Tag: denominations:anglican:

Research Of Whole Church In Melbourne Launched

23 Denominations Endorse Ground-Breaking Study

A detailed picture of the whole Church across Melbourne is the goal of a project launched this week. "Transforming Melbourne" with the Melbourne Pastors Network are working with the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) and the Christian Research Association to research the nature and location of Christian churches and ministries across Greater Melbourne.

For the first time, the denominational results of the NCLS survey of most Melbourne churches (in October) will be all be put together. Additional major surveys will be done of independent, ethnic and other non-NCLS churches, as well as other ministries. These will all be combined to give the most complete picture of the Church in Melbourne ever.

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The overall results will be displayed on digital maps showing a picture of the location of all churches in Melbourne. These maps on Powerpoint will be overlaid with demographic information from the recent national census, allowing comparison of churches to local populations – eg Chinese churches to Chinese populations. These maps and results will also be available for each of the 31 municipal cities of Melbourne.

The research will include a study of emerging and house churches, marketplace ministries, recently planted churches, large housing estates without churches and major people-groups largely outside the Church. A directory will be established of Christian ministry organisations in Melbourne – including prayer, outreach, training, campus and caring ministries.

The result will be a first-ever picture of the Church in Melbourne: where churches are – and where they are not. The research is expected to be complete by early 2008.

RESEARCH AND THE 3.3 MILLION PEOPLE "OUTSIDE THE CHURCH"

In our city of 3.8 million people, it is estimated that less than 500,000 people are active members of the Church. This means maybe 3.3 million people are outside the Church, with little faith or knowledge of the Good News of Jesus, but often with great spiritual hunger.

There are some excellent ministries, and some of these people are coming to faith. Some individual churches are growing. Many churches are being planted in the South-Eastern suburbs. But many areas have few churches or other Christian witness. Most churches and denominations plan and act alone – often focussing on their own survival. Many Christians are leaving "their church" to find more meaningful fellowship, worship and ways of ministry. And most of the 3.3 million don't know the Good News and will never think of "coming to church".

Churches trying harder to do the same things will not change this picture. Without radical change the Church in Melbourne will continue as it is (at best).

 

The aim of this research is to provide a picture of the Church and the city that will challenge and resource the whole Church for a radically new level of collaborative and intentional mission to our city.

In just over 12 months Church leaders will be invited to city-wide and local meetings to receive the results of this work, which will give something of God's view of Melbourne and His Church. The presentations will reveal the enormous resources within the Church as a whole, the enormous opportunities we have together – and the great challenges of ministering to these millions and of influencing the whole life of the city. Without information there is no change.

Will this lead to the changes needed? That will depend on our openness to share the Lord's compassion for our city, our willingness to go beyond what we are used to (including to new expressions of "church"), and our willingness to become a united missionary movement. It will involve much prayer, faith and humility. This is not just a sociological exercise – it is an invitation to a spiritual journey for God's people in our city. There are many people waiting!

(It is great to report that in meetings of the Reference Group for this project over the past 6 months, with official representatives of almost every denomination – Pentecostal, mainline, evangelical – there has been evident enthusiasm about what it would mean to join as One Body to bless our city.)

 

This Project has been Endorsed by the following Denominations:

Anglican, Antiochian Orthodox, Assemblies of God, Assoc of Christian Ministries, Apostolic, Baptist Union, Christian Brethren, Christian City Church, Christian Outreach Crusade, Christian Revival Crusade, Church & Missionary Alliance, Nazarenes, Churches of Christ, City Life, Evangelical Chinese Churches, Lutheran, Presbyterian Home Missions, Christian Reformed, Salvation Army, Seventh Day Adventist, Uniting, Vineyard Christian Fellowships and Wesleyan Methodist.

Also endorsed by:

The Australian Evangelical Alliance, Forge Mission Training Network (Vic), OIKOS House Church Support Ministry, Bible College of Victoria, Harvest Bible College, School of World Mission, Tabor College.

People interested in praying for or being part of this project are welcome.

Please contact:

TRANSFORMING MELBOURNE: PO Box 2536, CHELTENHAM, Vic 3192 Ph. 9570 2534

Email: office@transformingmelbourne.org Web: www.transformingmelbourne.org

From: Rev. Rob Isaachsen

Coordinator of Transforming Melbourne

and Melbourne Pastors Network

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Boroondara City

Boroondara

Population: 154,000

Local areas within the municipality of Boroondara:

Camberwell, Hawthorn , Kew, Balwyn, Deepdene, Canterbury, Surrey Hills, Glen Iris, Ashburton.

The Boroondara logo in the shape of a leaf (with colours of green and terracotta), "reflects the earthly nature of the topography and vegetation of the area". The words ‘Boroondara – City of Harmony’ is printed under this symbol, which is on most Council information and letterheads.

HISTORY:

Meaning of the Name of the City:

"Boroondara’ – "a place in the shade"

The term "Boroondara" comes from a word in the Woiwurrung language, spoken by the local Wurundjeri and four other main tribal groups of the "Kulin" nation, in the Port Phllip region in the 1830s. It is interpreted as "where the ground is thickly shaded".

Boroondara was first designated to a locality in 1854 as the Boroondara Road District. In 1860, Hawthorn and Kew broke away to form separate municipalities and the remaining district of Boroondara later became Camberwell.

In 1994, Boroondara was recreated as a city, bringing together the former cities of Camberwell, Hawthorn and Kew. Today, the city of Boroondara, essentially a residential area, has a relatively stable population of approximately 154,000 people, living in some 63,000 homes. (From: City of Boroondara ‘Corporate Plan Overview’ 1999-2002)

Who was the founder? What is known of the values/vision of the Founder/s?

In 1803, Charles Grimes – Assistant Surveyor-General of New South Wales, and his party carried out and exploratory mission, then returned to their boat moored in a Bay. This was the first recorded visit by white people.

"Thirty years later, Surveyors Robert Hoddle, William Darke and Thomas Nutt spent time mapping landmarks, watercourses and squatting runs, surveying land for subdivision in the area defined as the Parish of Boroondara". The name Boroondara was translated from the Woiwurrung by Hoddle as ‘where the ground is thickly shaded’. (‘A History of Hawthorn’ by Peel, Zion, & Yule)

Where did the original European settlers come from?

Most of the original European settlers were from England, Ireland, and Scotland. The early Settlers in Boroondara were Pastoralists, Surveyors, ‘timbercutters in Boroondara’s rich forests’, labourers, brickmakers and market gardeners. "They were joined in the 1850s by more affluent individuals moving out beyond Melbourne".

In 1856 John Gardiner, (birth place -Dublin ) was the first pastoralist settle in Boroondara with his family. "…his greatest achievement was that he with a party of men, …drove cattle down from New South Wales, becoming the first overlanders". His cattle run extended from Bulleen, Kew, Camberwell, Brighton, with Prahan and St Kilda "thrown in".

1937 onwards – President of the Port Phillip Auxillary Temperance Society. 1840 – Became the Managing Director of the Port Phillip Bank in Collins Street. 1853 – Returned to England.

Gardiner played an important part in claiming Eastern Port Phillip, from its original inhabitants.

The aboriginal history of the area.

There were thirty-eight tribal groups known in Victoria. In the Port Phillip region, there were five main tribal groups. These were: The Wurundjeri, Bunurong, Wauthurong, Kurung and Taungorong. They shared the Woiwurrung language which used the word ‘Kulin’ for man. They were also nomadic and roamed an area confined by natural boundaries.

The Wurundjeri were made up of small tribes of about twenty seven mainly extended families living together. Kinship was based not just on blood ties, but on the concept of tribal family group. Extended kinship structure formed the basis of behaviour and social relationships.

Spiritual Beliefs:

They believed in a creator ‘Bunjil’ who formed human beings out of bark, provided them digging with sticks and spears and dispersed them throughout the land. Bunjil was also seen as responsible for unity in relationships between the Kulin people and the natural world.

They hunted animals and river’s harvest of fish, mussels, eels and water birds. "Plants were highly regarded as source of nourishment".

The 1830s pastoral expansion with huge runs, "superimposed over Aboriginal hunting territories". An early settler claimed that Aboriginal were scarce in the Boroondara district after the 1850s.

Reasons for decrease in numbers were thought to be a result of "native warfare", also smallpox, other diseases,(tuberculosis, gastric) and too much alcohol. "Many were killed deliberately with poisoned foood, or shot because they speared cows, and sheep for food or stole stores". (‘A History of Hawthorn’ by Pell, Zion, and Yule. & ‘Hawthorn Peppercorns’ by Gwen McWilliam)

Local reconciliation efforts through the community or church:

A seminar organized by St Hilary’s Anglican Church in Kew, to look at the issue of Aboriginal reconciliation in October 1999. Indigenous and non-indigenous people discussed: – The stolen generation, native title, and mandatory sentencing laws in the Northern Territory.

ST Mark’s Anglican Church in Camberwell, held talks between indigenous and non-indigenous people. Discussions were: "fruitful, challenging, and inspiring".

Churches:

Church going was an important part of community life in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. "Almost everyone went to church, even those lacking any religious sense,…the christian churches held considerable influence in politics, the private world of the family, education and class relations". Sites for major denominations were included in the original Hawthorn village plan.

According to the 1996 census figures (Australian Bureau of Statistics), 20.6% of Boroondara residents stated that they are of ‘no religion’. This has increased from 16.4% in 1991.

The Church today:
Number of Churches and Denominations:

Anglican: 18 Baptist: 12 Lutheran: 1 Churches of Christ: 4 Apostolic: 1 Weslyan Methodist:1 Roman Catholic:18 Uniting: 16 S.D.Adventist: Salvation Army: 2 Presbyterian: 6 Greek Orthodox: 2 Hebrew Congregation:2 Melb Chinese: 1 Chinese Methodist: 1 Armenian Apostolic: 1 C. Praise Centre:1 InterChurchcouncil: Full Gospel Assembly: 1

Other cultural clubs and societies

These included: Sporting Clubs, Scouts, Boys Naval Brigade, Girl Guides, The Horticultural Society, The Literary Association, Music, The Hawthorn Operatic and others.

"Foremost among these societies during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were the Masonic Lodges and the friendly societies". The Lodges continued into the twentieth century. The friendly societies appeared in Hawthorn during the 1850s.

Sir James Frederick Palmer

  • 1845-46 – purchased Crown alllotments in Boroondara. He left Medicine for Commerce. Was an active patron of Christ Church and the Hawthorn National School which he declared open in 1853.
  • Palmer was a key player in establishing the Road District in 1854.
  • Other involvements included cultural and sporting associations.
  • Beyond Hawthorn, Palmer was also the Mayor of Melbourne in 1845-46.
  • September 1848 – Represented the Port Phillip District in the Legislative Council in New South Wales. 1851 – Elected first Speaker of the Victorian Legislative Council serving on a committee which drafted the colony’s constitution in 1853. 1870 – Received a knighthood.
  • He played a key role in the creation of the University of Melbourne, the Public Library, Melbourne Hospital and the national system of Education, chairing both the Board of National Education and Board of Education. (from an article on Palmer, in ‘A History of Hawthorn’ by Peel, Zion, and Yule)
Population in 1854

In 1854 almost half of Boroondara’s residents had migrated from England, Irish-born immigrants were 18% and Scots 8%.

Birth places

Victorian 698. England 930, Other Australia and New Zealand 83, Scotland 142, Wales 16, Ireland 395, 4 British colonies, 8 East Indians (British), France 6, Germany 40, Other Europe 7, U.S.A.2

Present population:

Main ethinic groups:
  • Indigenous origin 0.1%, Australian 67.8%, U.K., Ireland and N.Z. 5.8%
  • Europe & USSR 11.11%, Middle East & North Africa 0.64%
  • South East Asia 3.02%, North America 0.79 , Sth America , Central America & the Caribbean 0.19%, Africa (excluding North Africa) 0.66%
Dominant age groups:

Age group 0-19 (increase of 1900 persons) and 40-59 year age groups (increase of 2500 persons). The 0-19 and 40-59 year age groups now comprise 24% and 25%. Total population increase between 1994 and 1996 has been by these age groups. In the 60-79 age groups (decrease of 900 persons.) The 80 years and older age group has remained stable at approximately 5% of the population.

Socio-economic make-up:

Degree or higher 22.13%, undergraduates 7.15%, skilled vocational 3.67%, basic vocational 1.94%. Managerial, administration, professional & associate professionals 36.54%, clerical & sales 7.74%, tradesperson 2.3%, labourers & related work 1.43%.

Christian Organizations:

  • ‘Alive’ Christian magazine (previously ‘On Being Alive’), Hawthorn.
  • Baptist Union Victoria, Hawthorn.
  • Celebrate Messiah Aust Inc, (office) Jewish Fellowship, Hawthorn.
  • Child Evangelism Fellowship – Surrey Hills
  • Indonesian Campus Ministries, Hawthorn.
  • Salvation Army Eastcare & Salvation Army Hawthorn Project.
  • Youth With A Mission, (Interdenominational Missionary Training Base), Surrey Hills.

Major institutions and structure in Boroondara:

Local Council:

(website: http://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au)

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