The Anglican Diocese of Ballarat-Bishop's Blog

PROFESSOR AND BISHOP WALK [4] | 10/12/2009

After lunch we wandered down to the Mortlake high school for a talk and then a walk around a small man made lake next to the school. The kids were great. They sat there throughout the talk listening intently to what Peter and I were saying and then asked some good questions. Peter pitched his bit about global warming and carbon outputs at just the right level and the kids, I hope, were able to appreciate just how they can have an impact on the rising carbon levels. We then headed off to walk around the lake. On a one to one basis the students were most impressive.

Reconciliation Day | 26/10/2009

Reconciliation Day: On Saturday last we travelled to Ararat at the invitation of the deacons to have a day of quiet and reflection on the theme of reconciliation and healing. Responding to the cries of people across the Diocese, they exercised their diaconal vocations in gathering us together in the name of Jesus. This was not to be a day of politics, or discussion or an evaluation of rights and wrongs. It was a time when we, the Body of Christ in this part of the Kingdom, responding to a divine calling, came together for quiet prayer, meditation, confession and healing. In other words, we did what the Lord wants us to do and even commanded us to do.

The Kingdom of God | 10/10/2009

Jesus taught the kingdom and as we read through the Gospels it is clear that what Jesus had in mind was not some political/sociological/geographical reality but the power of God himself at work in creation. It was a kingdom that could only be understood and perceived through faith. While the kingdoms of the nations of the world can be experienced through their power and influence and are usually marked by human self serving and self interest, the Kingdom of God is marked by love, sacrifice and a death of the self. The Kingdom proclaimed and inaugurated by Jesus was a Kingdom beyond all human expectation, human actions and human history. The Kingdom of God was about our human existence being completed and fulfilled and once more caught up in the very life of God himself. The Kingdom of God is something God himself is doing in his creation.

Ministry | 05/10/2009

A key part of our renewed understanding of the nature of the Church is to remind ourselves, over and over again that baptism brings a person into ministry within the Body of Christ. Gone are the days when believers could come along to church on Sunday to be a part of an audience. One cannot be a passive believer for baptism brings with it an expectation of ministry according to the divine gifts bestowed on the ones baptised. Thomas O’Meara beautifully describes the Church as being clusters of people with a world to serve. This picks up the two key ingredients: the Church is a community and it is a community with a call to serve the broader world. Any understanding of our identity as Catholics will need to be built on these two realities: we are called through baptism to form a community (and communities) of faith and we are to be reaching out to meet the needs of the world in which we find ourselves living.

Back to Church Sunday & Religion and Faith | 14/09/2009

We celebrated Back to Church Sunday over the weekend and so far some of the stories that have come out are encouraging. What was really reassuring was to see how many of our faith communities participated in what has become a Communion wide initiative. Of course, with all of these there was a mixed reception but the exciting thing is the willingness to reach out and do something about growing our faith communities. The more we try these initiatives the more we attune ourselves to the movement of God and when God is given half a chance, things happen.

Bishops & Country and City Inequality | 04/04/2008

What a world we live in. In Melbourne, millions can be put aside from tax payers money to fund a car race that satisfies the yearnings of a miniscule number of people. Millions can be put aside for all kinds of studies, trips overseas, perks to keep MPs happy and an amazing range of nonsense. Do we see a problem here? ... If there are city-country inequalities they are being fostered and deepened by a parochial and city bound state government.

Walk of Faith Day 25 | 25/03/2008

It was only a short walk to Beaufort (about twenty-five kilometres) so we were under no pressure of time, a real blessing at this end of the walk. But the traffic was bad. I do not know whether or not it was because it was the day after a public holiday or not but the trucks and cars were unceasing. This Western Highway has proved to be the most dangerous section of the whole of the walk and the dog has been on the leash more along this road than along any other section. It is truly amazing just how fast the vehicles travel and how closely they sit to the car in front of them. What is even more amazing is that there are not more accidents along the highway. One moment of distraction and there could have been a massive pile up.

Walk of Faith Day 23 | 12/03/2008

The evening gathering at Skipton was a great night. There were just on forty people present, from all denominations. The Winnebago was parked next to the church and the hall was next door. So not much walking. And just as well as the afternoon leading to Skipton had been a hot one.

Walk of Faith Day 24 | 12/03/2008

Ararat was bliss. Just being able to put my feet up and know that I did not have to walk for a couple of days was a great psychological boost. Not that my feet are creating any problems. I have no aches and pains. More a case of weariness.

Walk of Faith Day 22 | 06/03/2008

Lismore: A fine morning and a 7am start. The evening before we had over forty people for the evening meal and talk. They came from every Church in town, including the Presbyterian minister who lives in Skipton. He is a Singaporean Chinese man, married to a Korean wife, so is something of a new experience for the people of Skipton. But they are used to an international community.

Walk of Faith Day 20 | 29/02/2008

One of the great joys of walking along the south coast has been the wild fruit. Somewhere in the past, someone has planted fruit trees along the roadside and even despite the drought, there has been quite of lot of fruit for the picking. Some of it has been a bit sour but there have been enough apples and plumbs to keep me happy. And, particularly since Camperdown, there have been acres of blackberries.

Walk of Faith Day 19 | 28/02/2008

The walk out of Warrnambool to Terang required an early start as it was to be the longest walk so far. It was a beautiful morning. No rain, windless and a slight cloud cover. It was going to be a good day for walking. Fr Scott walked with me to the edge of the town and was a good opportunity to talk with him about the parish and the way he has settled into the parish. We had decided that seeing we had a long road ahead of us, I would walk for fifteen kilometres (three hours) before a break. We then had a very brief break and then on for another ten kilometres for lunch. Kevin managed to prepare some pea and ham soup, topped up with capsicum and rounded off with blue vein cheese. It was scrumptious.

Walk of Faith Day 18 | 25/02/2008

It is now two days later and I have had a rest day in Warranambool. But the Fitzroy river. That was a good night, sitting around talking and relaxing with a few people from the parish. I remember when I first went to Portland. They were coming out of a difficult period and were without a permanent priest and were full of fight. I was down there soon after being enthroned as Bishop for a Saturday session on renewal, though at first that is the last thing some of them wanted to talk about. But, by the end of the day, all was well and they showed their true colours. They wanted to move on and their passion for the Church showed through - just as it did on the day I walked into Portland and down on the Fitzroy river. They want the Church to grow and see that it has an important place in the local community. With that, all is possible and now with Fr Dennis there providing good pastoral and priestly care, I am confident that the parish will provide leadership across the region.

Walk of Faith Day 16 | 22/02/2008

I was talking to a bloke down on the beach at Portland and he reminded me of something Leroy said at the Condah pub. We were talking about how difficult it is sometimes bringing people together to talk. He has arranged the seating on the verandah so that the customers now face each other and he found that they now talk instead of sitting there grunting into their beer. He told me of another of his projects. Once a year he brings some strippers down from Sydney and they put on a show. That night, he says, the place is packed. Nothing like having strippers dancing on the billiard table to bring the blokes in from the bush. It is an annual event that is firmly etched in their collective memories.

Walk of Faith Day 15 | 21/02/2008

Hamilton was a joy. We arrived on the Saturday evening and were welcomed by a large group of parishioners and fed with a BBQ. I have never seen so many sausages and burgers. It was a hot night and I spent much of the time outside with some of the men, listening to the state of the nation and talking about what I had seen.

Walk of Faith Day 13 | 16/02/2008

When I caught my first glimpse of Coleraine, I decided to take a photo and the best spot seemed to be from the top of a cutting. I managed that part alright but then found that there was no track back down the other end of the cutting and I did not want to walk back the way I came. I made a mistake. I tried to climb down the side wall of the cutting. On the way over the edge, I saw a snake sunning itself on the chicken wire that was used to hold the dirt in place and tried to move sideways to give him the respect he so obviously deserves. But, my right foot did not work all that well and I caught the toe of my shoe on the wire and fell over the side of the cutting. Head first!.

Walk of Faith Day 12 | 15/02/2008

We arrived at Harrow and were welcomed by one of the lay ministry team, Glennys Heycock. She was on a real high, having just led her first service at the Edenhope hostel for the elderly. This was quite an accomplishment as the priest had not prepared her for it, nor had he left her any material she could use. But with help from someone else, she put together a good service and relaxed enough to lead a good celebration. Given that it is by now almost impossible to find a priest to minister in such an isolated place as Edenhope, her ministry is going to become more and more important in the future. I suspect she will do very well at it.

Walk of Faith Day 10 | 14/02/2008

It is the obvious question isnâ??t it. Why the walking? Arenâ??t there simpler and easier ways of speaking to people? There are a number of reasons for the walk. One of the most obvious is that it is a wonderful opportunity to not only see the countryside but also to meet the people in their own environment. People are always more relaxed and comfortable on their own turf and I end up being the outsider having to ask the questions. That is good for me and good for them. When I later on see them at meetings or have to make decisions that will impact on their life in the Church, I at least have a better understanding of what might be involved.

Walk of Faith Day 8 | 13/02/2008

It was a beautiful morning, with the air cool and with just a slight hint of moisture. I was thrilled to be joined by Marg Maynard and we strolled out through town on the road to Natimuk. There is a good example of the depth of faith that is to be found in our Church communities. Now, at the age of 25+ she has begun to take Holy Communion to the sick. After a life of faithful ministry at all kinds of levels in the Church, she has now discovered what a beautiful thing it is to take the Body of the Lord to the sick and housebound. And she belted along at a fair pace as well. We parted at the edge of the development on the west of the town and Horatio and I headed off into the morning.

Walk of Faith Day 6 | 12/02/2008

It was a quiet day today. Much of it spent at Church for Mass and the social events afterwards. Then, in the afternoon, it was off to Murtoa for a harvest festival. This is an annual ecumenical event organized by the ministers fraternal and was a very well attended prayer time. I was the preacher, though I noticed in the programme that I was given the title Bishop of Bendigo. I do not think Bishop Andrew has caught up on that one yet.