Watch some videos of talks from this conference.
We live in a world of disconnection
Everywhere we look our communities are broken, or breaking down. Enmity, abuse, loneliness and violence seem to be the norm across the planet. For many, the greatest connection they feel is online via social media or gaming. We have largely forgotten how to be together.
The Anabaptist movement has always had a “family feel” to it, where members experience fellowship, helpful guidance, and clear accountability in communities of like-minded disciples. Our theology challenges us to move from committee to community. It calls us to invite people into Christ-centred communities that are daily seeking to follow the way of Jesus.
Come join us in a weekend conference where we explore what “Christ-centred” community looks like. We will be hear from representatives of several intentional Christian communities from around Australia and New Zealand – including the Bruderhof, Wellspring, and Urban Vision communities - and spend time in worship and hopefully enjoy just hanging out together. Saturday evening will feature a special concert from Anthony Brown, a world-renowned singer and peace ambassador from the USA.
Friday 27 – Sunday 29 January, 2017
Long Point Conference Centre
20-26 Wills Rd Long Point, NSW 2564 Australia
Speakers
Cat & Tom Noakes-Duncan (Urban Vision, Wellington, NZ)
Tom and Cat Noakes-Duncan are members of Urban Vision, a contemporary order of Jesus followers living in marginalised neighbourhoods throughout Aotearoa New Zealand. For well over a decade they have attempted to live inspired by God’s compassion for people facing poverty, exclusion, and violence. Their journey has led them to be bridge builders and peacemakers in neighbourhoods that frequently experience violence and conflict. Having lived in Christian community for all their adult lives, they are familiar with the strains and joys of sharing in God’s beloved community.
Cat is a neighbourhood peacemaker and mentor to many young Christian movements, while Tom is a lecturer in restorative justice with a background in theological ethics. They live in Naenae, Wellington and have three young children. They have two boys on the Autism Spectrum who are constantly teaching them and shaping their lifestyle and theology.
Bill & Grace Wiser (The Bruderhof Community)
Bill and Grace Wiser have been married for thirty years and are members of the Bruderhof, an Anabaptist church community movement with locations on four continents. Founded in Germany, in the 1920s, the Bruderhof is a fellowship of families and singles, practicing radical discipleship in the spirit of the early church. Members gladly renounce private property and share everything in common, dedicating their lives in service to God, to one another and to their ‘neighbours’ near and far.
Bill and Grace are active in prison ministry and ecumenical networking, and coordinate Plough Publishing’s ministry for Australia and New Zealand. They have spent most of the last four years at the Danthonia Bruderhof near Inverell.
Neil Holm (Wellspring Community, Aus)
Neil Holm is Leader of Wellspring Community, a dispersed ecumenical community in Australia. Members of Wellspring aim to live prophetically, see God's presence in each moment and person, work for reconciliation, and practise peace.
After an early teaching career in one-teacher and Aboriginal schools NSW and the NT, Neil played a key role in the development of the Aboriginal Teacher Education Centre (the forerunner of Batchelor Institute for Indigenous Tertiary Education). He extended his cross-cultural education and administration skills as Director of International House within The University of Queensland and as Administrator of St John’s Anglican Church (an inner-city church working in partnership with marginalised people in the Kings Cross/Darlinghurst area of Sydney). He subsequently lectured in Education Studies and Christian Formation at Macquarie Christian Studies Institute. He retired a few years ago after completing several years at Sydney College of Divinity where he was responsible for curriculum development. Neil is married to Margaret. They live in Brisbane close to their two children and four grandchildren.
Larissa Minniecon (Team Facilitator, Common Grace)
Larissa is both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; a descendant of the Kabi Kabi and Gurang Gurang nations of South-East Queensland and the Meriam Mer language group. She also has South Sea Islander heritage as a descendant of the 'Black-Bird' slaves from Vanuatu of Ambrym Island.
A participant for 15 years in the World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples (WCGIP), Larissa was elected as international youth ambassador and Vision-Keeper. This international Christian movement traveled around the world hosted by over 100 Indigenous nations - including New Zealand, USA, Australia, Hawaii, Sweden, Philippines and Israel. The vision of the WCGIP movement was to promote 'Authentically Christian and Authentically Indigenous' Christian voices, as diverse peoples made in the image of Creator God. Larissa has worked with many of the world's leading Indigenous theologians and community workers past and present around the globe today.
Currently Larissa is the Team Leader of Common Grace's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Team, communicating and networking towards social justice in the Christian contemporary world.
Artists
Sally Longley
Sally Longley is currently a Spiritual Director and retreat leader on the staff of the Canisius Centre for Ignatian Spirituality in Pymble, Sydney, Australia.
Sally has been involved as a Spiritual Director since 2004 and both facilitates silent retreats, and is a speaker at conferences for different denominations on issues such as “Praying for Friends and Enemies”, “Healthy Approaches to Conflict”, “Wisdom for Daily Living”, “Lessons from Philippians”, “A Spiritual Anatomy of Pain”, and “Unmasking Ourselves”, “Spiritual Direction as Justice and Peace-making”. Sally Longley is qualified as a Giver of the Ignatian Exercises, and regularly facilitates labyrinth walks and labyrinth retreats.
Sally Longley has also been on the formation team for the Residential Program for Spiritual Direction, a four-year course forming spiritual directors. She is currently the President of the Australian Network for Spiritual Direction and a member of the Australian Ecumenical Council for Spiritual Direction.
Anna Thompson
Please note: Anthony Brown, who was previously listed as a conference artist, has been forced to cancel his trip for family reasons. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Program
| FRIDAY | |
| 7:00pm | Main Session—Restorative Community?: A New Lens on Witness and Community (Cat & Tom Noakes-Duncan) |
| 9;00pm | Supper |
| 9:15pm | Devotions (Sally Longley & Anna Thompson) |
| SATURDAY | |
| 7:30am | Morning Prayer (Sally Longley & Anna Thompson) |
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Main Session—"Christ-centred community: Repentance, Renewal and Revival as the Pearl of Great Price" (Bill & Grace Wiser) and "Being Companionable in Community" (Neil Holm) |
| 10:30am | Morning Tea |
| 11:00am | Workshops |
| 12:00pm | Workshops |
| 1:00pm | Lunch |
| 2:30pm | Workshops |
| 3:30pm | Afternoon Tea |
| 4:00pm | Free Time/Conversations |
| 6:00pm | Dinner |
| 7:30pm | Community Arts |
| 9:00pm | Supper |
| 9:15pm | Devotions (Sally Longley & Anna Thompson) |
| SUNDAY | |
| 7:30am | Morning Prayer (Sally Longley & Anna Thompson) |
| 8:00am | Breakfast |
| 9:00am | Main Session—Panel (all keynote speakers) |
| 10:30am | Morning Tea |
| 11:00am | Open Session |
| 12:30pm | Lunch |
| 1:30pm | Cleanup, Depart |