Letters to the Editor August

AMS Staff | 30 July 2007

Font size: + - | print | email to a friend

Challenge to bridge generation gap

The July issue was all about bridging the generation gap in church and trying to identify the reason why older teenagers stop attending church.
It is somewhat ironic, then, that book reviewer David Mackay saw fit to rubbish the Worship book by 22-year-old Dan Korocz. Obviously condescending lines like ‘I think Dan is confusing excitement with the Holy Spirit’ reflect the reviewer’s feeling of the Pentecostal movement rather than a personal reflection on the book or Dan.
The whole article suggested Dan’s age precludes him from being able to comment on worship, and in fact we are encouraged to read more ‘reliable books’ on the subject by authors such as Bob Kauflin, because “he has maturity on his side”.
I think this sums up the root cause of why Anglican churches are unable to retain older teenagers and Dan’s church, Christian City Church, Oxford Falls, is packing them in week after week. It is not a theological issue, but a generational one. Dan’s church relates to kids.

Barry Smith
Bowral, NSW

I often say that instead of social services spending so much money on delinquent kids, they ought to send them to a third world country on a six-week stint helping out on a worthwhile project. It would probably change their outlook on everything for ever.
What has that to do with the article “Bridging the generation gap”? (SC, July) A lot! Young people often want a challenge, they need to take risks, they want to do something worthwhile and know that there is meaning to their lives.
What if the Sydney Diocese did something really radical like challenge their 18-to-25-year-olds to take part in a life-changing inspiring program?
The first stage would be to develop an innovative evangelistic idea or activity.
A panel of people could judge the most outstanding results and then the best would then get the chance to go to a third world country and work for a month with a mission outreach project.
This could be an ongoing annual challenge to allow several church youth groups to participate and get fired up about the challenge, service and mission.

Kathryn Broughton
Petersham, NSW

I really liked the point made by Graham Stanton (SC, July) that loving Jesus and loving teenagers are more important criteria for youth ministry, whereas age and clothing style are irrelevant.

Sarah Jackson
Shellharbour City, NSW

We need to send more mishos, not less

Stuart Brooking (‘Investing for the Future’, SC June) makes some valid points in regards to supporting Bible colleges in the developing world.
However, the days of ‘sending’ missionaries are not over. Stella Maris Mariano, who heads student ministry in Argentina, was asked, “Should we send money or missionaries to Argentina?”. She thought about it carefully, then said… “we need people who can model ministry to us, especially in areas like student work where we don’t have many models”.
Stella’s perspective is helpful – ministry needs to be modelled. In response to the graph about the cost of sending missionaries, it actually costs only a little more to the Christian community if I go as a missionary to Argentina or continue in ministry here.
I’ve been working in Sydney with AFES, and have relied on the generosity of God’s people to the tune of $50,000 per annum.
We are now heading to Argentina to work with students there, and it won’t cost much more than that. We are still relying on the generosity of God’s people. It just means that the recipients are people in another place - with greater needs!
Perhaps we need to rethink what it means to be generous. Perhaps every Sydney church could look to put on another staff member – but this time the staff member works in a different place where they don’t have the resources we enjoy.

Martin Field
Dundas, NSW

Christ meets me anywhere

I agree with all Archbishop Jensen said in his article ‘Meet with Christ’ (SC July). But the implication bothers me. Can I only meet Jesus when I go to church? Scripture and my own experience says ‘no’. Jesus told his disciples in Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”. This does not suggest a church, but a small group.
Does not Jesus meet us when we pray, in our own quiet times with a Bible open or without one at all – just because we have invited Him? This has been my experience, even this week as I supported a friend who was in court for three days. I prayed from 10 to 4 each day and Jesus met me.

Helen McNab
Kings Park, WA

Reduce spouse‘s stress

“Course tackles ministry marriage concerns” (SC, July) was most timely. Clergy wives have traditionally been exploited shamelessly.
My grandmother was married to an erratic Anglican priest. She was a pianist of some note, who sacrificed a career to act as an “unpaid curate”. That still happens.
I would suggest every minister stand up at the time of his induction, and say “That is my spouse, sitting in the front pew. You are not getting two for the price of one. I am your pastor.”

SEP James
Edgecliff, NSW

Featured letter

It’s sad that the average age of the Sydney population has increased but the average age of Sydney Anglicans has decreased (2006 NCLS in SC July). Are old people being squeezed out of the churches?
It would be more helpful to give actual numbers rather than percentages when commenting on the NCLS. While the census does not indicate whether church attendance is up or down, it paints a sad picture for Sydney Anglicans - down 10.5% or 90,000 people compared to a national decline in Anglicans of 4.7 per cent. Should we spend more time praying for revival?

Rewa Bate
Tea Gardens, NSW

Click here to comment on this article for the next edition of Southern Cross