A danger in children’s ministry is that it becomes disconnected: children are disconnected from ministry to adults on Sundays and Sundays are disconnected from any wider ministry during the week.
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Practical principles for kids’ ministry
Moore College stands firmly against domestic violence
Coercion and violence is never acceptable in family life. God created families to be contexts of mutual love, respect and nurture.
The recent release of the Anglican Church of Australia’s report into domestic abuse and family violence in church communities makes clear that in church families, every bit as much as in the wider community, God’s intention for marriage and family life is blighted by human sinfulness.
Our concern must always be first and foremost for the victims of this tragic betrayal. We cannot say too strongly or too often that domestic violence is entirely incompatible with the teaching of the Bible. The attempt to justify any form of violence or coercion by appeal to the Bible is in fact a scandalous twisting of the Bible’s teaching which dishonours the God whose word this is.
There is much we must do to protect the vulnerable and strengthen family life and I pray this report might be a stepping stone towards that not just in Anglican churches but in all churches and all communities.
The Rev Canon Dr Mark D Thompson, Principal
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Theological principles for kids’ ministry
Right thinking fuels right practice. Having set the vision in part 1 of this series, here are 5 theological principles to help lay the foundation for a family ministry in your church. They may not be new, but they are fundamental.
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Dr Colin Bale becomes Emeritus!
At the end of this semester, Dr Colin Bale will retire from the Moore College faculty. Dr Bale was appointed to the faculty in 1999 and has served as head of the Church History department, Academic Dean, and Vice Principal. During some of that time he worked on his PhD at Sydney University in the area of Australian history, and more particularly the lessons to be learned from the gravestone inscriptions of those who fell in the First World War.
Dr Bale has made a remarkable contribution to the life and health of Moore College. In recognition of this, the Governing Board of the College has unanimously agreed to appoint him as an Emeritus Faculty member upon his retirement. With this appointment, he will join the likes of Dr Paul Barnett, Dr Peter Jensen, Dr Peter O’Brien, Dr David Peterson, and Dr Barry Webb. His continued connection with the College is eagerly anticipated by students and faculty alike.
Principal Dr Mark Thompson remarked,
“Colin has been a supportive colleague, a wonderful friend, a brilliant Vice Principal, but through it all a magnificent example of grace, humility and the steady confidence of one who knows and walks closely with the Lord Jesus. I have always valued his advice and will miss greatly his daily presence among us. I am thrilled he will continued to be connected to the College as an Emeritus Faculty member.”
At his official farewell with students at chapel today, so many people had so much to say about the impact that Dr Bale has had on their lives, and his impact on the College community more generally.
Jane Tooher, who was a student with Dr Bale and has worked alongside him as a colleague for 12 years on faculty, commented: “When I asked 2 men from our college year their thoughts about Colin and anything they thought I should include in this speech, this is what one said: ‘The three words that come to me are steady, warm and wise.'”
She made mention of Dr Bale’s love, respect and fondness for his wife Gillian (pictured below), his love for his children and delighting in spending time with them, humility, excellent sense of humour, his gentleness and grace in dealing with others, and so much more.
Jesse Morrison, senior student at College, asked students for a word to describe Dr Bale. They came up with “Father figure, grandfather, story-time, moustache, cheeky and sassy.” Jesse himself also remarked that “[Dr Bale] is unmistakably on fire for the gospel.”
College alumnus and friend of Dr Bale, Caitlin Orr, also had nothing but positive things to say about him. She remarked, “[Dr Bale is] not only a teacher, but a pastor at heart… [he] cares deeply for the people God has placed under [him].”
Dr Bale commented that “he [has] had a hoot being at College.” He also echoed the sentiments he heard at the 30-year alumni reunion, saying that it was a great joy to be part of College, where he too learned to think theologically in every situation, and make everything all about Jesus.
Please join us in thanking God for, and praying for Dr Bale.
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I’m not passionate about kids’ ministry – but it still matters (Part 1)
Kids’ ministry is not my passion.
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If God is against us, what can we do?
In the book of Lamentations, and as we trace the suffering motif throughout the rest of the Scriptures, one thing is clear: God is sovereign, and so our suffering doesn’t happen unbeknownst to him. In fact, it is quite the opposite.
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