So Sydney has a completely different feel than Canberra. If I were to say that to an Aussie, they would just look at me like I'm some dumb American - everybody knows that! The streets of Sydney are bustling with people from every continent - I think it has a similar "feel" to San Francisco. Within one block I distinctly heard at least 4 different languages other than English.
The downtown is reserved for the very wealthy and businesses. We stayed downtown for a couple of nights - and the city does sleep, just not until 2 in the morning. That is when they clean the streets and wash the sidewalks. I think I saw 2 homeless people during my three weeks in Australia - this aspect was nothing like San Francisco; or Colorado Springs for that matter. I think the street cleaning must have something to do with this.
The suburbs are other CBD's (Central Business Districts) placed around the main hub of Sydney. These each have their own "suburbs" and each has a certain socio-economic status associated with it. All of that to say - as you move away from downtown Sydney, the property gets cheaper and the socio-economic status drops. However, there are some suburbs away from the city center that are quite wealthy - this is where the local megachurch is located.
The first church I attended was a small Alliance church in a suburb of Blacktown known as Doonside. The church reflected much of what I saw on the streets of Sydney - people of every race speaking multiple languages. My first contact was the birthday party for the pastor of the church at another church's facility. The next morning I went to church with the pastor - but this time it was in a community center. I found out later that Doonside would be classified as "innercity" in an American city - but it is a suburb in Australia.
The formal greeters didn't greet us, but more people came up to us and said hello than at any other church. The music was dated and the sermon was long and very personal. But, don't let that fool you, this church is about the mission of Christ! I found out very quickly that Sunday morning is really just a family meeting for those who are working in the mission. And most of them are between 16 and 25 years old. For this reason there was not a need for childcare or a seniors ministry. If you talk about seniors they think you are referring to the older group of students in the youth ministry! I was invited to come see what they do during the week in the schools, and I will write about that in my next blog.
In the middle of the service they did the Grin & Greet and it was equally awkard for us as everyplace else that did it. Everything else was fairly standard, but at the end people were invited to stick around for coffee and tea - and a snack. This lasted for 2 hours, and it only ended then because the space was rented and they had to get out!
That night we made our way to the local megachurch. This was quite an experience. We came in through a glass front under a neon sign that said something about Jesus - in huge letters. Staight ahead was a bookstore with a line at the register that stretched into the lobby. The previous service had let out and there were people everywhere. Ushers were pointing us to the stairs since the main level was full. We made our way into the sanctuary and I picked up some super-cool brochures about the different ministries.
We walked through the upstairs door to find that the entire sanctuary has theater seats that are more comfortable than any theater I can afford! But there were no cupholders! But then I noticed that a little desktop folded out of the armrest so I could write down all my notes. Then the music started.
It started with the lights going out and video that bounced around among the three screens, the spots started dancing around the sanctuary and then focused upon the stage where the musicians began to rock. The floor in front of the stage began to heave in unison and soon it was a bouncing throng of young people all jumping up and down to the rythm of the music. I didn't know one song, but it was fun to bounce with everyone else - though they were all about half my age.
The main sermon was excellent and even the sermonette for the offering was good. But, when it came to the other speaking that happened - well let's just say that plugging the purchase of the sermon DVD or music CD or buying the pastor's latest book was just a little over the top for me and about made me puke. But, I guess they are proud of what they have produced! After the plugs the kids were released just before the sermon to giant kids, (costumes worn by volunteers to point the way).
At the end of the sermon we listened to a plug for all the volunteers they needed for the upcoming conference - of the 4500 they only needed a 1000 more! Then the music started up again with a different music leader, and soon the floor was heaving again. One of my favorite parts of the service was when the pastor had those who had a need raise their hand and those around them began to pray for them as he prayed. Yes, they did the Grin & Greet too, and yes it was awkward. However, it was so short that it really didn't matter.
On the way home, I noticed the C&MA logo on a building just a few blocks from the church - I wonder if they have three screens, giant kids, and a need for a 1000 volunteers to help park cars? I think I will go there this Sunday to find out!
6/14/2008
6/08/2008
Two Aussie Churches
The first church visit was a suburban church that is connected to the Bible College of the Alliance in Australia - that is the subject of another blog. We had met the pastor earlier in the week, and found that the church is in the midst of some major change. The pastor and the elders want to move the church to be more focused upon the lost, while there are some in the church who want "their needs met." This was evident in the music - they are "fighting" the music "wars" that the American church fought in the "90's." There are some in the church who would rather make the church into a refuge from the world rather than viewing the church as a mission outpost that should serve as a refuge for the world.
It seems that when the world presses in on the church her members get consumed by one of two options - run from the world or run to the world. Interestingly, the ones in the minority seem to hold those in the majority captive to a false sense of mission. How is that possible? It generally hinges on two things: The perception that to "be fed" is to be taught/educated/instructed/preached at; the other is the idea that unless everyone is on board then it cannot be from God (this sometimes come from a false teaching about unity).
Anyway, the church seems to be trying to move forward in the mission of Christ and theological discussions and philosophical debate is hamstringing the church in her mission. However, when the time came for the children and young people to leave the service, half of the seats were left vacant. I concluded that if the young people are being reached with the gospel and they are engaged in the mission of Christ - the church in Australia will do quite well in the years to come.
Our second visit was to the downtown campus of a church in the suburbs. This campus has its own leadership team but the pastor is the same for both campuses. The church is located in the center of the main bus interchange of the city in an upstairs loft. They meet on a Sunday night and the sermon is the same sermon preached at the suburban campus in the morning. As we walked up to the church the sign had a video playing with "church highlights." This was intriguing, but it was still difficult to find the right door.
At the top of the stairs we were greeted warmly, but as soon as they heard our accent they knowingly greeted us as the "pastor and his wife from America coming to check out the Australian church." This was fine in that we were honored by the community, but I am not sure how much it affected my "observation." I had met with the pastor of this community prior to going to this church as well. Seems that they are further down the path of being missional, but he painted a pretty bleak picture of the Australian culture and its acceptance of the church. Maybe this is why the church is moving in this direction.
The service was a different service (for them) in that there were no lyrics to the music. Prior to each song, the leader would read a few verses and then the music (drums & lead guitar) would play for about 8 minutes. The sanctuary was dark other than the stage and they took communion (crackers and cups). However, after the service they all had a meal together and played games - everyone was invited as a group and individually by multiple people. The one weakness that I picked up from the site coordinator and the pastor is that a great deal of effort has been placed upon the service and they are now realizing that just because they have a cool service, unchurched people are not going to come. They are now strategizing how to go into the city and engage the culture and the unchurched where they are rather than waiting for the unchurched to come in.
I liked the family atmosphere of the first church that concluded with coffee and kids running around under our feet as we drank coffee/tea and talked. There were no children in the second church, I understand those families go to the suburban campus. Why is that?
It seems that when the world presses in on the church her members get consumed by one of two options - run from the world or run to the world. Interestingly, the ones in the minority seem to hold those in the majority captive to a false sense of mission. How is that possible? It generally hinges on two things: The perception that to "be fed" is to be taught/educated/instructed/preached at; the other is the idea that unless everyone is on board then it cannot be from God (this sometimes come from a false teaching about unity).
Anyway, the church seems to be trying to move forward in the mission of Christ and theological discussions and philosophical debate is hamstringing the church in her mission. However, when the time came for the children and young people to leave the service, half of the seats were left vacant. I concluded that if the young people are being reached with the gospel and they are engaged in the mission of Christ - the church in Australia will do quite well in the years to come.
Our second visit was to the downtown campus of a church in the suburbs. This campus has its own leadership team but the pastor is the same for both campuses. The church is located in the center of the main bus interchange of the city in an upstairs loft. They meet on a Sunday night and the sermon is the same sermon preached at the suburban campus in the morning. As we walked up to the church the sign had a video playing with "church highlights." This was intriguing, but it was still difficult to find the right door.
At the top of the stairs we were greeted warmly, but as soon as they heard our accent they knowingly greeted us as the "pastor and his wife from America coming to check out the Australian church." This was fine in that we were honored by the community, but I am not sure how much it affected my "observation." I had met with the pastor of this community prior to going to this church as well. Seems that they are further down the path of being missional, but he painted a pretty bleak picture of the Australian culture and its acceptance of the church. Maybe this is why the church is moving in this direction.
The service was a different service (for them) in that there were no lyrics to the music. Prior to each song, the leader would read a few verses and then the music (drums & lead guitar) would play for about 8 minutes. The sanctuary was dark other than the stage and they took communion (crackers and cups). However, after the service they all had a meal together and played games - everyone was invited as a group and individually by multiple people. The one weakness that I picked up from the site coordinator and the pastor is that a great deal of effort has been placed upon the service and they are now realizing that just because they have a cool service, unchurched people are not going to come. They are now strategizing how to go into the city and engage the culture and the unchurched where they are rather than waiting for the unchurched to come in.
I liked the family atmosphere of the first church that concluded with coffee and kids running around under our feet as we drank coffee/tea and talked. There were no children in the second church, I understand those families go to the suburban campus. Why is that?
6/07/2008
An Aussie Perspective
So my wife and I went to two Aussie (Ozzy, NOT Ossy!) churches last weekend. It seems there is a variety of churches here just as in America. Different styles and methods are used by different churches to reach different people.
Our first stop was in Canberra - the capital of Australia. This city is smaller than Colorado Springs and is not close to any other major metropolitan center. The city struck us as a huge suburb in that there is virtually no industry beyond the government in Canberra. In fact 48% of the population is in some sort of public service and another large percentage are private contractors who have been contracted by the government. Because it is the capital, there are many internationals living in Canberra and the diversity for a city of about 300,000 is striking.
We met with the president of the Alliance Church of Australia. His goal and objective for the Alliance churches in Australia is to move every church to be missional in its philosophy and practice. The desire to reach lost people is understood by the Australian Church because they have seen their nation's church attendance and adherence to the faith dwindle with each passing year to the lowest point in the nation's history. At this point only 5% of Australians attend church regularly, while only 20% indicated "Christian" in the latest census conducted by the government. (If you are wondering, all of these are but a fraction of the United States figures.) Therein is why the Australian Church recognizes that if they do not focus on lost people - then the church will cease to exist within the next 50 years. Still, there is a conflict stemming from resistance to the mission of Christ within the church of Australia.
Our first stop was in Canberra - the capital of Australia. This city is smaller than Colorado Springs and is not close to any other major metropolitan center. The city struck us as a huge suburb in that there is virtually no industry beyond the government in Canberra. In fact 48% of the population is in some sort of public service and another large percentage are private contractors who have been contracted by the government. Because it is the capital, there are many internationals living in Canberra and the diversity for a city of about 300,000 is striking.
We met with the president of the Alliance Church of Australia. His goal and objective for the Alliance churches in Australia is to move every church to be missional in its philosophy and practice. The desire to reach lost people is understood by the Australian Church because they have seen their nation's church attendance and adherence to the faith dwindle with each passing year to the lowest point in the nation's history. At this point only 5% of Australians attend church regularly, while only 20% indicated "Christian" in the latest census conducted by the government. (If you are wondering, all of these are but a fraction of the United States figures.) Therein is why the Australian Church recognizes that if they do not focus on lost people - then the church will cease to exist within the next 50 years. Still, there is a conflict stemming from resistance to the mission of Christ within the church of Australia.
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