Great excitement in Adelaide all this week, as we’ve been teaching at Tabor College. Lots of engagement with themes that, to be honest, we’ve become so familiar with that we’re surprised how much excitement we’ve stirred up. New forms of church, Fresh Expressions, Mission Shaped Ministry – all stuff that we take for granted in the UK, but which is news (and very good news, it seems) to Christians in this city. Meetings with the archbishop as well as students (all of whom are also church leaders – and from a wide variety of traditions and types of church). Some of them have found it a bit challenging hearing from a female church mouse, but that’s not especially new in the grand scheme of things. Overall, the experience has made us quite proud of all that has been accomplished in UK churches in recent years, and also makes a trip to the other side of the world worthwhile as we realize we have been bringing totally new thinking into this situation. Whoever would have imagined that tired mainline churches in the UK would have so much to share with others worldwide. Something to do with the missio Dei, probably.
And this koala came down from the tree to greet us. Reminded us of a certain story in the gospels!
