RELATIONAL THINKING AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION

As a follow up to the Michael Schluter Urban Conversations we had earlier this year Sophia Think Tank has partnered with others to bring Jonathan Tame to Australia for a week’s workshop on the Relational paradigm applied across the various sectors of society for social change.  We have called it ‘Biblical Social Engagement: Time for a New Paradigm?’ 

To allow a wider audience to get some input from Jonathan we have organized an evening with him on ‘Relational Thinking and Social Transformation’.  This will be held at Life Expedition, 488 Swanston St., Carlton on Wed. 23rd May, 6 – 8pm.

Here’s a bit more info on what to expect….

Through the story of the Jubilee Centre, Jonathan Tame will explore the concept of Relational Thinking. The paradigm begins with the two greatest commandments: love God and love other people. The assumption is that relationships are what matter most to God and are key to …our own meaning and purpose. This gives rise to a new way of thinking about God’s agenda for transforming society. Crucial to this is the assertion that relationships are not limited to a separate ‘social’ category alongside the economic, environmental, or political attempts at transformation, but are essential to each sphere.Speaker Bio:
Jonathan is a leader in the work of the Jubilee Centre, pioneering various training initiatives around relational thinking. Jonathan has worked in Geneva as a trainer in spiritual heritage, prior to which he worked in Romania developing social, education and cultural projects. He has also led YWAM’s relief and development support office in Lausanne. Jonathan has trained and worked as an agricultural economist for the British government’s development agency in Cameroon.

 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: REINVENTING DEMOCRACY?

It’s time for us to become citizens rather than consumers. This morning’s Age website carried a good article around the theme of the reinvention of democracy (http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/how-we-can-save-democracy-20120510-1yfho.html).

But people need to be transformed into seeing that life is not just about personal happiness. Living life for the benefit of others, for the common good is the way to ‘reinvent democracy’. Sounds a lot like the teaching of Jesus to me!

 

I was reminded recently that democracy is only as good as the people making up the voting constituency.  If the majority of us are driven by the priority of making life more comfortable for ‘me’ then our voting patterns will reflect that and of course our politicians will seek to win those votes accordingly.  But what if there was a movement of people who started to stand up and say that there is more to life than that.  There is another way, a socially responsible way, a way of living that showed we can be individuals living responsibly within community, for the common good, for a Just society.  And what if that movement started to pick up momentum and it started to grow and it became dominant….Imagine!  You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one….

 

The Old Book (I was reminded yesterday of Mal Garvin’s use of this term in relation to The Bible and I like it) says a lot about this type of living.  The call to live with others in mind is dominant from the setting up of Israel’s cities in Deuteronomy to the Prophets speaking out about how this had not been happening to Jesus Himself in the ‘Sermon on the Mount’.  Hmmmm!  Maybe it does have some relevnce to today after all…..

Food for Thought

David Wilson

 

QUO VADIS AUSTRALIA RESPONSES

There have been some interesting responses to my article on OLO (see link in the post below). Here’s a copy of my response to them….

Hmmmm.  Some interesting responses to my article.  Thanks to everyone who took the time to have their say.  I have been accused of having a simplistic ‘Jesus is the answer’ approach to life and its challenges.  Nothing could be farther from the truth actually, but let me play along for a minute.  It could be said that there are many simplistic answers to life’s problems, and a few of them popped up in the blogs.  According to some, answers to the brokenness of the social environment include voting, risk taking, and masculinity to name just three.  Simplistic to say the least, perhaps even worse than a Sunday School ‘Jesus’ in answer to all questions raised.

Oversimplification is dangerous.  It takes a whole of community approach to address social issues. The blogs to this article , along with voting, risk taking, and masculinity have included ethical and spiritual investment, aspects of socialism, a transformed media, and equality as contributing to the possibility of social repair.  By themselves these won’t go very far, but taken together we may get somewhere.  This is a community development approach that ‘alwaysalearner’ addressed and it’s what is being emphasized in the research being conducted this year by Sophia Think Tank.  Stay tuned….

 

 

QUO VADIS AUSTRALIA?

On Line Opinion just posted an abbreviated version of my ‘Quo Vadis Australia’ paper. If yoiu get onto it and ‘like it’ the disribution will increase. It would be good to leave some comments too so we can get a public conversation going around these issues. You can find it at http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=13537

Quo Vadis Australia – On Line Opinion – 24/4/2012

www.onlineopinion.com.au

Materialism and individualism are risk factors in our society that need to be closely watched.

 

EVENT: LIVING WITH SOCIAL MEDIA

The Annual Ethos Dinner is being held on Friday March 23rd at 6.30 in Melbourne.  The speaker is David Lyon and his topic ‘Is Nothing Private? Living with Social Media’ should be an interesting and timely conversation.  David Lyon is a world leader on social media and surveillance, being the Director of the Queen’s University’s Surveillance Studies Centre in Ontario.  He is also that University’s Professor of Sociology and of Law. Cost of a seat at the Dinner is $50.  

Details and registration can be found at http://www.ea.org.au/Events/Is-Nothing-Private-Living-with-Social-Media.aspx.

You can also read a blog from David Lyons on Ethos’ home page http://www.ea.org.au/ethos

 

 

A Temple for Atheists

You have heard of  Alain De Botton’s ideas about religion for Atheists.  The one that is getting most attention today is that a Temple for Atheists be constructed.  There are supporters and critics on  all sides of the fence (“how many sides does a fence have?” I hear you ask….. you’re missing my point…..).  Binoy Kampmark of RMIT University has an article about this on ‘On Line Opinion’ this morning and I have blogged a response.  You can find it at  http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=13275 and my blog is the 13th on the Response pages.

 

Michael Schluter Video Parts 2 and 3

You can now view Parts 2 and 3 of the Urban Conversations with Michael Schluter on Relational Thinking.  Our apologies that the picture is lost in some places….. technical problems and all that!!  The sound continues all the way through and it is worth listening to.  Enjoy, be challenged, and blog with us…

http://vimeo.com/36208476    http://vimeo.com/36554902

 

BIBLE ENGAGEMENT EVENT

I just received notification from Milk to Meat of an exciting ‘conference that’s much more than a conference’ that you may be interested in.  Here’s the details:

Milk to Meat Bible Engagement Event

 

As I’m sure you are aware there is a Bible engagement issue with Australian Christians at the moment, with recent research showing very low percentages of Australian Christians engaging God through the Word. Milk to Meat is responding to this crisis and is hosting an event that is more than a conference or seminar. We are attempting to take quite a different track from most other conferences around today. Firstly the event, goes for 6months, and secondly it incorporates, a seminar, surveys, tele-classes & personalised coaching.

 

We are thrilled to say we have Cheryl Catford-McCallum – Head for School of Theology and Context at Tabor Bible College speaking at the seminar day as well as Adrian Blenkinsop from The Bible Society Australia who recently completed research in Bible engagement amongst Australian Youth. Both are experts in the field of Bible engagement and it’s very exciting to have them onboard.

 

What you get? (Over 6months)

• One day Bible Engagement Seminar (Thursday April 19th), with speakers (Kylie Butler, Cheryl Catford-McCallum and Adrian Blenkinsop) passionate about Bible engagement and years of influence and expertise.

• Follow up tele-class      (online) with specific focus topics
• 2 one-on-one Skype      Coaching sessions with a professional coach to help you set , assess and      implement goals for your ministry.
• Bible engagement survey      of your ministry pre and post event.

Excellent opportunity for regional and interstate leaders, as only attendance required is the One-Day Seminar, the remainder is completed online.

Next Seminar starts in Melbourne, Thursday April 19th 2012 at Syndal Baptist Church.

You can find out more information and register online at www.milktomeat.com.au or http://milktomeat.eventbrite.com.au/

 

 

Relational Thinking: a vision for engagement in public life

At a recent Urban Conversation, Michael Schluter presented the idea that we should be involved in a new paradigm of thinking and acting that puts relationships at the centre of all we are and do.  He suggested that this is radically Christian in that this is what Christ did and those who profess to follow Him can do nothing other than seek to imitate this lifestyle.

Well, that got some dialogue going….

My question asks what would that look like in each of the Drivers that ST2 talks about.  How would Relatonal Thinking be applied to Media, Arts, Business, Sports, Community Services, Health,Justice, Law, Education, and Politics?  What are the specific challenges and what are the rewards that could be reaped?  For example, I do a fair bit of work in the Justice area.  Schluter mentioned that Relational Thinking would make a big difference in the Prison system.  Yep, it sure would!  But what would that look like?  I wanted to ask him on the night but didn’t get the chance.  What do you think?

I’d love to hear from you if you’re involved in one of the Drivers (and who isn’t in some way or other?) about the application of Relational Thinking in your area of expertise.

Come on, let’s keep the conversation going….

 

VIDEO: MICHAEL SCHLUTER AT HAMODAVA CAFE (PART 1)

Thanks to Amy Van Eymeren, Part 1 of the video of the Michael Schluter Urban Conversations can be viewed at http://vimeo.com/36076729.

Now’s the time to keep the conversation going.  If you were there on the night you will recall the healthy discussion we had.  If not, have a look at the video and start blogging….