Greetings from Chris Clarke, CEOKia ora koutouIn her commentary on the implications of the 2023 Faith and Belief Study Karen Kemp (Laidlaw Centre for Church Leadership) writes “the challenge for the church is to reconnect with the good news of our own story …all but one of the barriers to engagement with Christianity are symptomatic of a poorly embodied gospel.” Wow! As we look to finalise our next three-year strategy, we are wrestling with similar questions – how do we fully embody the gospel? How do we create an environment which stimulates the outworking of the gospel in ways which are winsome, compelling, credible, and respectful of culture, gender, and life stage. Candidly, we don’t have the answers, nor do I suspect are we meant to. Revival is an act of the Holy Spirit, not a planning team. Nonetheless, within the Wilberforce Community there are exemplar leaders and organisations we can learn from. Many operate on the fringes of our community and have little idea just how heroic their work is. For some it is primarily through words and the arts - creating resources which tell our story, better equipping the saints, or challenging injustice. For others it is through deeds –supporting the vulnerable and caring for God’s creation. Whilst our strategy is still in formation, some elements are becoming clear. The first is to continue our work supporting faith-based organisations grow in capability and capacity. Secondly, to support leaders to grow in character, capabilities, and call. Thirdly, to journey closely with organisations and leaders who are seeking to fully embody the gospel, work alongside the local church, and share their journey with other Wilberforce Community members. “We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realising that. This enables us to do something, and to do it very well. It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for the Lord’s grace to enter and do the rest. We may never see the end results, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker. We are ministers, not messiahs. We are prophets of a future not our own.”
From a prayer by Ken Utener
Blessings on you and your work over this coming month, Chris Clarke Mentoring ProgrammeWe were delighted with the response we received from people wishing to join our mentoring programme, in collaboration with the Mentoring Foundation of New Zealand. Through this programme, leaders in our network will be matched with a mentor to encourage and equip them in their leadership journey. The programme is now full for the Auckland cohort. We do still have space available for the Christchurch cohort, and this is open to leaders in any location who are willing to travel to Christchurch for the commencement of the programme. If you would like to find out more, please contact Lisa Silipa (lisa@wilberforce.org.nz) as soon as possible and no later than May 8th. As a reminder, we welcome CEO's and Board Chairpeople to take up this opportunity. Would you like us to promote a role vacancy or event for your organisation?We often receive requests from organisations to share role vacancies or upcoming events with our mailing list. We would love to help with this! So, we are going to start sending a monthly 'Wilberforce Community News' email, where we pull together the various requests we have to share content. We will automatically send you this if you are on our current mailing list. However, if you wish to unsubscribe from the Wilberforce Community News there will be the option to do so while still remaining on our general mailing list. There are so many wonderful opportunities to share with our Wilberforce Community, and we look forward to trialling this new option for sharing news with you. If you have content you would like to share please email news@wilberforce.org.nz Requests will need to be received by the first Friday of the month in order to make the news for that month. Faith and Belief Study Resources AvailableAs a reminder, we have a range of resources available from the Faith and Belief study, including our recently published Companion Guide for Christian Organisations and Companion Guide for Churches. In addition, we have the reports from the study and the full video of our event in Ōtautahi, Christchurch. Ngā HereIf you haven't checked out Season Two of the Ngā Here podcast, we highly recommend you do. Ngā Here is a podcast which explores how Christians engage with one another and with the natural environment in the context of Aotearoa New Zealand. This season includes conversations with a great range of guests, and has been widely appreciated. We are delighted to announce the Ngā Here Season Three is currently in production, and would encourage you to enjoy Season Two if you haven't already.
What we’re reading/listening to…Some time ago, we used to include book and podcast recommendations in this newsletter. They’re back! This is a great way for leaders to share with one another the material that’s inspiring them. Thanks to Jo Hood for starting us off with some fabulous suggestions. Jo Hood is the visionary behind Mainly Ministires – best known for their iconic Mainly Music programme which gives churches a vehicle to connect with their local community. Here are some of the books and podcasts Jo has been enjoying lately... Red Skies, A collection of voices curated by L. Rowland SmithPublished by 100Mpublishing.com Jesus commented to the Pharisees that they knew how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times (Matthew 16:2-3). As disciples and leaders, we cannot afford to make the same mistake. This is a collection of ten esteemed voices bringing their perspective on cultural change in our world. While most writers come from an American worldview, their theological background and personal journey creates a wide variety of comment. I particularly appreciated the diversity of thought, the challenges made, and the hope brought. Rather than a 10-step plan of how to respond, the writers made comment of ways can consider in formulating our own response. Many of these are topics that I’m grappling with; having something concise to consider was helpful. Well worth a read and if you buy the paper copy, have a pen and highlighter handy to write notes in the margins. A Non-anxious Presence, Mark SayersEvery 500 years, we see church change. According to many, Mark Sayers being one, we’re in that period of that change. Mark is an Australian theological sociologist, church planter and pastor. If we are in this period of change, how can we navigate the way forward? What part of history do we draw upon in making decisions, so that not only the Church might flourish, but also those of us who contribute to the Church with specialist resources? Mark has an easy way of writing that makes for enjoyable yet heart-stopping reading. As he outlines his thesis for the impact we can have on culture, you’ll be reminded that God is in control, and that we can participate with Him in awakening this generation of believers to see change. If we resist, we will likely be left behind or placed in a state of sprinting to catch up. With all due respect, podcast with Michael Jensen and Megan Powell du ToitI have two favourite podcasts, and this is one. Michael Jensen, Sydney Anglican, and Megan Powell du Toit, Australian Baptist, grab a topic and look it from all sides, in a manner that respects each other’s theological starting point. One I particularly enjoyed recently is titled, ‘Is there something about Mary?’ As evangelicals or protestants, we bring Mary out each Christmas. Are we cautious because of the focus placed on her by Catholicism? This has been to our detriment. Understanding and exploring Mary has so much to offer in our journey as a disciple. I’ve been wrestling with the content of this podcast since listening. You’ll love the discussion they have with New Testament scholar, The Rev Dr Sarah Harris (from NZ). Sarah joins the podcast to discuss how Mary fits into theological history. With all due respect is available on the popular podcast platforms and a few less known! You’re sure to find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Ask NT Wright anything, podcast with NT Wright and Tom WrightThis is the second of my two favourite podcasts. Author (NT Wright and Tom Wright) and NT theologian is easy to listen to as he answers questions sent into the show. Each time I listen, I’m astounded at the way Tom respectfully and carefully offers an answer, without trashing the questions. His New Testament knowledge and background brings understanding. More recently, the podcast has been publishing previous recordings; they’re so topical and on point. Of particular interest was one on Israel, recorded well before the current war in the area. As you drive around, go for a run or a walk, this is a podcast, like With all due respect that you’ll find yourself returning to as you consider the content. Work and be on WaihekeLooking for a change of pace? Do you need space for reflection, writing, creating or planning? How about doing it on Waiheke? The home of Wilberforce founders Ian and Wendy Kuperus is generously made available for members of the Wilberforce Community to utilise for ministry related purposes. On the 21st and 22nd of May (a Tuesday/Wednesday) our Operations Manager, Melanie, is going to open up the Waimarama property to any member of our Wilberforce Community who would like to come for a day or two, with an overnight stay optional. If you would like a beautiful space to work and or just 'be', we welcome you to contact Melanie for more information. We hope to do this throughout the year to offer people an easy opportunity for a refreshing change of scene. Please note, there will be no formal programme offered and this will be mostly self-catered, but we anticipate there will be times people can connect with one another if they wish to do so. |