Journal of Contemporary Ministry
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114 research outputs found
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Towards a redemptive pedagogy: Koinonia as a basis for transformation in a faith-based social enterprise in Cambodia
Get PDFDespite strong progress over the past 30 years, Cambodia continues to face socio-economic challenges in the areas of gender inequality and human trafficking. This study explores an approach within an Australian faith-based social enterprise operating in Cambodia to create a ‘redemptive’ pedagogy in the form of a curriculum and learning community that develops and supports women socially, relationally and spiritually as they leave the sex industry and reintegrate into Cambodian society. Consistent with the faith roots of the social enterprise, the study drew on the concept of koinōnia and how this is understood and applied in Cambodian faith communities by interviewing eight Cambodian faith and/or vocational education leaders and facilitating focus groups with a further four Cambodian educators and six students. The evidence was analysed using a grounded theory methodology to create a model of two interrelated communities. The first community is characterised by being open and inclusive and encourages fellowship in a safe and dignified environment and through loving, honest and trusting relationships. This community feeds a related secondary community characterised by a spiritual, practical and relational dimension. This article further outlines a proposed curriculum that integrates the Beatitudes and leverages these concepts through peer-to-peer learning and concludes by outlining areas for further research
The impact of church-based ESL classes on their students’ social capital
No full textBackground: Migrants and refugees can be exposed to various stress factors which affect their mental health before and during their migration journey. It then extends to during their settlement and integration. The World Health Organisation claim that stress from their migration journey can increase the risk of developing mental health conditions.
Purpose: Through the lens of social capital theory, the researcher is taking the stance that church-based ESL classes help in the development of immigrants’ and refugees’ social capital. Social capital is understood to be a network of connections which help in the development of societies and in this case, in the improvement of the quality of life of immigrants and refugees.
Methodology: This article is the researcher’s reflection of the role church-based English as a Second Language (ESL) classes play in assimilating immigrants and refugees into their communities. This reflection is from the perspective of an academic and manager, having managed a variety of ESL programs for many years.
Findings: Although ESL programs run by churches are an evangelistic tool, Christian principles and values are not imposed on the adult learners. ESL classes are run with the hope that participants may encounter Jesus in the context of genuine Christian care, acceptance and friendship
Expressing love of God and neighbour: The use of pastoral care practices at four, church-based, intercultural initiatives
Get PDFThis article details a study of four, church-based, intercultural initiatives in Melbourne. Although many Australian churches run mid-week, church-based initiatives for new migrants, little research has been conducted into their effectiveness in expressing love of God and neighbour. Participants were volunteers or staff and were mostly members of each congregation represented at the initiatives. In this grounded theory study, ethnographic methods were employed including participant observation at initiative sessions. Church services and other church-based events were attended and searches through church documents were conducted.
It was discovered that volunteers often failed to meet together to pray, plan, or reflect. Little or no training was offered to participants and spiritual formation for volunteering was not always a consideration. This resulted in uneven levels of care expressed at initiatives. This study demonstrates that group training in the principles and practices of pastoral care would strengthen expressions of love. This would nurture individual and group spirituality and would include practices of prayer, applied bible study, and reflection. The development of church core narratives prioritising love of neighbour would equip participants in the course of church life. Spending time with initiative attendees beyond session times would deepen mutual friendships
Women to be Ordained in 2024 in Queensland Baptists: Why it took so long and what comes next.
No full textThe Queensland Baptist Assembly's 2024 decision to permit women's ordination marks a significant departure from its historically conservative stance. This paper explores the factors contributing to this change and considers the future possibilities for female pastors’ ministry.
The denomination's cultural alignment with male-dominated leadership structures and patriarchal family models reinforced the traditional gender roles within the Baptist community. Furthermore, the Baptist Theological College of Queensland, actively opposed women's ordination at the denominational level.
Attempts to advance the discussion of women's ordination were repeatedly thwarted by a cautious denominational secretariat. However, drawing on Pamela Condie's research on congregational views and individual church requests, the denomination found the necessary justification to revisit the issue in 2023. After a year of consultation and refinement, the 2024 Assembly ultimately passed the motion to allow women's ordination. The motion was strategically framed as a vote for local church autonomy over denominational control, which helped to garner support from a wider range of delegates.
The slow advancement of women's participation in other state Baptist denominations, suggests that further concerted efforts and support will be required to foster women's discernment and practice of pastoral callings within the Queensland Baptist context.
 
Why are young adults in Western Australia leaving the church?
Get PDFThis article will discuss the relationship between cohesion, integration and reasons for young people leaving the church. In a phenomenological research project conducted in 2018 (Mullen, 2020) the author interviewed 15 young adults regarding their experiences of church – a mix of those who no longer attended church and those who still attended church at the time of the study. This research established that leavers’ experience of church was one of dogmatism, and was originally analysed through a George Herbert Mead lens of symbolic interactionism in Mullen (2020). The original publication simply reported findings, however, this article will further analyse the research from an Émile Durkheim lens of social cohesion and social integration. This article will demonstrate that a Durkheimian focus on cohesion and integration causes the church to be perceived as ‘bad’, and religious dogmatism leads young people to leave the church and perceive it negatively. This article will argue for a new way forward through seeking dialogue, a new approach for churches to take in ministry, contributing to practice a potential way forward for churches
