Dear Rowland,

The article on “Does the Australian Church have a Future” was a good read. Few articles have elicited the level of margin notation as this one. This is the first time I have ever commented on any published work – this one was passionate.

“What does a health Church look like?” listed all the right moves (title of an 80s Tom Cruise film). Strong christian mentorship is needed. It sure seems to be trying to do so. But does the mainstream chuch (I am an Anglican – St. Johns Molong NSW) provide the format for effective leadership? A friend of mine reminds me “when the student is ready the teacher will arrive” – so its basically up to us. Can we get the mentorship we need to grow at a rate that will enable us to foster mature christian growth in the next generation, and the next? – “By your fruit you will be known”

The desire to lead has to be accompanied by a willingness to be misunderstood. What am I saying? Those who teach have an added reponsibility. The right teachers will attract people – so, if we make it our goal to really step outside our comfort zone and change, the rest will follow. So what do we use to re-educate ourselves? The word, the holy spirit, time with mentors who have ‘the runs on the board’, books by people who do (eg. John Maxwell). Really its up to us.

I agree that we will see more interdenominational vocational groups (eg Kairos). Ministry may well feel that people have abandoned the church. Perhaps because our livelihood (income) and self esteem are linked with ‘church growth’. Paul was a tent maker, Peter, James, John – fisherman. I know that God sustains what he wills and we need not necessarily concern ourselves with where the next feed is coming from. I am also reminded that esteem comes from accomplishment – for men, rightly or otherwise, often in their work. It is true that we become what we associate with. Hence TV is largely a millstone, because the people we see are more often than not, where we do not want to be. This could be a factor attributable to the apathy exhibited in our youth – apart from a general disillusionment with ‘parent(s)’ with unlived lives.

Anyway, trust some of these thoughts give some useful feedback to your challenging article, and that Israel is a time of great recreation.

Kind regards

Your opinionated BIC James Milson