So you're in Christian ministry... but there's this “gay thing.” It's a major pastoral issue: you know of a church where a young guy killed himself because of homosexuality. It's politicized, but it has to be talked about. You know young people who hate churches because they think you hate their gay friends. You think some people in your church are bigoted. Some youth just drift away and you wonder... You're not sure people would trust you with questions over sexuality, which is sometimes a relief – but not in the long run. You have to read more about it; you need to settle this, but you know somebody will attack you whatever you say. You need to capture God's heart, and then connect with all the issues. You watch TV and the “God Hates Fags Lev. 18:22” signs make you sick in your stomach. You think about it: How did Jesus hang with sinners? Is a sin an “identity”? Is your church a safe place for honesty? What would a Christian with a same-sex orientation experience growing up in your church? What would you say to him or her? What would you do? What would you never say or do? “Unless the trumpet sounds a clear signal...” – but “if I have not love...”
From Thu 25 to Sat 27 February 2010, Imagine Darlinghurst, an inner-city Baptist church in Sydney Australia, will be running a forum on sexual identity and Christian ministry. We will discuss:
Focus will be on the pastoral issues of suicide and sexual brokenness in our fellowships and communities.
To provide a space where Christian leaders can reflect on sexual issues – some of them highly contentious – in a Christlike spirit of love, and to pursue grace and truth together.
Biblical truths, scientific research and a Christ centered compassionate response will all be conversation and forum topics specifically for those who find themselves in an alternative sexual identity, i.e. the GLBT (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender) communities.
To allow pastoral empathy to focus our questions about biblical, social and personal realities as they affect ministry in the church and the wider world.
Growth in understanding, an increase in compassion and most importantly action in our communities as a result of the practical application of the ideas discussed in the forum.
Daryl Gardiner -- Former National Director YFC New Zealand (15 yrs), International Speaker |
Rob Buckingham -- Senior Minister, Bayside Church, Melbourne |
Cath McKinney -- Pastor of St Martins, Collingwood Community Church |
Dr Matthew McArdle -- Dr Matthew McArdle. Consultant Psychiatrist MBBS FRANZCP. |
This a 3-day conference from Thursday night to Saturday afternoon. The following outline is provisional, and may change considerably, but illustrates the most likely outline –
|
February |
Thu 25th |
Fri 26th |
Sat 27th |
|
Morning |
– |
8:00am Story 8:30am Hon. Michael Kirby to open Forum Officially 9:00am Hopestreet Women's Space on Female Sexuality - Stuart Davey on Male Sexuality 9:30am Morning Tea 9:50am Male and Female gender discussion 10:30am First Panel: Pastoral Care and Biblical Teaching 11:40am Organizing your elective breakaway session groups |
8:00am Arrival and commencement of day 8:30am Talk and Panel by our Mental Health Experts 9:45am Morning tea and getting to next elective session 10:10am 5th Elective breakaway session 11:50am 6th Elective breakaway session |
|
Afternoon |
– |
12:30pm Lunch organized by yourself with other participants to experience the local area in the lead up to Mardi Gras. 2:00pm 1st elective breakaway session commences 2:40pm 2nd Elective breakaway session commences 3:35pm 3rd Elective breakaway session commences 4:30pm 4th Elective breakaway session commences 5:10pm Summary and wrap up of day sessions |
|
|
Evening |
5:00pm Arrival and Dinner 5:30pm Introduction of Forum and Speakers 6:00pm Cath McKinney 6:30pm Walk to Salvation Army Surry Hills (approx 10 mins) 7:00pm Coffee/tea and music with Geoff Bullock 7:30pm Rob Buckingham 8:00pm Story and Darryl Gardener 9:00pm Finish |
Open Night Separate registration available. |
– |
Email Zack Turner <zack@imagine.org.au>, the conference coordinator.
Supply your address and preferred email and phone contacts. Indicate whether you can billet a certain number of fellow attendees, or for how many you wish to request billeting.
The conference fee is $120, but will be adjusted up or down by $40 per person where billeting is requested or provided.
You can bring as many people as you like to the Open Night, just indicate likely numbers on the registration form.
If you are a minister who wishes to attend ONLY for the Open Night, registration is $40, and covers anyone you wish to bring also.
Copy the following form and email it to Zack Turner.
----------------- REGISTRATION FORM ----------------- Name: Position: Church: Address: Mobile: How did you hear about this forum? How many people do you think you would most likely bring to the open night on Friday 26th? [ ] Are you registering ONLY for the Friday night? [ ] Require billeting? [ ] Offer billeting? (How many beds?) --------------- PAYMENT DETAILS --------------- [ ] I have Direct Debited $________.____ (No: BSB 704922 Acc 100008975). Note: If your name is J Smith, label the transfer: “IMAGINE J SMITH”. [ ] I will send a cheque for $________.____ to Imagine Darlinghurst, P.O. Box 156, Darlinghurst NSW 1300 AUSTRALIA.