an initiative which I was very doubtful about. She opened up the possibility of diploma level study in a part-time way at centres around the Diocese, especially geared to women students.